Summary

With its simple design, the compact UltraFire S3 presents itself as a stylish EDC flashlight. Thanks to its discreet appearance and integrated laser pointer, it’s also ideal as a companion for everyday business use. The white light provides enough brightness for daily tasks and the UV light serves its purpose – although the high amount of visible light can sometimes be a bit distracting. The constant current driver with real temperature regulation should also be mentioned.

There is, however, room for improvement for the controls: the three-position sliding switch for selecting the operating mode and a large button for turning the light on and off are good ideas in principle. However, the flashlight is turned on by holding the button, while a short press changes the brightness – which feels unnatural. Additionally, there’s no direct access to the lowest or highest brightness levels.

If you’re looking for a slim EDC flashlight with a discreet design and don’t mind getting used to its somewhat quirky controls, the UltraFire S3 might be just the right flashlight for you.

The full review is available here

English review at BudgetLightForum
German review on my website

I guess the name applies to a lot of people, we're far and few between, but there's a lot of us if you put us all in one location

There was a point in my life where I was going to make my own solar batteries and I purchased around 300 21700 lithium sales to get started... Thankfully I got them from a bulk auctioner for almost nothing because I never ended up putting in the time to make more than one of the batteries as life just kept putting more important things in the way. At this point I have already said fuck it and simply purchased a large supply of premade solar batteries I did still get them from a bulk discount supplier to save some money.

The problem is that now I have a large supply of cells that I don't know what to do with them they aren't the standard 18650s so it's not quite as easy to find things that will accept them. I have found a couple decent usb-c portable power bank cases that will accept these cells and I now have like five of those and it's enough to charge pretty much any phone a good four times over which is nice but I need more uses I would like to put some flashlights in each of my vehicles to always have on hand and it would be neat if I could use these cells I've done a little bit of Googling but it seems like the options to accept this particular size is limited and I'm worried that they might be of poor quality.

Anyone got any recommendations on ones from a reputable supplier?

Summary

The Loop Gear SK05 Pro MAO really has a lot to offer: powerful floodlight, long-range spotlight and a multi-colored side light. Operation is intuitive, using a rotary switch combined with a push button. The batteries are easy to swap – a rare feature for a flashlight of this kind. The impressive MAO surface finish feels unexpectedly smooth and has a ceramic-like quality. Its irregular, cream-gray coloration resembles stone or concrete, giving it a truly distinctive character.

Unfortunately there's no true moon mode. The side light's "white" setting doesn't make an adequate substitute, since it lacks dedicated white LEDs and the red, green and blue mix looks rather unnatural.

The full review is available here

English review at BudgetLightForum
German review on my website

Summary

The finger-sized Skilhunt EC150 is a compact and lightweight EDC flashlight that is barely noticeable in your pocket, making it a perfect everyday companion. Skilhunt got almost everything right with this light: an efficient boost driver ensures consistent brightness, it can run on both Li-ion and NiMH batteries and thanks to the integrated USB-C charging, it's easy to recharge anytime. It is also available in a version with Nichia 519A LEDs, which impress with their excellent light quality.

There's not much to complain about the EC150: the switch can sometimes be a bit tricky to locate by touch and the sharp attachment lug for the lanyard can feel uncomfortable. However, these are minor issues that hardly detract from the overall very positive impression.

The full review is available here

English review at BudgetLightForum
German review on my website

My Opus BT-C3100 smells like magic smoke and looks like this. I suppose I could change these resistors and it might be OK, but I could also buy things.

I'm looking for 2-4 slots; it should fit protected 21700s; it shouldn't have a noisy fan that runs all the time like the Opus; USB-C input is preferred, but not required.

I'm broadly aware of what's on the market, but I want to know if you love or hate yours.

Summary

Skilhunt is best known for their flashlights with magnetic charging ports. About a year ago, the EC series was introduced, which instead uses a standard USB-C port. The first model was the EC200, a compact EDC flashlight with a floody beam.

With the EC500, Skilhunt expands the series with a high-performance thrower featuring an excellent beam with a compact, sharply focused spot. The USB-C port allows for convenient battery charging – no special adapter required. I especially like the warm white 3000 K version, which produces a pleasant, cozy light with high color rendering.

The only drawback: The switch is a bit hard to find by touch. An asymmetrical design would improve usability in this regard.

The full review is available here

English review at BudgetLightForum
German review on my website

Just found out about the Kickstarter, thinking of backing it for a jack of all trades flashlight, but I’d like to hear some takes on it :) Any opinion on emitters, lack of UV filter (ZWB something, I can’t remember) and form factor? Quite expensive considering Wurkkos, but packs a lot of features.

The AS7343 Spectral Sensor measures 13 channels of light from (~380nm to 1000nm) as well flicker detection all from a single IC.

Summary

The focused beam of white light cuts through the darkness, dances across the fields, follows a line of trees, pauses briefly – was there something? LEP flashlights are an experience; their practical use comes second. Exploring your surroundings with a "pencil beam" is simply a lot of fun.

The finger-sized Vastlite Minima Bow is likely the smallest LEP flashlight currently on the market. You won't find a flashlight this small – just 71 × 20 mm – with a range of up to 750 meters anywhere else. It's operated by twisting the head for on and off ("twisty"), allowing you to switch between two brightness levels and a strobe mode.

The full review is available here

English review at BudgetLightForum
German review on my website

Summary

For months, there have been hints of a new flashlight from Nitecore, but specific details have been kept top secret. That's now changed, as the new model has been officially announced: Here is the new Nitecore EDC37.

Was it worth the wait? Absolutely! The EDC37 combines many of the best features from previous models to make it Nitecore's new flagship of the EDC series.

The two "UHi 20 MAX" LEDs – already known from the EDC29 – now deliver up to 8000 lumens. Of course, this high brightness in such a compact flashlight can't be sustained for long. The heat sink is protected from direct contact, making handling more comfortable. One of the two dual-stage buttons can be programmed at both stages, and the "Rapid Lock" switch allows for quick and easy lockout at any time. It would be nice to have the option to freely choose between a wide and narrow beam at every brightness level. The built-in 8000 mAh battery offers long runtime, though its non-replaceable nature may be seen as a downside.

All in all, the Nitecore EDC37 is an impressive flashlight.

The full review is available here

English review at BudgetLightForum
German review on my website

Summary

It’s the little details that make the fourth version of the Skilhunt M200 a successful update. With three LED options, users can now choose between high brightness, long range, or accurate color rendering. The improved charging port should eliminate issues with water or metal shavings. And the already great UI has been further improved.

There’s not much to complain about. The slightly sharp edges on the bezel and the tailcap could be improved. In the version with the Nichia 519A, the LED is pushed to its limit in Turbo mode, which could affect its lifespan in the long run.

All in all, I’m very satisfied with the Skilhunt M200 V4. While there’s no compelling reason for V3 owners to upgrade, one of the other LED variants could still be an appealing addition.

The full review is available here

English review at BudgetLightForum
German review on my website

As a flashlight enthusiast, you might be interested in this new professional battery charger and analyzer for checking and maintaining your batteries.

The full review is available here

English review at BudgetLightForum
German review on my website

Summary

For many years, the SkyRC MC3000 has been considered one of the best chargers for round batteries. The user has full control over the charging process and can set not only the charging current but also many other parameters. It can also connect to a PC or smartphone for settings and data logging.

And here comes the new SkyRC MC5000!

I was really looking forward to the SkyRC MC5000: a modern design with a large color display, innovative scroll-wheel input, charging currents of up to 5 A per slot, Bluetooth connectivity and advanced analysis features.

All in all, everything has worked so far, but the range of functions still seems somewhat limited. Many enhancements could potentially be introduced through firmware updates, such as expanded parameter ranges, more effective use of the status LEDs and possibly even support for 1.5V Li-ion batteries. The absence of program memory slots is particularly disappointing. At this price point, a PC interface for control and data logging should also be included.

In its current form, the SkyRC MC5000 is still a long way from being a real successor for the MC3000. It is not a bad device by any means, but it does not yet fully meet the expectations I have for a professional charger in this class.

Pretty overwhelming to try and pick one from the hundreds and hundreds of options out there. What I’m looking for:

• Reliablility
• Not an EDC light per se, but I’d like it to fit in a pocket when needed
• USB-C charging and removable battery
• Good battery life
• 1000 - 1500 lumens is plenty for my use.
• A tool, not a toy
• The simpler the UI, the better - all I basically need is moonlight mode and around three brightness settings
• Adjustable beam would be nice
• Bonus: one-click turbo mode (for self-defense)

So basically, something that’s not too bulky to carry around, but something I’d be glad to have with me if I were stranded in a dark forest and kept hearing scary noises around me. ChatGPT recommended the Fenix PD35 V3.0, though it doesn’t have an adjustable beam.

Got this inexpensive thermal camera (which is also a multimeter!) for a review recently. Although it is not a high-end device, the resolution of 32 × 32 pixels (with high resolution camera overlay) is absolutely sufficient for many applications – and a lot of fun as well! Finally I'm able to see how my flashlights warm up.

Flashlights in the pictures are: Skilhunt EC200, EC500 and M200 V4

If you are interested in the review of the Zoyi ZT-R01, you can find it here:

English review at BudgetLightForum
German review on my website

Review: Acebeam L16 2.0 - an all-purpose duty flashlight with significant reach

#flashlight #flashlights #review @flashlight
https://zakreviews.com/acebeam-l16-2.html

Review: Acebeam EC20 - an everyday carry flashlight that tries to bridge the mainstream and hobbyist markets

#flashlight #flashlights #EDC #EveryDayCarry #review @flashlight

https://zakreviews.com/acebeam-ec20.html

I've had it in my pocket for the past two years, and now I can't find it anywhere... It must be at home somewhere, but will I find it

Review: Skilhunt H200 - an all-purpose right-angle headlamp with white and red

The Skilhunt H200 is a midsize right-angle flashlight and headlamp with two white LEDs and one red, powered by an 18650 size Li-ion rechargeable battery recharged internally with a USB-magnetic cable. The right-angle light is perhaps the most versatile category of flashlight since it can be used as a handheld flashlight, a headlamp, clipped to gear or clothing, or attached to surfaces with its magnetic tailcap. Someone who wants one flashlight for all use cases will be well served by a light like this, as long as none of those use cases involves illuminating things much past 100m.

#flashlight #flashlights #EDC #EveryDayCarry #headlamp #headlamps @flashlight

https://zakreviews.com/skilhunt-h200.html

OP reflector, FFL707A from 1800K to 6500K, LumeX1 driver with Anduril 2 but no USB-C charging this time (to minimise size I think, looks really compact).

(Usual banner saying they don't take orders from the US)

For background, it's hard to make a flashlight that works well on both AA batteries (0.8-1.7V potential operating range) and 14500 Li-ion batteries (2.8-4.2V operating range) given that white LEDs need about 3V.

For a long time, companies would make lights designed for AA using a boost driver that increases the output voltage, do just enough so it wouldn't burn out with excessive input voltage, and say that 14500 size Li-ion was "supported". Max output would, indeed be brighter, but low modes were usually far too high, and the flashlights could easily damage batteries that didn't have over-discharge protection.

The Skilhunt M150 was one of the first lights to do a substantially better job. Using a Li-ion battery, it sent the power through a variable-output linear regulator so both battery types could have reasonable modes, and it would shut off to prevent over-discharge. Several competitors use a similar approach today, but linear regulators are inefficient; they just turn the excess voltage to heat.

The ideal solution is either to use a higher-voltage LED configuration and boost the output voltage for both battery types, or to use a driver that can both boost (increase) and buck (decrease) voltage efficiently. The Emisar D3AA is the only light on the market doing AA/14500 with a high-voltage LED configuration (three in series for ~9V), and I believe the new M150 will be the first one using the buck/boost approach (though it's possible Zebralight has done it in the past).

I'm getting my manager at work into flashlights. He's got a pair of D4's on the way, and I told him about my buddies D18. He liked the idea but wanted to see it. I showed him today and he was blown away, wants to keep it in his jeep when off-roading.

But I just realized Hank doesn't sell the D18 anymore...

Is there another light that would fulfill the same popcan sized wall of light that the D18 does? Or is anyone sitting on a D18 they're willing to part with?

Price is a factor, preferably around that same hundred dollars, but I'll pass along options even if they're more expensive.

Anduril is also preferred, but not required.