Trustfire X8 XM-L T6 5 Modes
Reviewer's Overall Rating: ★★★★★
Summary:
Battery: | 1x18650 or 2x18650 |
Switch: | Reverse Clicky |
Modes: | Hi-Mid-Lo-Strobe-SOS with mode memory |
LED Type: | XM-L T6 |
Lens: | Glass |
Tailstands: | No (added oring to the rubber cap and tailstands ok now) |
Price Paid: | $51.70 |
From: | Manafont |
Date Ordered: | 5/12/2011 Received 5/28/2011 |
Pros:
- Really bright white spot beam
- Wide deep SMO reflector.
- Excellent build quality and machining.
- Led mounted on large threaded brass pill screwed onto reflector and head for adequate cooling .
- Belt clip.
- Can be used with 1 or 2 18650's.
- Mild crenalated SS bezel with GITD o-rings
- Good bedside weapon. Blind em' and club em'
Cons:
- Came with a lanyard in the box but no clip to attach it to the light. Other versions have this clip included
- Coating scratched a bit when putting on belt clip.
- Threads does not come lubed
Features / Value: ★★★★★
I purchased this light from Manafont with registered mail and delivery took a bit longer 16 days. It was packaged in a box wrapped in brown paper. Inside was the X8, a lanyard and a belt clip. I was impressed with how solid the light was and the size of the head with that Stainless Steel bezel. With the 2 batteries installed, It was balanced quite well. The size and bulkiness of the head makes this a nice little club.
This light has 5 modes: High(3000mA) >Mid(1800mA)> Low(900mA)> Strobe(1500mA)> SOS(3000mA). High is insanely bright and focused to a 4.5" hotspot from 4' away. Mid is quite bright and will probably be the most used for a good balance of heat and runtime. The low is still quite bright and very useable. The blink modes don't bother me as much but id prefer them to be hidden. Switching between modes is made easy with the reverse clicky switch at the tail.
At its price point, The X8 can easily compete with more expensive lights. It is brighter and throwier than the Trustfire F15 XM-L and the UF 3mode dropin. Different kits sold at the other internet stores also offer 2 batteries, a charger, a clip and additional O-rings and lens for not much more money. Either way you won't be disappointed by this light.
Design / Build Quality: ★★★★★
The build quality is outstanding. This is my second trustfire light next to the F15 and im quite happy with how they're constructed.The coating is nice and smooth. Its more of a dull finish. The body comes in 5 sections. The massive head is the first thing you'll notice about this light. Its got a Stainless steel bezel with mild crenellations which break up the smooth look of the light. Its got a clear glass lens not sure if its got a coating on it. Round cooling fins line the area where the head attaches to the body. Inside is where this light really amazes me. This is the largest pill i have come across. The XML is mounted on this brass pill and it is then screwed onto the deep smooth reflector and this dropin is screwed onto the head. Think p60 drop times two. NO need to put aluminum foil to make the dropin contact the body. There should me more than enough material to help wick away heat from the LED. The solder joints where the contact springs reside are not pretty but they work. The large outer spring is not centered and the solder looks messy but it has no effect on its performance.
The body comes in 3 pieces to allow for 1 or 2 18650 lions. It will probably also take 2x16340's. The threads did not come lubed but they were quite smooth with no binding. Dual GITD orings are found on the body joints which should keep the occasional rain away. I would've taken a clip for the lanyard instead of the GITD orings i can't see anyway.
There is a contact spring on the head and a brass cap on the negative tailcap side. The switch functions as it should and mode changes effortless. Tailstanding is impossible as the rubber button sticks past the cap. when i tried to make it stand it changed modes on me so it is very sensitive.. I was able to use the tailcap from the TF F15 and it allowed this light to tail stand.
Heatsink reflector
Led/driver pill
Dropin combo
Head assembly
XML
Lens/Bezel
Switch breakdown
X8,F15,Uf 501A,Nitecore Ex10
Uf 3mode xml wf501a 16340 (left), TF F15 (middle), X8 (right)
X8 is much brighter than the F15 but pic shows hotspot size pretty well.
X8 (left) F15(right)
Battery Life: ★★★★★
Battery life should be over an hour with two cells according to the small piece of paper included from trustfire. Its going to be a lot less with one cell and using on high. Medium should last much better as its using a bit over half the power. 2 16340's should work with the extender removed. So far ive been happy with how long the battery has lasted. The batteries fit with no rattle unless you really shake it. I guess the only real precaution to using multiple battery lights is to always make sure that both batteries are charged and possibly as close a voltage to one another. Even with protected batteries the main issue would be matching the voltage as close as possibe as to not weaken the stronger cell after multiple uses.
Light Output: ★★★★★
This is the brightest light i have so far. It is easily brighter than the UF 3mode XML dropin and the TF F15 T6. The Ultrafire UF-980L have been the light to have here at BLF lately but this light could be easily comparable to it. The X8 throws quite well, with its bright small spot it out throws the F15. It still has enough spill though to light the area around the spot. All the T6 tints i have seem to be similar as they are all on the cool side. The only exception is the Solarforce 1mode i have which appears to be somewhat warm.
1x18650 2.8A=high 1.1A=mid 0.2=low
2x18650 1.37A=high 0.59A=mid 0.13A=low
added 7/17/2011:
Testing for regulation.
10mins on 5 mins off
4.18 4.03 3.95 3.87 3.80 3.76 3.74 3.67 3.55 3.04v
1.54a 1.53 1.50 1.53 1.55 1.55 1.57 1.61 1.67 1.95a
Summary: ★★★★
Overall i am happy with this light. Its got impressive brightness and throw with good heatsinking. It can be used with 1 or 2 cells that gives it more flexibility. I was dissappointed when i did not see a clip for the included lanyard. after emailing Jim@manafont.com he said that it used to come with the clip but now it does'nt. I guess i can use the lanyard on my other lights. Even thought the threads came unlubed they were still clean and bind free. I was really impressed with the build quality of the X8. From the SS bezel, to the size of the head/heatsink, double O-rings, clear glass lens. It is the amount of light and how far it can project it that will impress anyhone who tries this light.
6/5/11 I was trying some beamshots tonight between the X8 and F15. I had both lights on for 10 mins and noticed the F15 really hot and the X8 just hot but not unbearable. after a few minutes of being shut off the F15 was still really hot but the X8 was just warm. I guess the heatsinking works well on this light. maybe adding the thermal paste on the threads helped too.