Astrolux FT01 CREE XHP50.2 2200Lumens
Specifications:
| Brand/Model | Astrolux FT01 |
| LED | CREE XHP50.2 CW |
Working voltage |
~4.2V |
| Battery | 1x21700/18650 |
| Switch | Tail-cap + side |
| Modes | 5 |
| Blinkies | 3 |
| Mode changing | Side switch |
| Anodizing | HAIII |
Tailstand |
Yes |
| Lock-out | No |
| Momentary On | Yes |
| Lens | Coated |
| Reflector | Orange Peel |
| Waterproof | IPX7 |
INTRODUCTION:
Banggood's homebrand Astrolux has currently a nice lineup of extremely interesting flashlights. Besides the MF04/MF04S they sport some smaller lights like the S43, S41 to name a few. The FT01 is rather unique in this regard, as it's one of the first Astrolux flashlights that uses a 21700 battery. You know, the ones that are used in Tesla cars.
What you'll get:
- Astrolux FT01 flashlight
- Carton box
- Manual
- Spare O-ring
- Lanyard
HANDLING OF THE LIGHT
My preference has gone out to the diameter of a 3AAA- or a 26650 flashlight, mainly because of the most ideal diameter to fit my hands. This being a 21700 type flashlight it feels nicer than a 18650. The power switch is in the tailcap, while the side switch is used for changing modes. So you can change modes while holding it in the palm of your hand, and at the same time you can power it off with the main switch, so it doesn't have parasitic drain..... fortunately.
BUILD QUALITY, PRINTS AND ANODIZING
Although Astrolux once started on the budget side of the spectrum, it hasn't stayed there for very long.
It is now a very well established flashlight brand. All parts fit every nicely and not wobbly. The FT01 is definitely worth the money looking at the way it is machined and put together. The prints on the flashlight are rather thin and not very clear.
Take a look at the picture below. You can see that the text isn't particularly clear. The color is supposed to be grey/silver, but when I'm holding it it looks more champagne.
THREADS AND O-RINGS
The Astrolux FT01 is built in 3 main parts; the head, body and tail. The body (battery tube) has threads on either side. The threads towards the tailcap are actually anodized, while the ones towards the head are bare. This has ofcourse a reason. If the tailcap were bare, you would have the light turned on continually.
LED, LENS BEZEL AND REFLECTOR
This is my first light that has the CREE XHP50.2 which looks just like it's bgger brother, the XHP70.2. My copy has the Cool White LED, and as far as I can see the FT01 it doesn't have a NW version nor a WW version!!!!
The reflector is made of aluminum I suppose, and has an Orange Peel coating. I can't get the bezel off by heands, so I can't really tell for sure. The Lens is clear but I can't really see any color hue that is usually present on AR coated lenses. So it might be just an ultraclear lens.
The bezel is stainless steel which enhances it's quite beautiful look!
DIMENSIONS:
Flashlight manufacturers mainly show dimensions in millimeters.
Length of the Astrolux FT01: 143 mm
FT01 head diameter: 37 mm
Width body : 30 mm
WEIGHT:
Weight Haikelight MT03 TA empty: 192 gr / 0.42 lb.
Size compared to the Convoy C8, Lumintop ODF30 and Convoy T2.
USER INTERFACE: UI
The Astrolux FT01 has a rather simple UI fortunately. The side switch doesn't do anything without using the tailswitch. It would simply not power on. It will also be possible to just depress the tailswitch to 'signal' or morse coding.
From on:
- Press and Hold side switch: Strobe, then hold for SOS and then hold to Beacon
- Single click side switch: Moving through the menu, from Low to High
- Double click: Turbo mode
- Triple click: Nothing
Moon mode:
When you turn on the light it will not start at Moon, but starts at low, then goes to medium, then high, and THEN it will go to Moon.
Backlight:
Behind the dark translucent switch cover is a mini LED built-in. It is only lit when you charge or when the battery is below 50%. I tried to charge a Jetbeam Hi Amp battery, but it just starts flashing, which is probably not correct behavior.
Lock-out mode:
You can do a lock out by twisting the body from the tail to break the electric contact but it is not necessary because it uses a mechanical tail cap switch.
PWM
I couldn't detect any by eyes.
MOMENTARY ON:
Yes, when you turn the light off with the tailcap switch, you can slightly depress the Forward Clicky switch to signal/use morse coding, which is called Momentary On. When you switch it off in Medium mode, that's the output mode when your turned off the light! So it has Mode Memory
ABOUT THE BATTERIES:
Although it is made for the 21700 type battery, or even the 20700 battery, but a protected Panasonic NCR18650B still worked fine without the little included battery extender. But I can imagine that shorter 18650 batteries wouldnt fit as well, and you need to use the added battery extender, that is included especially for 18650 batteries. It is rather tight fit and difficult to get out at times.
PERFORMANCE:
Lumens measured in my self-made integrated sphere, calibrated with a Convoy S2+ with a constant 137 lumens out, received from BLF (Budget Light Forums) member Djozz. This time I used the cheap HS1010A lux meter. The battery being a Panasonic NCR18650B without protection. Here are my measurements:
| Measured Lumens | Manufacture Lumens | ||
| Astrolux MT01 | Moon | 1.46 | 1.29 |
| Panasonic NCR18650B | Low | 280.78 | 200 |
| Panasonic NCR18650B | Medium | 751.47 | 650 |
| Panasonic NCR18650B | High | 1459.52 | 1300 |
| Panasonic NCR18650B | Turbo | 2482.28 | 2215 |
I haven't done a runtime graph, but once I do, I will post it first in the original Astrolux FT01 review page on my site.
Throw:
Measured indoors at 5 meters,
HS1010A luxmeter + panasonic NCR18650B : 755lux = 18750 cd
LX-101 luxmeter + high-drain jetbeam :980lux= 24500 cd
The LX101 is right on with the manufacturer claims.. 24000cd.
I start to mistrust my cheap HS1010A meter more and more, especially now I have a high quality meter the Hagner e4-x, which also reads higher than the HS1010A.
No beamshots yet, hopefully soon I will be going out and do some beamshots with multiple flashlights again, including the Astrolus MF04S which finally arrived after 3 months!!!!
CONCLUSION
PROS:
- Rather bright for a single cell flashlight!
- Simple but useful UI that everybody can get used to within a minute!!!! Fortunately.
- One of the few lights using the new 21700 battery size.
CONS:
- No battery included.
- At the time of this review, no other LED tint available, except cold white.
Note: the flashlight was provided by Banggood for review.
