Today I am reviewing the new NITECORE SRT9
This light was provided by BangGood.com for my honest review and professional opinion. The fact that BangGood shipped the light to me will have no influence of any kind of my views and thoughts on this light.
Here are the Manufacturer specs. And description.
Features:
Designed for use in law enforcement, hunting and tactical applications.
Die-cast unibody compact body
The world’s first line of flashlights to feature third generation SSR (smart selector ring) technology
Smoothly and rapidly select brightness levels and function by rotating the smart selector ring
Utilizes a XHP50 LED for a maximum output of up to 2150 lumens
A micro-textured reflector offers wide angle lighting
Boasts a peak beam intensity of 15100cd and a throw distance of up to 246 meters
High efficiency circuit board provides up to 250 hours runtime on the lowest output level
Equipped with unique multi-colored LEDs (red, green,blue and ultraviolet), red/blue signaling, strobe and location beacon lights
7 rapidly switchable functions to select from
Versatile 500mW ultraviolet light at 365nm wavelength
Infinite brightness adjustment from 0 to 2150 lumens
Multi-functional power indicator light displays low battery status
Stainless steel titanium-plated clip
Stainless steel retaining ring protects core components from damage
Toughened ultra-clear mineral glass with anti-reflective coating
Constructed from aero grade aluminum alloy
Waterproof in accordance with IPX8 (two meters submersible)
Impact resistant to 1.5 meters
Tail stand capability
And here is what is in the box.
Package included:
1 x Nitecore SRT9 XHP50 2150LM Tactical LED Flashlight
1 x Holster
1 x Clip
1 x Lanyard
1 x tail cap rubber cushion
The Nitecore SRT9 is a tank of a light. It weighs about twice as much without batteries as most lights the same size with.
It also does a great many things that most lights can’t do. And, it makes using every single feature so simple that anyone at all can do it.
There is no clicking your way through 5 or 6 modes to get to the one you need and then hope it has a memory function so when you turn it on again you will not spend 5 minutes looking for the same setting.
The Nitecore uses what it calls a smart selector ring. And on this light, it uses the third generation of that feature.
Until I got this light I had never used this type of U.I. so I have no idea what the first 2 generations were like I just know that I love this one and I wish we could somehow make it mandatory for all lights with multiple settings.
Thanks, you Photobucket I will not have anywhere close to as many images as I normally would in a review but, I did make a decent video that will help you see and understand the smart selector ring better.
The ring is just below the head of the light at the point that you would normally unscrew the head to remove it. The design of this light does not let you do that but, that is where it is located.
It does have a tail switch but it only does 3 very simply things. Turns the power on, turns the power off which is done by a full click and, the only other thing it does is that a half press gives you momentary on. When you release the half click it goes off. Everything else is done using the ring.
This light has several different lights and output levels. You have red, green, and blue LED’s (RGB) and you also have a true UV. And of course you have your main CREE XHP50 emitter that cranks out over what the manufacturer rates. (I love when that happens)
For anyone that does not know, the red, green and blue LED’s have uses.
Red is used to help protect your night vision, it gives you enough light to make your way around but if you must turn it off suddenly your night vision will be as good as it was before. It is also a universal sign of an emergency or problem telling other you need help.
Green is used more for the outdoors by hunters. The light does not spook or scare animals like Deer and even fish.
Blue has many uses. Blue LEDs are useful for pilots and other personnel who need to read maps at night. Other colored LEDs (such as red LEDs) will not work for map reading because it will wash out red lines. Blue LEDs are also used by police and crime scene investigators because it will make blood and bodily fluids visible that are usually invisible to the naked eye. Blue light is the only light that can cut through fog, which is why it is widely used for fog headlights.
I want to stop and post a little warning. This light does have a feature that alternates flashing red and blue light. I hope I do not have to explain why never using that feature while you are in your car would be a very bad idea.
As long as you are outside or in your own house and use it as it is intended which it to signal for help then you are not breaking any laws that I am aware of and you will not have any problems. I will say this once more okay. PLEASE DO NOT PLAY WITH THE RED AND BLUE FLASHING FEATURE WHILE DRIVING AROUND IN YOUR CAR. It will only land you in jail.
The way the ring works is if you start with it turned as far to the left as it will go, that is the first feature which is a very bright flashing white beacon.
Turn the ring one click to the right and the next feature is the red and blue alternating flash designed to signal for help.
One more click to the right and that is the blue LED, the next click to the right is the green LED and the next click to the right is the red LED.
The next click to the right is the UV light, UV light can be used for many things. They aid in authenticating money, driver’s licenses, and other documents by making the special watermarks fluoresce. They are also useful to auto mechanics, plumbers, and maintenance personnel for detecting HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) leaks. UV flashlights can be used by crime scene investigators to make blood and other bodily fluids easily visible. Ultraviolet light is also very useful for pest detection. Stains left by mice, dogs, cats, and other animals will fluoresce under the UV light. Scorpions will turn a bright green color under the UV light, making them easier to find in and around your home. UV lights are also used in mineralogy, making different minerals contained in rocks fluoresce at different wavelengths of light.
One more click to the right and that is your main XHP50 light. Once you feel it click as long as you do not turn it any farther than that click that is considered standby mode. As soon as you move out of the (past) that click you will notice It starts off at a very low output about 1 lumen and as you continue to turn the ring to the right the light gets brighter as power is increased. Once you turn it to the point that you feel that last click you are in turbo the lights highest setting. Nitecore rates it at 2150 lumen but it is underrated. The lowest reading I got using fresh 30q’s was 2322 lumen. The highest I got was right after charging the batteries when I first turned it on I got 2623 lumen. It about 30 seconds that came down to around 2200 lumen.
I am sorry that I did not take any timed readings to check for step down.
The light does have a temperature regulation feature that balances heat and light to try and give you the most light at the current temperature.
As I have time this coming week I will check the step down and add it to this review.
You do have one more click past trubo, turn past turbo and that is the strobe function.
I do as best I can to demonstrate these in the video.
My own thoughts on this light.
It is rock solid. Much more dense and heavier material than used and many lights. All of the LEDS are very well aligned in the reflector and the reflector is machined extremely well.
Fit and finish is great, I could not find any sharp edges or places missed in finishing.
It looks and feels good in the hand. It balances very well. Most of all it does everything the manufacturer says it will do.
The pocket or belt clip I really do not see much use for it. Even to get it over a pocket the clip would have to open up quite a bit. The clip is also attached so that if you do use it the optics will be facing up. I could not find a way to move it or turn it the in the other direction. I really do not like any light I own to have a clip leaving it optics facing up. I usually just remove it or just never use it.
The good thing is that it comes with a really nice carrying case that will easily fit on a belt and seems pretty tough. I tried both ways and the light will go in face up or down.
I wish they had a way to mark the ring just in case you happen to forget where you left it last. There is no memory function as one is not needed. The light will come on where you left the ring set.
These are minor issues that most of us have to overlook when we purchase a new light. What this light can do far outweighs these tiny little issues.
I love the fact that the tail switch does only what it should. Light on, Light off.
I would recommend this light to anyone that was looking to purchase it.
I hope the video comes out well enough to understand how the ring works.
If you would like to purchase this light you can find it here https://goo.gl/fVoSmP and use coupon code eae8b6 and ger a 26% discount.
