Review: ThruNite Archer 1A

ThruNite Archer 1A

Summary:

  • LED: CREE XP-G2 LED with a lifespan of 20+ years of run time.
  • Max 178lumen output using 1 x 1.5v AA battery.
  • Firefly:0.2lm.249hours; Low:24lm.6hours;Mid80lm.1.5hours;Max Output:178lm.58minutes;Strobe:178lm.2.5hours.
  • Working voltage:0.9v to 4.2v.
  • Removable steel pocket clip.
  • Max run time:249hours(Firefly mode)
  • Max beam distance:184meters.
  • Peak beam intensity:2993cd.
  • Impact resistant:10meters.
  • Waterproof to IPX-8 Standard
  • 104.14MM LENGTH,22.10mm bezel diameter.
  • Weight: 60g without battery.
  • Aircraft grade aluminium body structure.
  • premium type III hard anodized anti-abrasive finish.
  • Ultra-clear tempered glass lens with anti-reflective coating.
  • Momentary forward click tactical switch.
  • programmable memory function
  • Strobe mode for tactial and emergency use.
  • Low,medium and high modes to balance power consumption and light output.
  • Smooth reflector for max light output.
  • Highly focused beam for maximum distance
  • Stainless steel front striking bezel.
  • Tactical knurling for firm girp.
  • Streamlined body design
  • Reversed polarity protection.
  • Durable T-shaped thread.
  • Intelligent highly efficient circuit board design for max performance and long run time.
The ThruNite Archer 1A is the updated version of the ThruNite Neutron 1A. The Neutron uses a XM-L T6 LED and the output was 145 ANSI lumens, the Archer 1A uses a XP-G2 with a output of 178 ANSI lumens.
This come with my Saber 1A and the box was about twice as big, upon opening it I realized what I had read about it being the size of some newer 18650 lights is no exaggeration. Its very solid and feels high quality. One of the things I noticed at first was the pocket clip, its very sturdy and is attached by a separate ring at the tail cap end.
Left: After unscrewing the tail cap and then unscrewing the ring that hold the clip in, the clip can be pulled out with ease. On another note, the clip is firmly pressed against the head and the head is twisted for changing modes. I'm not sure if I will use the clip but I might be worried about wear on the head if I did.
Middle: Here you can see the ring unscrewed and the and the clip half taken out, there was a little wear from where the ring tightens over the clip but you don't see it when it is screwed down.
Right: Here you can see the clip removed and the ring back in place, it leaves a small hole where the clip would usually come out from.
With the tail cap, o-ring, metal ring and clip removed. The tail end has square threads that come lubed with some light oil, then a gap for the o-ring then some more threads for the ring that holds the clip. And below the o-ring and clip.
Squared threads on the head end as well.
Above you can see how thick the side walls are.
This driver looks odd to me but I am sure it has a purpose to be that way. The modes are controlled by twisting the head, but the on and off is controlled by the switch.
Stainless steel bezel, this isn't going to bend like aluminium when you drop it face first.
Inside the tail switch, this is the best tail clicky I have ever felt.
Size comparison with my T10, it nearly looks like you could put the T10 inside of it.
Disassembled size comparison with a standard AA battery.
This is 1 solid light, it feels good in the hand and its not something you will have to be careful with. It also has a very deep reflector, not as wide as my RC-G2 but about the same depth. The hotspot from it is very concentrated, I have a feeling that this is going to out throw my RC-G2 III because of its higher lumens and 20% tighter hotspot of the XP-G2 LED.
The twisty head is convenient but takes some getting used to, you just give it a tiny twist then tighten it again and it changes through the modes. When you turn it on via the tail cap it will always come back on in the same mode you left it on.
I'm not sure why the clip is directly over where its says Archer 1A, it doesn't bother me at all but it just seems odd and it can't be moved to another position.
Over all I am very pleased with this light, its now the brightest single AA that I own (I have also read people guessing 300-400 lumens on a 14500 but its unconfirmed)
I'll updated with some beamshots tomorrow night hopefully.
Some outdoor pics below.

Nice review ezarc. I have the older Neutron 1A. It really is a very nice solid light. I love the low low and useful modes.

Nice review. Thanks for sharing!

Thanks for the review, i very much enjoyed the pictures :slight_smile:

Just so you know, the reason it looks that way is the plates on the side prevent the battery from making a connection if you put it in backwards, a.k.a. it is mechanical reverse polarity protection.

Hard to see in the photo, but those two outside plates would have to be slightly above the center one to prevent - end of AA battery from connecting.

So, I’ll assume the 2 outside plates are slightly raised above the center one…

Forgot to mention…Very nice review ezarc.

My first reaction though, is this is one very LARGE single AA flashlight…??? Dunno…seems odd.

Yep, at least that is how it works on my LD20.

nice review but damn that’s big :slight_smile:

Thanks very much! Frontpage’d and Sticky’d.

nice light. This led me to picking up a neutron 1c

Quote Kreisler: “0.20mm difference in height i dunno whats that in ounces sorry”

mm to ounces? Good one Kreis… :smiley:

Thanks for the review ezarc. The threads on this light are the squarest I've ever seen.

Beamshots added to the 2nd post.

Well done, ezarc ;)!

How about runtimes, have you tested any? Amp draw?

Also, this light looks so huge, it could be 2xAA rather than 1xAA, how big 2xAA Archer should be?!

Thanks veer.

I haven’t tested run times and unfortunately I don’t have a DMM.

Here kreisler has some detailed specs, it looks like it draws 2.1A on a eneloop.

Weird thing is - Archer and Saber have almost the same lumens output on high, difference is less than 10lm, yet Archer, according to TN, runs for less than one hour on high while Saber can do 1.5h on high.

As I said in your Saber’s review, I would like to see Archer vs Saber beamshot comparison in the same environment, Im not sure whether Archer had better throw/was brighter than Saber or not.
Perhaps it has to do with reflector solely?

NIce beamshots, greatly improved

Thank you ezarc !