Review: Thrunite TN11S

Review: Thrunite TN11S

Reviewer's Overall Rating: ★★★★

Summary:

Battery: 18650
Switch: Forward Clicky and side switch
Modes: Low, Medium, High, Strobe
LED Type: XM-L U2
Lens: AR coated glass
Tailstands: No
Price Paid: Provided for review by Thrunite

Link:

http://www.thrunite-store.com/flashlights/tnseries-light/thrunite-tn11s-cree-xm-l-u2-led-flashlight.html
Normal price: $99

Manufacturers Specifications:

  • LED: Cree XML U2 LED with a lifespan of 20+years of run time.
  • Max 830 lumen output using 3 or 4*CR123A or 2*18650 batteries (with extended tubes).
  • Low: 9.4 lm. 130 hours; Mid: 424.7 lm. 3 hours; High: 830lm. 80 minutes; Strobe: 830lm. 2.7 hours.
  • Working voltage: 3V to 12V.
  • Removable steel pocket clip.
  • Max runtime: 130 hours.
  • Max beam distance: 355 meters.
  • Peak beam intensity: 28900cd.
  • Impact resistant: 1.2 meters.
  • Waterproof to IPX-8 standard.
  • 157.50mm length, 41.00mm bezel diameter. (without extended tube)
  • Weight: 169.20g without battery.
  • Aircraft grade aluminum body structure.
  • Premium type III hard anodized anti-abrasive finish.
  • Ultra-clear tempered glass lens with anti-reflective coating.
  • Momentary forward click tactical switch.
  • Programmable memory function.
  • Strobe mode for tactical and emergency use.
  • Low, medium and high modes to balance power consumption and light output.
  • Stainless steel front striking bezel.
  • Smooth reflector for max light output.
  • Highly focused beam for maximum distance.
  • Tactical knurling for firm grip.
  • Streamlined body design.
  • Reversed polarity protection.
  • Durable T-shaped thread.
  • Side switch on tail cap for direct access to strobe from power-off and changing modes form power-on for Military and Tactical Application.

Pros:

  • Solid build
  • Nicely spaced modes
  • Momentary activation set to any mode
  • Throws well for a pocket XM-L light
  • Very nice even beam
  • Variety of battery options
  • Side tail switch to change modes
  • Clip is sturdy and a rare option on XM-L throwers
  • Solid cigar grip can also act holder for tailstanding
  • Thick, nice looking stainless steel bezel
  • Nice set of accessories, including holster

Cons:

  • While good output, less than expected
  • Not optimized for 18650 in brightness or regulation
  • Side switch can be hard to activate without the right grip
  • Does not tailstand
  • Clip difficult to install

Packaging:

The light came in a nice box.

Pretty much every accessory you could want was included with the light.

A lanyard, user manual, two extensions, three orings, and a nice holster, and a clip!

The holster is very nice. The light fits tightly with no extensions installed. I think it would loosen up with use, but the light must be pushed fairly hard to get the tail out the hole in the bottom. With extensions installed they would have to be put at the end of the light. The cigar grip will not fit through the hole.

Size Comparison:


Left to right: Ultrafire UF-2100, Ultrafire 504B, Small Sun ZY-A629, Thrunite TN11S, Armytek Predator

The TN11S is a midsized 18650 light. The head is fairly large as the light is made for throw.

The light has a simple UI. To turn on the light you fully depress the tail switch. It has a firm clicking action, and the protruding rubber boot makes it very easy to operate. You can also lightly press the switch for have momentary light until you let off of it. The last mode memorized will always come on no matter how many times the switch is pressed. To change modes you simply press the side switch which is located on the tailcap. The light will cycle through low, medium, high and strobe modes. If the side switch is pressed while the light is off it will activate the strobe. The strobe is very fast starting off, then slow strobes for a couple seconds, then repeats the fast-slow cycle. If you release the button before the end of the first slow strobe cycle the light will turn back off. If you let off the button after the slow strobe it will just continue to strobe. To end the strobe hit the side switch again. If you hit the tailcap switch while it is strobing it will go into low mode.

Here are the hard number I got from my light meter on one 18650:

High: 633 lumens
Medium: 70 lumens
Low: 18 lumens

I was a bit disappointed by these numbers. I have seen other reviews where the light gets over 800 lumens on one 18650. I was also already aware of the medium setting being lower than the advertised 425 lumens, but I believe that was an error by the manufacturer when translating the specs. I think these modes are well spaced. On two 18650 the output got better, but still did not reach the levels I was expecting.

2x18650

High: 740 lumens
Medium: 164 lumens
Low: 90 lumens

Of note is the large jump in low mode output on two batteries.

This light is a thrower, and the main reason I was interested in the light. You don't really see many lights with the combination of a clip, xm-l emitter, and almost 30kcd. Unfortunately...

Measured LUX: 19560cd

So I was thinking wow, I'm missing almost 10000cd off of Thrunite's claim of 28900cd. I noticed the head of the TN11S has the exact same dimensions and looks identical to the turbo head of the Thrunite Scorpion in another review. Looking at the review (by selfbuilt) he got numbers of 740 lumens with 19750cd lux, so I don't think I'm too far off. If I was getting 900 lumens the throw would go up as well, but still would still take over 1100 lumens to hit 28900cd. But it is still a thrower.

I must admit the spot is very nice. When searching on the lux meter, there were no high or low points in the beam. The entire hotspot read the same lux, so it is a perfect beam with no imperfections.


The XM-L U2 sits perfectly centered in the reflector. It is fairly deep and the whole light is well balanced with the head and looks great.


The reflector is very smooth with no imperfections.


Here is the emitter in operation. Notice the dome glowing :)


Lettering is crisp and big enough to read. The diamond shaped knurling provides good grip.


Cooling fins near the head help to give off more heat and add style. The cutouts in the large ring around the head help keep the light from rolling somewhat, but that job is mainly up to the cigar ring.


The cigar grip is metal. It is screwed on and removal also requires removing the oring. Once it is off the tailcap will fit inside the grip allowing the light to tailstand. I'm not a fan of this feature as the threads can get dirty in oring removal and it's just a pain. In a pinch it is a nice option to have though. Notice the hole in the cigar ring. That is the only lanyard attachment point. I personally don't like a lanyard there, as the light doesn't hang straight down but at an angle. Good for making sure the light won't fall out of your hand when wearing it, but not good for carrying or retrieving.


It is a very handsome light with no flaws in the annodizing.


A spring is used to make contact with the battery to the head. This allows for the use of flat top batteries.


There is also a spring in the tail. Any size of battery should fit comfortably with this configuration.


The threads are square cut and well-lubed. I didn't expect annodized threads on the tail but the electronic switch still works with it. The clip is VERY hard to install. I scratched the anno under it getting it on. It is very thight and has no "bends" on the end of it that clips often have to aid in installation. It sure won't come off or get snagged on anything though....


You don't see many throwers with a clip. I like to bezel down pocket carry. This light carries well. You can tell it is there and it is bulky, but if you are carrying it with a purpose to need a thrower it is doable. You could probably even go a little bigger...


Left to right: Skyray STL-V2 (2x18650), Thrunite TN11S (2x18650), Trustfire X9 (1x18650)

The TN11S is fairly short for a 2x18650 light when both extenders are installed. It comes with two and can be used with one for 3xcr123 or 2x18500; or intall both for 4xcr123 or 2x18650. I think it is a little long and skinny with all the extensions on it. It isn't THAT big of a thrower to have to carry around something that long. Of course it is nice to have double the runtime and slightly higher output. It is also a very nice option if you don't have 20 lights of different varieties, this one can fill the use of a short thrower or a long running search light.


Here it is with one extension added. It is still shorter than the venerable X9.

The tailcap is the star of the show. For those of you who like to have momentary signaling on a flashlight with more than one mode, this may be your way to go. Most forward clickies with multiple modes will "cycle" through the modes with each click. With momentary activation lights you can send out morse code in turbo for example. Most of these type of lights will use head twists to change modes. The disadvantage is that you almost certainly have to use two hands to twist the head. With this light you simply click the side button to change modes. It also gives instant access to strobe anytime you want when you click the side button from the off position. This makes the light very useful in "tactical" situations. Not many lights have a dedicated strobe button.

The side clicky is pretty easy to find without looking. It protrudes a little and is rubbery and rounded. Still if you pick it up blindly you are going to have to take a second to feel for it before you can use it. You must press firmly to activate it. There isn't much chance of it ever randomly strobing in your pocket or holster. That said, with the right grip it is not very hard to activate. I don't see this button being any more of a water entry point than the standard tail clicky.

Comparison with Small Sun ZY-A629

There really are not a lot of lights of this type out there. There are quite a few electronic switch lights popping up but not used in this way. They are usually the main switch, replacing the tail clicky and usually placed on the upper side of the light near the head. One budget light caught my interest with features similar to the TN11S and that was the Small Sun ZY-A629.

The 629 is like a low-quality, scaled-down version of the TN11S body. It shares the anti-roll feature near the head, a similar cigar grip, and side tail switch. The finely annodized semi-matte finish of the TN11S makes the Small Sun's finish look painted on. Here are the pros and cons of the Thrunite vs the Small Sun.

Pros for the TN11S:

  • Much sturdier built
  • Stainless steel bezel
  • Comes with clip
  • Firmer button action
  • Anti-reflective lens
  • Much higher output with xm-l
  • Throws better
  • Batteries don't rattle
  • Instant strobe access through side switch
  • Perfect beam vs. the very ringy A629 beam
  • Great accessories

Pros for the Small Sun:

  • Can tailstand
  • Can swap out P60 sized reflectors

So the Thrunite completely dominates the Small Sun in almost every way. Of course it should costing 8 times as much. The only real advantage the A629 has is the tailstanding and the smaller size. The TN11S can tailstand using it's grip ring as a stabalizer though. The smaller but similarly featured T30S is more the size of the Small Sun so you can get a small Thrunite as well.

The interesting part for me was the exchanging of the tailcaps on these lights. When you put a normal clicky on these electronic switches they just go into direct drive. But what controls the modes of these lights, the tailcap or the driver? Here are my test results....

Putting the Thrunite tailcap on the Small Sun was easy due to the light being so much smaller. It didn't thread in but it would sit on it. It became a three mode light with strobe - the same settings found in the Thrunite. The max output was also reduced. It's own tailcap I'm pretty sure went into direct drive on turbo, so the TN11S tailcap is limiting the amps. Here are the lumen readings with the TN11S tailcap on the A629:

High: 210
Medium: 24
Low: 7

I can't measure current with these electronic switches, sorry I'm just not that advanced :)

The wierd thing is when I finally figured out a way to activate the TN11S with the A629 tailcap. I had to use a couple nuts stacked on each other to bridge the gap to the tail spring cover. When I turned it on it went straight into a reduced output strobe. When I turned it off and just hit the side switch it did a very bright strobe. It may have something to do with my methods or maybe all electronic lights won't work with each other, I don't know. Either way, I found all this interesting. I also think maybe I have a T30S tailcap. The tailcaps for the TN11S and T30S look the same, and the T30S has a 650 lumen high and similar low modes.... could be!

Well that's it folks. The TN11S is a very sturdy and nice looking light. It is one of the best throwing pocketable XM-L lights out there. It may not throw as far as claimed, but it still throws an impressively nice beam. I'm certainly not a guy who goes hunting white walls to stare at the beam pattern, but this one is just as nice as my Armytek Predator. This light is perfect as a niche light if you need momentary activation with versatile mode choices and instant access to strobe. It is also well rounded enough that it could be the only light you own and you would be pretty much covered. A little disappointing output and inability to tailstand are the only things keeping this from getting my highest marks, but I still recommend it as an excellent light.

Thanks for reading!

Thanks for the review Tecmo!

i luv my thrunites ;)

I find it strange Thrunite should have changed the TN11 interface, where you can ramp the lower mode to whatever level you like. I find the TN11 to be quite handy - set the mode once and forget about it - no chance of stumbling on disco modes by accident.

Nice review - thanks.

Thanks for sharing Tecmo!

Nice light, i like it :slight_smile:

Nice review, what’s the trustfire seem next to the tn11?

Looks like http://www.fasttech.com/products/1601/10002812/1209300-trustfire-x9-cree-xm-l-t6-5-mode-800-lumen-led-fla

I actually think its good the changed the UI setting method. I have a slightly older TN10 and I rarely use it. I have had it change the modes many times by mistake due to twisting the head too many times while using it. It’s similar UI to the tactical quarks, but they require more turns, thus making it more difficult to change it in error.
Anyway, nice review on a nice light OP!

Certainly does, interesting. Thanks for the link. 8)

Yeah it is an X9. A couple years ago it was a big daddy xml thrower. Here is the review.

good honest review nicely done. this is still one of my top fav. lights. i been edcing this light for about a year now and dont think imma replace it anytime soon. i absolutely love the secondary switch for instant strobe, as i use this for self defense purposes. and this is the brightest and smallest light with this feature.
i was carrying the olight m20s for a while, but this one blows it away.

i never use the extenders, and i agree, its not very bright ONLY if you decide to go 18650. BUT, i use 2x AWrcr123’s, and its very bright and can hang with the bright c8’s.

and tecmo is right with the spot of the beam, it is perfect. i have not yet found another light with a beam spot that i like more than this tn11s

Added Small Sun comparisons and tailcap switch info.

Review is DONE

Thanks very much for the review! Frontpage’d and Sticky’d.