[Closed] Torches P7 v XM-L T6

I just used my new XML for the first time last week... It's got some pros and cons.

Pros first, it's a lot brighter. On the medium mode it's just a hair less bright than my old P7 was on full. On full, it's brighter than both my old P7s. Quite a defined spot, it's still got an excellent flood but there's a definate bright spot then a sharp line down to a less bright wider spot. All relative, the bright spot is still bigger than the beam from a Joystick or similiar and about the same size as the bright area of a P7, but the sharp edge to it is a little odd. On medium it outlasts the P7 on full, by quite a long way.

Downsides... It's big, and it's a fair bit heavier, not weighed it but maybe as much as 50% more. Doesn't sound that much but it pushes it into "feels heavy". I mounted it in the same location as my P7 used to go, slightly off to one side, and I could feel the helmet constantly pulling to that side- never happened with the P7 at all. Obviously just needs a better location but that gives you an idea of the difference.

Full power eats a 2500mah cell in about 40 minutes, if my numbers were right. Not unreasonable really but that's short enough that it'll bother some (they should run it on medium, it's still good, just treat it like a long lived P7)

The strobe and SOS mode are of course no damn use at all. The switch has a memory so it'll restart into the same mode you left it, but you need to do a full cycle of the modes to get from medium to high, via bloody horrible strobe.

All in all it's a very good light. The extra power is nice, the medium power mode and long life is also nice. But I suspect i'm going to end up using it on the bars and keeping a P7 for the noggin, or look for something else lighter. Probably run it with my battery pack so I can just leave it on full whack for hours.

Northwind - interesting read, what make is your XML ?

yes, yes a million times yes! although my p7 [url= http://www.dealextreme.com/p/aurora-ak-p7-5-ha-iii-ssc-p7-c-2-mode-900-lumen-led-flashlight-with-assault-crown-1-18650-15739 ](this one)[/url] may not have been up to snuff - i've not seen another one in the flesh to compare, it just wasn't the eye-napalm i'd expected. received [url= http://www.dealextreme.com/p/eastward-yj-j01-cree-xm-l-t6-3-mode-900-lumen-white-led-flashlight-with-strap-1-18650-50512 ]this jobber[/url] a couple of weeks ago, and to be honest i only take the p7 along on the bars on a "i've paid for it, may as well use it" basis. the xml's brighter in medium than the p7 on full! for only 20 quid i'm fighting the urge to buy another one - i don't need that much light for what i do, and i'd probably incinerate passing wildlife, it's just such value.

considering it's cheaper than a p7, i can't see why anyone'd want a p7 torch now..

Believe mine was this one:

http://www.kaidomain.com/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductId=11243

Wouldn't neccesarily recommend it, like I say the modes are poor.

had a quick check on the cheap and nasty kitchen scales, and my xml comes out about 220g compared to the p7s 200g. does feel quite heavy on the helmet, but not to a problematic degree (though i have mine central, which probably helps). the 3 modes on it (burn your face/burn your eyes/epileptic fit)are all i can imagine needing, ignoring the strobe. handily, it always starts on high (handy for me anyway, else i'd have to go all the way through the modes to check, and things get a little OCD at that point). haven't given it a proper trial of battery life yet - pretty much just a quick blast round the woods on the way home from work, so can't offer anything wise there.

Ah right, so first click is high then you click it down to the other modes, but if you turn off you go back to high? That sounds ideal.

There's not really much point in comparing brightness on medium modes as that will depend very much on the driver settings. At the same current, the XM-L will be brighter than the P7

You do know that there are XML bike specific lights out now? As much as I love my P7 torch, the bike specific ones are more use on the bike/helmet..

http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/bastid-dx-p7-versus-bastid-clone-xml

oh and if you to click on Trout forum activity, you may find 3 for sale.. go buy them before I get tempted to..

http://www.kaidomain.com/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductId=11243

That's the one I have too. Mine weighs 190g, which is fine, little bit lighter than my previous p7 but not much in it. I find it fine on the helmet, because I run it centred it feels like less weight than my previous dual lumicycle halogen used to.

I like the modes, two annoying flashing ones like you always seem to get on torches, but the low medium high levels are perfect, low as a last forever get you home light, medium for normal riding (over 2 hours on a battery) high for scary downhill / showing off how bright your light is. Way better than any previous torches, which either had masses of modes, or just high and useless super low.

I like the all in one nature of a torch rather than a bike specific light personally, plus the fact that I can upgrade without buying new batteries or charger is great, oh and batteries being dirt cheap is nice too.

z1ppy - Member

You do know that there are XML bike specific lights out now? As much as I love my P7 torch, the bike specific ones are more use on the bike/helmet..

I reckon selfcontained's generally the best option for the head tbh. Already got a 4-cell pack for my bar mounted light. Otherwise yep I'd be buying a NuBastid.

I am running two XML torches and they really knock the spots off my old Hope 2.

One is a Ultrafire 504b torch with a P60 drop in XML module and the other is a Uniquefire (pretty much the same thing by another name.

I run one on my lid and the other on the bars and I stormed (its a relative term) down from Parkamoor to High Nibthwaite the other night.

Perhaps my P7 wasn't much cop as I never really rated it, but make no doubt the XML has the same runtime limitations but pumps out more light.

I did experiment with XPGs but found them to sharply focussed with a distracting hotspot. The XMLs have a good balance between throw and flood.

Like all Chinese torches there are build quality issues and the Hope runs alongside in case of a cut out!