"Branded" 18650s (Klarus, Nitecore)

[dks]

A lot of people are put off using 18650 batteries because of the dangers associated with, mainly, certain low quality offerings.
So, I was surfing through Focalprice and noticed these new offerings, branded and most likely genuine that should offer a higher safety standard to most users, at a price.

Klarus: http://www.focalprice.com/EB0101L/Klarus_18650_Rechargeable_Liion_Battery_2900_mAh_with_Protection.html 
http://www.focalprice.com/EB0102Y/Klarus_18650_Rechargeable_Liion_Battery_2200_mAh_with_Protection.html

(I assume they are using Panasonics, only 300 Cycles)


Nitecore:
http://www.focalprice.com/EB0106Y/NiteCore_NL186_2600mAh_18650_Liion_Rechargeable_Battery_Yellow.html
http://www.focalprice.com/EB0105Y/NiteCore_NL183_2300mAh_18650_Liion_Rechargeable_Battery_Yellow.html

(These look more reasonably priced, with decent specs; 500+ cycles, which is OK but possibly very conservative.)

They still sell some cheaper, Samsung cells which should be decent enough, though they no longer seem to have Panasonics..

These all are also available elsewhere too!!

[nuphoria]

Fairly pricey options - never had any probs with protected AW cells and they were a little cheaper than that. Is there anything make these ones special?

[dks]

They look cute!

[Millhouse]

Another brand worth considering are Eagletac. Their 18650's use Panasonic cells.

[dks]

I mainly use protected panasonics, sanyos and some laptop mystery cells.

I also use decent charges and volt meters.

The nitecore ones look interesting; good protection. AW allways seem too expensive to me.

[dks]

Didn't want to start a new thread, so here is a discussion from BLF regarding the ease of making fake batteries (in case you did not know....) :

http://budgetlightforum.com/node/14962