Greetings,
This is my review for the Klarus Mi7 and it’s a red one. This light was provided by Gearbest for review.
Where to purchase it:
My sample looks more of matte finish than glossy that appears from the Klarus website. Maybe it was only mine that came that way? If anyone has a different experience, please share.
I received this torch on the 25 of July 2016. I have been carrying it as a keychain torch ever since, and it has hold up well. I was using the Nitecore MT10C as a key chain light and it was a bit heavy. If you do not want to scratch the finish, I would not recommend carrying this light a key chain, but if you can accept that this will happen, it is a great key chain light. With this Klarus Mi7, I can confidently let the light hang from my set of keys while the car key is on the car’s ignition. To me, in terms of weight, feels like I have another key in my pocket. The switch was easy to find in the dark.
Let us start with what matters most, the lumens. This tiny pocket sized light produces 700 lumens from a single 14500 battery or 330 from a single standard AA size battery. The moonlight mode is 5 lumens for both 14500 and AA battery, the medium for 14500 battery and AA is 90 lumens.
Emitter: Cree XP-L HI V3
Tint: White Light(I compared it to my Nitecore MT10C which has cool white and Mi7 tint looked more white than cool white.)
Beam Distance: 110 Meters
Candela:3025
Water Proof: IPX8 up to 2 meters(around 6.56 feet) under water
Impact resistance: 1 meter(about 3.28feet).
Polarity Protection: Yes
Lock Out mode: Yes
Battery Power indicator: Yes. Three fast clicks from off will give an estimate of your battery capacity. 3 flashes: over 70% 2 flashes: between 70%-30% 1 flash: less than 30%
Run Times: *14500(800mAh) Battery:
700 lumens (high) is 53 minutes
90 lumens (medium) is 47 minutes
5 lumens (moonlight) is 67 hours
Strobe at 700 lumens is 1 hour and 46 minutes
SOS at 90 lumens is 11 hours and 21 minutes.
Run Times *AA (Alkaline) Battery:
330 lumens (high) is 55 minutes
90 lumens (medium) is 50 minutes
5 lumens (moonlight) is 40 hours
Strobe at 300 lumens is 1 hour and 50 minutes
SOS at 90 lumens is 5 and 30 minutes.
* I am only assuming that they are using their own Brand (Klarus) 14500 to conduct these run times and they used Pairdeer industrial alkaline battery, since it is included with the torch (flashlight.)
The voltage rate is 1.0V-4.2V. It also has over discharge protection, meaning you can use different chemistry of 14500 batteries and AA batteries. According to their site: http://www.klaruslight.com/index.php?m=content&c=index&a=show&catid=134&id=131
You can use a rechargeable or primary LiFePO4 batteries, rechargeable AA batteries, AA lithium or alkaline primaries, IMR Li-ion. Even if the Klarus Mi7 has these protections in place, please do not over discharge your batteries for your safety.
The finish of the torch differs from what they advertise:
This is what mine looks like:
This is the how torch comes packaged:
The accessories: It comes with a lanyard, spare o ring, key ring, S carabiner, and one AA battery.
For those interested what the manual looks like:
If you want to read it click here:
http://i.imgur.com/X2zyOF5.jpg?1
(I noticed that if you click on link and zoom in, the picture looks blurry on a smart phone, but if you save the image, it's clear to read.)
The threads on the light look squared:
(My sample did not come with any lubrication. I added lithium grease.)
Size comparison:
Inside of the head:
Inside the Tube:
Emitter:
Beam Shots:
14500 battery on high:
14500 On Low and AA on low(both are at 90 lumes and both looked the same to me):
(AA Low)
AA on high:
Moonligh(both 14500 and AA since both are at 5 lumens and both look the same to me):
Comparison beam shots:
S10RbatonII(white tint in my opinion) @ 500 lumens:
Manker U11 @ 1000 lumens NW:
Thrunite TC 12 @ 1000 lumens NW:
Reflector Size Comparison:
Overall, it is a great torch and it comes down to personal choice. I personally could not use it as a work light, since I need momentary light on. Instead of a lanyard, I would have preferred a pocket clip so I can have the choice in placing in my shirt or pants pocket. My wife liked the torch, but was concern with the heat that it was creating. I reassured her that this was normal considering this light is emitting 700 lumens. I showed the light to other people, some didn’t like the fact that it had no memory function and another did not like the fact that it had no magnet. They were all impressed on how bright it is, there is no debating that. I do get use out of this torch and that is why I bought one in blue.
Edit- I have canceled my order on the blue Mi7. I have waited enough and cannot wait anymore. I have waited three weeks for it. I have purchased a Nitecore IMR 14500 and will update if it looks brighter. I also added beam shots for 14500 low and AA low for comparison.