[Review] Nitecore MT22A ... side by side AA = truly pocket-sized

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Hi All, Nitecore sent me the MT22A light to test and thought I'd share my experience.

Are you fond of your 2xAA light but wish it was just a little more compact? Did you get carried away buying 18650 style lights and forgot to get a AA type light for your home emergency stash? Are you looking for a mostly kid-friendly light for your next event? If so say hello to the Nitecore MT22A featuring it’s brand new 2XAA side-by-side configuration!

SPECS

Here is the specs from Nitecore’s website.

Other Features:

  • Polycarbonate body
  • 3 available colors (florescent yellow, black, tan)
  • Diecast heat sink
  • CREE XP-G2 S3 LED
  • Takes 2XAA
  • Reverse clicky switch (from off, switch has to click to turn on)
  • Strong and clear mineral glass with AR coating
  • IPX8 water proofness
  • Impact resistant to 1.5 meters
  • Tail stand capable

Dimensions:

  • Length: 80.9mm (3.19″)
  • Width: 40.7mm (1.6″)
  • Height: 21mm (0.83″)
  • Weight: 49g (1.73oz) (without batteries)

LOOK AND FEEL

Plastic? Rectangle? Reverse clicky switch? The look and feel is a bit of a departure from Nitecore’s MO for handheld lights but I was surprised how handy this light has been. Overall, the star qualities is the small form factor and it’s built in clip. Many lights have a clip but not many can hang on a belt and be out of the way like this one. I was also surprised how easy it is to take the batteries out. To change the batteries you push and hold the silver button and top LED side lid can be pulled off. If you hand the light to someone, you might want to show them the real button to turn on the light as they’re likely to go right for the silver one. The actual grip of the light is much more secure than I thought it would be and the clip does not feel in the way while holding. I would have like the switch and the LED to have lined up as you’d typically have the button at the top so your thumb can reach it but then it puts the LED down where part of your palm may block the light.

BEAM PROFILE

The light uses a short smooth reflector which produces both a spot and spill beam pattern. The total spill angle is about total 60 degree angle with a well defined spot with 20 degree total angle. There are some beam artifacts which area more noticeable up close or if rotating the light but aren’t really visible outdoors. The beam color is a tad bit yellow on the inside and cooler on the outside.

USER INTERFACE

The UI is very straight forward. Again, this is a reverse clicky light where you have to push the button till it clicks to turn on the light. Click the light on, and then do a half tap on the switch to cycle through all 4 modes (High->Mid->Low->Strobe); you can also double click the light to cycle through the modes. To turn off the light simply click the light off.

So here are some caveats, there is no mode memory and will always start in high, and you always have to cycle through strobe.

BATTERY

As you already know, the light runs on 2XAA type batteries, but remember that to get the best performance, use high quality rechargeable NI-MH type batteries. Below is a full list of compatible and non-compatible batteries for the MT22A.

Battery TYPE Nominal Voltage Compatibility
Primary AA (Alkaline) AA 1.5V Y (Recommended)
Rechargeable AA (Ni-MH) AA 1.2V Y (Recommended)
Primary Lithium AA L91 1.5V Y (Recommended)
Primary Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) 14500 3.2V N (Banned)
Rechargeable Li-ion 14500 3.7V N (Banned)

WARRANTY

The warranty is for 5 years which includes free repair. After the warranty a limited lifetime warranty kicks in which covers labor costs but not parts cost. Make sure you only buy from an authorized dealer (you can contact Nitecore’s customer service to find one) or you will possibly waive your rights to the warranty. Also, take care to store your light properly, as the warranty does not cover damages caused by batter leakage. Check their website for their full terms of service.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Compact size
  • Simple UI
  • Great built-in clip
  • A few color options
  • Easy to open battery compartment
  • Doesn’t get too hot
  • Tail stands pretty well
  • Lightweight
  • Very durable plastic body
  • Still has gold-plated contacts
  • Still comes with a standard lanyard

OBSERVATIONS

  • Switch and LED are not aligned to the same side
  • Silver “button” seem like the power switch at first
  • No mode memory
  • UI starts in High
  • UI cycles trough strobe, wish strobe was hidden
  • Option to reverse the clip would have been nice
  • No lockout available
  • Remember that runtimes in the spec are based on rechargeable Ni MH batteries, not standard Alkaline so expect weaker performance from disposables.
  • Battery tubes seem a bit larger than necessary of standard alkaline

OUTSIDE

All the pictures below are taken with the light in High. I’ve also included my beamshots preview which goes through all the output levels to help you get a real-world feel.

PRICE

The current price for the light is about $30 USD . If you appreciated my review and would like to support me, feel free to check out this product on amazon using my affiliate link (does not cost you more, amazon gives me very small % of their profit):

Nitecore MT22A 260 Lumen LED Compact AA Battery Powered Flashlight

RECOMMENDED ACCESSORIES:

Panasonic BK-3MCCA4BA Eneloop AA 2100 Cycle Ni-MH Pre-Charged Rechargeable Batteries (Pack 4)

THANKS FOR READING!

Disclaimers:

  • CivilGear Reviews received this product for testing and providing an honest review.
  • CivilGear Reviews is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com