1) Disclaimer
2) Premise
3) Introduction
4) Packaging
5) Materials, assembly, processing, finishes, anodizing
6) Specifications
7) User interface
8) LEDs, light output
9) User experience and beamshots
10) Conclusions
11) Aspects positive
12) Negative aspects
13) Neutral aspects
14) Final grade
15) Bonus
1) Disclaimer
If my English is good, you can congratulate me. If my english is bad, you can blame google translate ;)
The flashlight was sent to me by Armytek for review.
More and more often I find myself using flashlights during my excursions or in daily life, therefore I define myself as a user who has also become passionate over time.
In addition to indicating objective data and measurements, I will always try to be very clear in highlighting strengths and weaknesses, in explaining the impressions during use and what I would like to see or obtain.
All photos, info, measurements, unless otherwise indicated, are my own flour.
I do all this because I enjoy it, mine is a hobby and a pleasure, in life I do anything else, so I apologize in advance to the professionals of the sector, to the enthusiasts and to the simple users for the mistakes that surely are and will be present in mine pages.
If you notice errors, typos or have other reports to make, please let us know, I will be happy to update my pages with your reports.
2) Premise
The Armytek Barracuda is sold as a research torch, in reality, in addition to having this use, it is also excellently used as a tactical or hunting torch and the accessories in the catalog are a confirmation of this.
The products intended for these uses have very specific characteristics, pay little attention to frills and favor lasting performance, reliability and ease of use.
If you are looking for equipment for search and rescue units, for the military, or tools for hunting or airsoft activities, this Barracuda could answer your needs.
3) Introduction
Nomen omen.
The Barracuda is a formidable predator of the seas, characterized by an elongated body, a tapered head with strong jaws and sharp teeth.
The torch, in the form factor, recalls the appearance of this fearsome carnivorous fish and the name "Barracuda" is perfect for an instrument also intended for hunting activities.
The fundamentals for a very interesting product are all there:
large head, deep reflector, CREE XHP35.2HI led, boost driver, tactical key, multi-battery and multi-format.
4) Packaging:
The flashlight comes in a rigid yellow package, with a double snap opening.
On the outside of the cover we find clear and exhaustive graphics with all the specifications.
Inside there are two sections of soft synthetic material, on one side a shaped one that delicately wraps the components, on the other one with waves that keeps them firm and stable during transport.
-torch
- instruction manual (English, German, Russian, Polish, Finnish)
-2 spare o-rings
- replacement switch cover
- lanyard
-clip
- reducer tube for single 18650
-tactical rubber ring
- fabric case
The batteries were also sent to me together with the remote control and double-sided Velcro (all accessories that are not supplied with the flashlight), as shown in the photo:
5) Materials, assembly, processing, finishes, anodizing:
The flashlight is made of aeronautical aluminum characterized by a matte black finish which is defined as Premium type III hard anodizing 400HV.
Aesthetically, I find this treatment very appealing, the color is full-bodied and uniform, it avoids any type of reflection and provides excellent feedback to the touch, difficult to explain, but which I would define as almost velvety.
Using it, small marks may remain, but just pass your hand over it to make them disappear.
The metal working is impeccable, the finishes are treated in detail, the lettering is precise, has no smudges and is symmetrical in relation to the shapes of the torch.
Masterful assembly, perfectly centered LED and absence of impurities under the lens, on the reflector or on the LED.
Bezel:
The bezel is made of steel and is mounted almost flush with the head, protruding only by 1mm.
Six grooves are visible on the internal surface to allow the housing of the bezel removal tool itself.
There are no special treatments or processes, the finish is rough and gives a nice martial appearance.
Lens:
tempered mineral glass with AR coated.
Reflector:
aluminum, turned with mirror finish (SMO)
Head:
Conical-cylindrical in shape, it has a smooth surface with the exception of two transversal millings in the upper part and cooling fins in the lower part, which also improve the grip of the handle.
The lettering of the prints is excellent: symmetrical, uniform colour, no smudges.
Inside is the driver, which is embedded in a compound that forms a protective capsule.
On the positive pole there is a spring which allows for better heat dissipation and better absorption of kinetic energy during use with firearms.
Body:
the body for double battery has a variable size, having a diameter of 25.4mm in the widest part, in line with the standard of supports for firearms.
The single battery body has a diameter of 25.4mm with the exception of the section dedicated to housing the tactical ring which has a smaller size.
Tail:
cylindrical, while in the final part it assumes a polygonal shape. There is a hole for installing a retaining ring.
The domed tactical switch is protruding, easy to find and smooth to operate.
The mechanical switch gives excellent feedback, both tactile and audible.
Threads:
All of good workmanship, there are no burrs or manufacturing defects, the segments screw on very gently and easily.
There is a uniform layer of fat.
Those in contact with the head are not anodized and allow the switch between modes and power levels.
Those in contact with the tail are anodized and allow the physical lockout of the torch.
Curiosity:
The grease is sensitive to ultraviolet radiation and by illuminating the threads with a UV lamp (see the following photo), a nice bright blue will be observed, while in daytime in sunlight, under certain environmental conditions, a blue-purple tint can be seen , not very bright but still visible.
Armytek's technical assistance informed me that the response to UV does not have a technical function, but is only determined by some component of the lubricant sensitive to these wave frequencies.
O-ring:
On the body there are two pairs of o-rings for better protection when diving in water.
The double o-ring solution is typical of diving torches and it is a pleasant surprise to find it on this model designed for other uses.
Case:
Battery:
The two batteries supplied with the Barracuda are 18650 protected Armytek branded.
On them there is a disclaimer which reads:
High-quality battery cell & components by Japan.
IC protected against short circuits, over-discharge, over-charge.
Possibility to work even under heavy loads.
Steel plate reinforced bottom.
Safety vent with thermal cut-off protection.
From the capacity test it is observed that the recorded values deviate only by 6.9% and 4.4% compared to the declared ones: a result that I would define as excellent compared to all the other batteries tested so far.
Clip and Lanyard:
Lightened steel clip, small and minimal, fits well to the torch and is firmly in place.
The lanyard is equipped with a spring loop and allows you to adjust the strap according to your preferences.
Picture from Armytek website:
6) Specifications:
• LEDs: Cree XHP35.2 HI
• UI: proprietary
• Material: 6061-T6 aluminum alloy
• Anodizing: Premium type III hard anodizing 400HV
• Low voltage warning: yes
• Lens type: tempered mineral glass
• Reflector: smooth (SMO)
• Switch Location: Tail
• Memory: yes
• Below is a page of the user manual with some specifications:
7) User Interface:
There is a proprietary UI that I think is well structured.
There are essentially two main modes:
1) Hunting mode dedicated to those who practice hunting:
- with head tightened: constant light in turbo
- with head unscrewed by 1/8: it is possible to switch between the various power levels
2) Tactical mode dedicated to special forces or airsoft practitioners:
- with head tightened: constant light in turbo
- with head unscrewed by 1/8: strobe light
You can customize some settings.
Below is the user manual with the settings and instructions of the UI:
8) Led, light output
The led is a CREE XHP.35.2HI (ATTENTION: XHP35HI is reported on the website, but the mounted led is the second version of the 35 series and not the first. The Armytek technical department confirmed me that it is the .2 version and not the first)
Measured data:
The CCT is quite high.
CRI 75 I consider it a fair value for this type of product.
The calculated turbo 2 throw is 15% lower than the declared one.
Turbo 2 in detail:
Runtime
The durability and consistency of performance over time are the aspects that I most appreciated about this torch.
The data is very close to the declared.
An excellent result, a sign that the torch is well designed and efficient.
The runtime below is for Turbo 2 mode with and without cooling.
Light beam
Like other shooting torches, it's spot and spill are quite tight.
The very white and bright spot is surrounded by a yellowish crown, which then degrades into the colder and softer spill.
The perfectly centered LED ensures uniformity of the light beam without any asymmetries.
Being a shooting torch, tint-shift becomes a second-order problem.
Some comparative shots with other flashlights.
From left to right:
1) Sofirm C8L XHP50.3HI 6500K
2) Armytek Barracuda XHP35.2HI
3) Wurkkos TS30S SBT90.2 5700K
WB 5000K
From the first photo it is evident how the barracuda has a colder color temperature than the other two torches.
9) Experience of use and beamshots:
The first field test I do is the immersion one:
torch in 25cm of water for 20 minutes.
During the test, the mechanical switch was activated and the head partially rotated to change the light output.
No lens fogging and no water seepage inside.
Exam passed with flying colors and from a torch with IP68 certification, double pair of o-rings and with diving specifications up to 10 meters for 5 hours, I would not have expected a different result.
The torch is aesthetically appealing: form factor and opaque color I find them perfectly matched and very pleasant.
To the touch there is excellent feedback during use.
Ultimately, one immediately gets the impression of having a high-level product, dedicated to professionals.
The family feeling is clearly visible and is the common thread that connects the various products of the house:
Barracuda and Wyzard C2 Pro Max seem made to work together.
Trying out the various grips you immediately feel at ease and the switch is always easy to find and operate, even with gloves.
The short tube is a very pleasant surprise:
makes the flashlight much more manageable and lighter.
The tactical silicone ring, greatly improves grip with some grips.
You get maximum output in a smaller body, but with half the runtime.
The momentary on remote control, i.e. which switches on the light only when activated, is available in two versions:
- with helical cable 25-70cm (see photo)
- with linear cable 25cm
and follows the same philosophy of essentiality and functionality of the Barracuda.
The switch is large, easy to operate even with gloves and is clickable on almost any surface. This accessory also has a martial look and goes perfectly with the flashlight, however I would have preferred the finish of the cable to be matte and not shiny. The finish of the cable is a purely aesthetic detail that does not compromise the functionality of the instrument in the slightest.
Accessory certainly very useful for the armed forces, for those who go hunting or for those who practice airsoft, because having the light control in the right position is a fundamental aspect, not to be underestimated.
A double adhesive with Velcro is supplied as standard to install the remote in the most appropriate position.
For firearms, there are other accessories on the store, such as supports:
(The following picture was taken from Armytek official website)
Transportability is ensured by the fabric case.
It is very convenient to be able to fix the support wherever you want: to the backpack, to the belt of your trousers, to a carabiner or to a support on a motorcycle or bicycle.
Using it in the mountains I had confirmation of the runtime data: with an ambient temperature of 5 °C, the Barracuda always worked at its maximum for about an hour and the heat generated was really negligible compared to that of other torches. The XHP35.2HI is certainly efficient, but a flashlight is made up of several components, so I'm inclined to think that everything has been designed in the best way, from the driver to the aluminum body, to guarantee excellent efficiency and yield.
In the dark the Barracuda highlights its characteristics: long throw, fairly concentrated spot and not very wide spill, as one would expect from a torch of this type.
It is a shooting or research torch, it illuminates in depth, but as the photo shows, it can also be used for walking paths, although it is not the best for this type of use.
Photo:
ISO 1000
26mm f1.6
1 / 21s
Control-main3-turbo1-turbo2
Turbo2:
In its natural habitat, i.e. with very distant targets, it shoots its best: very distant targets, at 300-500-600 meters are not a problem and are illuminated without batting an eye.
Photo:
ISO 1000
26mm f1.6
1/21s
340m
Control-turbo1-turbo2:
340m
turbo2:
640m
control-turbo1-turbo2:
640m
turbo2:
10) Conclusions
Although the Barracuda has been on the market for some time, it continues to be a valid torch, which does what it promises.
It shoots far and has maximum power and has a very good runtime, which is what you need if you need to use the turbo for a long time.
Overall it is very well made and the presence of the double pair of o-rings guarantees additional protection from water and dust.
I really liked the user interface which I consider simple, effective and intuitive.
With the short tube it is really comfortable to carry and use.
Wide catalog of accessories for different types of uses.
Being a lover of warm colors, the only aspect I didn't like about this torch is the very cold color temperature of the LED.
For my preferences the version with warm led would have been better, however the torch would have had a shorter range and worse performance in tactical use or in those situations in which it is important to dazzle the enemy or opponent.
If you are a lover of very cold ice white light, as you sometimes see on the road on some cars and you don't like warm/yellow lights, then the white light version is probably the most suitable.
11) Positive aspects:
1) Build quality
2) Excellent runtime at maximum power
3) Excellent efficiency
4) UI
5) Ease of use and transport especially with the short tube
6) 10-year warranty
12) Negative aspects:
1) The specifications on the website are not updated: the old CREE XHP35HI LED is shown instead of the new XHP35.2HI, moreover precise data on the color temperature are not provided, but only a generic "warm" or "white".
2) Incomplete kit: I would have preferred an all-inclusive package with batteries, charger, remote control and color filters.
13) Neutral aspects:
1) Manual not in Italian
2) 18650 batteries (I would have preferred the 21700)
3) very cold LED color temperature: it could be a PRO or a CONS depending on personal preferences and the purpose of using the torch.
14) Final rating:code:
8/10
15) Bonus:
Discount code:
By applying the coupon: SCONTO15 it is possible to receive a 15% discount during the purchase on the Armytek store.
The end.
Thanks for reading the review.
