Aldi 1000 lumen torch

[Madness]

I know it's been mentioned somewhere already, but I couldn't find the thread to post there.

Anyway, the ?15 Aldi 1000 lumen torch has now been reduced to ?10. It would have been rude not to buy one at that price, so I did.

It seems to be well made, as I'd expect from Aldi, but it's not perfect.

Firstly, it runs on C cells rather than 18650s, it has a domed plastic lens (it's zoomable), the reflector isn't really a reflector - it's white, and the body extends too far in front of the lens cutting off peripheral spill.

It's pretty bright as you'd expect and would hurt if you hit someone with it! I don't think I'd use it underground though.

I'm not sure how it comes apart, but if you could put a proper reflector and glass lens in it, possibly change the driver, put a couple of 18650s in it and machine a bit off the front of the body it would probably be a much better torch.

I'm glad I didn't pay ?15 for it.

 

[royfellows]

Worth a browse.

https://www.fasttech.com/category/1601/led-flashlights

Somewhere amongst them all you will find for a few dollars the Shadowhawk, Taclite, etc..... same torch all re branded and sold for 'half price', at about ?40 GBP.

 

[Oceanrower]

To be honest, 76 pages to trawl through put me off.

 

[Madness]

To be honest, 76 pages to trawl through put me off.

Perhaps we should have a sticky thread for torch recommendations?

 

[royfellows]

To be honest, 76 pages to trawl through put me off.

Your money

 

[droid]

I've had stuff from FastTech....delivery is rather protracted but there's nothing wrong with the product.

Use the search.....

 

[royfellows]

Yes, for what its worth they are best HK supplier.
Anyone into lamp building or torch modding could look at Kaidomain as well. They expensive but have a good selection of drivers etc, most without the silly flashes everyone loves to hate.

 

[Madness]

Having used the Aldi torch a couple of times I've decided it's okay for the money, but it's not got a powerful enough beam for my needs.

I need more lumens and a bigger reflector.

 

[royfellows]

Having used the Aldi torch a couple of times I've decided it's okay for the money, but it's not got a powerful enough beam for my needs.

I need more lumens and a bigger reflector.

Somebody to whom I recommended FastTech to bought one of their Convoy brand torches and is well pleased. I suspect these are FastTechs own brand.

The problem across the board with Chinese stuff is their use of generic components, so final manufacture is a bit of a mix and match.

 

[Madness]

Somebody to whom I recommended FastTech to bought one of their Convoy brand torches and is well pleased. I suspect these are FastTechs own brand.

I've got a Convoy S2+ on order from Fasttech. Someone on here recommended them and there's quite a good review of them on Youtube. Trouble with the Chinese Led torches is that though they seem to have plenty of lumens, they don't seem to project a beam that far. 30 years ago I had a pair of 8" diameter Lucas Spotlamps on my Escort. They weren't even halogen but they'd project a beam about half a mile. That's the sort of beam I'm after!

I've spotted a Nightsearcher Panther HID searchlight on the net that looks pretty good, but it's nearly ?600!

I've found a reflector 86mm in diameter on Kaidomain and was thinking of using it with a Cree XHP75 driven at it's maximum current and powered by 18650s. It would mean probably machining up a bespoke casing and  until I fire it up there's no way of knowing if the reflector will produce the beam pattern I'm looking for.

 

[mudman]

Worth a browse.

https://www.fasttech.com/category/1601/led-flashlights

Somewhere amongst them all you will find for a few dollars the Shadowhawk, Taclite, etc..... same torch all re branded and sold for 'half price', at about ?40 GBP.

I'm looking for a super-bright (by my standards) torch. Can the quoted lumens on that site be believed?

 

[royfellows]

Worth a browse.

https://www.fasttech.com/category/1601/led-flashlights

Somewhere amongst them all you will find for a few dollars the Shadowhawk, Taclite, etc..... same torch all re branded and sold for 'half price', at about ?40 GBP.

I'm looking for a super-bright (by my standards) torch. Can the quoted lumens on that site be believed?

I deal extensively with FastTech and find them very good to deal with, but obviously I am a bulk buyer so would expect that.
If there was sufficient interest I would buy quantity of decent torches and offer them on my own testing results, but have a lot on.

Anyway, I have had a quick look at their Convoy range and the claims seem reasonable. I believe its their own brand.
My biggest gripe with Chinese torches is the silly flashes which you have to go through to get to the setting you want. Some torches hide these so they only work with a long press, this is something I would look for. I modded some torches a while back so 3 modes, high, medium and low with the torch coming on in that order, no unwanted flashes, which to me is perfect.
If you have to go through a performance every time you switch it on it will wind you up.
Another piece of bloody daftness I have spotted is tinted glass, it gets unreal.

If you dont mind paying the money Fenix is possibly the best torch you can buy.
I still have one I won in a photo competition in 2009, works perfectly still.
You can get these at right price off eBay.

 

[droid]

I bought a Convoy torch off Fast-tech a few years ago. Perfectly usable torch, and my torch of preference over Fenix where there's a chance of losing it.

It was recommended on here or AditNow. 

 

[mudman]

Thanks for the replies Roy and Droid. I am tempted by the Fenix FD65 which looks like am excellent torch.  Some of those on the Fasttech site though do look awesome so I may give one of them a go instead.

 

[Madness]

I've now got 2 Convoy torches and can recommend both. The S2+ is small and compact. They come in various outputs, mine is the most powerful version. The beam pattern is quite floody. I like it a lot, but I needed something with more throw, so I bought a Convoy C8. The C8 is less compact due to it's larger reflector and it definately throws further than the S2+, still not far enough for my needs though, so it'll be modified with a different driver soon.
I should have done a bit more research about the Convoys before buying as some models have a much better driver with a much better choice of modes. These are running 'Biscotti' firmware.
Build quality of the Convoys is excellent. I have another C8 on order, a clear anodised one which has the 'Biscotti' driver. Check out the Convoy reviews on Youtube or Budget Light Forum.