2 weeks later and my Yinding has arrived from China. Ordered through a seller on AliExpress, who now seems to be out of stock. £28 delivered, without a battery. Although it was advertised as lamp only it came with the usual headstrap, rubber rings, and a charger (which went straight in the bin).
I’ve had a chance to do a quick comparison with the SS X2:
– The SS X2 draws more current (2.3 A vs 1.6A). The YD should run about 40% longer on the same battery on full power.
– The YD gets hotter, quicker. It shuts down to medium power after 5 or 6 minutes with no airflow over it.
– The SS X2 is brighter, but the beam patterns are very similar. The YD has a more even drop off away from the centre, but the SS X2 has a bit more throw.
– Doing some very basic testing using a Luxmeter app on the iPhone suggest the SS X2 is throwing out about 20% more light
– The YD is tiny. It’s so small that it’s worth getting just to keep as a spare in your pack.
– The YD is made to a higher standard than the SS X2. It’s very nicely finished with no sharp edges, and the screws and button are recessed flush with the body. The cable exits neatly out of the side of the body.
I’d say the YD is the nicer light overall – it’s smaller and the lower power drain means I can run it for longer on full power. The extra output of the SS X2 on high is noticeable, but they’re both in the same ballpark. If you run a longer throw light on your helmet you won’t notice a difference between the two.
The only question mark is if the overheating becomes a problem in real world use.