NEW-H10 Cree XR-E Q5 270lm 3-Mode White Light Zooming Flashlight - Black + Red (1 x AA / 14500)

Pros: This torch is small and light, thinner than most AA led torches. It feels good in my hand, it’s easy to pick it up and slide it in a pocket or attach it to a belt loop. It has both a lanyard and a clip: no other torches I have feature such completeness. It has 3 modes: high, medium, and strobe: nice in a cheap 9$ torch. Flood is very floody: a large and homogeneous circle of light. Throw is good too. The sliding mechanism works very well: not loose and not hard to move. The red ring is beautiful and gives this torch a distinctive look, but it also creates the worst problems this light has (see cons).

Cons: Construction is not perfect, especially in the front part. The front has two separate rings: a black metallic one and the red traslucent plastic one. This two are screwed one into the other, and then into the led's metal housing with NO o-ring at all, so goodbye to water-proof-ness. Moreover, they keep the convex lens in place, but not tight enough so the lens keeps shaking a little when you move the torch. The red ring is translucent, nice to look at but not in real life usage. It lets a lot of light spill out backwards and hit the user’s eyes directly, so goodbye to night vision too. I sent a photo for this, comparing it to the C78 which is a wonderful torch that features something similar: in C78 light spills from the sides, but it is not as disturbing as in the New-H10. To change from one mode to the next one you have to turn off the light completely: at least mine does not do it simply tapping the switch like others.

Other: I would not recommend this as a first-and-only torch, but it is cheap and you can keep it beside the other more serious torches. In the end, if you roll some insulating tape on the red ring you loose some of the looks, but get a very good torch.

Pros: Very good amount of light (brightest 14500 I own). Best material quality so far. Feels very sturdy. Very good clip, which does not stick out too far. Smooth threads. Very compact for a zoom light. Has a big clicky. Does get quite warm on high after several minutes -> good thermal management after modding with thermal paste.

Cons: The translucient red ring can be misleading if used in the dark while looking at the light instead of where you point it at. Like almoust any flashlight you have to clean the inside and threads and add thermal paste / oil.

Other: I recommend this over my other 14500 / AA lights. All impressions I experienced where under use of 14500 batterys. Price / quality champion !