Brinyte HEX60
Reviewer's Overall Rating: ★★★☆☆
Summary:
Battery: |
18650 |
Switch: |
Tail Clicky - reverse |
Modes: |
5 (Low>Mid>High>Strobe>SOS) |
LED Type: |
Cree XP-G R5 CW |
Lens: |
Glass - uncoated |
Tailstands: |
Yes |
Price Paid: |
Review Sample (Currently 34.15 USD) |
From: |
MyLED.com (http://www.myled.com/p388-cree-xpe-r5-runtime-2-3-hours-400-lumen-5-mode-memory-function-led-flashlight.html) |
Date Ordered: |
5 June 2014 |
This light was provided by MyLED for review.
Pros:
- Build quality
- High frequency PWM
- Unique design
Cons:
- Older LED
Features / Value: ★★★☆☆
The manufacturer also gives some extra info on their product site: http://www.brinyte.com/product/1393492435.html
What you get is a variation on a basic tube 18650 light. The packaging was standard and mine came with a couple dings and randomly wrong instructions, so not ideal for gifting. The 5-mode driver is better than your basic budget lights in that the order is lo to hi and the PWM is fast. Mine seems to have been updated with a 2014 patent number and an updated GITD clicky boot.
Design / Build Quality: ★★★★☆
The overall design is unique as the body is a hexagon, as the model name implies. There is no knurling so the light would seem very slippery, but the well placed groove near the end of the light allows for some extra grip by one finger getting in a bit deeper. The hexagon shape provides for excellent rotational control and it will never roll away. I would have liked to see a screw-on pocket clip option. But, as is, it currently slides nicely into pockets being smooth and of constant diameter. The threads are triangular but well cut and smooth. LED was well centered. Brass posts on both ends so flat cells work fine. This thing is a solid chunk of aluminum with thick walls. I would very willing use this to smack something should the need ever arise.
Battery Life: ★★★★☆
Amp readings at the tail with a 3.2V A123 LiFePO4 18650 gave 0.05, 0.30 and 1.00 A. Readings would likely be higher with 3.7V batteries. Only a moonlight mode would lead to longer battery life options.
Light Output: ★★★☆☆
This light uses and XP-G, but with the small smooth reflector it makes sense to get a bit more throw than you would with an XM-L. That being said, it suffers in the output a bit compared to larger and newer LEDs. Starts in low with last mode memory which sets after 2 seconds of off time. Moving a card in front of the light really fast shows that it uses high frequency PWM but it is not noticeable otherwise. Strobe and SOS flash with the same output as high mode.
In my integrating bathroom and on the same 3.2V A123 LiFePO4 18650, I measured outputs of 228, 76, and 14 lumens on hi, mid, and lo respectively. These will also likely be higher with higher voltage cells.
Summary: ★★★☆☆
This is a nice, unique light overall and a step above your standard budget light. My ratings averaged to 3.5, but with the higher price point I will average down to 3 stars. I see it at other sites such as DX for around 22 w/ a battery, but it would be hard to be sure what you will get since mine was different than what was on the manufacturer page already. Here it is in a lineup.
