Anyone know whether these are limited to AA batteries, or whether they can accept 18650 style? I’m curious how they are getting 500 lumens from just one AA.
Just 1 AA battery? How does it last longer than 5 minutes?
A flashlight that takes 1 AA battery probably couldn’t fit an 18650. It could fit a 14500, but I’ve had mixed results running random Chinese flashlights at those voltages (4.2 to 3.6 v)
Is there any writing on the barrels of these flashlights? I’ve found that there are multiple versions of this item, some of which are made really well and some that are complete garbage.
Yes, the brand name “Army Gear” is on there. The vendor just sent us an updated image:
50%x50%
https://d3gqasl9vmjfd8.cloudfront.net/2b68fcc8-54d8-4fb0-b36c-acffec2703ac.jpg[/img]
Use 14500’s and you might get a real 200-250 lumens. Anything higher is typical Chinese hyperbole. These flashlights are OEMed to multiple vendors but they’re mostly all the same Cree Q5 emitters. You can get identical lights from other vendors at a fraction of this price, though perhaps without the pretty box.
That said they are good lights. Just overpriced and overspec’d for what they are.
it’s hard for me to imagine an inexpensive zoom light being ‘waterproof’. maybe you could submerse it as long as you don’t adjust the zoom while it’s under?
searching for Sipik SK68 finds many similar lights, often with an identical image (well, with a different logo 'shopped on).
They’re fine - but more of a toy than something you would want to depend on. Nothing wrong with toys.
someone needs to find out if these are compatible with 14500 batteries (li-ion). If so they would be a decent buy, not a great buy. You could get these for like $5 at lots of places. One of the best flashlights you will ever see if u can run it on a 14500 cell (I mean at $7) You would be incredible surprised at just how far the light will shine. How do I know" I have purchased at least 20 of these things and at present own some 100 lights. If it won’t run on a 14500, don’t bother.
The last time I bought one this cheap the switch/chip broke in days. Will these hold up?
These have been selling like crazy for the last couple of years. I have several of the smaller (3.5") as well as several of the larger (4.5") models. (they look IDENTICAL, the larger is scaled up in every way, so you can’t tell them apart from a picture) The larger ones take the 18650, the smaller (like THIS one should be, as they claim it’s “about 3 inches long”) take the smaller 14500.
Runtime is about the same on AA and 14500, but the 14500 is SIGNIFICANTLY brighter, go for that if you can. You can get a charger and two 14500 for around $7-12 on ebay.
Ignore the quoted MSRP, the price listed here is roughly the “going rate” on ebay/amazon/etc. These work great as pocket flashlights. If you are looking for bigger and brighter, hunt for the larger XML-T6 variety that’s 4.5" and takes the 18650.
The only defect I’ve ran into with any of these units is one of the larger ones had the wrong size o-ring in the front and it bound up and broke, I haven’t been able to find a replacement yet. (odd size)
To be honest, the SOS feature is annoying. The ability to adjust intensity however is very useful but you have to click through the intensities: HI, OFF, MED, OFF, SOS, OFF, repeats, which is slightly inconvenient but necessary for a single button selectable.
EDIT: there is one scale difference between the two models, the knurling on the end is slightly different between the 18650 and 14500 models and the width-to-length is closer to square on the larger 18650. The width-to-length ratio in that picture someone posted earlier does appear to confirm this is the smaller 14500.
u can buy these on ebay for 2.8$. each delivered… sometimes I have paid 2.6$. when i buy 3.
. and I have put a rechargeable 146500 battery in one of them… AMAZING…3X the light.
but for most I just use AA std… its great…
These don’t spec as using Cree bulbs. I bought another flashlight, a SWAT, that had a Cree bulb and a friend had bought an ID one, with only half the brightness on the same 3.7v battery.
Surprise surprise. Not a Cree bulb in his.
Tactical??? Yeah, right. Like anyone in a “tactical” situation can afford to use a light that the can’t turn off instantly. It takes three clicks from full on to off, with one of them giving a flashing strobe. Just the sort of instant response and unobtrusive performance you need in a tight spot.
Someone wondered how it could both zoom and be waterproof. The zoom mechanism is external to the sealed electrical part. Zooming under water would have to pull water inside the front, so it might be hard to do, and un-zooming would have to eject the water, but if not actually submerged it shouldn’t be an issue.
An 18650 would be the wrong size. The equivalent li-ion battery would be a 14500 if I recall correctly.
No longer available at the mothership, where they were sold for twice the price before being pulled. Glad I checked before pulling the trigger. https://www.amazon.com/Special-STKFL2-500-Lumen-Tactical-Flashlight/dp/B01N6C9X4X?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1#customerReviews
The 14500 is definitely the same size as the AA battery, and of course twice the power, at 3.7v. If these indeed had Cree bulbs and one 14500 battery each, it would be a good deal. But with no 3.7v. and no charger for it, it’s way overpriced. And who knows what would happen if you put in a 3.7v batt to power up the 1.5v non-Cree bulb?
Keep in mind, a 3.7 volt battery needs a 3.7 v battery charger - at least 4.5v output. A normal 1.5v charger won’t charge it. So if you want to go 3.7v, you have to also be equipped with a charger for it.
I have one ID to this, same exact size but without the zoom feature, and it came with Cree bulb and a 14500. It is so bright it’s blinding, but doesn’t last nearly as long per charge as a AA, and once it is depleted and falls below its turn-off voltage it stays on for only 1 second after that before turning off, and you absolutely have to charge it up again before it will stay on again. And so the need for the 3.7v charger. While it’s on it’s absolutely spectacular tho, and well worth the needed chargings.
The AA batt isn’t nearly as bright but lasts and lasts.
With the 3.7v in there it also gets warm in a couple of minutes and just keeps getting hotter after that. Good sign, I think.
The Cree in there can take either voltage with no sweat at all, and again delivers truly blinding output. Whatever you buy, make sure it’s a Cree bulb.
I have 2 of these. I think I paid $3 a piece. They’re great. Not 500 lumens but very bright.
The boxes are flimsy. They can be used but won’t hold up to much. Nothing like a real hard case.