riderInTheDark

After trying the UniqueFire S10 for some time now, I must say I really start to think this is the thing for me. So I put this list together and I intend to update it whenever new things come into mind.

The highlights:

• It is light weight - wanted to avoid extra weight as I attach it to my helmet, which is attached to my head .

• It is powerful - a single AA with 200 lumen light output.

• It was good value for money. The problem with that - you first need to buy and then also to use it for some time to know that it had good value for money.

Why do we always have to hold the product in our hands to know that it is really what we wanted?

tFUnK

what's the run time (on high and low modes), and is it really digitally regulated at 1000ma?

a single AA for 200 lumens does sound pretty good- so far i've just been using 3xAAA P4s and Q5s. i don't know how bright they are but they were advertised at ~200 lumens, and i get a couple hours of run time.

riderInTheDark

Hi tFUnK,

I use a rechargeable NiMH AA 1.2V 2300mAh GP (gpbatteries.com.hk) battery.
It gives me around one hour of joyride on HIGH mode. I haven't really tried it out on LOW mode so I could tell.

The cool thing: I simply take 2-3 AAs along with me and replace if I need it but I usually only have to replace one time as my night rides are not that long. I was actually wrong when I wrote it produces 22 lumen. On the site they say it will output 220 lumen. Well you don't want to insult 20 lumen by forgetting them, especially if you rely on them during a night ride

About the digital regulation I don't really know - how could one measure such a thing?
Could you please send a link to your flashlights? - I am interested to learn about better/similar products.

Thanks! :-)

daredevil

just got one myself...great buy. the choices we have for affordable lighting these days is fantastic.

riderInTheDark

daredevil - do you use it for bike riding? How did you attache it to your bike/helmet?
Feel free to post a picture

Thanks!

Totaled108

That look like a decent quality torch, for the price you can't really go wrong, maybe even get two, one for back-up.

Attaching any flashlight to your handle bars is easy and free.
I have ridden this way all winter with no problem. Used the same method to attach the second LD20 to the handle bars.
My commute was 13miles each way, 9pm for the commute home with no street lights to speak of. Worked VERY well.





I have since replaced the fat 26" tube with a sleeker 700C small diameter tube, so everything looks cleaner. Works just as well. The reason for placing the flashlight on the side of the helmet is, when its foggy, rainy or snowing the light won't reflect off the precipitation right into your site path. Found that out on my first rainy ride to work after placing it right on top of the helmet. If you never have rain or the like in your area don't worry about mounting on the side.

Here is how you make a free flashlight mount, bike shops should be more then happy to give you used tubes if you just ask.

daredevil

two or three regular rubber bands, loop them over one end of the flashlight, drop the rubberbands into the helmet, bring them out the other side of the vent over the other end of the flashlight and there ya go. No photos available at the moment.


I slide the flashlight through a small section of inner tube for tackiness. A person could easily attach a pair of those suckers to the helmet and they are light enough you would hardly notice.

I'm using a Fenix I've had for a long time on my helmet because of the flash mode for daytime riding. One of these unique's would work as well though.

daredevil

Time for a retraction...my uniquefire suddenly started showing why it's a sub $15 torch. I accidentally unscrewed the head as I was putting a battery in and it quit working and the threads of the head are stripped. You get what you pay for I think they say.

riderInTheDark

hi daredevil,

very unfortunate, sorry to hear that! :-(
I guess you could send them the torch back. I think they have some money back guarantee.

Mine still works though.

daredevil

I might but it was so cheap, not sure it's worth the trouble. It is a nice light when it works though and I know the consistency on the construction of these things is inconsistent. Likely a second light would work fine.

riderInTheDark

Totaled108,

Thank you so much for your post! I think it is great:
1. Simple.
2. Cheap.
3. True DIY style.
4. Recycles stuff.

Simply brilliant!