UltraFire UF-T60: Thrower, Looker - Not Quite a Superstar
It's interesting how certain newly available flashlights catch the fancy of the flashaholic crowd. On a lark, Foy decided to indulge himself with some quality and fast shipping. I will admit up front; I probably paid too much for this torch. But, the time between Paypal sent to pleasure in the palm was so quick, I'm sure Foy will be paying too much for another light from Lighthound at some future date. Especially after the superb customer service I received. Even at the price paid, I have no regret but there is a brief pinprick of embarrassment when I see multiple links posted to a light that, on the surface, seems an exact copy for less than half the price I paid. Because of that, a few other things and slightly less output than expected, this will be the first Foyreviewed flashlight to get an asterisk . . .
Foyapproved*
Bottom line: The UltraFire UF-T60 is a spectacular torch. My particular light exhibits near perfect quality, stunning fit and finish and absolute flawless condition. It is intensely bright, has as much or more true reach than all but a couple of my throwers and is a joy to see and appreciate. I also like very much, the side-by-side/2-battery form factor - a much better, more compact solution than two cells, end-to-end. As bright as it is however, my UltraFire HD2010 with its same size, similar design 52mm reflector is significantly brighter. Even the admittedly flawed Foyometer, today in my office measures the HD2010 at 140 verses 112 for the T60. (Cyclone managed a 130) My beam shots may prove otherwise but I do think this light is a better thrower than the HD2010. The T60's appearance may be too busy for some and while I agree there is a lot stylistically going on with this design, the overall effect works. The UF-T60 more than just a little pretty.
What I like:
- looks
- side-by-side battery arrangement
- UI/mode lock
- brass pill design/thermal pathways
- run time
- included holster
- Lighthound purchase experience
What I do not like:
- output less than its strong appearance suggests
- incomplete specs/instructions on Lighthound's site
- busy design feels less than ideal in the hand
- price/value
UltraFire UF-T60 XM-L/T6 2 x 18650 Flashlight
$87.99 Lighthound http://www.lighthound.com/UltraFire-T60-CREE-T6-XML--1300-Lumens_p_3969.html
ordered: 8-23-12
arrived: 8-25-12
Cree XM-L/T6 emitter
"1300" lumens
designed for 2 x 18650 lithium-ion, rechargeable batteries - arranged side-by-side with removable battery magazine
working voltage: 3.7 - 7.4 volts (??)
aluminum alloy with stainless steel, low crenulated bezel and styled steel tail cap base
type III hard anodized, black finish
reverse-clicky, tail-standing tail cap switch with 14mm black boot (switch is part of battery magazine)
3-mode user interface with mode lock: high, low and fast strobe . . .
to change mode: with light turned on, loosen head then soft press to desired mode, re-tighten to lock mode (light is then essentially, single mode)
SMO reflector
coated glass lens with GITD o-ring
two lanyard attachments at tube base
173mm x 61mm x 61mm
329 grams
what you get for $87.99: (plus shipping)
- UF-T60 flashlight
- holster
run time with 2 x unprotected Tenergy 18650/2600 mAh charged to 4.21 volts each: 1:44 (light flashed, dropped from regulation)
maximum measured exterior temperature during run time test: 111º
The UF-T60 makes a strong first impression. It is a substantial flashlight, to see and to hold . . .
Its looks could be described as somewhat pretentious. Interesting then, designers were able to incorporate so many styling elements and still end up with such a strikingly attractive flashlight. The theme works so well, you'll never tire of looking at it . . .
UltraFire could have left the flashlight body round, although unnecessary considering weight and battery use/arrangement . . .
Its cross-section narrows when viewed on its edge and you get an idea how many different surfaces and edges your hand will encounter. This, I feel is a minor liability. While fascinating to admire and hardly uncomfortable; nevertheless, you can't help spinning it in your hand a couple of times looking for the right grip - which is usually with a flat side against the palm.
Consequently, things like one-handed switch activation feel less than natural. It does have surprising balance however and the spectacular finish feels a good as it looks.
Lanyard provisions on each side of the tube base make it easy to imagine some kind of fancy paracord wraparound, cleverly tied off with just the right length. Jack, I think I've decided.
If cooling fins are your thing, the T60's got you covered with no less than eight and all are beautifully machined. Thick aluminum encases the (brass) pill and the bottom five scalloped fins are cut 6mm deep, each one drilled . . .
Three more fins are angle/flush cut at the base of the head. The metal is thick everywhere and lathe skill at this level is rare, indeed. With thermal pathways like this it's easy imagine an emitter being driven very hard, very safely. I still haven't figured out how to measure current with this design but I don't believe it's much over 2.5 amps. (Foyguess)
I love this bezel and despite those that think the GITD o-ring cheesy - Foy likes it.
The UF-T60 has the same size reflector as the HD2010 . . .
T60 (left) and HD2010 (right)
The T60 reflector base is more narrow around the emitter than the HD2010 and the brass pill is flush with the base . . .
I should have unscrewed the locking ring to have a looksee but I'll have to let the new wear off a little before further dissection.
Foy did have the stones to unscrew the plastic cover around the diver base. The brass center contact and outer ring are spring loaded to press against the upper battery magazine plate . . .
The holder itself is well constructed and along with the expected large negative spring, there is also a small positive spring . . .
As you can see, the switch is incorporated into the battery magazine . . .
The magazine installs in the body switch first. The boot swappers among us may despair, with a locking ring seemingly so far away but help is on the way . . .
All you need is a (very) small allen wrench and careful hands to avoid damaging the bling . . .
The black gasket (at right) is thick rubber.
The whole works slides in the tube like this.
Square threads, although Foy would like to see a couple more.
Light comes with this stiff sided holster.
Here's some beam shots. As usual, all pictures were taken with 1/4 second shutter @ f2.7.
UltraFire HD2010
Solarforce L2P with UltraFire 3-mode XM-L (Manafont sku 5720)
UltraFire UF-T60
My bad aim and these beam shots really don't show how much brighter the HD2010 is. The T60 is the better thrower of the two, I just need to find the right place to show it better.
I hesitate to put these throw shots up because they really suck. Ah well, it'll give you guys something to talk about after I leave.
HD2010
UF-T60
I must also relate a customer service event I experienced with Lighthound and this flashlight . . .
To say Foy anxiously anticipated the arrival of this torch is an understatement. After loading two fresh 18650's, I hit the button and got . . . fast strobe. Lighthound's description said nothing about fast strobe. It in fact, said (says) high, mid, low, three mode change. No matter how I soft pressed or clicked the button, fast strobe is all I got. Looking back, as a flashlight "expert" Foy probably should have known about mode lock and in fact, I do. Blinded by frustration I suppose (there is no mention of this in Lighthound's description) I simply gave up and e-mailed Lighthound asking what to do. They responded immediately saying I should turn the head, change the mode and then tighten to lock the mode. I turned the head and still the fast strobe would not go away. One of the reasons I bought the light was because I prefer a simple 3-mode/no blinky UI. I e-mailed Lighthound once more and admitted defeat. They said another T60 would be priority mailed to me right away.
While pursuing BLF that evening I came across a UF-T60 thread with someone else having UI difficulty. For whatever reason, because Cooter's response included the term "mode lock" the little wheels in Foybrain HQ began to turn. I loosened the head, a little more, a little more and kept going until my soft press finally changed the mode.
Surprise; Foy's light is not a 3-mode/high, medium and low as described, it is a 3-mode high, low and fast strobe. The different UI is far from being a deal killer so, I was now a happy camper.
The day after that, my "new" T60 arrived with a pre-paid return envelope. Because one of the tiny positive springs had fell off the battery holder, I simply swapped holders and sent the new light back.
I share this as an object lesson for any seller wishing to have credibility. Lighthound already had my admiration for fast delivery but a company doesn't earn respect for simply delivering the item you ordered. That's what they are supposed to do. How a seller earns respect is what they do when something goes wrong. A company's response to a problem is the true measure of their integrity and when Lighthound instantly sent me another T60, no questions asked, no picuture of the problem requested, no instructions to log onto a customer service chat room and no hand-off to somebody trying and failing to speak English as a second language . . . when Lighthound did that, they had Foy's respect.
/rantFoy
Updated pics showing jacktheclipper's gorgeous paracord wrap . . .
jackisthemanFoy
