CREE XM-L T6 LED Flashlight Torch Light Lamp - $10.99 Shipped

This is my favorite Flashlight. I have quite a few, ranging from $6 up to $99 and this is the one I use the most.

Link to product
SKU: 0003575-001

The output is even better than those with 2x18650 batteries, it's also better than the Husky 2-D.

I just thought I would note that the output of an XM-L T6 LED is entirely driver dependent, 3 amps is about the maximum the LED can take, and XM-L T6 LEDs are around 300 lumens per watt and driven at about 40 percent efficiency. If this is actually a 2.8 or 3 amp driver it might actually approach its rated lumens, but I seriously doubt it. Without a rating for the driver the amount of light and run time of the light is totally unknown.

Claymore said:   OK, so do you have to use 18650's with it or can you use AAs or more common rechargables for occasional use?

I have some 18650's for my airplanes but they obviously limit the utility of the light.

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I don't think you can use AA's or AAA's. I use it with one 18650 and it lasts very long, the output is excellent IMO.

I'd be curious how it compares with this (famous) $5.43 AA flashlight, which I love:
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006E0QAFY/

Anyone own both? Thoughts?

What is normal price on this guy and how much brighter is it than the $5.40 Cree I got off Amazon? The ones in your picture with the orange buttons? Can you compare the two? Thanks!

something have always wanted to ask on those 18650 batteries. is there a good and bad, I grabbed an untrafire with a cheap recharger. I have only used it once but was wondering if there is bad or good with these

Best place to get the batteries?

ironman69 said:   Best place to get the batteries?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2PCS-18650-3000mAh-Rechargeable-Flashligh-Torch-Battery-/280818850187?pt=US_Rechargeable_Batteries&hash=item41621b998b

I don't think the NiCad or other will work. But the chargers on fleabay are only a couple bucks also.

Dotbody said:   I'd be curious how it compares with this (famous) $5.43 AA flashlight, which I love:
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006E0QAFY/

Anyone own both? Thoughts?
I have the Citipower X5 T6 which uses single 18650 and the Amazon one. T6 One is brighter. Definitely so.

lordoffire said:   got the flashlight, charger, and two batteries for about $19

if this doesn't turn out well, I'm blaming you OP...


there were 5000mah batteries, wouldn't they give longer life?
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I got the batteries on Ebay for about $1.60/each (buying 2x18650). I already had a charger, these work well for me.

3rab said:   OP - how do you achieve 2x18650 batteries configuration? Does it exceed 1,000 Lumen with 2x18650?

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I think you miss-understood somehow, this FL can only be used with one 18650. I have another FL which requires two 18650's and the output is even not as bright as this one.

In for one and don't forget CB at 3.5%.

I am in. Someone point me to the best charger? On the road right now and searching is tough...thanks.

scoobiedoobie said:   lordoffire said:   
there were 5000mah batteries, wouldn't they give longer life?

They would if they really were 5000mah. 18650 and other li-ions are often severely exaggerated in capacity from companies like Ultrafire, Trustfire, etc. The '5000mah' would be lucky to be over 2000mah in reality. The highest true capacity of an 18650 currently available in standard 4.2V is around 3000mah or so. The cheap brands like Ultrafire are generally fine for something like this. If you want a high quality battery that really meets its advertised capacity, buy something like a Panasonic, Sanyo, or Samsung.

wow...I should have done research

there are no 5000mah batteries, they're all fakes....the highest possible are 3400

some were ripping off real capacities by 75-90%

from what I read, these are pretty good: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Genuine-PANASONIC-NCR18650A-3-6V-3100mAh...

Can anyone offer an opinion of this versus the Defiant 500 (or 550) Lumens Home Depot Cree XM-L T6?

...especially for those of us wanting to stick with alkalines or plain rechargeable batteries?

Thanks.

p.s. I like white light and "floodier" rather then narrow throw lights. Thanks again.

JesseLivermore said:   Can anyone offer an opinion of this versus the Defiant 500 (or 550) Lumens Home Depot Cree XM-L T6?

...especially for those of us wanting to stick with alkalines or plain rechargeable batteries?

Thanks.

p.s. I like white light and "floodier" rather then narrow throw lights. Thanks again.

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The Defiant 550 from HD is brighter, however, it's bigger and longer, hard to carry it around. This FL (the one I have has the name RONG LI) is small, convenience to carry around or in car compartment.

DirtCheap said:   Dotbody said:   I'd be curious how it compares with this (famous) $5.43 AA flashlight, which I love:
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006E0QAFY/

Anyone own both? Thoughts?

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Like I've said above, I have "almost" everything.This one is the best of all. Here are just a few, may be half of what I owned, believe me, you can't go wrong with this one.

That Amazon flashlight is good cause it uses the very common AA. And it put out a very good amount of light too. Fully charged AA it can run for about 1.5 or 2hrs maybe a bit more. It only have on/off mode.

The OP flashlight put out more light on high mode. It has other modes for longer run time (more choices). But even on high it last longer than the AA.

I got this instead http://www.meritline.com/showproduct.aspx?ProductID=86910&SEName... for the smaller size. Easier to pocket, light more spread out but can be focus if wanted. Down side of this focus system is some of the light is lost. So it uses the same battery and same LED as OP's light, but it's not as bright because of the no deflector. No deflector means no hot spot(the super bright circle in the middle) even fully focused, but than I don't really like the hot spot cause it's blinding. Without hotspot this isn't so good for distance, focused light is good for maybe 1 or 1.5 football field distance and is good enough for me. Your Amazon AA flashlight uses the same focusing system as this, just not as bright or last as long and a bit smaller in size.

attached pic..... grey is the 18650 battery, green is the AA, green flashlight is your Amazon AA flashlight, and black is the one I said i got instead of the OPs.

Title is wrong it states 100 Lumen, it should read 1000, but in reality is most likely ~700-800 but that is really bright. T6 is the latest best LED right now. It will not be brighter with 2X batteries and that is a moot quistion anyway since you can only fit 1 18650 in it. Same issue with the sugestions about AAs and AAAs you would need to figure out how to put cram three in there to just light it up. The option you have is to put two 3V CR123 batteries or two equivlent 3.7 Li Ion batteries in it. Most lights that take a single 18650 will physically fit the two CR123s you just have to make sure that it is rated to take that much voltage, this particular one is rated up to 9V so it is good with two CR123s. But note it will not be any brighter.

I have a couple of these. This is a cool flash light, very bright, nice spot and good throw. About the brightest light for $10 you are going to find.

The eBay batts above are a good deal if you want to buy some. I usually get them from old laptop batteries that won't charge anymore.

I have a couple of chargers like this that work pretty good for $8.40.
http://dx.com/p/trustfire-tr-001-multi-purpose-lithium-battery-c...

thanks OP!