Sunwayman V11R

Meat and Potatoes

At first glance, the V11R appears to be nothing more than a minor collection of updates to the venerable V10R from recent times, When it boils right down to it though, is there really anything wrong with that? The V series has been one of my favorite lines since they were first introduced. Pressing for more refinement from a long standing winner is usually a positive experience.

Output on the V11R comes thanks to the premium Cree XM-L LED. Sporting such a large die nestled in such a small and narrow reflector, the V11R is most definitely a short range floody light, rather than a distance illuminator. The beam has a hint of ringyness to it when hunting the elusive white wall, but in all world practical use, no distractions present themselves taking away from the smooth wide beam of light. The beam profile is very similar to that which is found on the recently reviewed M11R, suggesting the likelihood of shared parts. This is completely to be expected, and in no way a negative.

Cree XM-L

Output as well is quite incredible. My 16340 punches an unbelievable 500 lumens out of this tiny beast. The low end is a very respectable fractional lumen as well, allowing it to function as well for checking the baby in the middle of the night as it does checking what went bump in the back yard. A standard CR123A cell does have a much lower 190 lumen rating, but also lasts correspondingly much longer.

Control of the V11R is exactly identical to the “10″ model preceding it. A tail cap power switch with a completely variable control ring sitting directly behind the distinctive cooling fins on the head. Fit and finish on this model mirror what we have come to expect from Sunwayman both in machine work and anodizing, except standard diamond knurling has taken the place of the more signature shaping we have seen previously. This diamond knurling does have one significant upside though, allowing better recognition of the control ring simply by feel rather than having to search around for it. The tailcap does possess the same scalloped compromise between both easy access and full tailstanding, but I don’t see this as the same level of detriment as I usually do because the scallops are so shallow.

Constructive Criticism

One of the biggest f it and finish “features” that have been added to the V11R is the inclusion of a metal switch cover (possibly even Titanium, I’m not a metallurgist though so I can’t be certain) . While this does add a significant level of visual polish to the light, there are some serious drawbacks. During everyday use, this metal cover has a drastic tendency to grind against the switch retaining ring, apparently made from the same metal. Unless you are applying pressure exactly along the axis of the light, there is a very unpleasant grittiness to its operation. While this has appeared to smooth out with extended use, it is something a consumer of a flashlight of this caliber shouldn’t have to deal with. I have heard rumor of some steps being taken by Sunwayman to correct this for future customers, and possibly for existing ones as well, but I haven’t heard anything official about it yet. If I do, I will be sure to update here with further information.

Metal Tailcap

One place where I think that Sunwayman dropped the ball during development of the V11R is the clip. Instead of emulating the excellent clip of the M11R, they included a simple tension mount clip that hearkens back to the early days in Sunwayman history. Though they came out of the gate with very strong and capable lights, their clip design was originally quite lacking. Unfortunately this model has more in common with those premier models than I would like. Obviously a tail mounted clip like the M11R would not work verbatim, but I’m sure the designers would be able to come up with something approximating the same level of quality.

Conclusions

The V11R may not be an incredible amount of innovation, nor even the perfect light to carry (with its current switch maladies) but it is still a shining example of the excellence of work that is produced by Sunwayman. It is simple to control and incredibly versatile.

Sunwayman V11R

Provided for review by the kind folks at Sunwayman.

Sunwayman M11R

Meat and Potatoes

The Sunwayman M11R claims to be simply an iterative improvement over the original M10R released early on in Sunwayman’s existence (back when they were known as SunwayLED), but truth be told, it feels far more like an entirely new flashlight model than simply technological advancements.

Sporting the same L-M-H sequence as the M10R, the 11 variant this time offers more definition between the modes. Medium and High have gained a readily apparent difference that makes them far more distinguishable and thereby useful. Low mode carries the same 4 lumen rating, along with it the same “moon mode” feel of it’s predecessor. Medium is a very useful middle of the road split between today’s screaming available top ends, but still remains as bright as many of the brightest lights of yesteryear. It’s truly high High mode is something to behold. Claiming output of 230 lumens, this tiny powerhouse is definitely capable of running with the big dogs of the present as well.

Sunwayman M11R

UI is likely the largest change between this and the M10R. The M11R simply doesn’t have a tailcap switch. The control ring has an “Off” position that suffices for that function, however by the very nature of such a design, this does allow for a minute parasitic drain on your cell. Sunwayman claims an ultra-low 50μA standby current though, which translates to an incredibly long time before you would ever notice any reduction in runtime. The remainder of the output modes are simply accessed by dialing up the ring until you get enough light. It is a fantastically intuitive interface. SOS and strobe mode are available as well, though thankfully tucked away far enough to prevent them from accidental activation.

The relatively narrow, textured reflector geometry and ostentatiously large die of the Cree XM-L creates a wide flood beam that illuminates a broad swath of nearly everything around you. This setup yields a beautiful smooth profile with gradual transitions from spot to corona to spill the likes of which the original XR-E was utterly incapable. There are some hints of ringyness to the outside edges of the beam, however they are extremely minor and don’t come into play during real-world use at all.

Cree XM-L

Fit and finish of the M11R are completely top notch as expected from Sunwayman. To date, I believe I haven’t yet had any reason to nitpick the quality of physical workmanship coming from Sunwayman. Normally my review samples have been a rather standard thick anodizing (though originally with a rather unique color cast) but this particular model was given to me as a method of showing how they are branching out in their available finishes. The Natural anodizing appears to be just as solidly thick as the colored variety has been in previous models, but it carries a rougher, grippier exterior to the table as well. This combined with the standard diamond knurling instead of the previous machining style gives a light with a very solid grip.

Constructive Criticism

Easily matching with the fantastic fit and finish is the Titanium, deep-carry pocket clip. In concept this clip is truly fantastic. It is very sturdy and extremely attractive. It does tend to ride on a smooth spot on the head of the light, rather than the body which makes it quite likely to leave a nice long scratch when you need to change batteries, however this is relatively easily avoided. Its biggest fault lies in conjunction with the ease that the control ring rotates. What this looks like in real world use is the light constantly tending to turn itself on when you attach it to your pocket. I tended to carry it on my left side, clipped to the pocket edge, and if I placed the light and then slid it aft, it would almost inevitably be on, at least in Low mode, sometimes higher. By default I think that this might have been somewhat mitigated by simply carrying it right side, however a flashlight wasn’t about to supplant the knife I’ve been carrying there for more years than I knew quality flashlights to exist. I’m not exactly sure what can be done to circumvent this scenario, but I certainly wish it wasn’t an issue. Sunwayman did include a decent quality holster with the light, but with a clip as nice as this, it really seems like you’re underutilizing it by not pocket-carrying.

Sunwayman M11R

Also of moderate frustration is the location where the clip rides. The edge of it just lands on the head of the light rather than some flat or smooth round of the body. This creates a minor problem where you need to take care as you change the battery or you will find yourself wearing a nice long scratch into the head as you rotate it under the clip. I would prefer to see this located elsewhere but honestly, the easiest fix for this is to remember carefully hold the clip away from the body any time you need to change the cell.

Conclusions

The Sunwayman M11R is a relatively worthy successor to its supposed forefather, however I personally view it as the start of a whole new line of lights. It seems high quality and is very easy to use. Good looks are just the icing on the cake.

Mr. Elfin

Provided for review by the kind folks at Sunwayman.

Practical Guide to Everyday Carry Gear

Podcaster Rob Robideau has put together an excellent resource to be another piece of the puzzle in your quest for pragmatic knowledge of your preparedness tools. Arranged as a series of interviews with heavy hitters in the worlds of flashlights, guns, knives, etc. We get to talk with the likes of David Chow of FOURSEVENS and Marshall Hoots of Going Gear among others, hearing about varied subjects such as practical uses of your tools and the current state of the industry. You are invited to take a realistic look at your tools and see what you can expect both as far as real world usage, and kind of a “state of the industry”.

Rob also offers a handy workbook that helps you determine your needs, and walks you through some of the basics for selecting your EDC gear. Both of these books are useful tools, giving further insight into the things you carry with you on an every day basis. They were definitely a good read, and even managed to open the eyes of this long-time veteran of these arenas to a few angles that I hadn’t really thought about before.

These are available in all the major ebook formats direct from the Personal Armament website (Click here for my affiliate link) or through your favorite ebook store.

Provided for review compliments of Rob Robideau.

FOURSEVENS Preon 0 SS

Meat and Potatoes

For years beyond recall, the venerable keychain light has found its niche as an AAA powered light with a standard twisty interface. The Maglite Solitaire was likely the most well recognized player in this field for many an age, however in recent history this position has been occupied by the more durable and lasting Fenix E01. Some manufacturers have supplanted the micro-incandescent or common 5mm LED with a larger, more powerful LED and cranked up the output (and consequentially, the cost) by a large margin. FOURSEVENS (formerly 4Sevens) has just introduced a new player to the market however that tries to stay within that much lower cost range, but take the light and your expectations to a new plane.

The Preon 0 bears the same namesake as its slightly larger Preon 1 and 2 cousins, but it is far from the same basic light, reissued. Using a combination of Stainless steel (for looks and strength), simplistic aspirations, and ultracompact construction, FOURSEVENS has managed to shrink an AAA powered light to proportions that are hardly to be believed. This lilliputian light is fully half an inch smaller than the already impressive E01. Honestly, the more I look at it and compare it to the size of the cell running the show, the more I suspect that David Chow consulted with the makers of the TARDIS before designing it. Trying to justify all the necessary components included in this light against the size of the finished product always leaves me scratching my head.

FOURSEVENS Preon 0 SS

Passing over the 5mm LED generally found in this size, FOURSEVENS has specifically chosen not to include the latest and greatest LED on the market, opting rather for the slightly older Cree XP-E which provides a majority of the same low end efficiency at a fraction of the size and cost. This LED is not sitting, as you would expect, behind a reflector, but instead the P0 has more of a light “director” that doesn’t actually focus the light, but rather just hems it in, keeping it headed in a generally forward direction. This is really an interesting piece, because it is not a polished metal, or anything shiny for that matter. Rather it is made of GITD material that captures the errant light from the LED and stores it for slow release after the the torch has been turned off. It really makes for a nice quality locator, and manages to glow for most of the night after a short use. This setup makes for the widest, floodiest, smoothest beam I have yet encountered in any light. There is nothing even resembling a hotspot anywhere to be found, but a simple and even diffuse spread of light from one edge to the other. In effect this is nothing but a bare LED, even though it is better protected than that.

Cree XP-E in a GITD surround

The UI of the Preon 0 is nearly as simple as it comes. It is a simple twisty interface with only 2 modes. When first activated it comes on in a nice fractional lumen moon mode (roughly a quarter lumen). Even with the broad swath this beam illuminates, it is still a very surprisingly useful quantity of light. Simply cycling the power brings up the output to a 25 lumen “high”. This still-low output is surprisingly bright in a dark environment, and really makes for a useful light. It’s not going to win any throw contests against any other light on the market, but for short range tasks, it can’t be beat.

Fit and finish of the P0 not only lives up to, but in some ways exceeds what I have seen so far from FOURSEVENS. There is absolutely no thread play to be found in this tiny torch. In past twisty lights from this company this has been an issue with some concern about mode skipping as a result. Thus far I haven’t yet ended up at an unintended output, even once. All the edges feel appropriately finished, and both the high polished and the satin finished sections appear flawless. They have even included a small neodymium magnet in the tail of this light as an added bonus, allowing you to quickly mount the light to any ferric surface. This wasn’t addressing any kind of need in the community, but rather a fantastic little extra showing that FOURSEVENS is going the extra mile for its customers.

Tail magnet

Constructive Criticism

With one of this lights biggest selling features being that is has to be about the smallest light possible for this power source, the choice to use SS as the body material seems to be more than simply aesthetics. I can’t really see Al being capable of being machined this impossibly thin and yet maintaining any modicum of strength. In spite of this higher tensile selection, the P0 feels like it may yet be prone to some fragility. I (being the key flipper that I am) have already begun a series of unintentional drop tests on it and it is starting to show in the form of minor dings and scrapes. I don’t know what the long term durability will be for a light like this. I suspect that it will be amply capable enough for the everyday tasks that are likely to be thrown at it, but I’m not certain it will be able to withstand quite the level of torture tests that some lights in this category endure.

Conclusions

The FOURSEVENS Preon 0 SS is truly a work of art. I am honestly incredibly geeked out about it, and for someone who has access to this many lights, I think that’s saying something. Just don’t try to mold it into a different class of lighting, because it will fail spectacularly. Do one thing, and do it well. That’s always a winning concept in my book.

FOURSEVENS Preon 0 SS

Provided for review by the kind folks at FOURSEVENS.

FOURSEVENS Titanium Tactical Pen

Meat and Potatoes

The 4Sevens (or now FOURSEVENS) Tactical Pen is designed as a precision writing implement for those who require durability in everything they carry. Machined out of solid Titanium, durability is definitely not in question for this jotter. The sides of the barrel are very thick, a fact belied by the tiny weight of the pen. The lightly brushed finish will probably develop quite a nice patina over time, but that is one of the best features of EDC products. They look good used, rather than shelf queens.

FOURSEVENS Titanium Tactical Pen

The supposed “Tactical” aspect of the pen comes from the optional threaded tips. The standard tip that is included is considered a glass breaker and preserves the sleek smooth lines. Also available are a lanyard loop for attaching (you guessed it) a lanyard, and a tactical strike point, or as I have taken to describing it, the puncture wound tip. This one has three sharpened teeth on it similar to most flashlight strike bezels. I have it on good authority as well that this tip was designed to hold a 6mm airsoft pellet. Using a glow in the dark pellet would actually be a good way to give your pen a GITD locator.

Modular tips

The FOURSEVENS pen’s writing function is based around the venerable Fisher Space Pen refill cartridges. These pressurized refills are a high quality ball-point tip that is capable of writing on nearly any surface in nearly any conditions. Underwater? No problem. Upside down? Of course it can, you’re not even trying. Microgravity? It’s called the Space Pen for a reason. Personally I think that most times I have used a Space Pen (including this iteration) it has felt just a little scratchy, but I imagine that is really a personal preference. It’s never been frustrating enough for me to look for something else to write with.

FOURSEVENS Titanium Tactical Pen

Constructive Criticism

As far as the various Tactical tips go for this pen, the one to which I gave the most thorough workout is the glass breaker. I can’t leave something that makes a blatant claim like that untested. Oonce I found myself staring at the broken shards of a Pyrex mixing bowl that had been accidentally dropped, I gave it a shot. Now Pyrex is incredibly hard glass, and this one was ¼”+ thick, so it wasn’t just a throwaway attempt. Sure enough, the tiny point is capable of breaking even this tough glass, but it came at a cost. The tip on my pen has now been rounded out a fair bit making it less capable in this regard the next time it is needed. I would suggest that this type of tip would be better made out of some hardened metal alloy (carbide or something) rather than the Ti it currently uses. In the mean time however consider it to be for emergency use only, so that it is still intact if you find yourself actually needing it.

Glass breaker

Speaking of interchangeable tips, I love the fact that this pen has been designed as a modular concept. It means that future releases can be made that will fit exactly with your existing hardware. Some suggestions of mine would be a tip that makes it possible to post your pen cap on the tail of the pen when you are writing with it. This would create a longer, more usable pen, though at the expense of reducing the sleek look it currently possesses. Another option (and my favorite one) would be a capacitive stylus tip for use on today’s generation of smartphones and media players.

Conclusions

Though not a true aficionado, I am no stranger to the fine writing tool arena. I have, however, long been a staunch member of the Fountain pen camp. Recently having my EDC of the last 15 years break irrevocably on me, I was definitely in the market for something fresh. This exquisite example is definitely enough to open my predisposition back to the world of ball points. It’s smooth, simple lines, durable construction, and compact size are exactly what I am looking for in a daily carry pen.

FOURSEVENS Titanium Tactical Pen

Provided for review by the kind folks at FOURSEVENS.

Lupine Piko TL Mini

Meat and Potatoes

The Piko TL is yet another instance where Lupine took one of their most popular mounted bike lights or helmet lights and attached a small battery pack directly to it, creating a more traditional flashlight (if my linguistics inference ability is correct, the TL stands for taschenlampe, flashlight in german). The Piko comes in three flavors. Enough for the discerning connoisseur. The Max is their high output 700 lumen model. The Ultra reduces the output to a still-bright 550, but keeps the same size as the Max creating a long runtime torch. This particular review model though is, in my opinion, the best mix of the three. It has the slightly reduced output of the Ultra, but a smaller battery tank, making it better suited to being carried in a pocket.

Lupine Piko TL Mini

The light of the Piko TL comes courtesy of a pair of Cree XP-G LEDs (XM-Lin the Max) sitting up front behind a doublet of collimating lenses. These, as many of you well know, are my personal favorite method of gathering light and directing it downrange. Not the least reason being that they just seem far more advanced, technologically from the basic reflector concept that has been the mainstay of handheld illumination nearly since it’s inception. However more importantly it is because of the preferable spread of light that these lenses typically give. Gone is the hard-edged, bright spillbeam that tends to create tunnel vision, and in its place is a gradually diminishing spill that reduces to near zero before dropping off entirely. The floody spread of light that results is quite artifact-free and very useful for short-range illumination. Basically everything I would expect and require of an EDC.

Lupine Piko TL Mini

The build quality of the Piko is simply superb. It is everything I have come to expect from Lupine, even after seeing a pair of lights that are absolute home-runs thus far. The fit and finish is completely unparalleled. From its simple design, to its absolutely built-like-a-tank construction. The Piko TL Mini is an excellent piece of work.

The battery of the Lupine Piko is actually an integrated unit this time around. It isn’t a modular approach as we have seen in the past. Instead you are actually forced to use their charger each time you need to top off the battery. I don’t personally see this as a weakness since this is designed as more of an EDC model, (hence not putting mention of it in the next section) but it is worthy of note. It is just something you need to keep in mind when you are carrying it. Also noteworthy, the charger adapter used for the Piko is not the standardized plug that Lupine has used previously with all their batteries so you will not be able to use the Charger1 with it without a special adapter. Thankfully Lupine does include an adequate wall-wart style charger along with the light, alleviating this issue.

Charger port

Once again, as with previous Lupine models, they have graciously included the necessary mounting point for their modular bike mount. This time around, I was able to test it out even. Using the typical thick o-ring attachment method, this tool-less bike mount hangs on securely to my handlebars, surviving my January jaunt quite adroitly. The extra bonus is that the crisp winter air flowing over the light was more than adequate to stave off the actuation of the included active thermal protection (another compelling feature of Lupine flashlights).

Mounting point

Constructive Criticism

I’ve mentioned this before but it definitely bears reiteration. The user interface of Lupine’s flashlights is directly ported from their bike light line. I am not entirely sold on this. Press for on is fine, but press to change modes can sometimes bring undesired results. Furthermore, hold for off generally does cause mildly irritating consequences. I have my Piko set to 2 step low with low start turned on. Generally these 60 lumens are all I need during my day to day usage, however in order to turn the light off, I am required to momentarily cycle through the full 550 lumen high output before the light switches off. I would much rather see a modified UI where it maintains press for on, but also has press for off, possibly a double click to change modes and still maintain the press and hold to program the light’s modes. I think that this would make a far more friendly UI for an handheld flashlight while still maintaining the full functionality of the current setup.

UI breakdown

In spite of being appropriately sized for EDC pocket carry, this little monster is still a touch on the large side. It would really be able to benefit from Lupine’s superior craftmanship being applied to a correctly sized holster. I would even go so far as to suggest that horizontal carry would even be ideal in this situation. Honestly, this is really not much of a gripe, but a potential suggestion for the future since the Piko (especially the Mini) is really incredibly small for it’s class.

Conclusions

A finally EDC-able Lupine. Really nothing more NEEDS to be said. The Piko so clearly exudes the Lupine signature style and quality that is instantly recognizable to any who have used one. Built like a tank, but this time in miniature.

Lupine Piko TL Mini

Provided for review by the kind folks at Lupine.

Lumintrek TB-1000 Trailblazer

Meat and Potatoes

The Lumintrek TB-1000 is the first (and so far only) dedicated bike light I have tested. I’ve tried out a few flashlights that happen to have a bike mount, but nothing quite like this yet. This is a very purpose built machine, and that generally scores points with this author. Compared to the units that try to be everything to everyone, I generally give the dedicated “do one thing and do it well” products the best reviews.

The TB-1000 is a fairly typical flashlight head connected directly to an integrated mount. The battery pack is only connected via remote and is not at all part of the same physical unit. Like most bike lights I have seen, Lumintrek uses an uber-thick o-ring to actually grip the handlebar where it will likely be attached. This ingenious design provides quick attachment/detachment if necessary and allows for inequalities between various mounting locations. My personal bike handlebar appeared to be a little thin for even the smaller o-ring attachment, causing the light to droop a little during rougher riding, but I really suspect that most bikes will not really have a problem with this. It wasn’t particularly bad even for me.

Lumintrek TB-1000 Trailblazer

The venerable Cree XM-L powerhouse is the order of the day once again. This tiny terror seems to have become the real go-to LED on nearly every illumination product being currently released. And no wonder, with a top end rating of 1,000 lumens, it’s not hard to see what the allure is. However without documentation specifying the adherence to ANSI FL1 standards, I tend to wonder whether these are out the front numbers, or simply calculated potential maximums. Either way though, the end result is one crazy bright light.

Cree XM-L

As I have seen before, the UI of a light designed for the bike trail apparently tends to differ quite significantly from what one generally experiences with a flashlight. Press-for-on is natural enough, but this one, like others, then moves to press-to-change-modes. I guess I can understand the concept, seeing as it would be easier to simply press a button to alter the output, than it would to press and hold it, while riding that is. Turning it off is a simple matter of hold the button for a few seconds. If you hold it long enough though, you will end up with a slow flashing mode to signal your whereabouts while still preserving runtime. I believe in some parts of the world, this might even be some kind of regulation that needs to be followed for riding on-road.

Illuminated switch

Build quality seems appropriately adequate, especially considering that this is something designed to be mounted rather than carried. The battery pack is simply what appears to be a quartet of 18650 cells packaged together and contained in a nylon and velcro enclosure. The light head itself however is well machined Aluminum with an apparently thick anodized finish.

Battery Pack

Constructive Criticism

The TB-1000 comes with a pretty standard H-M-L mode sequence with decently usable spacing between the modes. Lumintrek however uses a relatively high frequency PWM to create these lower modes. To be honest, it wasn’t something that was very blatantly noticeable, but those who are particularly sensitive to it may find it potentially distracting. I just think that a large capacity light designed for a moving platform such as this would definitely have benefited from a current regulated setup.

More noticeable by far is the poor quality of the beam itself. The overall shape is decent, providing a moderately throwy / midrange shape that does an acceptable job of spreading the light both across the path, and down range. The problem comes from the incredibly ringy nature of the beam. It honestly has the most artifacts I have yet seen, including besting all of my old Cree XR-E lights. Normally this would be the point where I would suggest the simple inclusion of a textured reflector, but the TB-1000 already has one. I believe that the only thing that could correct this problem is actually a major revision of reflector geometry. Don’t get me wrong, the light is still usable (I braved a bike ride in Michigan in January to ensure that), but the bulls-eye beam definitely ranks as distracting.

Lumintrek TB-1000 Trailblazer

Conclusions

A fairly well thought through light, with a definite purpose-built mentality. It’s incredibly bright and well manufactured. The biggest drawback is the less than stellar beam quality, but on the whole a very usable product.

Provided for review by the kind folks at Light Junction.

JETBeam Jet III-M XM-L

Meat and Potatoes

JETBeam seems to have developed a bit of a signature following with their Jet III-M lights. As such, they seem to be some of the earliest models to get the typical upgrade treatment common to lights of this caliber. Once the LED is no longer the top dog in the market, it becomes time to once again step up and bring the light back to the bleeding edge of technology. It’s not that the “old” XP-G was really that outdated, its just that the new XM-L is, well, newer.

Switching to the larger die XM-L does precipitate some fairly significant changes in beam profile over its much more minute sibling. Most notably is the fact that the increased surface area of the die best serves to dissipate the light into a much more diffuse pattern. This combined with the textured reflector (compared to smooth previously) gives this Jet III-M a much floodier beam by comparison. This translates to the 450 lumen max output on this model having a much larger hotspot than the XP-G model from last year, whereas that LEDs top end 355 lumens are better suited for distance illumination. In short, the XP-G throws much better in a dark field, but the XM-L does a better job at lighting up the room or area close at hand.

XM-L

Fit and finish of the III-M are superb as is usually found on JETBeam products. The anodizing is flawless, uniform and appears quite thick. Good care was taken to ensure that no rough edges were left behind to give the appearance of an unfinished product. The anodizing is a little darker than the steel grey that previous products have sported, but is not yet quite a full black. I don’t know if this is just variance between anodizing batches, or if there has been a shift toward darker tones, but either way, it gets the job done. JETBeam genuinely appears to know what they are doing when creating a durable tool, meant to be used.

JETBeam Jet III-M XM-L

Constructive Criticism

This section of my review is going to be a bit harder to write this time than last. There are definitely no glaring faults that jump out at me like last time. The larger LED and textured reflector have mitigated the issues I had with beam quality quite thoroughly and JETBeam seems to have updated the electronics enough to have drastically reduced the amount of time required to program the 2nd mode. This is (personally speaking) a much better light than its predecessor.

The one fault that I glossed over without really mentioning in the previous review is the tailcap switch. Once again a company has chosen to use my least favorite style. A forward clicky switch that would normally be protruding has a scalloped crown around it to somewhat allow for tailstanding. Anyone who has read this blog for any length of time has to know that I rather disapprove of this method. I know there are a few of you who prefer it, but I would much rather see a manufacturer choose sides and either offer a true easy access protruding switch or a solid, stable tailstanding ring that completely encompasses the switch. Do one thing, and do it well. I always prefer that. You can’t please all the people all the time.

JETBeam Jet III-M XM-L

Conclusions

It may seem like “just and LED upgrade” but in my book it really makes this quality light much more usable. When you improve on good, you get great.

Provided forreviewby the kind folks at JETBeam.

Olight S65 Baton

Meat and Potatoes

With it’s unique cylindrical body It may be fairly apropos to be called the Baton, however when I first wrap my hand around it and thumb the activation button, I very nearly expect to hear the signature snap-hiss of George Lucas’ premiere invention, the Light Saber. The S65 has a fantastic feel in hand. Balance, size, and heft are all ideal for a compact mega-light. That’s really the best description I can offer for this light. It has all the output of the huge lights from just a year or two ago, and yet a size that is not enormously larger than your average duty light.

The giant output of the S65 comes courtesy of the mid-size powerhouse Cree XM-L LED. This extremely versatile emitter is capable of producing a huge quantity of lumens and the S65 doesn’t disappoint. Capable of unleashing a searing 700 lumens of top end power, it is also adroit enough to efficiently squeeze out a meager 20 lumens for a claimed 360 hours.

Cree XM-L

This LED sits nestled at the base of a lightly textured reflector. It is similarly sized and appears to possess a similar geometry to many of the existing XM-L duty lights that Olight has released lately. The S65 shares an identically machined head including this reflector with its smaller sibling, the S35. It produces a very useful general-purpose beam that is neither pencil thin focus, nor a pure flood beam. It has a relatively tight hotspot that is well blended in to a bright spill beam through a generous transitional corona. In effect this creates an excellent nighttime walking light especially when combined with the soft-touch electronic side switch that promotes underhanded carry and use.

The LED, head and reflector is not all the S65 shares, the UI is also identical along these family lines. It is a 3 mode L-M-H setup with mode memory. The operation hails from Olight’s earlier forays into electronic switches in the extreme SR series. While the light is on, simply press and hold the switch and it begins to cycle through all three modes. Release when you land on your desired output and go about your business. There are a few hidden features as well, such as a strobe mode that is accessible with a quick double click from any point, as well as a standby/lockout mode activated by holding down the button (and cycling through the modes) for 9 seconds. Also of note, something that I forgot to mention in my review of the S35, these two models have a low battery indicator in the form of a red led behind the switch. This method of power indication is far more preferable than anything interfering with the main beam, either through flashing during use, or only showing up when asked for. It is simple, passive and non-intrusive.

Fit and finish of the Olight Baton series is, in my opinion, superb. The subtle ridging that is used in place of the standard knurling is both unique and from personal experience grippy enough to not cause consternation. I have heard some people express concerns about slippery handling with wet hands or in colder weather, but I haven’t personally experienced it to be an issue. The remainder of the machining also lives up to standard Olight quality and they have set the bar quite high.

Olight S65 Baton

Constructive Criticism

While definitely not as large as many of the super-sized mega-lights out there, the S65 is definitely of the type requiring deliberate carry intent. It’s not much of a light that you would just happen to have on you when you might need it, but more of the type that you grab specifically to go out flashlighting (or camping, dog-walking, etc.). I wasn’t provided with any of the usual included accessories, so I can’t comment on their usability or even presence for that matter, but I can say that the S65 would really benefit from a quality holster. It is still narrow enough that having it firmly affixed to your belt would not be a serious hindrance over the course of an evening out and about.

Power for the S65 comes courtesy of 6 (yes, 6!) AA cells stored in an integrated battery magazine, similar to the S35 and other lights. While I applaud them for using a common battery type to try and entice a less enthusiast/aficionado crowd, I think that this is just too many. I have a bit of an issue with multi cell setups, and my minor gripe increases toward a major one with the number of cells. Having this many in one application just gives the end user that many more opportunities for mis-balanced battery setups. This increases the risk of batteries leaking and/or damaging your light significantly. I really would have preferred to see this use some other source for power than quite so many AA’s.

Battery Magazine

Conclusions

The S65 Baton is a capable tool, and quite a joy to use. I just wish it didn’t require quite so many AA’s to run. I have no qualms about recommending it to people, just as long as I know they will be careful about what they feed it.

Provided for review by the kind folks at 4Sevens.

Olight S35 Baton

Meat and Potatoes

The Olight S35 Baton is something outside of the norm for lights in this general size range. Most of them I have been seeing lately are 18650 powered duty lights with a tailcap switch and a “tactical” cigar grip ring. This new Baton series changes that. In spite of sharing a very similar reflector diameter and length, it is powered by 3 of the more common AA cells instead. These cells live inside a quality battery magazine attached to the tailcap in a very similar manner to that found on the 4Sevens Maelstrom S18, though in miniature.

Olight S35 Baton

Occupying the business end of the S35 is Cree’s current top dog LED, the XM-L. This torch combines the wonderful wide angle emission pattern of this large die with a larger diameter orange peel textured reflector very similar to that found in other recent Olights. As such, the beam is also quite familiar. There is a fairly focused center spot with a good transition to a still-bright spillbeam that results in a very usable multi-purpose beam that is balanced neither as flood or throw, but with elements of each.

Olight S35 Baton

This battery configuration allows it to maintain a virtually cylindrical body that is extremely comfortable to hold. It likely would not be as comfortable to use however with the standard tailcap switch, however Olight has given us a very nice soft-touch electronic side switch. The UI of such a switch is quite similar to that utilized in the Olight SR series with a L-M-H sequence accessed by pressing and holding the switch. The S35 is capable of producing a very impressive 380 lumens on high, down to a miserly 20 lumens on low. A quick double press will give you a strobe mode if you feel the need, but thankfully it is hidden away from general use quite adequately. Also nice to have, but out of the way is a hidden lockout mode. Pressing and holding the button for around 9 seconds will deactivate the switch until an intentional triple click is used. This helps to eliminate battery drain by accidental activation for times such as when the S35 baton is simply riding along packed in a bag.

Fit and finish are simply superb. From the crisp lettering surrounding the unique recessed tri-wing tail lug, to the astoundingly grippy fine lateral knurling (for lack of a better term) the S35 is an exercise in precision. Olight has even included a beautiful red accent oring beneath the stainless steel bezel that even glows in the dark to some degree after the lighthas been activated for a while. I find this “feature” to be of dubious real world use, but a very nice touch none the less. Even the heat sink fins are smoothed to remove any rough edges before a flawless thick appearing black anodizing was applied.

Olight S35 Baton

Constructive Criticism

For as comfortable of a size this light is to hold, it does make it a little uncomfortable to carry. I did not receive any accessories with this review sample so I can’t comment on that at all, but i do know that it really needs to have a holster of some sort. It is definitely on the large side for any kind of pocket carry, but its output is a little low for your typical mega-light these days. Being such a strange intermediate size does cause some consternation as to its intended use, but that’s really one of those areas where “your mileage may vary”.

Conclusions

Quite honestly, there is very little I can suggest for improvement on this light. It is just a very nice finished product all the way around. You can tell that Olight took their time designing this one. It is a joy to use, if a slight burden to carry. And its finish is so nice, its almost a work of art at the same time.

Provided for review by the kind folks at 4Sevens.