Balder TD-0
Reviewer's Overall Rating: ★★★★1/2
http://www.mybalder.com/product/html/?65.html
Summary:
| Battery: | AAA/10440 |
| Switch: | Twisty |
| Modes: | 3 (H>M>L) |
| LED Type: | XP-G R5 |
| Lens: | Standard lens and OP reflector |
| Tailstands: | No |
| Price Paid: | Retails ~$25 |
| Date Ordered: | December, 2012 |
Pros:
- Very nice anodized finish
- Nice machining; no blemishes found and threads nicely
- Feels very sturdy
- Small yet still long enough to operate with one hand
- Both lithium-ion and AAA fit snug
- Good output without over driving the emitter
- No blinky modes (strobe, SOS)
- Good grip without covering it with knurling - adds unique style
- Choice of three colors: Black, Grey and Sand
Cons:
- No tailstanding due to glass breaker
- The lowest mode definitely puts out more than the rated 1 lumen
2. Cree XPG R5 LED
3. Lumen and runtime:
Single AAA:
Maximum output of 140 lumens for 35 minutes
Medium output of 36 lumens for 2.2 hours
Minimum output of 1 lumens for 13 hours
Single 10440
Maximum output of 252 lumens for 32 minutes
Medium output of 90 lumens for 1.7 hours
Minimum output of 16 lumens for 10 hours
4. Material: Aircraft Aluminum Alloy T6061
5. Weight: 40g (without battery) **ACTUALLY 16g**
6. Water proof to IPX-8 standard
7. Battery: single AAA or 10440 battery
8. Accessories: O-rings, user’s manual
Features
2. Titanium Strike Bezel on the tail end
3. Compatible with Balder Magnet Clip
4. Mil-Spec Type III Hard Anodized finish
5. Made from Aluminum alloy, really strong
6. Water proof to IPX-8 standard
7. Precision Aluminum reflector (Orange Peel)
8. Simple operation. High-Medium-Low. No SOS and strobe modes
9. Twisty switch
10. Anti-reverse protection
Features / Value: ★★★★☆
Realistically, you shouldn't expect much from a single AAA flashlight and that's exactly what you get with the TD-0 - not many extra features. That's not a bad thing though. What you get are three modes and a simple twist style switch. However, Balder subtly added a key ring clip and even a glass breaker at the end of the tail cap. Okay, maybe it offers more after all. Is the breaker practical? Probably not, but tail standing with such a small light that might be attached to your key ring likely won't be called upon that often so it why not. Although I would have liked the option to replace it with a magnet or maybe even a permanent magnet would even be more ideal. Either way, the whole package is simple and effective for its purpose: An EDC AAA flashlight. Maybe the biggest improvement could have been made in cost and pricing. Putting a retail price at $20 or under would make a sizable impact for a single AAA light. Although, Balder makes a handsome, well made product and there's still plenty of competition in the higher end with prices
Design / Build Quality: ★★★★
Simply put, I couldn't ask for more at this size and price. The machining is flawless and it's not your typical bland knurling either. The head screws on nicely and the threads were even thoroughly lubed. For being a compact, EDC-sized AAA light the walls are just thick enough to make you feel secure packing it around everywhere you go. The lens is also protected well. I really feel it's light enough because with aluminum the lighter the flashlight the more you sacrifice in durability. When you get this small a few extra grams - compared to the super lightweights - is worth it, in my opinion. My only critique: The trademark silver band where the head meets the body would better serve having some kind of textured surface since this is where you twist the head to turn the light on/off. However, if your hands are dry you still get enough friction. You can get a mildly warm 5 minutes of operation on the highest mode using a 10440 lithium-ion but it starts getting HOT after 10 minutes. It can run the battery dead on NiMH without getting too hot. There is no problem when turning on the light because you'd be tightening both pieces of the head assembly, but when turning off you can easily be unscrewing the reflector portion of the assembly, which does nothing to break contact with the battery. For this reason I have deducted one star from this category.
Battery Life:
I wasn't able to test for total run time
Light Output: ★★★★1/2
This light has three modes, which are well spaced. There is no memory and it starts in the highest mode - I like it! In a flashlight this size I prefer it to start in the highest mode since the AAA battery is already going be to challenged in the department of light output. I can't test it myself, but if this light is putting out the lumens rated by the manufacturer then it's going to be at the top of its class. I can say that I wouldn't expect any more from both the AAA and the 10440. Like their BD-P model, this one retains relatively consistent amperage draw across both battery chemistries. My one gripe would be that it's definitely not putting out only 1 lumen on AAA. Although it's still quite low. Just technically not "moon" low. The beam profile has a subtle ring/halo effect but really only noticeable when shining on a flat surface like a wall. It's only worth mentioning because the Balder SE-1 set the bar high with its buttery smooth beam profile.
[beam shots to be posted here]
Summary: ★★★★1/2
I wasn't expecting much when I was waiting for this light to arrive but I think the exact words I mumbled after playing with it for a minute or two were "this is a nifty little light." It doesn't have flaws but rather more like personal gripes, but even those are insignificant. You can operate it with one hand, it starts on high every time, there's plenty of output on each battery and all this in a durable yet compact package. You'll probably never use the glass breaker, but hey, it's there in case you do need it. There wouldn't be a tail switch, regardless, so it's really just an extra feature. I would have preferred a magnet but all in all I have little to nothing in terms of complaints. I suppose my only complaint would be that this nifty little light is too good looking to share a pocket with keys and such but it will anyway :P
Wanna see some beamshots with other lights for comparison.
If it doesn’t become a classic I’ll be surprised.
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