Review Klarus XT11GT

Some prefer the old one and some the new one. The light was marketed as a 2000 lumen flashlight and it could not reach that claim, i guess thats why they offer the new version now which should be a bit brighter but has less throw since it is the “Hi” Version + it comes with the IMR cell. All those steps should make it brighter, i dont know if it can reach 2000 in the end. Im sure many ppl will test that for sure. I would prefer maybe the new version because i dont care that much about throw

3 switches…

yeah but i like the additional paddle switch. You obviously dont like 3 switches

I am thinking 3 switches will work great for my uses. Underhand while walking, overhand while spotting something afar. Will have to wait and see.

Hello everyone. :slight_smile:

I’m new to the forum and torches in general.

On Monday I ordered an XT11GT from banggood thinking it was the new HD version. I have since noticed that their webpage states both HD and HI on it which is confusing. My confirmation email says that the old HI version has been posted (I have sent banggood an email asking for confirmation on which version it is).

The German forum says that there’s an issue with PWM flickering on the old HI version and there might be a problem with overheating too. If I receive the HI version would I be better off sending it back and getting a new HD version instead?

Thanks in advance,
Steve

Steve, I have one on the way also. I also asked them if it was the version with PWM.
They said it didn’t have PWM.

I have also messaged Going Gear (they have run out of the HI and only have the HD available now).
They said that both versions will be just as reliable but the HI is brighter and will last longer.

I thought the HD was brighter.

Yes the HD should be brighter but less throw

Which version would be the best for self defence?

The HI with a brighter more focused hotspot or the HD which produces more light overall but is less focused and (I guess) has a slightly less bright hot spot?

Thanks for the review, I just received mine today and it is the HI version. I do not notice any PWM with my eyes so, that is good enough for me. I really like how in the outdoor mode, you can use the side and pedal switch to go H>M>L or L>M>H. I’m currently using a 30Q in mine instead of the supplied 3600mAh protected battery.

I think the HI version is not bad. I never see pwm, im not sensitve for that i guess. you can detect it with the slo-mo function of your smartphone. I like the light despite mine has some tailcap contact problems. What you can detect with the naked eye is the regulation of the light, the light flickers a bit when during a step down or step up, the regualtion is a bit wild as you can see in my review. In a real world scenario it is probably not from interest.

Just got my klarus xt11gt. The newer version XHP35 HD E4 with the klarus 3100mah IMR battery included. To other xt11gt owners, does yours have this hiss sound? If yes, I guess it’s normal.

I noticed that everytime I turn on at Turbo, I hear a very soft high frequency hissing sound for just around 2secs then it goes away. I only noticed it because I’m in a quiet room and I held it near my ear.
It only does that sound when newly turned on, if I turn it off then turn on again right away, there’s no hissing sound. If I rest it for a couple of secs/min to cool down then there’s that sound again.
I tried using another battery (olight), it doesn’t make any hissing sound at all.
I tried the klarus IMR battery on my BLF A6, I dont hear any hissing sound.

And also can you please check if when you remove the tailcap after the hiss/hum sound, if the tailcap and some also in the body has a very slight hint of burnt smell… it’s not too much just a hint of burnt smell or possibly some other electrical reaction smell. Thank you.

*additional observation, I noticed that mine’s beamshot tested against a white wall has a very small dark spot in the middle (doughnut hole as they call it in flashlight forum). Does yours have this?


The hissing sound seems to be normal, at least according to other owners. I might check out the xt12gt next week

Did Klarus change the LED in the XT11GT from HI to HD to get closer to the claimed 2000 lumen output?

If the XT12GT with the HI LED is rated at 1600 lumens, then changing the LED to the HD should get pretty close to 2000 lumens, assuming they are using similar drivers and hi-discharge batteries in both lights.

Also, Klarus can increase the lumens by using the latest bin of LED.

Anyway, can’t wait for a reviewer to put these lights in their integrating sphere to measure lumens output.

Looks to me like it’s the HI version it’s a totally flat surface. I’m not very current these days but I think the HD version has the typical dome lens?

yes, you’re right, the HI or High Intensity is the flat dome which has more throw (higher peak beam intensity in candela) and less spill and about 15% less total lumens output. The HD or High Density is the typical hemispherical dome which has more output and spill but less throw.

Apparently (if I am correct), the first XT11GT off the assembly line came with the HI and now the later ones are coming with the HD.

Maybe Klarus did this to more clearly differentiate the XT11GT from their newly released throw light, the XT12GT, which has a larger reflector and the HI.

Edit:

  1. I recently read Klarus lowered the drive current on the XT11GT-HD. The HI version has the higher-current driver.
  2. The peak intensity of the HD is around 25,000cd and the HI is 40,000cd based on the specs on the retail box.
  3. GoingGear has a good extended review of the HI version (along with the XT11S for comparison) - The HI has a really nice, medium throw beam.

Personally, I think the HI is the one to get. Just don’t leave it on turbo for too long.

I measured the XT11GT XHP HI D4 at 1.38A.

I will open the HD version as well when my E4 flux bin HI emitters come from mountain electronics.
I need to drive to my parents house to get the right tools to open it up.

Whats the difference between this and the XT12GT other than 400l lumens less on the XT12GT?

I assume the driver in both the XT11GT and the XT12GT are now the same.

The history behind the whole thing is that Klarus got a bunch of criticism for their 2000-lumen claim on the XT11GT when it was originally released. So when they released the XT12GT several months later, they may have decided to rate it lower and more accurately to quell the criticism.

In fairness to them, I believe Klarus said that the original XT11GT driver was overboosted. They later revised and lowered the drive current when they started to have LED reliability problems in their first run of XT11GTs. Since their original driver was running higher amps back then, the LED output could have been running closer to 2000 lumens then the current XT11GT version with its lower-power driver.

The XT11GT has: a shallower reflector for more spill, a mini-USB charger port, and an e-switch at the front.
The XT12GT has: a deeper and longer reflector for more throw, a magnetic charger port, and no e-switch up front.

Both models have had some tailcap electrical connection problems. I don’t know if the problems are due to a defect in the dual tailcap switch or the metal inner tube which acts as an electrical connector between the driver up-front and the tailcap switch.

There was also one reviewer who measured the standby parasitic drain of the tailcap at 300 microamps which is quite high. Its roughly equivalent to a constant-on low moonlight mode.