I’d like to thank FiTORCH for graciously granting me the opportunity to review the P26R.
It is the P26R that really caught my attention when I first happened upon their website and began lusting over the various models offered. I can’t really narrow it down to one specific reason (for wanting the P26R above all other models) but I can say that 3600 lumens didn’t hurt my feelings any.
P26R owner’s manual
To my knowledge the only current online source to buy the P26R is Bangood.com
(I am not affiliated with either Bangood or FiTORCH and did not purchase the P26R)
At $103.29 (price listed on Bangood) the P26R isn’t what most people would consider to be an inexpensive flashlight, but the discerning buyer will always weigh cost vs benefits and ask themselves if the P26R justifies the cost.
Does it?
My short answer is yes. No, scratch that – make it - HECK YES.
I’ll put it this way: were I to lose my P26R, I would immediately buy another one.
The long answer ends the same, but requires quite a bit more detail. Those who have read my reviews on some of the other FiTORCH models know I am very impressed with the quality and craftsmanship of FiTORCH products; believing that they match (or surpass) their rivals and are a coming force that their competitors will have to account for. I find FiTORCH to be a very innovative company, with a product design that is both beautiful and effective at the same time.
I love the way the P26R fills my hand: not only is it very comfortable; it is also easy to get a good grip on the body. I mentioned the cylindrical body groove in my other (FiTORCH) reviews and I’m still a big fan – they feel like they’re massaging the palm of my hand while I’m holding the flashlight. I’ve never held a more comfortable flashlight (and I own over 3 dozen flashlights).
The P26R fits in my pocket. OK, so it isn’t the most comfortable flashlight to pocket-carry, but it does fit and I’d much rather have it in my pocket (when I’m not using it) than sit it down somewhere and walking off without it.
That metal side-switch. I admit it: I have a thing for metal side-switches and this one is wonderful. The feedback is just about perfect – not too mushy and not too stiff. There’s a quiet click when pressed and released (I like that a lot) and it looks great.
Location detection and battery power indication. Both functions involve the ring light (around the side-switch). I’ve found both to be very useful, but the location detection is one of my favorite features: four quick clicks (when flashlight is off) and the ring light glows green (about once every 2.5 seconds) to help locate the side-switch when the P26R is needed. I love that feature. Checking the battery status is just as simple: while off, click the side-switch (rapidly) 3 times – then count the green flashes (each green flash represents 1 volt) and after the green flashes stop, count the red flashes (each red flash represents 1/10th of a volt). (3.8 volts would be 3 green flashes followed by 8 red flashes)
Then there is the beam – that beautiful, awe-inspiring, beam of perfection that never fails to bring an immediate smile to my face. It isn’t just the 3600 lumens on turbo either – though that is delightful – because each mode brings forth a beam that masterfully blends hot-spot into spill; making a beam of light that is – to put it bluntly – magnificent.
I am equally smitten with the color (temperature) of the light – a neutral that is neither warm or cold to my eyes; making the light itself much more pleasant to use.
It tail-stands too. Not some sort of wobbly tail-stand where you hope nobody breathes in the direction of the flashlight (lest the breath of air knocks it over) either: it’s an honest-to-goodness solid tail-stand. Just a few days ago we found out how important that can be; our electricity went out (storm) for 12 hours and the P26R was pressed into service as it stood – illuminating the room – on its tail for most of that time.
For the first time my wife was deeply appreciative of my flashlight obsession and threatened to steal the P26R from me (she hates it when the house is dark). I managed to maintain possession only by assuring her that she can use the P26R whenever she wishes.
FiTORCH took a unique approach to the way the modes work on the P26R. Maybe I should say it isn’t something I’ve seen on another flashlight. I’ll explain the modes in more detail later, but I must admit that it did take me a bit to decide how I felt about the way the various modes were implemented. Now that I am used to the P26R, I am very fond of that unique approach – it provides quick access to the low mode (my most used mode) and nearly as quick access to the turbo mode. Most important (IMO) – the disco modes are not in the way.
What comes in the box
As is the case with the other models (from FiTORCH) the P26R arrived in attractive packaging that features excellent graphics and highlights the numerous features of the P26R
P26R
26650 battery
Lanyard
Holster
OTG connector (for charging other devices)
USB cord
Spare O-ring
Owner’s Manual
The P26R is machined out of high strength aluminum and hard anodized (military specs) for durability (resistant to scratches and wear). The finish is matte black, but not what I’d call a flat black. The body itself has small, tight, cylindrical grooves with flat opposing sides and 4 horizontal grooves cut through the smaller grooves.
The head features a stainless steel bezel (I presume it to be stainless steel) that does not appear to be removable. There are cut-outs on the inside of the bezel, so it is possible that the bezel is removable using the proper tool. The bezel itself is not crenelated. There are deeper, thicker, grooves cut around the head itself – and horizontal grooves cut into the cylindrical grooves (making the P26R resistant to rolling). With steady use (on Turbo) the head will become warm, but it is not uncomfortable and never became hot in my use.
The tail-cap features finely machined (anodized) threads that are well lubricated. The cap screws on/off with no indication of thread abnormalities and barely a whisper of sound. There is a nice, thick, O-ring to keep the moisture/dirt out of the body. The tail-cap has two sets of thick springs and appear to be coated in gold. There are no springs at the head of the flashlight.
The battery in my P26R is not the same 26650 battery (shown on the website) that comes with the P26R. My understanding was that the P26R did not come with a battery, but the website now says it does.
The lanyard is nice – better than most.
The holster is nice too – again, better than most.
The OTG (I think it stands for “On the Go” but I don’t know for sure) connector plugs into the micro-USB outlet on the body of the P26R and allows the user to plug the larger male end (of the USB cord) into the OTG connector and the other end (of the USB cord) can then be plugged into the device in need of a charge.
SPECS
LED – XHP70
Input – DC 2.75 V – 4.20V
Output – max 3600 lumens
Reflector – orange peel, precisely ground, filmed, metal (creates a high intensity beam)
Lens – tempered, filmed mineral glass, impact resistant and allows for high light transmission
HA-III military hard-anodized finish, aluminum alloy
Powered by 1 26650 battery (cannot use other batteries)
Head – 1.47 inches diameter
Body – 1.25 inches diameter
Length – 5.2 inches
Weight – 4.87 ounces (battery excluded)
FEATURES
Rechargeable micro-USB port (plug micro-USB cord into outlet on the P26R and other end of cord into power source – switch blinks green while charging, stays green once charged)
Can be used as a power bank to charge other devices (plug OTG connector into outlet on P26R, then plug larger end of USB cord into the OTG connector – plug small end into device that needs charging).
Flashlight can be used while charging other device (low or medium mode only).
The manual states that pressing the switch once or twice (to shut flashlight off) while charging the other device – and the switch blinks red/green. It could be a misunderstanding on my part, but the switch did not blink green when I was using the P26R to charge my tablet. The tablet charged up just fine, but the flashlight’s switch only blinked red.
Battery strength indication (when flashlight is off, click switch 3 times rapidly – count green blinks (switch) to get volts (one blink = one volt) then count red blinks to get 1/10th volts)(3.8 volts = 3 green blinks and 8 red blinks)
Location detection (side-switch blinks green to make it easy to locate the switch)
Low power warning (red light blinks slowly when power is below 3.4 V – red light blinks faster when power is below 3.0 V)
Intelligent temperature control
Recharge protection
Discharge protection
Surge protection
Electromagnetic protection
Mode Memory
Lock out
IPX waterproof (2 meters)
Drop resistant to 2 meters
MODES/ UI
Press and release the side-switch to turn the flashlight on. Press and hold the side-switch switch (until light turns off) to turn the P26R off.
Low – Medium – High – Turbo – High – Medium – Low.
It’s a cycle through the modes – up through the modes, then back down.
I’ve got to admit that I wasn’t too sure about that system when I first handled the P26R. I think it was probably just a matter of not being accustomed to that, because I’ve grown to be quite happy with the method of selecting the modes.
The P26R does have memory mode, so if it is shut off while in high mode it will turn on in high mode.
Low Mode is easily accessed (from the off position) by pressing and holding the side-switch for 1 second (or a bit more) – release the side-switch and you’re in low mode. I love that feature because low mode is my most used mode.
In reality turbo mode is easily accessed too – at most you’re 5 clicks away (if light comes on in high mode and you go down the modes, then back up – you’re 5 clicks away from turbo). If you’re in the habit of shutting the light off while in low mode – like I am – you’re only 3 clicks away from turbo mode.
SOS and Strobe modes – from off or on, double click the side-switch to go into Strobe mode. Double click again (from Strobe mode) to go into SOS mode. Single click to exit either mode (returns to the mode used prior). There is no memory function for the Strobe or SOS modes – when flashlight is shut off while in either of those two modes, it will go to the last regular mode used when turned back on.
Low Mode – 20 lumens and can run for 150 hours
Medium Mode – 120 lumens and can run for 25 hours
High Mode – 650 lumens and can run for 5.2 hours
Turbo Mode – 3600 lumens. Runs for 90 seconds, then steps down to 1200 lumens. Total run-time of 2.5 hours. In my use, I was able to go back into turbo mode right away (after the flashlight stepped down).
265 meters (maximum distance).
I can’t honestly say how effective the light is at distance. I didn’t attempt to measure it and I doubt that I could really tell anyway. On turbo (or high) there is just so much light coming out that it makes it really difficult for me to tell where my vision actually ends. Part of the problem (with that) is that there are a lot of trees and I get light bouncing back at me (from the trees) with impairs my ability to judge the distance. My best guess is that the P26R will do a good job of illuminating objects up to 200 meters away.
BEAM
The P26R is very much a floodlight. A beautiful, spectacular, flood of magical goodness, but still a floodlight.
I like spotlights – please don’t misunderstand me – but I’m finding out that floodlights are usually more useful for most (of my) flashlight needs. That’s because they do such a wonderful job of illuminating everything in the area – it isn’t just a thin ray of light trying to find the target.
The P26R is a blast of light exposing everything for at least 150 meters – in turbo mode. On high mode it illuminates everything for half that distance (at least).
It isn’t just the amount of light put out though – the beam is amazing because of the way it puts that light out. Smooth is the best word I can think of to describe it – it’s a smooth beam of incredible light.
CONCLUSIONS
I love the P26R. In fact I love it so much that I’d rate it in the top 5 (easily) flashlights that I’ve ever used. It might even make it to # 2 if I really had to rate them all.
I suppose some might call me a fanboy. Maybe… I have loved all 4 FiTORCH flashlights that I’ve had access to, but the P26R is – in my mind – really special.
There are two changes I’d make though (were I in charge). One is the inclusion of a moonlight mode – accessible via the method used to go directly into low mode. I wouldn’t change the other modes; just add a moonlight mode.
The other change (that I’d make) would be having the ring light (light around the side-switch) glow while the flashlight is on. I loved that feature in the P20R/P30R and would love it on the P26R too.
I wish my photos could do justice for the incredible beam of light put out by the P26R.
I’ll finish by thanking FiTORCH for the opportunity to review some of their products. It was an honor working with a company that is clearly going to be a force to be reckoned with.
