Flashlight News: Phreaky Briefing Issue 41
Welcome to the latest Phreaky Briefing Issue! We provide Phreaks like yourself with all of the latest flashlight news and information in this briefing. No more keeping track of 3 forums, 2 Facebook groups, and every manufacturer on Instagram, we do the work for you! We won’t spam and will keep hawking wares to a minimum. If you aren’t into flashlight news just click here to skip to the PhotonPhreaks updates, otherwise; Let’s get on to the flashlight news!
You may have noticed this Flashlight News Briefing is formatted differently than previous briefings. As part of our continuous effort to improve, we noticed most readers are on mobile, so we are optimizing for that. There’s also a Table of Contents that you can click to expand and help you navigate.
Table of Contents
High End / Custom Flashlight News
Corey Cooper
Corey Cooper is offering custom laser engraving on any light! Here a topo pattern is shown on an Olight Baton 3. Facebook link.
Custom Flashlight
The maker known simply as “Custom Flashlight” on instagram looks to be near moving product! This double triple with an interesting user interface should be open for preorder as soon as controllers are available again.
CWF Custom Flashlights
Charles is moving shop! The new bigger shop should see a more streamlined process for making CWF flashlights! Charles also had some fun at Blade recently. Here’s a CWF light with the mini brass flashlight by Gyorgy Kemenes.
Denki Man
We don’t post everything denkiman builds because he’s a prolific magician with lights. But here’s something that seems to us to be something a little special. It’s a “Tri-Clops” Hanko engine (in a Hanko Trident Total Tesseract), with red, green, blue, and amber!! Very incredible.
Gennady Larin
Yet another incredible silver pocket clip by Gennady! While this one isn’t for sale (ie, it was made for someone), Gennady does seem interested in taking custom orders.
And there’s another one! This is “The Viking” and again, is silver. Unlike some of the others, there’s a design on the reverse. Also, this is an over-under clip, displaying that Gennady can make clips which would fit lights like the Mini Arcadian by CWF.
Fraz Labs
Maker of the “Tiny Nugget,” Fraz Labs has sized down the nugget and now we have the “Gold Nugget!” This little guy is smaller by a large margin, but being brass will likely still fill your pockets! This variation maintains the nice features of the Nugget line.
Gift Glow EDC
Despite these lights “not being for sale” and being made just because the maker is an extreme enthusiast, these acrylic lights are worth showing. Again, these aren’t available for sale.
Hanko Machine Works
While these Hanko Tridents look the same on the outside, on the inside they have some interesting updates! Jeff is trying (again) the “TriStar” threads. This is likely a “multi-start” thread, which quickens donning and doffing the head of your Trident. It’s a neat option.
A quick bite of other Hanko news – the Prism Ti material that was used for popular multi-color finishes lately, is now out of stock! Good luck finding one of these!
JC Customs Flashlights
JC has released a new model! This comes hot on the heels of JC releasing his first ever original design, too! This is a 14500 clicky flashlight, seen here in aluminum.
Kuo-kuang Chang
We don’t have any details other than this photo, but have a look at this very special custom titanium piece by Kuo-kuang!
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Laulima Metal Craft
Laulima released for pre-order a version of the twisty Hoku (a 10440 flashlight) that has fifteen tritium slots! Talk about “trit ready!”
Even bigger news out of Laulima – the release of a new model! This model is called the Ion, and runs on a single 18350 cell. Various finishes will be available.
Don’t sleep on the fact that there are many versions of the Ion available!!
Laulima recently did a collaboration with Starlingear. The results on this custom Hoku are spectacular!
Lux-RC
Very few details are available at the moment, but Serge of Lux-RC has teased a “more focused triple.” We don’t know any more, but Serge has a few available now.
mcwhinneydesigns
An update “hot off the CNC” is this Rev3 Front Pocket flashlight. Looking good!
Menton Boss
There’s been a triple in the works by Menton Boss for a little while, and now we have the first prototype!
Pat Sunderman
The ubiquitous Lumintop FW3A light now has a 3d printed magnetic mount, thanks to Pat! The file is available on Thingiverse.
SkyLumen
Occasionally a one-off by SkyLumen will pique our interest enough to cause mention here in the briefing. The One-off JETBeam E1vn Flooder and RGB is one such light! Titanium, tons of tritium slots, just a lot to like here.
The Slows Co
New by @theslowsco is a VAMP (Versatile Attaching Modular Pouch), made for lights to be attached to things. Namely, it’s a velcro backed pouch!
TorchLAB
The TorchLAB boss “new version” (the “Forward Taper” or FT) has been available for a while. Now brass and copper are available in a “vintage” finish. These even ship in special edition packaging!
Yellowday Energy
Kris over at Yellowday Energy has teased a full tungsten Wreck-IT flashlight. This beast weighs in at over a pound!
Flashlight News Intermission
Alright, that was a lot of info. Before we continue with the flashlight news, take a deep breath and a bathroom break, self-care is important.
If you’re having trouble finding the right flashlight for you, check out Parametrek. It’s the most detailed flashlight search engine that I’ve found and they help make the Phreaky Briefing a reality.
Production Flashlight News
Armytek
The Armytek Elf C2 now has enhanced electronics, which allow better runtimes!
Brinyte
Recently announced by Brinyte is the Brinyte SR8 Rescue Angel. This light claims an impressive 2100 lumens and 1050 meters of throw!
We celebrate with Brinyte on their 12th anniversary!
Convoy
An update to the Convoy 4X18A is now available. It’s the 4X18A with an SBT90.2 emitter. ZeroAir has reviewed the original 4X18A and it was quite a light. The upgraded emitter should make this one a stunner.
Maybe a “little brother” to the 4X18A is the new 3X21A. This light features three 21700 cell support, and a couple of emitter options. Might be more manageable in hand than the bigger 4X18A.
Cyansky
The Cyansky K3 is a high output tactical flashlight, using the new Luminus SFT-40-W emitter. The K3 runs on (and includes) a 21700 cell, which also has USB-C charging built in!
Dave’s Tech Reviews
Dave produced a naming guide for the Convoy brand.
Fenix
Fenix has announced the TK11 TAC, another in the line of tactical flashlights. Details are a little sparse right now, but it looks nice!
Fenix has also (quietly?) released the LR80R, which has a tripod mount handle! Aside from any other awesome features about this light, we here at PhotonPhreaks love lights with handles! The other LR series lights by Fenix have been very popular, including the LR40R reviewed by ZeroAir.
Fenix usually kills it with the custom cerakote – the “Elite Series.” And now the PD40R V2.0 enters that series!
GBK Industries
There’s a new weatherproof CR123 battery storage container! This one by GBK Industries is weatherproof, can mount on a picatinny rail, and has a screw down cap.
HDS Systems
The website might look like these items have been around since 1990, but these products have just hit the market! These leather holsters with HDS branding are suitable for many of the popular HDS flashlights. Made by Thor’s Hammer Custom Leather. There are two new holster designs, an inside the pocket, bezel down, holster ideal for the rotary, as well as a rotating holster that allows you to point the light at your subject and operate it handsfree. Available on the HDS website, and as customized orders direct from Thor’s Hammer Custom leather
Jaxman
The Fingera i2 AAA twisty light by Jaxman is now available on aliexpress. This is probably the smallest AAA light available, competing with those tiny Olights, but offering kelvin options (4000K!) and AAA/10440 support!
Jaxman has also released the E21, a 21700 cell light. This light is available now, and features quite a few emitter options!
JETBeam
A new light out by JETBeam is the JET-1M, which we’ve talked about a little before. It’ll be interesting to see how the 18500 cell used here fits into the market at large!
The JETBeam EC26 is now available. This light is a quad emitter, side e-switch light. Based on the photos, it looks like a warm Cree XP-L HI version will be available!
Klarus
The Klarus 360X3 is a tactical flashlight with a new take on the tactical paddle switch. This paddle switch is “omni-directional” (“360”) and accessible from all sides! Looks pretty clever.
The RS80GT is an updated version of the popular (at least in movies!) flashlight by Klarus. This version has three Cree XHP70.2 emitters, and a handle! This light runs on three 18650 cells and was featured in various movies and TV shows, including Westworld
Another nice new little item from Klarus is the WL1, an adjustable arm COB-style handheld flashlight.
Lumens Factory
A shipping overhaul will allow Lumens Factory to have a better purchasing experience. No longer will a refund be required for combined shipping purchases. Thanks Lumens Factory!
In other news from Lumens Factory, a Z14/31 tailcap is now available that has tritium slots! Not only do these look great, the performance is improved as well.
Lumintop
After some user questions, Lumintop titanium, copper, and brass variants of the FWAA are avilable for purchase! It’s been aluminum only thus far, and that light has proven popular. (Or, at least zeroair liked it! Twice!)
As usual, you should expect multiple news pieces from Lumintop! This time it’s the Thor three-mode LEP! Seen here in titanium, but other versions are available. Default support for 18350 and 18650 is nice!
Above is the THOR II, but Lumintop also has a (smaller?) THOR I available. Mostly similar specifications, but with a different level of bling. Throw is probably a bit less too, because of the smaller head.
It seems that Lumintop will offer a rubber switch cover for the popular FW series of lights! For some this will be a great advancement. We have a feeling that it’ll be a bit more reliable, too.
There’s been a restock of FW3A in purple and raw aluminum. These sure look great! Matching 18350 tubes are available.
Even more purple from Lumintop, this time in the form of the GT3. Not just purple though; sand is also available. ZeroAir has tested the black version – performance should be the same.
Manker
The Manker MK34 is now available as a version 2. The Manker MK34 II is a triple quad e-switch Cree XHP50 emitter flashlight in the “can style” and if Manker’s history tells us anything, is a beast!
Mooch
In more cell testing, Mooch has found the Efest 30EF to not be a suitable replacement for the Samsung 30Q it’s likely intended to supplant.
Nicron
Recently dropped by Nicron is the B75, a flashlight with an interesting twist-to-right-angle head. It’s a white emitting light, but includes UV!
Nicron has also released the N6, a feature packet flashlight with a set of side emitters (5) that mimic a COB. This will provide great flood. The light includes a USB-C rechargeable cell.
Olight
The Olight Lantern caught some flak for what it was (we thought it was cool). But now we have an Olantern Mini, which takes all the things that were good about the Olantern, and miniaturizes them!
Available with purchase of an Olight Odin is this “Finger Grip Ring” (FGR). Looks great for tactical use, but it’s not available for purchase separately!
Olight’s giving you the chance to have input on what light will be available for the 5th anniversary of their Facebook group. Looks like some nice green and blue options, along with a clear finish? Worth checking out!
Olight has made a slight change to their Membership Perks. Now members at and above Yellow Diamond can share early access!
Parametrek.com
At long last, flashlight search database parametrek.com has added the Convoy brand of flashlights!
Reylight
Rey has stated that there will be an aluminum Pineapple Mini available! (for about $29) These were “special metal only” for a long while.
RovyVon
The RovyVon penlight series continues – the H3 PRO and H3 are available now. The H3 runs on AAA cells, and the H3 PRO uses AA. Nice for interchangeability! These also have built-in lithium-ion cells, which are charged by USB-C!
Thrunite
Thrunite has teamed up with Black Scout Survival again. This time it’s for a custom version of the TW10 weapon flashlight. Aside from the collaboration, the TW10 is also a new light and is currently on sale at 30% off!
A user on Facebook reports a problem with the Thrunite T1. The user says “It seems that the heat cycling of the light causes the lens to become brittle and shatter. I’ve experienced this on 3 separate T1.” The problem looks quite dramatic, with a broken lens being the result! We don’t know if this is a widespread problem.
Vapcell
Maker of great cells, Vapcell has added a new feature to a their 21700 battery named the “P2150A.” This cell has a charge port in the head, and this charge port is two-way! This cell (the cell itself) may be used as a powerbank!
There’s also a new charger available from Vapcell. The Q2S is a 2-bay charger which can charge 21700 cells
Weltool
New things on the horizon for Weltool! Danny teased these four items recently. Weapon lights and pen lights!
The Weltool TC59 tailcap is a product intended for Surefire lights (and of course, Weltool lights). A great clicky option.
Wurkkos
What seems like a “little known brand” is quietly killing it with releases. The TS30S is an SBT90.2 emitter light, which also boasts USB-C charging! ZeroAir has one, and was impressed.
XTAR
The T2 pocket flashlight is now available from XTAR. This light has an e-switch, a magnet tailcap, and USB-C charging. Quite a feature rich package!
More news out of XTAR – the D28 3600 diving flashlight is now available. This package includes a charger, and has a single emitter.
Congratulations on completing another Phreaky Briefing! Consider yourself up to date on all the latest flashlight news!
What’s New with PhotonPhreaks
Here’s a quick rundown of the latest happenings:
- We received many requests for a subscription service so we obliged. The PhotonPhreaks Swag club is now live, you can sign up to receive a monthly swag pack with either a patch, 4 pack of stickers, or combination of both. Your monthly price is discounted so it comes out to be cheaper than buying our patches and stickers every month. There are only a few slots available, sign ups will be closed next week. If you sign up you will be able to pause or cancel your subscriptions any time via your control panel.
- Oversize Desk Mats and Work Mats!! We restocked our redraw of the patent art from the original flashlight patent.
- New Patch Drop! The Sphinx has long been a symbol of mystery, our sPHynx Moral Patchis using a flashlight to read, books contain the answers to most mysteries in the world.
- Our Flood Rings continue to grow in popularity, the new Daylight Pink color proves to be our most popular color yet! Our Flood Rings are machined in the US out of US made Hyperglow material, No 3D prints and will not melt in your high output lights.
- We have some new drops planned for this coming week, including stickers, a new patch, and a PhotonPhreaks Hat drop for the summer, in an all new style! Redditors, look out, new Snoo design about to drop too.
As always,
Spread the Light!
Simon
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