Jetbeam JET- µ review
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Hey folks today I will be reviewing the Jetbeam Jet-u I do not know how to do the same U as them maybe I will give it a quick google search. But from memory it’s a math’s thing? Or I could be completely wrong maybe it’s just a normal U in a different font!
Any ways enough blabbering on. This is a new addition to the revamped Jetbeam line up. This light appears to be an older model that has just been revived. I believe unlike the older light this light doesn’t use the same name as the older model but Jetbeam have had a similar light in its line up a long while ago! This flashlight has an older brother in the family it is the Jet-1 Mk II.
The twins together! Jet-u left and Jet-1 Mk right
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The Jet-u is very similar to the jet-1 MK II in a lot of ways but it is also completely different in other ways they both have the same shapes and curves but differ in sizes. While the Jet-1 MK is a 14500 flashlight the Jet-u is an AAA based flashlight Jetbeam give no indication that this flashlight can be used with a 10440. I have used mine with a 10440 and it works without frying the flashlight right away but that doesn’t mean it is recommended. The main problem would be heat the Jet-u only weights 13.2 grams excluding the battery so you do not have much density to absorb the heat. Being so light weight you could easily pocket this flashlight all day every day and not even notice. What you will notice is the impressive output of 135 ANSI rated lumens amazing amount of light from such a small flashlight!
Jet-u high mode
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I am not sure where Jetbeam is marketing this flashlight it falls in a heavily populated section right now the market is flooded with tiny AAA based flashlights and the Jet-u’s competition is just as impressive. Using a primary AAA battery like an alkaline or NIMH the Jet-u does stand out in brightness the modes are as follows.
High 135 lumens for 80 minutes
Medium 25 lumens for 4.3 hours (5 lumens less then Jet-1 Mk)
Low 1.5 lumens for 35 hours (same as the Jet-1 Mk)
All of these numbers are ANSI rated so that is a legit run time right? Well yes but I can imagine the stepdown will be crazy when I done a current test with the light running an AAA NiMH the current draw was 1.5 amps with a freshly charged cell. Now I think the highest capacity NIMH on the markets are rated at about 1000MAh? So if you wanted to get a 135 lumens for the whole times the light would run for about 45 minutes max.
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Let’s be serious here you are not buying this flashlight for its overall power? Well maybe you did because high mode is still impressive. But you really bought the light because of its overall size and its ease of use you can walk into any shops and buy some AAA batteries and away you go. Also the light only has 3 modes High medium and low no strobe or blink modes for all you haters out there. It has memory mode which is really import in a twist to activate flashlight you do not want to be twisting the head 3 times just to get back to high mode every time you use the Jet-u. No crazy click 100 times to find the right mode you twist the head back and forward a few times and you already have your perfect mode.
For me these light fit the bill of a perfect EDC not having any buttons means it is not going to turn on in your pocket or bag and waste the battery. Also it will not be changing modes randomly when you are in an awkward situation.
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Stuffed in head of the Jet-u is an optics system which is surprising not many lights come with optics. A normal flashlight will use a reflector and lens system the Jet-u uses a customs optics set up all as that mean is that the light that comes from the lens is spread out by using shaped glass like how an adjustable flashlight works or a magnifying glass. Also in the head of the flashlight is a CREE XPG-2 which is usually found in similar sized lights of high output they are known for their efficiently at lower current.
Using the XPG2 and this optics system yield a max throw of 46 meters which is super specific it is not going to throw far at all. But as an EDC light you are more likely going to want a flooder beam. More so then a thrower but it is of course up to personal preference. Given the output numbers you can’t really expect massive throw even if it was built for throw!
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Another important factor when choosing an EDC flashlight is what the light can handle. Can it handle abuse of ever day use or if you drop it once will it be dead?
The Jetbeam Jet-u has an IPX rating of 8 so it is good to 2 meters under water. The Jet-u has a drop resistance of 1 meter which is the same as its brother the Jet-1 Mk the water resistance is really good Jetbeam is very confident with this rating. But the drop resistance is average the light is more likely to be dropped then wet if it is on a keychain or in your pocket. Being super light I would have thought they would aim higher maybe a 2 meter drop resistance I guess you can’t win them all!
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The jet-u looks the part it has a super nice finish it is a gun metal grey or titanium grey finish the colour is the same as the Jet-1 Mk. My light came with no bumps or blemishes or scratches everything is perfect when you first look at the head of the Jet-u it looks like a broken lens but it is meant to looks like that because of the optics . The Jet-u came with the carry clip already on the flashlight the clip is bare alloy so you could polish it up and make it look pretty! It is on the flashlight super tight but it can be taken off and it is also free spinning same as on the Jet-1 MK. The Jet-u can tail stand even if you have the included lanyard on the light which is always handy. The body is made of aircraft grade aluminum alloy and the Surface anodizing is military hard III anodizing pretty standard now days! The threads are well cut and already lubricated which is important because you will screwing and unscrewing the head always to change modes and turn the light on and off.
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The Jet-u has a super small footprint only weight 13.2 grams and its size is also super small! It is 70.4mm long and the head is 14.2mm in length across and the body diameter is 14.8mm at its biggest. Having no button really helps keep the overall size down I should also add even though it has no button modes can easily be changed with hand which is a must for an EDC. The Jet-u is noticeably smaller than most of its competitors like the lumintop tool AAA while comparing it to the Astrolux AO1 it is a tad shorter in length but much smaller in circumference.
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Included in the Jet-u retail pack is.
Spare O-rings
Lanyard
Manual
Jet-u flashlight
Clip (already attached to the light)
By hindsight i should have done this last night when i had all these light outside :FACEPALM: But i wasnt sure about reviewing this light and seeing no one else has yet i might as well!
Hey i finally found a use for clips makes it easy when carring 5 lights outside lol!
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This is the waterproofing test it looks pretty!
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Specs
Brand: JETBeam
Model: JET-u
Lamp Beads: Cree XP-G
Beads Number: 1
Lumens Range: 1-200Lumens
Luminous Flux: 135LM
Luminous Intensity: 518cd
Power: 2.25 watts
Color Temperature: 6500-7000K
Switch Type: Twisty
Battery Type: AAA
Battery Quantity: 1 x AAA battery (not included)
Mode: 3 (High > Mid > Low)
Mode Memory: Yes
Waterproof Standard: IPX-8 Standard Waterproof (Underwater 2m)
High mode over exposed
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Medium mode closer up about 5 meters
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Low mode at 5 meters its not meant to be bright at a whole 1.5 lumens
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Low mode at 1 meter it is usable!
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Medium mode at about 6 meters. More then enough light!
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Jetbeam Jet-u on the left and Lumintop tool AAA 110 lumen on the right!
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Jetbeam Jet-u left and Thorfire PF03 right!
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Here it starting raining and camera turned to shit Jetbeam Jet-u left and Hugsby XP1 right!
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I really like this picture it looks so nice!
Jetbeam Jet-u on the left and Hugsby XP2 on the right they are pretty similiar!
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Purchase link here: Jetbeam Jet-u
Summary
Now when you read this it may feel like I have been sucking up to this light! But overall it is a great light it doesn’t stand out as much as the Jet-1 Mk and I have a soft spot for the Lumintop Tool AAA that light looks so nice! But overall I cannot fault the Jet-u except maybe its name lol. Once again they could put a magnetic tail cap seeing as the light is marketed as an EDC flashlight also I would like Drop resistance to be a little higher. Price to performance wise it will be really hard to find a light to compete with the Jet-u. It can be found for about $13 USD so super affordable for the masses while pleasing even the pickiest flashlight collector!
Video review is finally here…
