Arbitrary List of Popular Flashlights - Fall Equinox 2026 EditionIn honor of Fall Equinox, I've made an updated list of popular flashlights. It's getting darker if you're in the northern hemisphere!#flashlight #flashlights #edc #EveryDayCarry @flashlightzakreviews.com/arbitrary-list.
First time out with it in my back yard and I saw bats at dusk. If they noticed being in a red beam, I couldn’t tell.
Treetops are maybe 200 feet away?
It’s not as big as I thought it’d feel. This is it next to a Wurkkos FC11C, since many have that light. However, the holster does make it feel ginormous…in a nerdy good way.
AliExpress is having its annual Singles Day sale. Anyone snagged a good deal? If you've never used AliExpress before and have always wanted an Acebeam X75, this is the time to do it. Best deals are for new users/email addresses. Also, get the mobile app and figure out the silly Coins stuff for a few extra cents off.
I got this Titanium FWAA for $40 USD because I used a new user discount in addition to 11.11 coupons. That's easy enough to do by creating a new email address. The Alonefire SV43 is recommended by 1lumen in their 2026 UV roundup. I want to cook some UV resin and glow dust instead of using tritium tubes. Plus find weird UV-reflective things in the wild? I dunno, never had a UV light!
[Beamshot! That’s it in the middle of the bag. Edit: This is candy collected on Halloween holiday in the US.]
RGB mode for most of the walking around and neighbor chatting. Spotlight for when a car comes or when we need to light up a dark candy bowl. Warm CCT lantern for water breaks, eating from and examing the stash.
RGB mode needs memory lol…maybe that’s a feature, haven’t studied the manual.
Little awkward to cary all night, especially in a costume, but not too bad. The grooves actually made it ‘fidgety.’
Will definitely be taking this one out again next year.
The only good use case I’ve come across is looking at house numbers at night without lighting up the whole house. Generally I’m not a “it’s just fun to see far” kind of person.
And yes, I know there are better performing lights that cost less. I was already making a Wurkkos order and it just fell into my cart.
With the Pro version, Wurkkos has responded to user feedback and addressed some of the criticisms of its predecessor. The fold-out wings on the Wurkkos HD02 Pro can now also be rotated, allowing the light to be directed in almost any desired direction. Another new feature is a 660 nm red light that helps preserve the eyes’ dark adaptation. The powerful spotlight, UV light and green laser remain largely unchanged.
However, there are problems with the charging function, which has been unreliable for both me and other users. It is currently impossible to determine conclusively whether these are isolated cases or a fundamental issue. The manufacturer was informed of the problems but was unable to provide any concrete information even after several weeks. Another issue is that the plastic diffusers in the wings can come loose when the light is used at high brightness.
I had specifically criticized the non-rotatable floodlight wings on the previous model. Wurkkos has done an excellent job of addressing this issue in the new Pro version. The red light is also a useful addition. The charging problems are all the more disappointing. Otherwise, the Wurkkos HD02 Pro would be nearly perfect.
English review at BudgetLightForum
German review on my website
L-R: orange Wurkkos FC11C 4kk, green Emisar DA1K NTG50 4200k, white Emisar DW4 NTG35 1800k/SST20 red 660nm, blue Wurkkos TS27, coyote Acebeam T35 SFT40 5kk, green aluminum reylight pineapple mini.
DA1K was the most pleasing for just admiring the trees. I had lost the T35 in an apron pocket and just found it yesterday. Better beam distance than I remembered.
My pockets grow full. I’m tempted to ride outside more often. Are my lights cruisin’ for a bruisin’ if I take this route? Tell me your horror stories. Cause it sure would make it easier to carry 18650 lights outside in my belt or pocket.
This is a Wurkkos CL01 that I use in a dark computer nook so people can see me on video phone. It’s hanging on the arm of an adjustable mirror. It works, just curious what others do. I have the tiny tripod for it, but I can’t set it in front of the compy.
For those who find the Wurkkos HD02 too large and heavy as an EDC flashlight, the Wurkkos HD02 Mini is a suitable alternative. Despite its significantly more compact dimensions, it doesn’t skimp on features: in addition to the powerful spotlight, there is a warm-white floodlight and a red light. The foldable wing for use as a small lantern is also included. Details such as the rotary switch, the long two-way clip and the magnetic tailcap with tripod thread complete the package.
With so many features, minor firmware bugs aren’t entirely surprising. However, I do consider it problematic that the adhesive holding the diffuser on the wing can come loose at high brightness. A 660 nm red light would also have been nice.
Overall, I still consider the Wurkkos HD02 Mini a successful EDC flashlight. With its wide range of features, it proves to be a practical companion for everyday use.
English review at BudgetLightForum
German review on my website
The Sofirn HS23 has a lot to offer: The headlamp features three channels with spotlight, floodlight and 660 nm red light, which can be conveniently switched between using a rotary switch. It also has an integrated USB-C charging function.
Despite its simple operation and practical features, I have one major criticism of the HS23: It is simply too heavy for a headlamp. Even an 18650 battery feels borderline to me in a headlamp, so a large 21700 battery is all the more unsuitable for this application. Personally, I would prefer a shorter runtime and more frequent battery changes rather than having to wear a relatively heavy flashlight on my forehead for extended periods.
However, the HS23 can make sense when high brightness is required for extended periods. If a helmet is already being worn for work, the additional weight is less of an issue. The good regulation is also an advantage in this case, as it keeps the brightness constant for a long time.
English review at BudgetLightForum
German review on my website
