Forrader C8 Flashlight with XP-L HI V3 LED

Rating: 5/5

Build Quality

The whole flashlight is made out of aluminum, which has been anodized for added resistance to scratches. The anodization process leaves behind a matte black color and a very smooth finish.
The body of the light has a diamond shaped texture for increased grip.
In addition, the head of the light has small heat sinks which help in the heat dissipation.
Due to the multiple o-rings being used, the flashlight should be able to withstand water without a problem.

There is also a crown in the head of the light which can be useful on self-defense scenarios, while the grooves on both the head and the tail of the light prevent from rolling when placed on an angled surface.

Features

The flashlight runs on a lithium ion 18650 cell. As a flashlight collector, I would definitely recommend the use of a quality brand 18650. Li-Ion cells are potentially dangerous if mistreated, so going we a brand named 18650 should drastically decrease the potential danger.

The flashlight utilizes a latest generation XPL-HI V3 LED dome. This specific LED has a bit more output than the well known XM-L2 dome, yet the beam produced is way tigher which allows the light to have a great throw.

By default the light has 5 modes (Low-Medium-High-Strobe-SOS) which can be cycled through with a half-press while the light is on.
In addition, there is a memory function built in. If the light stays in the same mode for more than 3 seconds, it will start in the same mode the next time it is turned on.
After taking apart the head of the light, I saw that there there are 3 stars on its driver. Grounding the
first one resulted the flashlight to switch to only 3 modes (Low-Medium-High), which seems to suit best my usage scenarios.

Output and Runtime Measurements

Due to its big reflector, the light is able to throw the light very far and is great for outdoor use.

All my tests were conducted using a NCR18650B cell rated at 3400mAh. In order to obtain correct power-draw figures, a multi-meter with short, low gauge leads was used.

Mode      Current-Draw(A) Runtime(h) Output(Lumen)
Low             0.11         30.9        62
Med             0.81          4.2        378
High            2.72          1.3        1016

Product's link (non affiliate): Forrader C8 Flashlight with XP-L HI V3 LED
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