Slightly smaller than a tube of Lip Balm, the Bronte BT01 flashlight is small in size, but big on capabilities. Available in four different colors – I chose black – the BT01 offers both style and function. It operates on one commonly available AAA battery, and can run for a whopping 125 hours continuously (at its lowest mode).
In today’s world it is rather common to see someone using their cell phone as a make-shift flashlight; running their battery down in the process and subjecting their expensive phone to the possibility of being dropped and damaged. Using your cell phone as a flashlight might seem to be convenient, but is it really?
Not only does the BT01 run for much longer; it also has the ability to put out substantially more light, and it offers the user three choices of steady light output (low, medium, and high). With its small size the BT01 can easily fit into places that a cell phone can’t, and the BT01 can be stood on its tail (try that with a cell phone) to be used as a candle. Dropping the BT01 isn’t a big deal either – it is drop resistant to 1.5 meters. And, unlike nearly all cell phones, the BT01 is waterproof to 2 meters (IPX-8).
With a retail price of $13 the BT01 can be replaced rather cheaply, but the odds are very good that you won’t have to – not because it was damaged anyway. Chances are decent that you won’t lose it either; thanks to the clip (included) and the ring attachment (included). Other than replacing batteries, the only maintenance necessary will be keeping it clean and occasionally changing the O-ring (two extras are included) so the BT01 stays water/dust tight.
There were several very pleasant surprises with the BT01. I had expected the flashlight itself to be quite good – based on the fact that I do own another product from Bronte, and am very pleased with it – and it is. The build quality is very good, with a very nice anodized finish (protects against scratches and wear). The body features diamond shaped grooves for grip, with the head featuring the same diamond shaped grooves.
The BT01 unscrews just behind the head; well cut, lubricated, threads make the process smooth as glass, with just enough tension to keep the head from being too loose at any point of the assembly/disassembly. Inside the body, the tail end features a spring. The head has a contact, for the positive end of the AAA battery, centered on the board.
Considering the small size of the BT01, the reflector is relatively deep. It is an orange peel reflector. The lens is coated glass.
Operating the BT01 is a simple matter of twisting the head – tighten the head to turn the light on, and loosen the head to turn the light off. Modes are selected by repeatedly tightening and then loosening the head: medium, high, low. I find it easier to slightly push the head in (toward the body) and then tightening the head once I get to the wanted mode.
There is no memory; the flashlight always turns on in medium mode.
Strobe mode is hidden: quickly twist on/off twice, the twist on. Or push the head in/out rapidly until strobe is on – then tighten the head to keep the strobe mode.
My first surprise was the very nice aluminum case that the BT01 came in. It is roughly the same size as an Altoids tin, with a large cut-out on the front (covered with plastic). Inside the case is a foam insert, with cut-outs for the BT01 and the included ring attachment. I found this to be a very nice touch – making the BT01 very suitable for gifting purposes.
The clip was another pleasant surprise; something not typically included with flashlights in this category. The clip is stainless steel, and can be reversed (head down carry, or head up carry). Thanks to the clip, the BT01 can be attached to the brim of a cap – turning the BT01 into a very functional headlamp.
The key-ring attachment was the biggest surprise. Most of the competing products feature attachments that are next to impossible to use (tough to put on the key-ring and tough to take off the key-ring). Some use attachments that just aren’t sturdy enough for the job – I’ve lost flashlights thanks to their weak key-ring attachments.
Not Bronte. The included key-ring attachment is sturdy and very easy to attach to a key-ring. Detaching is just as simple. That might not seem all that important, but it is. Having the ability to easily detach the BT01 makes it so much more useful than it would be otherwise. Now I don’t have to take the entire ring of keys when I need to use the flashlight. Nor am I forced to juggle the keys/flashlight while I’m trying to locate the key hole in total darkness.
The attachment to the BT01 is a double loop ring, which is then attached to a chain, which is then attached to another double loop ring. That ring is attached to what a amounts to a circular carabiner that operates like an ordinary carabiner does – push the holding piece inwards to break the loop; allowing the circle carabiner to be removed from the key-ring itself. It took me far longer to write this sentence, than it does to attach/detach the BT01 to/from the key-ring.
The BT01 has a wide hot-spot, with a fair amount of spill beyond that. Biased toward flood, the BT01 can effectively illuminate objects to about 20-25 meters. Its intended purpose is for illuminating areas that are close to the user, and it does that job surprisingly well.
The light color is cool white; not actually blue, but certainly not what I’d consider a warm white either. I find the color temperature to be easy on my eyes and very effective for the BT01’s intended use.
Conclusion
I think the Bronte BT01 would make the perfect gift – even if it is for yourself. Easily carried in pocket, a purse, or on your key-ring, the BT01 is fully capable of serving as an EDC flashlight, or that emergency use flashlight conveniently kept in your vehicle. With the included accessories, the BT01 is extraordinarily useful, and it runs on commonly available AAA batteries.
Modes
Medium – 35 Lumens, will run for up to 4.5 hours
High – 150 Lumens, will run for up to 30 minutes
Low - .5 Lumens, will run for up to 125 hours
Specs
LED – Cree XP-G2
Maximum beam distance – 45 meters
Length – 2.59 inches
Head Diameter - .55 inch
Weight – 10 grams (excluding battery)
IPX-8 Waterproof to 2 meters
Impact resistant to 1.5 meters
