SolarForce L2M and L2C P60 Host Review, and Solarforce Drop-In Review
The SolarForce L2M and L2C are stalwart flashlights in the P60 industry and for good reason: High quality at a low cost! Read on for more!
Official Specs and Features
Solarforce L2C is apparently not available anymore! Shame!!
Versions
There are a ton of options from Solarforce (although apparently no more L2C anymore). Even just the L2M linked above has options since it unscrews to a 18350 host too, just with what’s included!
Price
The L2M is on sale now for $12, but it is host-only. The drop-in linked here is around $28, but sales are often available. So complete light for around $40.
Short Review
I still love my Oveready Lava light (which is a P60 light too), but for the cost, it’s just about impossible to beat these Solarforce hosts. Particularly the L2C host, which has many carbon fiber accents – I love carbon fiber. (If it was carbon fiber and also had orange bits… I can’t even…)
Long Review
The Big Table
| Solarforce L2M | |
|---|---|
| Emitter: | Cree XP-L V6 |
| Cell: | 18650 |
| Runtime | Chargetime N/A |
| LVP? | Yes (drop-in dependent) |
| Power off Charge Port with no Cell? | n/a |
| Claimed Lumens (lm) | 830 |
| Measured Lumens (at 30s) | 661^ |
| Claimed Throw (m) | – |
| Throw (Calculated) (m) | 205.1^ |
| Candela (Calculated) in cd (at 30s) | 313lux @ 5.796m = 10515cd |
| Solarforce L2C | |
|---|---|
| Emitter: | |
| Cell: | 18650 |
| Runtime | Chargetime N/A |
| LVP? | Yes (drop-in dependent) |
| Power off Charge Port with no Cell? | n/a |
| Claimed Lumens (lm) | 830 |
| Measured Lumens (at 30s) | 492 |
| Claimed Throw (m) | – |
| Throw (Calculated) (m) | 182.6^ |
| Candela (Calculated) in cd (at 30s) | 318lux @ 5.121m = 8339cd |
| All my Solarforce reviews! | |
^ Measurement disclaimer: Testing flashlights is my hobby. I use hobbyist-level equipment for testing, including some I made myself. Try not to get buried in the details of manufacturer specifications versus measurements recorded here; A certain amount of difference (say, 10 or 15%) is perfectly reasonable.
What’s Included
I bought three packages, and that’s what’s seen below. Each package includes only the host, but of course, drop-ins may be added. Note that the pocket clip seen below is an add-on item, too!
Package and Manual
These lights ship in cardboard packages with plastic fronts to allow easy viewing of the host. The boxes are highly printed on the back, but it’s all specs on the host, since no drop-in is included by default.
And as a result, no user interface or specs since any drop-in could be included.
Build Quality and Disassembly
All these hosts are quite sturdy. One thing I’ve noticed on every P60 host I’ve had is that the threads are long – it takes a lot of twisting to get either the head or tail off the body.
The L2M in 18650 format can be seen below. The 18650 version actually is just the 18350 host with an extension tube. That doesn’t add much to the thickness of the body, though.
Here’s the same light with the extension removed. The 18350 body has the branding and model number.
And here’s the L2C, which is the carbon fiber host, and is only an 18650 light.
Here’s a view of the threads on the head end of the L2C. As I said above, they’re long threads. It takes tons of twisting to get the head on or off.
Here are the parts of the L2C laid out. Body, drop-in, head.
Both hosts have an aluminum sleeve in the head, which is standard-sized. Any standard P60 drop-in will fit in these hosts. I say “standard” because there are some “P60” drop-ins that are not standard. Malkoff, for example, makes parts that look like they’d fit, but are smaller than this host requires. Oveready Lava hosts (and possibly other of their hosts) fit these drop-ins, but do seem to require a spacer o-ring for best contact.
And here’s the drop-in in question. It has a thick spring for positive contact and a big thick spring for negative contact. You might find some other setups, often just a single spring in the center.
This particular model is labeled with the specifics (XP-L Module, Five modes, 2.7-9V) and the label color. (Other mode options have labels of a different color.)
The cell isn’t held in place, so it can be installed from the head or the tail. (This is particularly convenient when installing a new drop-in since these actions require so much twisting!)
It’s normal for the drop-in to stick up a little. The head will tighten it down properly.
One of the huge benefits of P60 lights is that the parts are very interchangeable. Here’s the L2M head on the L2C body.
And here’s the Oveready Lava head on the L2C body (!! woo orange and carbon fiber!)
And it works, of course!
Size and Comps
The lights in hand! My hand is exactly average-sized.
Here’s the best look at the thickness of these hosts. Slightly thicker than a Convoy S2+.
Retention and Carry
Nothing is included with just the host, but a pocket clip is available for around $5. It’s a collar slip, and thick, and very sturdy. It fits all the P60 lights I have, but I can’t say that it’s necessarily universal.
The clip also has a tiny lanyard hole, and as the clip is a collar clip using a lanyard, it would be secure (though an odd spot for a lanyard).
Power and Runtime
The L2C is powered by only an 18650. The L2M can be powered by an 18650, or the extension tube can be removed to allow the use of a 18350 cell. And since this particular drop-in can handle up to 9V, 18350×2 may be used in the longer tubes. Due to springs on both the tail end and the drop-in (which should be standard), any type 18650 may be used. And this particular drop-in doesn’t have high current needs, so just about any 18650 and most 18350 cells will work just fine.
Interestingly, the two hosts do seem to have different performances with the same drop-in. I couldn’t quite nail down what causes that. It doesn’t seem heat-related, and the drop-in seems to be spaced the same from the lens in both.
Here’s the highest mode with an 18650 on the L2C (carbon fiber). The drop-in isn’t controlled and just seems to track voltage down to the shutoff.
Output in the L2M is higher (and throw is also farther).
User Interface and Operation
The switch is a forward clicky mechanical switch. This means it’s possible to use the switch as a momentary switch. It’s big, clicky, and the rubber boot has Solarforce branding.
Here’s a user interface table!
| State | Action | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Off | Click | On (Mode Memory) |
| Off | Half Press | Momentary (and mode advance) |
| On | Click | Off |
I have the 5-mode drop-in, which is 3 steady modes with two strobes (strobe and SOS). Unfortunately, the strobe modes can not be avoided. So cycling through the mode always involves these two strobes.
Modes and Currents
| Mode | Mode Claimed Output (lm) | Claimed Runtime | Measured Lumens | Tailcap Amps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High (4.2V) | 830 | – | 1.61 | |
| Mid (4.2V) | – | – | 0.46 | |
| Low (4.2V) | – | – | 0.01 | |
| High (8.4V) | 830 | – | 0.72 | |
| Mid (8.4V) | – | – | 0.37 | |
| Low (8.4V) | – | – | 0.08 |
LED and Beam
My drop-in has a Cree XP-L HD and an orange peel reflector. The head of P60 lights is big(ish), and that allows (in this case) for a deep reflector. The beam has a medium-sized hot spot with quite a bit of spill.
The modes do cycle HML on this drop-in.
Tint vs BLF-348 (KillzoneFlashlights.com 219b version) (affiliate link)
Conclusion
What I like
- Ability to try a bunch of different emitters, modes, optics, etc.
- The build quality of these hosts is good
- Carbon fiber!
What I don’t like
There’s not much not to like!
Notes
- This light was provided by me for review. I was not paid to write this review.
- This content originally appeared at zeroair.org. Please visit there for the best experience!
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