Your Favorite Flashlight

[Cameron M]

A single 18650 can serve as the receiving battery for a solar charging setup during the day, battery for light at night, and battery for power bank USB charging of other devices. On a longer hike, this could make a 18650 light and a solar strategy potentially very effective.

[Richie S]

@Geoff. Very wary on these batteries anyway. It just seems safer to me to go for a 18650 or cr2r flashlight as well as something like the e+ and have a failsafe system that can also be charged on the fly – and still come in around the weight of a zebralight.

[Geoff Caplan]

A bit more specialised, but I’m addicted to night walking, and for routefinding in the winter I’ve just ordered a Manker U11 CREE XPL V5.

This thing weighs 82 grams ex battery and bangs out an amazing 1050 lumens. Designed as a spot the throw is claimed to be 250 meters and I’ve seen this verified by independent reviews. Runs on a single 18650 and has built-in micro-USB recharging. It’s regulated, efficient, and according to the reviewers it’s very well engineered. It also offers a wide range of modes.

Surprisingly you get all this goodness for USD 35. It would be multiples of this from an established brand. Apparently Manker is a Chinese company that manufactures for high-end Western brands and now they are selling their own products direct. The Chinese are coming!

[Matt Swider]

My primary backpacking light is a petzl e-lite.  For my style of hiking it is perfect.  I have read  that some folks have had switch problems, but not me so far.  The reality is I don’t use a head lamp for much other than some camp chores and in/around my bag at night.  I have used it to find my way into a camp I have never been to before at night and it worked fine for that also.  Definitely NOT the most powerful light, but until my hiking style changes it is my choice.

[Brian Goode]

I use the Petzl eLite backpacking. Zebralights other times.

[KRS]

I just purchased the Zebra H52W and love it. Question I have is how are you guys making your DIY head bands for them? Sorry if this is considered a highjack I thought it was relevant to the thread. Thanks

[Michael M]

Petzl e-lite for most backpacking trip and an Zebralight H52W on bike packing trips as it is powerful enough to serve as an emergency riding light should that be ever necessary (I don’t typically ride at night).

[Bob Shuff]

OK – now that you guys got me to consider a new flashlight – major arm twisting I know – I’ve ordered the H52w from ThunderAdventureCompany out here in Orange County, CA.  I might have gone with the H600w if it would have been in stock anywhere at the lower price, but this will be my first Zebralight, and the battery flexibility is valuable.

However, I’m unable to find anything definitive or recent to recommend a good quality 14500 battery would work in that flashlight.  Sanyo cells seem to be the consensus, but protected or not protected?  Button top (I assume), but 14500 batteries are said to vary slightly in size.  If anyone has a battery vendor model or even better an amazon prime link I’ll take it.

Thanks,

Bob

[James holden]

bob … just use an eneloop …

the folks on CPF would know the answer better … but if i remember correctly the 14500 doesnt really increase the run times on that lamp … it simply makes it brighter

the eneloop is cheaper and more stable

;)

[Dean F.]

When I need a flashlight, I need it as a headlight. I own a ZebraLight H52, but know what I end up using the most? A cheap-assed Petzl Tikka. (Probably because I’ve been issued half a dozen of the damned things over the years.)

[Sam Farrington]

“Been using a AA Fenix HL21 since 2013.”
Ditto, as an emergency day hiking and dog-walking light, because:
Eveready lithium AAs have more capacity, and are cheaper to operate than AAAs.
Diffuser provides a very wide beam without rings or other variations – much easier night hiking or walking.
Simple to operate – remembers setting when turned on, but easy to change.
Doesn’t look like a Borg-like contraption glued to my head.

For backpacking, still use the Snow Peak Snow Miner combo headlamp/lantern, even though it uses AAAs, because it converts instantly between headlamp and the lantern, which provides a good light for setting up camp, cooking and eating; and because I backpack in the spring and summer months, when the days are longer, and get to bed before dark; so the battery capacity is seldom a problem.

[Bob Shuff]

H52 arrived and added to my collection, and for walking the dog (and picking up after him mainly) it definitely fits the bill.  Lightweight and I can see the clip being good for talk lighting around camp.  It’s not the impressively bright beam that a good 18650 provides, but like many I use the lower modes 99+% of the time.  I do have eneloops – and that’s what I’ve used this week, but I also ordered some 14500 batteries from Zebralight directly.  I already had a charger for 18650 that charges this type too.

Not sure about NiMh eneloops being more stable, at least with protected batteries, chargers and lights providing redundancy the Lithium 14500 should be beyond safe.  Lithium costs more, but has more cycles.  For me I’m just carrying more capacity, even if it uses some of that during the first minute at 500Lm.  Being an engineer (in case you didn’t guess), I need to try the newest tech.  I’ll reply again when the new batteries arrive this week so say if it makes a difference.

[Bob Moulder]

Nowadays my favorite has become the BD Spot because of the tap-for-full-power feature and the off safety feature. I am getting really good battery life with Duracell alkalines and will switch to lithiums when it gets cold.

[Scott Kilcoyne]

Nightcore ‘thumb’. Does the job for under an ounce and $20.

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