Nextorch K3
Reviewer's Overall Rating: ★★★★☆
Summary:
| Battery: | 2xAAA (alkaline or Ni-Mh) |
| Switch: | Forward tailcap clickie swtich |
| Modes: | 4 (High, Med, Low, Strobe) |
| LED Type: | CREE XP-G R5 |
| Lens: | coated glass lens |
| Tailstands: | no |
| Price Paid: | 37.70$ |
| From: | DealeXtreme |
| Date Ordered: | June 2013 |
Pros:
- 180 lumens on high
- Includes 4xAAA alkalines
- Very good and strong clip
- Good anodizing and SQUARE threads
- Well regulated (constant output)
- Good throw
Cons:
- Expensive
- Forward clickie
- A bit ringy beam
- Low mode could be a bit lower
- Runtime on high (about 30 minutes)
Features / Value: ★★★☆☆
As I have told many times, I love flashlights powered with "normal" AA or AAA batteries, easy to find everywhere. I use to avoid "Li-ion only" powered lights, so I prefer "hybrid" Li-ion/NiMh ones, or lights that dont use Li-ion only as the power source. And, for me, of course, the lights powered with AA/AAA must have good eficiency and give the highest runtime and output possible.
This Nextorch K3 is another one that fits my needs. It can give 180 lumens on the highest mode, constantly, during about 30 minutes.... or can give 80 lumens during about 2 hours on the medium mode. The quality and finish of this flashlight is top notch, similar to any other reputable brand such as Fenix, Itp, Klarus, Jetbeam, etc...
The big drawback is the price, too expensive IMO, but taking into account that it competes with similar 2xAAA flashlights such as the 4-sevens ones.... and offers a bit more light output with a bit less runtime with a lower price... maybe this flashlight should be one more to consider when buying one.
Design / Build Quality: ★★★★☆
The light is shipped in a good retail box, with the user manual and 4xAAA alkaline batteries. No spare orings...
The flashlight has 2 parts: head and body. The surface is smooth, with no knurling or grooves for grip.
The head, in the front, has some kind of SS bezel, behind it, it has the o-ring and glass lens and then the reflector. The orange peel reflector is deeper than any other single or double AAA light that I have, and it is a bit narrower. It provides a good throw.
The positive contact for the battery is a protuding piece of metal that has a pring behind it.
The threads are "square" type, not anodized, and they feel smooth, even as it is received from factory (not lubed, but clean). A bit of lube, make the threads even better. They could be longer, IMO... only 3 turns to screw and unscrew the head...
In the tailcap area, no sings of being able to be dissasembled. The button is located there, and it has metallic finish. No tailstand possible. Talking about the switch: forward type means that you have to presect the mode you want before loking it, or you will have to fully press the switch off and then on when you are using it... to change modes
The clip is robust, but not the best. Does it´s job nicely.
Battery Life: ★★★☆☆
It is ok, good on High, and very good on Med. On Low, it gives the typical runtime of a lot of boring hours...
HIGH: aprox 40 minutes
MED: aprox 110 minutes
LOW: not measured
STROBE: not measured
Current draw not measured.
Light Output: ★★★★☆
On the highest mode it gives a respectable output, compromising a bit the runtime (take into account the capacity of AAA cells)... perhaps a better efficiency on the highest mode would make it to give more runtime, such as the 4sevens ones. However, on Med mode, it gives a good 70 lumen output, which is a "standard usable" output for me, similar to the output that others 1xAAA lights give on high...
This is what the manufacturer declare for each mode, and I would guess that is pretty accurate:
HIGH: 180 lumen
MED: 70 lumen
LOW: 25 lumen
STROBE: 180 lumen
The low mode should be between 3 and 5 lumens, not 25... but... for me it is ok.
Some beamshots, from 3 meters, H,M,L:
Summary: ★★★★☆
Good 2xAAA penlight with a very bright 180 lumen output on the highest mode but with a not so good runtime on that mode. However the 80 lumen med mode is a good balanced mode with long runtime and reasonable output.
Well made, good retail box/package with 4xAAA alkaline cells included, good clip, good throw...
It could be 10 or 15 dollar cheaper, but for the price asked, it can compete "as is" with more expensive brands...
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