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.
Good flashlights usually don’t have adjustable beams. Zoom mechanisms are bulky, optically inefficient, and aren’t very durable or waterproof.
The Acebeam EC35 II or T36 would be exactly what you’re looking for if you could get one. Unfortunately both are discontinued. If the Acebeam L16 2.0 isn’t too fat to put in your pocket in a pinch, that might work.
Thanks, I’ll look into that one.
Yeah, you’re probably right about the adjustable beam. I guess what I meant by that was more that I’d like it to have a floodlight as well. I know some brands do this by having two different lenses and emitter. I assume that a good one like that would likely be outside my price range
It’s a separate piece to carry, but a diffuser is one solution to that.
The Loop Gear SK05 Pro is an interesting option for $120, but the UI isn’t simple and there’s a lot of toy in its feature set. I suggest the Nichia LEDs for their superior color rendering, but I think this probably isn’t what you’re looking for.