Cree Skyray king 8500 lumen torch (review)

Cree make a range of Skyray king torches, all feature the cree T6 led, they come in 3-4-5-6 and 7 led configurations, this is the 6 led version review.

The torch is a little smaller than a can of coke, but about the same weight as near as I can tell, so a little too heavy for carrying comfortably in a pocket.  My tester came without any instructions so it took a little while to figure out the odd battery layout. 
The torch uses 4 18650 batteries, curiously all with the positive terminal pointing up (counter intuitive to me) it will also work with just 2 batteries (more on this later)

The torch feels quite solid and sturdy, it doesn't feel like it would break easily, it has the same sort of serrated front bezel (like most cree torches) called the DNA catcher for self defence, it's not as sharp or as pronounced as some. but this torch has some weight behind it, I certainly wouldn't like a smack in the face from it.

The torch has 4 settings, high, medium, low and if you hold down the button for 2 seconds strobe.
Light output is simply awesome! theres no other way to describe it, the torch throws a lot of light a good way but also has a good spread as well, tons of light to see where your going or search the countryside for something.

 My tester has a slightly 'warm' light compared to most led torches, but when I put on my car headlights on full beam they looked dim and yellow by comparison to the torch.
With one of these taped to your car you could drive home no problem if your lights failed, although you might blind a few other motorists.

Using with two batteries.  I wasn't aware the torch would work with only two batteries, while charging the batteries I put in the two charged ones while I waited for the other two, then I accidentally pressed the button while looking at the torch (all too easy) the result was temporarily blinding myself, we're talking minutes not seconds here as well.  Do not look at the torch when it's on or shine it in someones face you will blind them temporarily, and I don't like to think what prolonged close exposure would do, nothing good I suspect. 

You can buy these torches from around £15+ on ebay, for that kind of money this is a lot of torch, and a heck of a lot of light.  There is a brighter 7 led version which is claimed to be over 9000 lumen's.  I'm told that the more leds the more the spread of light, so the 3 and 4 led versions have a much more pronounced beam (many claim the 4 led is the best compromise) if I can get hold of one I'll do a comparrison.