Thanks for the review. I purchased this exact light right after seeing your video. The programming was very simple and allowed me to do one click for moonlight, two clicks for medium, three clicks for medium high, and two clicks and hold for high. Also programmed in light lockout and true momentary as on the go options. An outstanding flashlight and the high CRI (Color Rendering Index) light is where everyone will be migrating after they get over the Lumens race distraction.
any plans on trying a surefire? as a suggestion: try streamlight for relatively value lights and try malkoff devices for really simple design and super solid feel while keeping an okay price.
I would be extremely shocked if Nick has never "tried" a malkoff or surefire and I'm pretty sure he has probably held more streamlights than most people have seen...just saying
I agree in terms of size the clicky could have possibly been engineered a little different to cut down on size. I personally am a huge HDS fan, the rotary is the Toyota Hilux of flashlights. A hard working durable tool that you can depend on and gets good gas mileage. Before I ever had one I thought what the hell is the point in getting an HDS that DOESNT have the rotary feature. So then I got a rotary and liked it so much and the company the close nit fan base that almost seems like a family affair and just the fact that they are technically a "custom" flashlight, yet not custom in the trendy white glove boutique shelf queen kinda way. More a small time US based operation. Anyways now I live clickys and anything HDS. Good video thanks
I'm interested to hear your thoughts on the Rotary. I personally like the sound of that UI, but for the price, I'd rather have 2+ times the max brightness, brass or titanium body material, reduced size, and a freakin' pocket clip.
Sounds like you are more into the collecting aspect of lights, being that HDS offers probably the best and most well renowned and well regarded edc flashlight currently available (10 + years & still running strong) amongst both the flashlight and edc communities. So it's common knowledge that HDS uses TRUE calibrated lumen outputs. In other words a 300 lumen HDS light is brighter, and has a cleaner more useable beam than most chinese production lights of the same size/format. Also, Brass and Titanium are two of the worst choices of metal to make an edc flashlight with. Ok to be fair, rather than worst I'd say more the least practical. Yes titanium is strong and fairly light yet offers pretty lousy heat dissipation. So for any light OTHER than an HDS or say a McGizmo, that are fairly thermally efficient lights due to there smaller size and "lower" outputs (compared to say a D4V2) ((hense why high output lights such as D4V2 have a copper midsection around the LE for better thermal regulation)). And ofcourse most small aaa and aa lights made of titanium should be fine due to negligible heat production. And brass is my favorite metal for sure I have always loved the look of a nice dark blacking patinad brass, and I love the look of shiny new brass as well. Things made if brass usually instantly catch my eye and when I first got into this hobby I started making sure all lights purchased were brass.. or copper, if different metals were offered ofcourse. However, couple years, couple grand and too many lights to count later... I realize the impracticality of a flashlight made of solid Brass. A year of EDCing Brass lights resulted in super toned legs and the purchase of a well made belt! So as far as edc lights go, I'll tell ya from first hand experience, HDS makes THE best (imo) -most practical flashlight money can buy.
i have an elzetta bravo with avs head, the alpha would have a single cr123a and the charlie runs 3. doesnt have as many modes but its got potted electronics as well. its pretty big for my tastes so i had it in my bag for a while but switched my bag light to a dual output surefire fury and threw the elzetta on one of my ar's. price on elzetta is similar, maybe cheaper. alpha is definitely cheaper
surefire eb1 and e1d are also similar single cr123a options. i have an e2d "defender ultra" and its really nice but i leave it bedside. its a pricey light too, and a little much for me for edc. it doesnt work well with rechargeables so i dont like to edc it. the fury works fine with 16650's so thats why its in my bag instead with cr123a's as back up.
Take a look at some of the youtube videos showing them being thrown long distances onto hard surfaces (rocks and cement) without damage or only with cosmetic damage. Their internals are completely potted so resistant to everything from shock to EMP. They are really tough, probably the toughest lights I've encountered and I've owned/seen/handled a LOT of lights.
That name "executive" seems lost on this light. Not enough went into its aesthetics, IMO, to call it executive. Also there are much smaller and brighter lights at this price point. Maybe 10 years ago this light would have impressed me but not now with all the amazing options fro so many great companies.
The Executive is just a renamed version of HDS Systems' Clicky model. Shape-wise, all their lights are generally the same. The naming is just to differentiate the UI of each flashlights, i.e. clicky, rotary and now discontinued twisty.
Smaller and brighter is quite beside the point. The reality is, you'll almost never need more than ~300 lumens for everyday applications; the lumens race is a fool's race. In any case, the build quality and sheer quality of this light are unprecedented. You get what you pay for quite often :)
I find the irony in your ignorance a bit funny and satisfactory, cuz, the thing is this is four years AFTER you commented on how you felt this light was 10 years outdated. Well, now being 2020 that would make it 14 years outdated... Yet it's still THE most durable pocketable (and probably otherwise) flashlight on the market today. And being that the need for mankind to be able to see will always be relevant, there really can't be an "outdated" or "no longer relevant" flashlight as an illumination tool. Well maybe outdated I suppose, but ALL HDS lights are anything far from outdated in both the components, which as a matter of fact are STILL top of the line in efficiency as well as dependability and imo ease of use (good UI). And really 10-14 years ago were just flat out innovative and revolutionary (no pun intended *ahem rotary). As for the brightness. . . Well I'm not even gonna get into that you can research how our eyes perceive light and adaptable brightness and tactical brightness etc. Etc. But I can assure you that modernized HDS flashlights are anything BUT dim. ...just sayin..
Thanks for the review. I purchased this exact light right after seeing your video. The programming was very simple and allowed me to do one click for moonlight, two clicks for medium, three clicks for medium high, and two clicks and hold for high. Also programmed in light lockout and true momentary as on the go options. An outstanding flashlight and the high CRI (Color Rendering Index) light is where everyone will be migrating after they get over the Lumens race distraction.
Fun fact: there's an Easter egg. From off, click 9 times. You now have an HDS candle.
I got my HDS executive just the other day and thanks to you I noticed an interesting feature. Thank you!
any plans on trying a surefire?
as a suggestion: try streamlight for relatively value lights and try malkoff devices for really simple design and super solid feel while keeping an okay price.
I would be extremely shocked if Nick has never "tried" a malkoff or surefire and I'm pretty sure he has probably held more streamlights than most people have seen...just saying
I agree in terms of size the clicky could have possibly been engineered a little different to cut down on size. I personally am a huge HDS fan, the rotary is the Toyota Hilux of flashlights. A hard working durable tool that you can depend on and gets good gas mileage. Before I ever had one I thought what the hell is the point in getting an HDS that DOESNT have the rotary feature. So then I got a rotary and liked it so much and the company the close nit fan base that almost seems like a family affair and just the fact that they are technically a "custom" flashlight, yet not custom in the trendy white glove boutique shelf queen kinda way. More a small time US based operation. Anyways now I live clickys and anything HDS. Good video thanks
fl tajam bersinar
I'm interested to hear your thoughts on the Rotary. I personally like the sound of that UI, but for the price, I'd rather have 2+ times the max brightness, brass or titanium body material, reduced size, and a freakin' pocket clip.
+cloudcleaver23 You're Psychic!
+Nick Shabazz To be fair, I think he has a pocket clip in the works. at least it was in the works when I looked into these about three years ago.
Yep, it's available, but it's not a graceful solution, and they want $60 on top of the price. More Thursday!
Sounds like you are more into the collecting aspect of lights, being that HDS offers probably the best and most well renowned and well regarded edc flashlight currently available (10 + years & still running strong) amongst both the flashlight and edc communities. So it's common knowledge that HDS uses TRUE calibrated lumen outputs. In other words a 300 lumen HDS light is brighter, and has a cleaner more useable beam than most chinese production lights of the same size/format. Also, Brass and Titanium are two of the worst choices of metal to make an edc flashlight with. Ok to be fair, rather than worst I'd say more the least practical. Yes titanium is strong and fairly light yet offers pretty lousy heat dissipation. So for any light OTHER than an HDS or say a McGizmo, that are fairly thermally efficient lights due to there smaller size and "lower" outputs (compared to say a D4V2) ((hense why high output lights such as D4V2 have a copper midsection around the LE for better thermal regulation)). And ofcourse most small aaa and aa lights made of titanium should be fine due to negligible heat production. And brass is my favorite metal for sure I have always loved the look of a nice dark blacking patinad brass, and I love the look of shiny new brass as well. Things made if brass usually instantly catch my eye and when I first got into this hobby I started making sure all lights purchased were brass.. or copper, if different metals were offered ofcourse. However, couple years, couple grand and too many lights to count later... I realize the impracticality of a flashlight made of solid Brass. A year of EDCing Brass lights resulted in super toned legs and the purchase of a well made belt! So as far as edc lights go, I'll tell ya from first hand experience, HDS makes THE best (imo) -most practical flashlight money can buy.
i have an elzetta bravo with avs head, the alpha would have a single cr123a and the charlie runs 3. doesnt have as many modes but its got potted electronics as well. its pretty big for my tastes so i had it in my bag for a while but switched my bag light to a dual output surefire fury and threw the elzetta on one of my ar's. price on elzetta is similar, maybe cheaper. alpha is definitely cheaper
surefire eb1 and e1d are also similar single cr123a options. i have an e2d "defender ultra" and its really nice but i leave it bedside. its a pricey light too, and a little much for me for edc. it doesnt work well with rechargeables so i dont like to edc it. the fury works fine with 16650's so thats why its in my bag instead with cr123a's as back up.
I love my Bravo it is a beast
How shock resistant is this object?
Under what threshold of Ld/F can it withstand before failure?
You'd have to ask the manufacturer, but the thing is stout enough that I'm not worried.
Take a look at some of the youtube videos showing them being thrown long distances onto hard surfaces (rocks and cement) without damage or only with cosmetic damage. Their internals are completely potted so resistant to everything from shock to EMP. They are really tough, probably the toughest lights I've encountered and I've owned/seen/handled a LOT of lights.
I bet you could beat the crap out of Superman with it.....The other you light mentioned may be the one for most of us?
You'll find out on Thursday! :D
These things cost even more now.
That name "executive" seems lost on this light. Not enough went into its aesthetics, IMO, to call it executive. Also there are much smaller and brighter lights at this price point. Maybe 10 years ago this light would have impressed me but not now with all the amazing options fro so many great companies.
The Executive is just a renamed version of HDS Systems' Clicky model. Shape-wise, all their lights are generally the same. The naming is just to differentiate the UI of each flashlights, i.e. clicky, rotary and now discontinued twisty.
Smaller and brighter is quite beside the point. The reality is, you'll almost never need more than ~300 lumens for everyday applications; the lumens race is a fool's race. In any case, the build quality and sheer quality of this light are unprecedented. You get what you pay for quite often :)
I find the irony in your ignorance a bit funny and satisfactory, cuz, the thing is this is four years AFTER you commented on how you felt this light was 10 years outdated. Well, now being 2020 that would make it 14 years outdated... Yet it's still THE most durable pocketable (and probably otherwise) flashlight on the market today. And being that the need for mankind to be able to see will always be relevant, there really can't be an "outdated" or "no longer relevant" flashlight as an illumination tool. Well maybe outdated I suppose, but ALL HDS lights are anything far from outdated in both the components, which as a matter of fact are STILL top of the line in efficiency as well as dependability and imo ease of use (good UI). And really 10-14 years ago were just flat out innovative and revolutionary (no pun intended *ahem rotary). As for the brightness. . . Well I'm not even gonna get into that you can research how our eyes perceive light and adaptable brightness and tactical brightness etc. Etc. But I can assure you that modernized HDS flashlights are anything BUT dim. ...just sayin..
@@kodyschmautz7799 ok