Manker Lad, Keychain EDC near perfection

jon_slider · 2018-04-05T04:42:21.000Z

Excellent customer service from Manker.

My college age kid has been wearing a Manker Lad High CRI on a carabiner clipped to her belt loop with her keys. It has been actively carried, sat on, dropped, and used by a non flashoholic.

The ease of use, single button, small size, light weight, High CRI, and USB rechargeable battery, made it a keeper.
When the button was lost, I asked if she would like one of the 2 button Nitecores instead, she said no, that she likes her Manker and would rather get another one, Out of courtesy, Manker sent us a replacement, for which we are very grateful.

If Manker had not replaced it for free, I would have bought another one.
For my money, in this application, it has the ideal interface, size, modes, tint, and CRI for a non flashoholic.

saypat · 2018-04-05T05:41:02.000Z

… one of the few lights I want but don’t have, yet.

jon_slider · 2018-04-05T06:17:19.000Z

saypat:

… one of the few lights I want but don’t have, yet.

its good to have something to look forward to

Some EDC weight and size comparisons, batteries included:

Muto · 2018-04-05T11:02:21.000Z

Couldn’t agree more Jon.
As much as I normally despise built in batteries in this case it is a non issue.
And the battery seems to last longer than its specs say it will,for me at least. As long as you aren’t running turbo non stop that is
Being able to chose the levels YOU want at each mode stop is a feature many other flashlights should have and sadly don’t.

Best part of this light is it’s shape, perfect for your pocket, you really do not realize it is there between the sleek curves, ultra light light weight and the small size overall.
It will fit in most coin pockets of pants even.

The exceptional tint is icing on the cake.
I call my Lad Gumby due to the tilted end.
Thanks

Keith

saypat · 2018-04-05T18:04:49.000Z

always something to look forward to I have the Haikelite MT03 (12,000 lumens) NW arriving today … got it at the sale price of $69!

Thank you for all your great pictures and information Jon. I must get one of those!

Got one of these pocket rockets?

jon_slider · 2018-04-05T18:56:59.000Z

Muto:

Couldn’t agree more Jon.
As much as I normally despise built in batteries in this case it is a non issue.
…
I call my Lad Gumby due to the tilted end.

the built in battery is what made my nonflashoholic kid willing to carry it
Gumby Rocks!

saypat:

Got one of these pocket rockets?[/img]!

no but thanks for the pic
that Acebeam uses two AAA, making it heavier than Two Lads

The Acebeam has a protruding button, like the Tip and Tiny
Have you had any accidental activations?

The Lad does not turn itself on in pocket, because the switch does not stick up above the case.

saypat · 2018-04-05T19:08:05.000Z

yep, uses (2) AAA or (2) 10440s!!!

All of my 100 plus lights are shelf queens The only light I carry is a Nitecore Tube which is plenty adequate for my needs, don’t have to worry about scuffing it up and it takes up very little room in my pocket.

Pete7874 · 2018-04-05T19:16:27.000Z

Any deals/coupons out there right now for this LAD light? Who has the best price?

Xandre · 2018-04-05T21:00:46.000Z

Low-Medium-High-Red in the circle :person_facepalming:

saypat · 2018-04-05T21:23:49.000Z

Pete7874:

Any deals/coupons out there right now for this LAD light? Who has the best price?

HKEquipment has it for $22.95 after using coupon code HKE80 to get 8% off.

duvallite · 2018-04-05T22:06:30.000Z

Nice looking light, and I like the recessed switch. Probably make a decent gift, but hopefully someone will offer a better price sometime than $22.95. Seems kind of high.

hIKARInoob · 2018-04-05T22:10:45.000Z

duvallite:

Nice looking light, and I like the recessed switch. Probably make a decent gift, but hopefully someone will offer a better price sometime than $22.95. Seems kind of high.

Fasttech sells LAD for $22.74. A couple of times in a year there is a 15% discount to reduce price to $19.33. :sunglasses:
I really love mine!

RobertB · 2018-04-06T00:31:20.000Z

Doh!! Is that Homer Simson on the lighted button?

jon_slider · 2018-04-06T03:45:16.000Z

saypat:

Pete7874:

Any deals/coupons out there right now for this LAD light? Who has the best price?

HKEquipment has it for $22.95 after using coupon code HKE80 to get 8% off.

thanks for the info
I have not found manker to be discounted much
its one of those lights that I pay the asking price because it has the best combinations of features for my particular application
most of the other lights I consider in this category get eliminated for 4 main reasons: they have more than one button, and or, are not high CRI, or they are bigger and heavier, or they dont have USB charging

The Lad is a really good introductory light to gift a newbie. It arrives completely plug and play, battery and charging cable included.

I agree there are areas for improvement, for example I wish there was a shortcut to red, but, I can just cover the leds with my hand when I want to scroll to red and not be blasted with High first… not ideal, but I do know how to get to red in the dark of night without destroying my SleepWalking vision

sometimes, I just pay retail to get the best feature set for my intended use…

other times I try to save money by buying other things, and then end up coming back full circle and still buying the one I wanted orginally, thereby paying twice for something I could have bought once… Doh!

rickw12 · 2018-08-21T00:21:54.000Z

I was looking at the Nitecore TINI but having my doubts because of how easy it is to turn on in your pocket when I came across this one. The reviews above are really different from the ones this Manker was getting in early 2017. A big problem then, apparently, was that the button was too stiff. Has Manker made some changes?

saypat · 2018-08-21T00:28:59.000Z

I ordered one of these from a sale Vinh was having, for $20 with a current boost. When the package showed up it was a Lumintop Geek sent by mistake. Vinh said ‘keep it’. So I am still without a Manker LAD :cry:

jon_slider · 2018-08-21T15:45:06.000Z

rickw12:

A big problem then, apparently, was that the button was too stiff. Has Manker made some changes?

the button has never been too stiff, nothing changed
its a great light, I have bought more than one, and I recommend them
my college age daughter carries one on her keys… it is a great, simple, easy to use, one button light

contactcr · 2018-08-21T16:55:10.000Z

I retired my LAD for a modded UltraTac K18 Mini.

I put a 90CRI Samsung LED in it so now I have high CRI with two ways to lock out the light (physical and electrical).

It doesn’t replace some of the other cool features of the LAD but it is smaller, has a lockout, and I can replace the battery if it ever dies. Giving up the red LED and built in charging.

jon_slider · 2018-08-21T17:46:33.000Z

contactcr:

I retired my LAD for a modded UltraTac K18 Mini.

cool!
that is an interesting option, more info here

I was not happy with my other 10180 twisty lights, very unreliable mode switching… maybe this switched Klarus version is more positive mode selection…

and it has a cool tail with a trit slot… hmmm

saypat · 2018-08-21T22:52:35.000Z

thanks for the link, that Everyday Carry site could be a money pit!