Review: AKOray K-106 3-mode

As usual, a very thorough review. If I didn't already know you were an engineer, I'd be pretty sure of it from your reviews. Lots of interesting detail, and good pictures. All I can say is, keep up the excellent work.

Must write my own one on this light just to add to the collection. Found a click sequence that sets it back to the way the factory shipped it - just wish I could remember what it was. Something like 16 clicks close together AFAIR.

Thanks for a great review (both you and sb56637)...I just gifted the 6 mode version to my brother-in-law after test driving it for a couple of weeks and I really like that light BUT I'm very excited about this 3 mode version that's on its way to me from KD. Thanks for the extra details about programming...that will be very useful info.

Edit: left out mode number with original post...I have owned the 6 mode/non programmable version

I'm glad people like the review. Thanks for the compliments.

The post I linked to at CPF has it. You enter programming mode by doing 5 clicks. Then you do 3 fast clicks (erases all 3 modes).

I'm still doing a runtime test on a NiMH. This is one of those deals where the beam just gets weaker and weaker but stays on for a long time. I'm at 2 hours now.

Cool......might last for 3 hours. What nimh capacity are you using in the light, are you still using an Eneloop.

Hi there ky70, welcome to the site! Please let us know how the programmable one works out for you, and if you want to do a review, the more the merrier.

It isn't the easiest thing to program - and I'd thoroughly messed it up though at least I'd got rid of the flashing bit. Was quite glad when I discovered it could be reset.

I can do formal runtimes on NiMH, 14500 and alkalines for it - and will get around to it soon.

Don, do you have any lithium primaries laying around...i would like to see a runtime test done with those cells if its possible.

They are hideously expensive here. Will see if I can get any at a decent price.

Thank you for the welcome. I got the light today (from KD) and I'm pleased to report that everything is working perfectly. I was able to use the wonderful mode programming suggestion (setting H, then L, then M) and now my k-106 is ready to go with mode "1" at a nice low, low mode "2" at a lowish medium and mode "3" at 100% brightness. This light is a steel for under $20 and you folks saved me a lot of aggravation with the programming instructions. I got the light programmed in 2 minutes on the first try...but of course I redid the programming a few more times to get the best low and medium levels that I wanted.

Note: I did not have to do the 5 second hold or 16 presses to get into the programming mode. I was able to follow the standard instructions of 5 half presses from on to enter into the programming mode. Thanks again and to folks looking for this light, I suggest you run to kaidomain while they're in stock and snatch one up. They should have stock as my order from Feb 26 was delayed as KD waited on their supplier to send more...my light shipped out to me on Mar 16th.

Great! I sure hope you're right that they continue to manufacture new batches as needed.

There's certainly demand for it so hopefully they'll keep it up. Only problem is that it seems to be very well made and unlikely to fail so who's going to buy another one? This is always an issue for manufacturers - it has been perfectly possible to make incandescent light bulbs that would last essentially forever but what was the manufacturer going to do after it had made them?

Now I'm thinking of buying the k109 as I love the CR123 battery format.

Sidenote: I've seen the pocket clip referred to as cheap by some others in discussions involving this light, but I find this clip to have just the right amount amount strength/grip to function perfectly for secure pocket carry without damaging the pocket. It may not be the biggest/strongest clip out there, but I find it to be well suited for the form factor of this light. What do you folks think of the clip?

On the whole I'm not much of a one for clips, but I'd rather the clips damage themselves than what they are clipped on to. The K106 is a better design for clips than most with the deeply recessed switch and I assume the K109 is similar. I'd say it is a better clip than most.

If i were to get one and clip it on my belt would the clip be sturdy enough.....dont really want the light to be bouncing around on cement. Need to find out how much shipping would be to ship a couple of lith primaries out to you.

I'll stick it to my belt tomorrow and try it for a day. With all the other stuff I sometimes have on my belt, another light isn't a problem.

Because its a factor for me, if the light has a clip then its on my belt, clipless lights go in a holster.

I actually belt clipped the 6 mode version for a half a day last week. I NEVER belt clip and decided to give it a try. Since I never belt clip, I forgot the darn thing was there and thought I left the light at home by accident. So here I am upset that I'm only carrying 3 lights instead of my usual 4 and then a bit later I remember that I put it on my belt. Now I'm afraid as I haven't felt it there at any point. So I reach for it on my belt and yep, still there. I proceeded to move it back to my pocket but it was comfortably and securely on my belt for half a day...so comfortable that I didn't even feel the light as it was on. BUT that was only a half a day so I can't comment if that's a secure way to EDC this light.

Thanks for the input Ky70, i have to move around a lot and sometimes jog to the machine and computer to see whats wrong and i sure dont want anything falling off me. My belt is around 2mm just a guess since i really dont feel like pulling out the calipers. Now that is a lot of lights to edc, if i may ask which ones do you carry, i only carry two on me and it changes by the week.

I just measured the clip and it's apprx. 38mm long with apprx 33mm of clip length that would cover a belt...the last 5mm is the end piece which is great for opening up the clip to remove it/clamp it on.

I miss counted...I actually tote 5 lights daily (I need an intervention).

2 lights for pocket carry - Akoray 106 on right pocket and Romisen RC-A4 X on left pocket.

1 on dog tag chain around my neck (concealed under clothes) - Quark mini123

1 on keychain - ITP A3

1 in work bag or coat pocket - Eagletac T100c2

I just got into lights a couple of months ago and my problem is that I EDC every light I buy...I just can't seem to leave one at home.

Been on my belt for 24hr now. Because of the position of the belt loops on my trousers and the phones and pager also there, the only place I could find space for it was in the centre of my back. Despite spending lot of time on chairs today and an hour or so in the car there have been no problems with it. Maybe I'm just a strange shape. My belt is fairly thick (about 4mm perhaps) so I left it clipped to the belt overnight just to see if the fairly thin wire would deform. It doesn't seem to have done so and is still able to grip if clipped into my pocket, unlike the clips for my ID badge which if clipped to anything thicker than a shirt can never again be used to clip to a shirt. I've lost a few ID cards that way. It won't quite hold onto a shirt pocket - but then it never did.