Must Haves
50% personal subjective preference & 50% objective on being a great tool.
List updates as time permits...
Weltool 3vn Pro Tac: 1050L, 725Kcd, 1703m. Any other LEP this size linger around the 500L, and 500Kcd wall. This light doubles the output and up the intensity by 25%! A breakthrough is not an overstatement. In fact it’s the only single emitter LEP light to break the 1000L that I have handled. Weltool build quality is second to none.FireFlies T1R: SFT40 6500K 1360L, 100Kcd, 633m. This is one of the most impressive stock light to date. Hard to imagine what more one an ask for in a compact EDC thrower. I am not a fan of Audril 2 ramping UI and disco AUX LEDs but this light is go good I will take it. The short included 22430 1800mAh has great runtime while keeping light relatively short. Very unique optics gives ideal focus of the LED die which put nearly all quoted lumen into the hot spot with no spill. And for the price it’s a must have.
Fireflies NOV-MU 21 3800K HCRI: A mule is a must have in every collection. Its the beam of a household light bulb or the sun. HCRI in a warmer tint is a must. You will get a pleasant flat even wall of light with no artifacts. Nothing to distract. The ~180 degree beam lights up your entire field of vision. I make many mules. I even designed my own 12 LED MBPCB and a custom P60vn copper slug just for mules to max out output, CRI, and heat sinking. Problem is most of my mules cost a kidney. The NOV-MU 21 in 3800K is near perfection for both performance and value. It really makes my custom mules seem overpriced. For that reason alone I have to recommend this factory mule light.
Sky Lumen ToolVN Titanium: SFT40 6500K 1300L, 11Kcd, 210m. Crazy numbers for something truly tiny for EDC or keys. Titanium is great for EDC as its light, durable and stays good looking. Finally available with the user programable DriverVN4. So much potential for such a tiny thing. If you prefer a forward switch then go PreonVN instead. Be quick though as PreonVN will be gone forever pretty soon.
Surefire P60vn Host + P60vn Light Engine: Surefire invented the P60 system. An empty host with replacement light bulbs/engine and lego-ability of body parts. What a fun innovation. This set up has long been discontinued at Surefire but the innovation lives on. Many manufactures such as SolarForce, Overready, Texas Lumen, Seraph, Nextorch, Cryos Illumination, and many more including myself has given our best iteration of this platform. Unfortunately, it's now a dying tradition. But no worries, I am an absolutely lover of this platform and had promised myself to keep it going for as long as I am in business. Sky Lumen started making P60vn light engines and will hopefully someday go out with one. For now, enjoy the Surefires that I manage to collect all over the net, bored them for 18650, and upgraded the switch to make them modern again. IMO, you are not a tru flashaholic until you own at least 1 P60 light. Oh I made 100 Sky Lumen Nguyen. All sold out. If you want me to do another run send me an email. If there are enough interest may be I will make another 30. I did a bit of a write up here about P60 light engines. Have a read if you are interested in this platform.
Update: Reflector P60vn finally gets copper pill! Worth the reading! :-)
NightWatch NS14vn: 28,000L. Only minor mods but you do get the advantage of stock light pricing and Sky Lumen warranty. I don't think you can get more lumen for $135. Beyond the value aspect its also an excellent light inside out with a good UI. For the Cons section i literally put None. I am really not sure how this light can be improved. It's that good. Lots of flood and only comes in cool white 6500K. Good thing the tint is white white and the beam is clean for having so many reflector wells.
Weltool 8vn+ T8vn T2vn and T1vn (ordered from largest to smallest) are the best tacticals on Sky Lumen. For me a tactical light must have a rear mechanical forward clicky for momentary ON and tactile feel, form factor that holds and points well by being grippy and balanced, have DriverVN4, and last but not least a high intensity blinding hot spot. Weltool is one of the best in the business when it comes to this regard. Weltools also has the best build quality which I think is on par with any Made in USA lights. My personal favorite DriverVN4 mode group for tactical use is 10-4-4 => F/5/33 D for 100. Light will always starts on low to not blow out your vision and or reveal your location, yet, with a double 1/2 press you instantly get Turbo for business. Mid levels of 5% and 33% allows for extra long extended runs without overheat. For the most part a tactical light also makes for a great general purpose light. However, a general purpose light will never be a good tactical light. Example, light with side E-switches will make for clumsy tactical operations. Another highly subjective point is the satisfaction of operating a light via a great sensitive mechanical switch. Analogous to gun nuts obsessiveness with trigger actions. It's all about feel.
Acebeam H30vn Headlamp: 70.3 HI 5700K HCRI 2500L, 16Kcd, 253m. We all need a headlamp. It's a light that is least fun but most useful. H30vn checks all the boxes. High output with a HCRI throw beam, side red light and UV or HCRI floods, 21700 long runtime, built in charging, well balance, grippy headband with center head support strap, extra reliable, highly water resistant, and best build quality. No other headlamps on the market is this well rounded. Olight PerunVN 2 comes a very close second though.
Acebeam TK17vn: Triple W2 5400K + Custom Optics 2500L, 43Kcd, 415m. Best triple clicky 18350 EDC because there aren't many competition. A mechanical clicky that tailstand yet very compact and slim for accommodating a 18350 battery. DriverVN4 and being a triple opens up a world of options. Acebeam is also a top tier Chinese brand. It's only fault is common to some other Chinese brands. Over-design that miss more than hits. Perhaps aside from the point, but it seem in the flashlight world China has overwhelming dominance.
Jetbeam RRT01vn: SFT40 6500K 720L, 28Kcd, 335m. The perfection of linear variable brightness magnetic control ring. WHY aren't there more lights with a variable brightness control rings really beats me. It seems this is the best way to select output for perhaps 90% of general applications. Turn ring to the right for output ramp up and reverse to ramp down. Cant be more fool proof than that. No nonsense disco modes integrated into the rotation too. This V2 added a forward mechanical rear clicky for no parasitic drain and more functionality. 18650 body extended is also included for longer runtimes at the sacrifice of looks. Yeah, goes from classy to WTH with the body extender installed. Do the light a favor and toss them. There are better dedicated 18650 lights out there.
Haikelite HK08vn: 8*SFH43 6500K 54,000Lumen, 520Kcd, 1442m. $200!!! Yes 54,000Lumen for $200. Too good to be true but it is. Good Ramping UI. Great reliability! I only hate the stupid handle. I wish the button was on the body of the light instead. Light throw excellent with just shear output! Very good build quality too. $200 is a steal!
Manker MC13vn90: SBT90.2 5700K DL @2s: 4600L, 140Kcd, 748m. This is likely the best light overall on SkyLumen.com right now. Its price right at $100 with the ability to run 18350, 18650 and 21700. The performance is crazy for something that is so small and can truly be EDC. I am so content with this light I made quite a writing on the sale page. There was a sold out Limited Collab Edition with copper engine. Very nice but a tiny bit heavy for EDC also.
Lumintop 4695vn: 8*SFT40 6500K 13,000L, 145Kcd, 762m. First light to use the 4695 battery with a nutty 32,000mAh. Runtime last forever! Handles the heat! Serves a high capacity powerbank! Must charge cells inside of light as there are no charger big enough for this cell made yet. Light is also a bit heavy at 3lbs with battery. Raw aluminum silver is unique! I got one of these in my cars if that means anything to you.
Klarus WL3: A greatly under appreciated brand at Sky Lumen. Just tested the WL3 at 120 Lumen mode on 3500K non stop with well over a week runtime. I love the variable tint selections and build quality too! $54 really makes this one of the best floodlight on the market right now. I cant think of a better alternative! Its not perfect though. I would like even levels for even more crazy survival or nightstand ceiling bounce duty. But as is it's still very desirable. Update: Took a few of these to Vietnam on my 2024 trip and its works amazing for power outages and parties on the countryside needed more illumination. Very very impressive continuous 1500Lumen with low heat.
Klarus XT12GTvn & XT21Xvn: Both best of the best if you are into the dual rear paddle switch UI. These wont sell at Sky Lumen likely due to smaller brighter lights such as the MC13vn90. Regardless, these two prices are so good for what they have to offer. Pick XT12 for throw and XT21 for flood. I am a thrower fan but in this case I do prefer the XT21. XT21 is also more compact, looks better and feel more balance in the hand, has additional side switch for general hold and operation. Generally I find floody tactical light more practical due to reduced tunnel vision. Many of my tactical folks agree. These even have square cut threads!Give either one a shot and I am pretty sure you will buy the other too. It's that good!
Klarus GL5vn: This light doesn't have my R recommendations simply because its likely most doesn't have a rifle to use it with. But...this is the best rifle light for me. Only wished it was 21700 instead of 18650. If you got a rifle you gotta try this light out. If you don't have a rifle then buy one to try this light out!
Sky Lumen Ti: One of the sleekest AA size EDC. VEry minimal laser engraving. How it should be with every Ti lights. Very limited run with fun unique serials.
Sky Lumen CuTi: This is the best light on SkyLumen.com to me. Comes in the 2 material I like most. Titanium where it needs strength and looks. Copper exactly where heat is a problem. Performance is outrageous for an EDC. Runtime is excellent with 21700 body. User interface is the best ever suitable for both tactical and general use. Very limited with fun unique serials. Pricey at $254 but show me a better light for this money.
Nightwatch A59Lvn: A 4*18650 12,000Lumen light for only $88. Reliable too! Even without an "R" due to so so UI this light is worth mentioning here on this Must Have list.
Emisar D1Kvn: To me this is the MC13vn90 but with a Audril 2 Ramping UI instead of discrete levels Mdriver UI that I preferred. Great light :-)
Emisar KC1vn: This is one of the lights you fall in love with or you think its stupid. If you want the smallest AAA keychain light with forever runtime try a 1.5Lumen version. Put in an Energizer lithium AAA and damn your keychain light is set for life. Oh and I found out 1.5Lumen is enough to take care of tasks you need a keychain light for. 519a 4500K DD +90CRI wonders is the icing on the cake. I promise it's one of the best $22.22 you will ever spent on a light.
Noctigon DM11vn: Audril 2 + 21700 + SBT90.2 + best TIR on the market = Must Have. Although not for me since I prefer discrete levels over ramping UI.