Flashaholic

The Led Lenser K3, model #8313, is one tiny flashlight. The primary reason for its minuscule form factor, is its use of four AG 13 “watch batteries,” which most probably will be the same reason people might look elsewhere.

The K3 measures 68 millimeters. That’s 2.6-2.7 inches. Now, look at your current key bunch and tell me there is nothing there that measures the same. Its bezel diameter—the K3’s widest part—is only about .8 of an inch. That said, this is not only the perfect key chain flashlight, it is the perfect key chain.

What we like

The K3 has an adjustable focus system which can be used for spot or flood light patterns. On spot mode, you can’t help but notice how perfectly circular its beam spot is. It gives out a maximum of 14.7 lumens, which is plenty, considering its intended use (key chain), and has a range of 113 feet. It sells for only $24.99, yes we placed that in the “What we like” portion because from its looks and build alone, you’d think it was twice-thrice more that.

What we don’t like

The batteries. The AG 13 format is not that accessible and is expensive. Today, a handful of one AAA-powered flashlight are available, buying those would make more sense.

Video Reviews

A number of people have already reviewed the K3, check out their videos to have a more up-close feel of what the K3 is about.

The SureFire G2 Nirtolon is an incandescent powered flashlight capable of producing up to 120 lumens. It has a tough, corrosion-proof Nitrolon body, and a micro-textured reflector. Its incandescent lamp produces a smooth beam bright enough to temporarily disorient an aggressor.

The G2 is small and light to carry. It is only 5.1 inches long and weighs 4.1 ounces. the widest portion of the flashlight, the bezel has a diameter of 1.25 inches. The G2 Nitrolon is powered by two CR123A batteries.

The G2 is the lowest priced SureFire flashlight available—retailed price, $39.00. You can compare it with the 6P model, except it is made of plastic. A special plastic called “Nitrolon,” which supposedly is tough, lightweight and can withstand high impact.

As per SureFire’s claims, this light should be waterproof up to 10 meters. It also has a lock out tail cap, which is quite impressive because this feature can be found on their more expensive lights. With a lock out tail cap, you eliminate the risk of accidental turning your flashlight on while in a bag or compartment.

The G2 Nitrolon is available is black, yellow, tan and olive green. The body tube has a sort of waffle pattern, which provides excellent grip.The bezel has some positive (embossed) ridges, which can also stop it from rolling, while the tail cap, negative (carved).  The inside of the body is lined with thin metal, just so for conducting electricity and completing the circuit.

The switch is a push type rubber switch, which you push for momentary on-off. Add a short twist of the tail cap and you get constant on. The tail cap is lined with an o-ring seal for waterproofing.

What we like

The plastic Nitrolon is something you need not worry about scratching or dinging. You can toss it around in your toolbox, glove compartment or wherever to your heart’s desire. It is very light and easy to carry. Be careful though as it uses CR123A batteries, which are not cheap. It has a very bright and useful light, comparable to that of D-celled lights, but has a relatively short battery life compared to that of something LED-powered. You can also upgrade the lamp assembly which can make it brighter.

By the way, it can’t stand on the switch end which is probably the only thing we didn’t like.

If  you are looking for a SureFire adapter/mount for your bicycle’s handle bar, you have a number of generic options to chose from, depending on which SureFire flashlight you are going to mount. SureFire does not have an official handlebar mount like that of Fenix’s (but even that you can use with your SureFire light), so we looked for some good mounts/adapters which you can use with your SureFire.

Below are some good options we’ve found.

Fenix Bike Mount with Swivel Base

The one from Fenix is actually a good choice—it can fit a number of flashlights because it has an adjustable diameter of up to 2.28″ and sells for $14.00 retail. But, if you don’t feel like using a Fenix product for your SureFire…

TwoFish Flashlite Holder

From TwoFish, a cheaper solution at only $7.00. It uses a hook and loop type fastener which makes it lighter. But, it can only fit small flashlights of up to 1.5″ in diameter.

Generic flashlight mount sold @ Amazon.com

Here’s something we saw at Amazon.com. It sells for $9.99 and can hold flashlights up to 2 centimeters in diameter.

Wald #40 Flashlight Holder

From Wald, something that can accommodate the bigger flashlights. A word of warning though, this thing is made of bent metal, you might need to add some sort of padding between the flashlight and the mount to avoid scratches. Sells for only $2.99.

Generic flashlight mount #2

Here’s another generic flashlight mount—it  can fit flashlights from 2 cm up to 3 cm, and handlebar diameters from 1.9 cm up to 2.5 cm. Sells for $9.99.

The 7736UV (HP7736UV) from Led Lenser, is a special order UV flashlight which uses Led Lenser’s prism reflector system, making it the most powerful UV flashlight available. It has a brightness rating of 0.3 Lumens and a power rating of 1.31 watts maximum. The HP7736UV uses 3 AAA batteries and can last up to 120 hours. It measures 3.9 inches long with a diameter of 1 inch. Its effective range is rated up to 88 feet.

Below is a customized SureFire flashlight that has a U.S. theme—blue, red and white (silver) colors, some stars and “Patriotic Spirit” written on the headpiece. From the actual 6P specifications, you get additional modifications such as a bored (to 18.65 mm) body, a hexagonal pyrez Z44 bezel, and a Z41 type II aluminum tailcap (twist-type). Gorgeous, gorgeous flashlight.

The 6P Patriot is currently selling for $154.

For more details, and to order, contact ElectronGuru from CPF.

New from Fenix, a one-CR123A powered key chain flashlight rated at, get this—190 Lumens! And, listed at only $60. So much for SureFire’s L1 LumaMax (65 Lumens, $159.99). The new PD10 uses a Cree XP-E R2 LED, which has a lifespan of 50,000 hours. It has 3 levels of brightness—low 6 Lumens @ 64 hours, medium 95 Lumens! @ 64 hours and high 190 Lumens!! @ 1 hour lifespan.

The PD10’s maximum beam length is at 110 meters; it has Fenix’s digitally regulated output, with which if previous versions attested to what consumers should expect is excellent, and is made of aircraft-grade aluminum with a Type III hard-anodized finish.

The Fenix PD10 measures only 73 mm x 19 mm, which still makes it one of the smallest, key chainable flashlights. It weighs 24 grams without batteries, and is waterproof to IPX-8 standards. It has a twist switch, and can stand up on a flat surface.

It comes with Fenix-standard accessories: a lanyard, two spare o-rings and a body clip. Boy, can’t wait to get our hands on these for an actual test/review! Stay tuned.

Author’s notes

It looks mighty plain though, just a plain cylinder with anti-slip grooves. Oh well, if Fenix’s ratings are anywhere near actual results, this flashlight is a bomb.

At $159 retail, the L1 LumaMax is no cheap flashlight. It takes in one CR123 battery, measures just under 5 inches and weighs about 3 ounces—perfect for every day carry. But wait, isn’t under 5″ a little too long for a single cell? It sure is, but this is mainly because of the dual stage tailcap switch. Plus, newer generation L1s are already made shorter than previous versions, and it comes with a CREE

The newer L1s should come with a CREE LED, so make sure you get the right product code when ordering, especially online.

Author’s note: Correction, there is a reasonable difference in appearance and size between generations of the L1 LumaMax so no worries. Just make sure it looks like the one in the photo below.

The hard anodized finish on the L1 is very durable—this coming from some experience with other SureFire lights. There are two brightness levels: maximum at 65 lumens and low at 10 lumens. The L1 should run for about 10 hours on low and just over an hour on maximum.

SureFire’s reflector on this unit throws quite a nice focused hot spot over a nice distance. The spill is also quite useful especially on larger open areas. We imagined the bright 65-lumen hot spot could easily disorient someone, which gives the L1 a tactical advantage.

So overall, given SureFire’s reputation as a top flashlight maker, the L1 should be a worthy investment. It’s well built, uses only 1 battery, is water resistant, and is adequately bright. If your job is one that encounters a lot of emergency lighting situations, the L1 is a great flashlight to consider.

Coast V2 Turbo Torches by Led Lenser is a series of flashlights utilizing the V2 power chip. It uses Coast’s proprietary reflector casing, making it a very powerful one diode light. The models from the V2 series are listed below.

V2 Nano Lenser

Model LL7466, the Nano Lenser, uses a reflector tube design and a diode-charged light chip. It measures 2 7/8″ long and includes a carry pouch. LL7466 is a red beam light.

V2 Micro Moon Lenser

Micro Moon Lenser is basically the same as the Nano Lenser except that it measures 3 1/16″ long. Model LL7464 has a blue beam while LL7465 has a white beam.

V2 Mini Moon Lenser

The Mini Moon Lenser measures 4 7/16″ long. LL7462 is blue-beamed while LL7463 has a white beam.

V2 Triplex

The Triplex has a three spot power beam. It has a crystal reflector tube, 3 diode-charged light chips and is 5 7/16″ in length. It includes a sheath and is also available with a rubber grip handle. Model LL7547 for the red beam, LL7546 for the blue beam and LL7546RG with the rubber grip, and LL7547 for the white beam and LL7547RG with the rubber grip.

V2 Moon Lenser

The Moon Lenser is a solid spot beam that has a crystal reflector tube, a diode-charged light chip and measires 5 7/16″ long. It is the one-diode version of the Triplex. LL7548 for blue beam and LL7549 for the white beam.

V2 Power Chip

The Power Chip is the top model of the V2 series. It measures 5 7/16″ long, has a diode-charged 1 watt light chip and 24 carat gold contacts. It includes a sheath and comes only as a white beam. Model LL7461 and LL7461RG with a rubber grip.

Shown below is the LL7461RG model (V2 Power Chip with rubber grip).

Unlike other flashlights we’ve featured here before at Flashaholic, the Inova T4 is the first to come with its own charger. The T4’s power comes from a single high-efficient lithium battery. Another different feature is its use of a mid-body switch, which activates high power, low, strobe and momentary. Surprisingly, the T4 also came with a DC vehicle power supply and a reserve battery holder/extension.

Specifications

• Weight: 9.81 oz.
• Light output: 175 Lumens
• Battery type: Lithium ion
• Run time: up to 2 hours
• Range: up to 350 feet
• Signal visibility: up to 3.5 miles

Sample Reviews

“I’ve had my Inova for almost a year now and it’s been a fantastic light. I also have a Mag rechargeable, and while the Mag has better control on lighting, the Inova is far more sleek, and more concentrated light wise. Fantastic light, bottom line, and I haven’t had any problems with charging it. In fact, no problems period.” — Mopar guy (Sunnyvale, California)

“A great light. It can go a good while in between charges. It is so bright that you can not look directly at the bulb when lit. It does a good job of lighting up the darkness as well. It’s compact shape and weight are perfect and it is the perfect size to fit in a sap pocket. The head of the light protrudes out of the sap pocket perfectly so no other holder is needed. Good duty light.” — T.H. (California)

Photos

Military Ops

The NovaTac 120M was designed for use by military, law enforcement and other tactical response professionals. It has 2 preset levels—10 and 120 lumens, where you can switch to map-reading to illuminating potential threats. Momentary maximum mode allows you to produce a quick burst of blinding light, or disorienting strobe, that can momentarily confuse an attacker. The virtually indestructible body is machined from aerospace grade aluminum and is weatherproof.

Additional specifications