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LEDs have changed our life beyond recognition, or rather that part of it that is connected with light. First, they made it possible to make screens thin, then they showed the world light bulbs that could continuously shine for years. Very soon they invaded the world of automotive optics, literally leaving no chance for alternative technologies. Finally, with LED elements, portable flashlights also experienced a rebirth. Now they do not have capricious light bulbs that always burn out. The power and intensity of the emitted light increased several times, and the heating of the hand-held gadget not only did not increase, but even decreased. In short, now a real spotlight in your pocket is not science fiction, but a reality that greatly simplifies life.
Editor’s Choice
MAG-LITE S 3D
No matter how good LEDs are, there are still unique ones on the flashlight market who continue to hold on to light bulbs. Among them is the American company MAG-Lite, legendary in “near-lantern” circles. The S 3D uses a so-called krypton lamp. This technology has nothing to do with Superman – the inert gas krypton is pumped into the flask, which gives a gain in light, temperature and, as a result, service life. But do not flatter yourself – the lag behind LEDs is dramatic in all respects. However, enthusiasts have long gotten the hang of changing light bulbs in MAG-Lite to LEDs, but this is history for homemade ones. The lantern itself is indestructible, firmly knocked down and inexpensive. And yet, the products of this company are in steady demand among local police officers, who often use flashlights as a means of defense.
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Top 9 rating according to KP
1. Bright Beam LH-500 “ENOT”
Although the manufacturer calls this flashlight a headlamp, its scope is much wider. If you get it from the silicone attachment to the head, then nothing prevents you from using it in your hands. And the magnetic shank will make the “raccoon” a useful thing, for example, for a motorist. In the kit you can find an 18650 battery, but not a simple one, but with built-in microUSB charging. True, users scold him, saying that the time of working with him is short. But no one bothers to change the battery to your own? With a relatively low price and retail availability, the flashlight produces 500 lumens and has three modes of operation. At the maximum, it is able to enlighten 3 hours
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2. TROPHY TG9
An ultra-cheap headlamp that you don’t mind losing or breaking. You can’t find metal in the construction – everything here is made of plastic to the maximum. There is a built-in battery, which contributed to the considerable size and weight (280 g) of the device. So, you can’t wear such a thing on your head for a long time without discomfort. But it holds up to 9 hours of battery life at a maximum of 50 lumens. By the way, there are even two modes of operation here – high beam, low light. In general, a good option for a fisherman, a hiker or as a flashlight in the glove compartment of a car.
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3. ERA Practice RA-801
Quite a practical device, in not the most frequent form factor. In general, the ERA Practitioner RA-801 can even be called an external battery – it can power gadgets from its own battery. He himself is powered by a microUSB cable, which can be found even in a remote place. The “brick” itself can emit light of 400 lumens, and its beam breaks through the darkness at 40 m. There is a hook on the body, which is very useful in camping, as well as a magnet, which will appeal to motorists. It would be a great flashlight if it had elementary moisture protection. The second drawback is the extreme instability of quality. Some specimens cease to show signs of life within a month after purchase.
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4. SPACE Accu9107WUSB
Don’t let the name fool you – there is no smell of cosmism here, this flashlight is of purely Chinese origin. However, like the vast majority of devices on the market. It is positioned by the manufacturer as a spotlight. With a luminous flux of 420 lumens, a large deflector hits 400 m. In any case, this is what the specifications say. The battery is built-in here, taking energy from the power cord, or from the car’s on-board network. The device is very large, but such is the format. With three modes of operation COSMOS Accu9107WUSB is able to shine up to 10 hours, which is confirmed by real users. Finally, moisture protection is declared here (it’s better not to risk it) and the ability to recharge gadgets from a USB port.
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5. Fenix PD35 TACTICAL EDITION
The second flashlight from the manufacturer Fenix in our rating. This time – with a formidable “tactical” name. However, advanced users can easily find analogues in Chinese online stores at a price of two or even three times less. But if you want here and now with a guarantee – why not? The LED in this flashlight produces as much as 1000 lumens, but note that this figure is only available in Boost mode. In it, the flashlight overheats, after which it switches to a more gentle setting. And there are six of them at the lantern. At the minimum, the device can shine as much as 140 hours, but it also depends on the battery. The 18650 battery is not included in the kit – you will have to buy it separately. The case, of course, is made of anodized aluminum, with water protection. The delivery set is rich – there is even a holster.
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6. Camelion LED5136
A very budget handheld flashlight, nevertheless, worthy to get into our rating. It has a zoom function – very fashionable a few years ago. That is, here, with the help of a lens, it is possible to focus the light flux, thereby achieving an increase in range with a narrow beam. Whether this feature is needed or not is debatable. The flashlight runs on three AAA batteries, but it is possible to install a more powerful 18650 battery. There are five modes, but the implementation leaves much to be desired – the flashlight does not remember the last mode before turning it off. Which means you have to click again every time. Here, a luminous flux of 500 lumens and a maximum range of 400 m are declared. The latter, as we remember, is available in zoom mode. The flashlight itself is made of aluminum and has IPX-5 water protection (you can put the flashlight under running water, but it’s better not to risk it).
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7. LED LENSER P2 BM
Let’s finish our rating the same way we started – with an ultra-compact flashlight that can easily hang on a keychain. LED LENSER P2 BM with a weight of 36 g is capable of delivering 16 lumens and illuminating 25 m in front of you. The device operates on one AAA battery. And it lasts for 7 hours of glow. This baby even has the ability to focus the beam, which will come in handy for some users. Finally, the manufacturer did not save on the delivery kit – it has a clip, strap and holster.
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8. ArmyTek Wizard Pro v3 Magnet USB
A versatile and very sophisticated model at a high price that not everyone will like. Although, the issue of price is debatable – a 2150 lumen LED is used here, which is a serious indicator for a compact model. Moreover, it is “warm” here – that is, the color is close to an incandescent lamp. In the kit you can find a head mount, a hand holder and a magnetic charger. The latter greatly simplifies the process of feeding the 18650 battery in the flashlight body. There are as many as 11 operating modes here – from low light to strobe. In short, a very suitable flashlight model for every day, but the price …
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9. Fenix E01
Compact key switch powered by a single or AAA battery. Despite the weight of 14 g Fenix E01 is able to work up to 16,5 hours (however, it is on the battery, the battery will reduce this figure by 20-25%). The device has only one mode of operation, in which the brightness of the LED is 13 lumens. Against the background of thousands of monsters, it may seem frivolous, but as an everyday device that beats with a luminous flux at 21 m, it is very serious. The case is made of aluminum and has IPX-8 moisture protection. Just keep in mind that from socks with keys, the black tube of the case will quickly become covered with scratches. The manufacturer saved on a protective glass in front of the reflector, so be careful.
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How to choose a flashlight
Choosing a flashlight can be an exciting adventure, especially if you delve into the thematic content of fans of such gadgets. But if you don’t have the time or desire to spend hours watching YouTube videos about light spots and beam shots, then you should follow simple rules. It will help to understand them. Georgy Kopidze, amateur speleologist, through whose hands hundreds of lanterns passed in the most difficult conditions.
Why do you need a flashlight?
First of all, decide for what tasks you are buying a flashlight. For a city dweller, a key switch is also suitable for the role of EDC (eng. Every Day Carry – to wear every day) – it can light up the road and find something in the bag. For outdoor recreation and camping, there are other models that are convenient for transportation and placement, say, in a tent. There are search giants with lenses capable of hitting light for 1,5 km. Such things are loved by hunters, fishermen or jeepers. By the way, lovers of small arms also know about hunting lights that are mounted on the receiver. These are very reliable things that can withstand recoil when fired. Cyclists are looking for lights that can illuminate the roadside. Now, let’s say, universal formats are common. When built around an 18650 battery, in fact, a flashlight. Such things are still relatively compact, they can be put in your pocket, and their brightness reaches 1500-2000 lumens. Usually they are not cheap, but they can perform different tasks.
Brightness and range
The transition from incandescent lamps to LEDs has significantly increased the brightness and range of conventional flashlights. Moreover, the second does not always correlate with the first. A flashlight with a brightness of 500 lumens, with the right optics, can shine much further than a competitor at 1000 lumens. So, for lumens, I would not advise chasing. Of course, the fact that there is a thing for 2000 lumens in your pocket warms the soul, but what’s the point of this if there is no task under the flashlight? Yes, and the energy consumption at high values uXNUMXbuXNUMXbis greatly increased.
Range is associated, for example, with a deflector or a coated lens. From my own experience I will say that 300-400 m, if the flashlight really shines well at such a distance, is enough for everyone. It would be nice to understand what kind of light distribution the lantern has. As mentioned above, someone needs a wide field of light, and someone needs a focused beam.
Food
Lantern collectors are very fond of when the device is powered by 18650 batteries. This is such a rechargeable battery, similar to a greatly enlarged battery from the remote control. Previously, they were not easy to get, but now with the development of the vaping culture, it is not difficult to buy such a battery. Love them for their capacity. But I do not think that the flashlight must be on the 18650s, especially since you will have to buy a separate charger for them. There are good options for AAA or even with a built-in battery. The ideal option is a microUSB or type C port in the flashlight itself. True, then moisture protection suffers. But the lights with a dynamo are complete nonsense. No matter how many times I have seen them, they all shine lousy, and it is impossible to fully charge them from muscular energy.
Additional functions
Now even inexpensive models get cases made of anodized aluminum, which is not afraid of scratches. However, it seems to me that the lantern should shine well, and these are already toys. What really comes in handy is the water resistance. The higher the specification number, the better. For example, IPX-7 is completely waterproof. But be prudent – do not press the button on the lantern once again under water and, moreover, do not disassemble it. Some models can be used as external batteries for gadgets, which can also be useful far from civilization.