This will surely please you in the throw department. I think you’ll love it for your intended purpose. I have a Jacob A60 with WF1 and its making about 235Kcd stabilized and it’s awesome. “Jacket pocket” throw monster. Lightweight and runs low enough power that it can sustain Turbo for a LONG while.
I personally find the M2 a bit more interesting due to the side switch and possibility of modding it to a BLF firmware. I’d buy one right now if it were 21700…
Well the Archer M1 arrived today.
First impressions are very positive.
Despite being C8 sized, it easily out throws my 1500lm 2x18650 64mm head Armytek Barracuda Pro.
Serious lightsaber ability for such a small light:
Palm trees 125yd night:
Palm trees 125yd Archer M1:
200+yd Palm Tree, with street light photonic barrier:
The Archer M1 is capable of ‘burning through’ the light barrier of the street lights. Photo is poor, but its able to light up the houses past the palm tree.
So far I’m digging the light. However, the H-M-L interface is somewhat vexing, as its hard to tell if I’m in High vs Medium, and several times found while trying to memorize High, it was actually in medium.
I’ll do more updates and hopefully get better photos, but so far, its a very impressive light. I suspect it’s probably the ‘throwiest’ C8 sized light on the market right now.
This is the most interesting C8/D1S sized light I’ve seen. Too bad it is a bit on the exensive side but the quality is worth it I guess.
So this would out throw the Manker U22 II?
Not sure; on paper yes. And Maxtoch is known for their pretty advanced Throwers; essentially thats all they make. That said the videos / pics of the U22 II show quite a bit of throw.
For me, the biggest advantage is that the Archer M1 uses 18650’s, which I already have.
Thanks for your opinion Spyderco Monkey.
My experience of the Manker U22II is that it’s an awesome light (throw) for its size and I’m surprised it’s not mentioned more for this reason.
I think I’m going to get this Archer M1 anyway - mostly tempted by the reports of the quality of the reflectors in Maxtoch lights.
Here’s a comparison shot of the Armytek Barracuda Pro vs the Archer M1.
Cell phone isn’t good at night, in real life both a much more impressive. But based on the width of the beams, you can see that despite the much smaller reflector, the M1 throws a tighter beam pattern, and subsequently has a further effective range.
I will say I’m increasingly irritated with the UI on the M1. Despite trying to leave it on High, it turns on Medium about 50-60% of the time.
At a minimum, they should not have put a mode memory on this thing - especially such an inconsistent one.
As of right now, the M1 out throws the Barracuda, and is also much easier to carry. But the Tactical UI of the Barracuda makes it the flashlight I would grab for any ‘serious’ lighting use.
I’d like to figure out some way to convert the M1 to High only.
Did some more informal testing of the Archer M1 today against my ‘palm tree range.’
@125yd, the M1 on L/150lm is capable of providing adequate, usable illumination of the palm fronds.
I then tested the Barracuda Pro; on 350lm mode it was ~equal in illumination, maybe slightly less well lit, although lighting a wider area.
Hopefully someone with a real candela / lumen meter can test the M1, but its definitely very impressive.
Also, I’m more convinced then ever that a ‘Tactical’ model needs to be made, thats both High only + potted against recoil. It would be the #1 performing rifle light in the world.
$350 Modlites are bragging about 60kcd; this thing is putting out 250kcd+.
Just ordered this light from Maxtoch. Looking forward to seeing how it compares to Osram W1 in my Manker U22vII, Noctigon K1, Nightwatch NI01L IRA and Acebeam E10.
Quite like this emitter…
Awesome, I look forward to your review.
I agree, the OSRAM is really awesome; its a total game changer in terms of throw. Really bridges the gap between LED and LEP technology.
Hoping we see an EDC tube sized Osram, like the Convoy S2 or Eagletac D25LC2.
I’ve been in contact with Maxtoch, and they sent me their Lux testing for the Archer M1.
Testing was done @10m. I’ve added in Red what that converts to in Candella, based on this:
Lux to Candella
Those numbers are consistent with it seeming 2x a bright as my 160kcd Barracuda Pro.
Nice work Spyderco Monkey.
So high would work out at approx. 1128 meters throw?
Maxtoch haven’t shipped my M1 yet, been 3 days now 
I ordered mine 5/7, and it arrived 5/29.
All the mail is slower these days with the corona.
A little off topic, but just discovered this EDC Osram light. Had escaped my attention before, might be new.
Manker E05 Ti. Hope they have changed the UI…
Thats a pretty cool light.
Although I feel for the Osram, as the beam is so narrow, its better suited to a dedicated thrower; whose trying to use a 0.5lm moonlight Osram?
Probably more practical with just the 150lm and 400lm settings.
Did you measure your Barracuda with the same meter? And what LED/version is your Armytek? If you haven’t, could you please do so and post results?
If calibration is accurate, then this Maxtoch really has an IMPRESSIVE reflector. Might have to buy one now…
EDIT: Are these turn-on measurements or after 30seconds?
Those were the measurements taken by Maxtoch which they sent to me via email.
I don’t have a light meter; I’ve been testing the M1 vs the Barracuda using my eyeballs vs palm trees @ 125yds and 200+yds, as shown in the earlier photos.
The Barracuda Pro is this model, claimed 160kcd, and in and of itself a very capable thrower:
Most tellingly, the M1 on Low (150lm) lights up the palm trees at 125yd slightly more then the Barracuda at 350lm.
Hopefully, someone with a more sophisticated evaluation / testing process will snag an Archer M1.
All I can say is that it has a pretty unreal level of throw for a light this small.
Snagged some more photos of the Archer:
Nice pics. Can’t wait for mine to arrive.
I like the tiny machined ribs on the tube. Now I’m wanting to know if that single tube fits on the head of the new Maxtoch X Pro Osram.
Any news on that Maxtoch?
The X-Pro is a 2x21700 light, so I doubt the M1 18650 tube would work.
And with a 78mm head size, it would probably be a bit weird with a single tube.