Trustfire TR-J18
Reviewer's Overall Rating: ★★★★☆
Summary:
| Battery: | 2 or 3 x 18650/26650 |
| Switch: | Tailcap Clicky |
| Modes: | 5: High, Medium, Low, Strobe, SOS |
| LED Type: | 7 x XM-L T6 (Cool White) |
| Reflector: | Aluminum, Smooth |
| Lens: | Glass |
| Tailstands: | Yes |
| Price: | $70.29 Shipped (US Warehouse) |
| Provided by: | Tmart |
Pros:
- Lots of light with a reasonable amount of throw.
- Well Spaced H-M-L modes.
- Excellent machining, smooth threads even when dry.
- Great quality all around.
- Incredibly mod friendly.
- Tailstands very well for a long tube with a big head.
- Mode memory after approximately 1.5 seconds in the off position.
- Versatility with either two or three 18650 or 26650 cells.
Cons:
- Nowhere near the stated 8000 lumens. My estimate is around 3000.
- Tailcap clicky is a bit awkward on a long light.
- Extension tube machining doesn't aesthetically match the normal battery tube.
- 18650 Spacer inserts are slightly too short and will cause some noise sliding back and forth.
- Included flashlight holster is a bit snug and would inhibit a 'quick draw.'
- Flattop cells will need a solder blob to function.
Pictures:
It arrived in a plain cardboard box. It was wrapped in a few layers of 1/2 inch bubble wrap.
Inside the box is a 2x 18650 spacer, 1x 18650 spacer, an extension tube, and a thick plastic trustfire bag (Also came with a holster that is shown later)...
Oh, and this flashlight thing; I believe it illuminates stuff or something like that. ;)
With my longest cells (69.7mm), the tailcap has to be just slightly loosened. I imagine with some of the longer 26650 cells length will likely be an issue with 3 cells, perhaps not with 2 though.
Here is the holster first with the extension, then without, and then showing the back side.
Logo on the opposite side.
Close up
Size Comparison
Here we have the SRK, TR-J18 and a standard 3D Maglite.
SRK, Defiant 3Up from O-L, TR-J18 with extension, Maglite 3D, DST 3C
Showing the Head sizes / Emitter setup with that beautiful 7 emitter TR-J18 in the center.
SRK, Defiant 3Up from O-L, TR-J18, Maglite 3D, DST 3C
BreakDown
Head, 2x tube, 1x extension, tailcap.
Nice, clean, and smooth threads, single O-ring on every threaded connection.
Above view of the head and tailcap both fully assembled.
Bottom of the tailcap. Firm Omten clicky, tailstands very well for such a tall light.
Disassembled tailcap. Definitely some resistance issues here, but all easily fixable if one were so inclined. Very nice threads makes it extremely easy to take apart and reassemble.
Partial head breakdown. Again, very nice threads making everything easily accessible. First light I've taken apart that came stock with good quality wire with ample thickness and pliability. Very simple to mod.
Opposite side of the driver.
Looking inside the driver cavity you can see the head is solid, a great feature I love to see in a flashlight. 2 Screws hold the reflector down on top of the emitters.
The screws stay in the emitter shelf when unscrewed from the reflector so there is no fumbling about with loose screws.
Here the head is further disassembled. The glass is held firmly in the bezel via the o-ring so there is no fumbling about with a piece of glass either. :)
Closeup of the beautiful smooth reflector. There are some blemishes on the flat parts, but these have no effect on the beam.
Here is the underside of the reflector.
And finally the 7 cree xm-l t6 emitters in series glued onto the emitter shelf.
Conclusion:
The Trustfire TR-J18 is a very nice quality light with a lot of the features I look for in a flashlight, though it does have some flaws. If this is someone's first multi-led light they will likely be blinded by the light; however, if you already have a few 3/4/5 emitter lights you likely wont be impressed by the output. If you are into modding there is quite a lot of potential for this to be a real lumen launcher. With just a simple driver swap you should be quite a bit closer to the stated 8000 lumens. :)
