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Make sure that Santa knows there appears to be a new TK41.

I can also recommend the Cluson Clu-Briter.
The new TK41 uses a better bin Cree Xm-L its a U2 bin instead of T6.
The light increase should be in the order of 7% ( although I not sure what difference Fenix claim. This sort of light difference is worthwhile, but because the eye is essential logarithmic in its sensitivity the difference will be small in real life.
 
Well, given the excellent info from this thread, Santa bought us a Fenix TK35 - and I'm amazed by its performance.

Thanks so much. I'm now on a quest to identify the best small torch for just moving around the boat. Any ideas?

Again - my thanks for the advice. Have a great New Year.

Piers
 
Glad you like it.
Most people are amazed by the output of these new torches.


For something smaller that will fit around your neck.
If you are happy with litium batteries
Then this is pretty good
http://www.flashaholics.co.uk/fenix/fenix-pd22.html
Slightly more up market is HDS 200 rotary
Or if you it's it a been a good year and you want to treat yourself a titanium Haku.
 
Glad you like it.
Most people are amazed by the output of these new torches.


For something smaller that will fit around your neck.
If you are happy with litium batteries
Then this is pretty good
http://www.flashaholics.co.uk/fenix/fenix-pd22.html
Slightly more up market is HDS 200 rotary
Or if you it's it a been a good year and you want to treat yourself a titanium Haku.

I've googled for HAKU TITANIUM TORCH but can't find anything. Have you a URL I can look at? Thank you.

Piers
 
Well, given the excellent info from this thread, Santa bought us a Fenix TK35 - and I'm amazed by its performance.

Thanks so much. I'm now on a quest to identify the best small torch for just moving around the boat. Any ideas?

Again - my thanks for the advice. Have a great New Year.

Piers

Hi Piers, I have bought about half a dozen cree torches off Ebay, mostly from the seller below. This is the last torch I bought, small with a very bright beam which you can easily change from a spotlight to one with a good spread. You will need a battery and charger, again available cheaply on Ebay. I have a good supply of similar torches and batteries both at home, in our cars and on the boat. I've not seen anything brighter for the size. Great bit of kit.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1600-Lumen-Zoomable-CREE-XM-L-T6-LED-18650-Flashlight-Torch-Zoom-Lamp-Light-/190688906239?pt=UK_SportsLeisure_Camping_LightsLanternsTorches&hash=item2c65f1cbff
 
Top man that Santa. He did bring me a Fenix TK41. It has four different brightness levels as well as strobe and SOS functions. You need eight AA batteries (the big red man even thought of that) and in return you get 240hrs of light at the lowest setting or 2hrs 19mins on turbo. The bumph says the light reaches 486m. It is tidy enough to fit in your pocket and hefty enough to bash a burglar.
Thanks Santa :)
 
Led lenser torches are good i use one all night five nights a week in my job, often dropped down the pit and onto various concrete floors, also use it for hitting things and it still works two years later.
Three of the six of us also wear the led lenser head torches very good, the ones with only one led, the ones with three leds are hopeless.
Headfire i think they are called, i also keep one in the garage, another in my car and a fourth one on the boat, all my old works ones as they got tired and all still working.


Lynall
 
Hi Piers, I have bought about half a dozen cree torches off Ebay, mostly from the seller below. This is the last torch I bought, small with a very bright beam which you can easily change from a spotlight to one with a good spread. You will need a battery and charger, again available cheaply on Ebay. I have a good supply of similar torches and batteries both at home, in our cars and on the boat. I've not seen anything brighter for the size. Great bit of kit.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1600-Lumen-Zoomable-CREE-XM-L-T6-LED-18650-Flashlight-Torch-Zoom-Lamp-Light-/190688906239?pt=UK_SportsLeisure_Camping_LightsLanternsTorches&hash=item2c65f1cbff

Hi Long John, I've had a search but can't find which batteries these Cree torches take. Can you advise? Thank you.

Piers
 
Hi Long John, I've had a search but can't find which batteries these Cree torches take. Can you advise? Thank you.

Piers

Hi Piers..A 18650 is what you want. I did quite a bit of research and rather than buy a cheap charger and batteries the XTar is what I went for. Do an Ebay search for Xtar batteries, or simply 18650, lots of choice, but again Xtar brand seem to be about the best.

http:///www.ebay.co.uk/itm/XTAR-WP2-II-USB-Charger-For-14500-18650-16340-Battery-Car-Adapter-UK-Shipping-/230748053068?pt=UK_Sound_Vision_Battery_Chargers&hash=item35b9a7de4c
 
Hi Piers..A 18650 is what you want. I did quite a bit of research and rather than buy a cheap charger and batteries the XTar is what I went for. Do an Ebay search for Xtar batteries, or simply 18650, lots of choice, but again Xtar brand seem to be about the best.

http:///www.ebay.co.uk/itm/XTAR-WP2-II-USB-Charger-For-14500-18650-16340-Battery-Car-Adapter-UK-Shipping-/230748053068?pt=UK_Sound_Vision_Battery_Chargers&hash=item35b9a7de4c

Thanks for this - back to research...
 
Hi Long John, I've had a search but can't find which batteries these Cree torches take. Can you advise? Thank you.

Piers

The eBay add indicates it takes an 18650 battery or 3xAAA ( in a holder)

The 18650 is a rechargeable lithium battery. The AAA batteries are commonly available, but not a great choice as there energy density is low.

The fact they don't also specify 2xCR123 batteries strongly suggests there is no regulation circuit employed. This means that the torch will get dimmer as the batteries wear out and the emitter is commonly overdriven when the batteries are new, leading to a short life.

It's only very cheap and this is why.
The quoted emitter XM-L T6 is exceptionally good for the price, but I am skeptical that this is what you find if you pulled it apart.
 
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The quoted emitter XM-L T6 is exceptionally good for the price, but I am skeptical that this is what you find if you pulled it apart.

I thought exactly the same as you but, being too mean to buy a Fenix, I ordered a cheapo eBay "Cree XM-L" torch. It came the other day and I have to say it is very bright. I wonder just how much better a real one might be? Is something like the Fenix TK35 at £90 really worth 10 times the cheapo ones?
 
I thought exactly the same as you but, being too mean to buy a Fenix, I ordered a cheapo eBay "Cree XM-L" torch. It came the other day and I have to say it is very bright. I wonder just how much better a real one might be? Is something like the Fenix TK35 at £90 really worth 10 times the cheapo ones?

I just bought the TK35 and have to say it is suimply stunning. Can't believe the brightness or the range. I keep playing with it - much to the amusement of the family!

Piers
 
I thought exactly the same as you but, being too mean to buy a Fenix, I ordered a cheapo eBay "Cree XM-L" torch. It came the other day and I have to say it is very bright. I wonder just how much better a real one might be? Is something like the Fenix TK35 at £90 really worth 10 times the cheapo ones?

Well I did buy a Fenix TK40 a while ago, about £75, and whilst it's a very good torch it's no brighter than many I've bought off eBay for a tenner or so, in fact some of the much cheaper ones are actually brighter. So for me it's quite a few Cree torches off eBay on the basis I'm still quids in if one goes kaput, which hasn't yet happened.
 
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