Review WowTac A1S BSS Tac V2 // new UI and other upgrades

This is the WowTac A1S BSS TAC V2 sent to me by WowTac and NO other compensation other than keeping the light.

Light can be found at the main Wowtac site (links are NON affiliated)…………
http://wowtac.com/wowtac-a1s-bss-tac-v2-1150-lumen/
or at …… Amazon.com

This light is the newest in the A1 series line up of Wowtac lights.
The “BSS” in the new name on the light is the initials for “Black Scout Survival” who as I understand helped develop this particular design.

The A1S BSS TAC V2 , is an 18650 sized tube light basically , with both tail switch and side switch. The tail switch can be used as a momentary on and it is also the main on / off switch for the light and the side switch is used for the mode changes which are…… L / M / H / Turbo / SOS. The light has mode memory and will come on in the last used mode when turned off and reactivated (other than SOS and Strobe). With this new light it has also been added on the tail switch , a half press for momentary on with a single half press , Turbo with a double half press and strobe with a triple half press of the tail switch, Once the desired mode is reached with the half press , then continue with a full press of the tail switch for the “constant on” in that mode if the constant on is desired. The last used regular mode can also be activated with the half press or a full press back to constant on.

With the Kit on the new light , you get the Red screw on lens filter and the tactical type strike bezel , along with the included 2600mAh rechargeable cell , charging cord and 2 extra O-rings. The Red filter and the strike bezel both screw on via the threads made on the inside of the main “smooth” bezel of the light and both are very solid once screwed on. The main lens IS an AR coated lens on the light and I cant tell for sure , but it looks like the Red lens is also coated.
GIF

This new version of the A1S has a XP-L V6 emitter and is a cool white , although I am unsure of the bin. There is also the Low Voltage Indicator , the light will blink 2 times periodically when the cell gets low as an indication. The Anodizing is very clean on the Light I recieved , threads are smooth , well cut square threads and were lightly lubed . There is a Manual “lockout” , as the threads are anodized on the tailend and head end both , so either one works for the manual lockout. I have not found any sharp edges on this light and the machining is all well done , as is the knurling on the light. The modes are all well spaced and the light has a very good output for the size.
GIF

With the Red lens screwed on this light , as with most “filtered” lights , the output is cut down alot , but out to 70 yards or so you can see well with the red filter. The Red also comes in handy for night time map reading and such in the low mode without destroying your night vision. I was not able to test the lumens with the red filter on the light however , as there is something about the colored lights that my light box does not pick up the colored lights right and I get a ridiculous high or ridiculous low reading , one or the other usually.
GIF

The new A1S series light does have good run time. The turbo timer , or step down is at 4 minutes on the new A1S V2. It is set at about the right point , as I dont think it would need to run in the Turbo mode any longer because the light is getting to the point of being pretty hot when the step down occurs. Over the next 45 seconds or so from the 4 minute mark , there was a gradual step down to 566 lumens , instead of the instant “BAM” to the lower mode.

*EDIT: Although my light came with a 2600mAh cell in it the listing DOES show that a 3400mAh cell comes with this light.
The testing is listed with the included 2600mAh cell that was with the sample I received also. The run times will increase by a marked amount if the light does in fact come with a 3400mAh cell.*


At 10 feet on white Garage Door L/M/H/ Turbo

The Listed Lumens are also fairly close with what I got on the actual tested Lumens Using the included cell. Of course using a LG HG2 High drain cell the lumens actually went somewhat higher, All of that as listed in the charts above.
At 25 Yards Medium High and Turbo Modes

The Only Cons I have with this particular light is , I would like to see the SOS hidden as the Strobe is , so you dont have to cycle through that mode when your are using the light for regular use. Also a choice of Neutral or cool instead of just the cool emitter. Other than that really the new A1S series light is a very solid built light it seems and should do well.

The rest of the beamshots , still shots of the light and everything is in the video.
For those who don’t want to watch the whole video the Still shots and beamshots start at 6:30 in the timeline of the Video and the live outdoor footage showing the Red Filter Lens and comparing this light with the Thorfire TK15 S and the Thrunite TC12 V2 starts at 12:09 in the video timeline.

Video followed by listed specs………………

FEATURES
•One USB rechargeable 3400mAh 18650 battery included which provides 1150 lumens output.
•Cree XP-L V6 LED
•Reverse polarity protection design to protect from improper battery installation.
•Aircraft-grade aluminum body.
•Toughened ultra-clear glass lens with anti-reflective coating.
•Low Power Indication: When the voltage of the battery is low, the light will blink twice periodically.
•Direct access to strobe mode: when the light is ON, long press to quickly access to strobe mode.
•The light will turn on in the last mode accessed.
•Dimension: 140mm*25.4mm; weight: 89g (excluding battery).
•30 days worry-free money back; 2 years limited warranty for flashlight; 1 year limited warranty for battery.

ACCESSORIES
•Spare O-rings x 2
•USB charge Cable x 1
•Pocket Clip x 1
•Red Lens Cover*1
•Strike Bezel*1
•Instruction Manual x 1
•Customized USB rechargeable 3400mAh 18650 battery x 1

Nice review Robo, interesting light indeed! The garage door shots show a really good beam profile, pretty good for a “tube light”, makes this one look like a must have. :wink:

Stepping up the review too I see, nice touch with the GIF’s showing all the features and the charting of output and run times is clear and concise, good job! I’d say thank you, but now I’m gonna have to look this bad boy up and try to resist buying it! :stuck_out_tongue:

Thanks Dale.

The GIF’s are included because I got to thinking about people that are limited on bandwidth or what have you that might not be able to watch the video , so I kind of figured it would at least give a glimpse of some of the pictures I put in the video portion.

The beam is actually pretty decent for the tube style light , with fairly good throw and at the same time a decent coverage area.

I was honestly a bit surprised with this light myself , to have everything that comes with it , good quality and still a fairly low price for all that is included.

EDIT: Although my light came with a 2600mAh cell in it , the listing DOES show that a 3400mAh cell comes with this light.
The testing is listed with the included 2600mAh cell that was with the sample I received also. The run times will increase by a marked amount if the light does in fact come with a 3400mAh cell.

I added this edit just above the charts in the OP also , hoping everyone will see it.