Arbitrary List of Popular Flashlights - Fall Equinox 2025 Edition
Hi again.
Natanael_L at reddit, haven’t been active for years, but there’s a chance one or two of you might remember me. Finally have a budget for flashlights again, and being here at Lemmy feels refreshing too.
Looking for new EDC lights now. Some good keychain / pocket clip light, and something powerful that’s like the Nitecore EC4 but more modern (efficient, high sustained output). Maybe also a new right angle flashlight with magnet (lost my old one years ago)
You might find a few of those in this post.
The EC4 doesn’t have a direct successor, but you might find the Loop Gear SK05 Pro interesting.
Took a look, and there’s some neat new stuff there but it’s really just the LEP lights and some of the new keychain lights (like the rotating head ones) that are noticably different, many of the rest feel like more of the same (quite literally just more features in the same old flashlights, USB and side lights and display in everything now, even a few more with integrated fans).
The Loop Gear does seem like it has an interesting combination of features, though (especially that batteries still are replacable). And might get a Zebralight headlight this time around (are they still the most efficient?) and the Wuben G5 looks neat too, alternatively that new Nitecore flat penlight…
And for that matter, are there any more new lights with sliders/rings for control besides that Nitecore pen light?
AA/14500 lights have made major technical strides from a few years ago. The new options from Skilhunt and Emisar are especially compelling even if they look like something that could have existed some time back. Zebralight, a former leader in that field has regressed by removing 14500 support.
I don’t think Zebralight has an efficiency advantage in medium and high modes over other brands using boost drivers and similar LEDs. They probably are still the best at running ultra-low modes efficiently.
Flashlight makers using bespoke LEDs is also a fairly recent development, with options from Emisar/Noctigon, Fireflies, Nitecore, and Skilhunt.
Not much new this time - just a couple updated links and the Acebeam T37.
If you’re going to be a non-hobbyist with one light, get the H25L/D25L or LR, sold by Wurkkos, Sofirn, and others for $15 to $20. It’s an 18650-powered USB-C rechargeable headlamp with two 500 lumen white leds (L) or one white and one red (LR) and it’s probably my most used light since I have one next to my bed. I have some minor quibbles about the UI but the light is well made and a great value. I reviewed the LR a while back: https://lemmy.ml/post/23376055
I have both the L and LR now, and have switched preference to liking the L a little bit better, but the LR gives you red light on the occasions when you want that. I just wish someone made an Anduril version. The Wangle isn’t it.
AA/14500: I haven’t seen the SP10 Pro on Sofirn’s site lately. It may be discontinued. I like the TS10v2/SG better anyway, but they are 14500 only. I see those in the enthusiast section.
Headlamps: 1) include H25L mentioned above, 2) for Nitecore HA11 how about adding a link to Parametrek’s technical review http://parametrek.com/blog/ha11.html , 3) for super duper light weight the Nitecore NU05 is the champ. Might also include Wurkkos HD10 since it’s the only Anduril headlamp I know of besides Wangle. It’s 14500 and discontinued though they still sell them super cheap. I wish they had an 18650 version. Also seen in enthusiast section.
New Wurkkos TS27 is kind of intriguing, but weird. A thrower with a huge LFP cell that could be a duty light, but it also has an RGB lantern mode like lolwhat?
🦀 it’s here!
