Review: Armytek Dobermann Pro XHP35 HI LED (warm white)

Markus · 2018-06-17T11:53:58.000Z

Reviewing a top-tier flashlight. Why pay about 100 USD for a rather plain looking tactical light?

Answer:

Rusty_Joe · 2018-06-18T04:12:59.000Z

Thanks for the review!

I LOVE my Armytek lights. I have the XHP50 version and use it frequently. Full regulation even on the highest mode. I like the clip somewhat, but the unprotected forward clicky tends to get activated when I don’t need it to.

LightUpTheDark · 2018-06-18T20:29:29.000Z

They must have improved greatly recently. The one I had once (w/ XP-L Hi) was a lemon… light would work intermittently and eventually would not turn on (less than 1-hour and 30 minutes of usage time). Gave it to a fellow BLF member as payment for fixing my blown Manker E14.

Lightbringer · 2018-06-21T03:47:47.000Z

Looks like a nice light, but I gotta confess, I hate the clip and ring. I see no use whatsoever for rings unless you’re depending on “cigar hold” to hold/aim the light. And clips, I never use them except in rate circumstances, in which case I’d use a deep-carry clip only. If the ring could be removed and the light still close completely (like an L2), I’d definitely be tempted.

Question: did you use it a while? ’Cause I see a lot of nicks and dings and bare spots in the coating, especially around sharp edges.

But love the color of the beam (imagine it’s, what?, 4000K or so?), and the switch is fine by me. Even the twisty head to select modes is nice, as it reminds me of my Quark 2AA-X. (Surprised AT didn’t get a visit from Suefire’s lowyers…)

Wonder if the coating’s that chalky coating like also on the L2. Kinda skeeves me by feel, but yeah, it sticks like sandpaper. Attracts oils (even skin oil) and other stains, but is quite grippy.

Markus · 2018-06-21T10:12:27.000Z

Lightbringer:

Looks like a nice light, but I gotta confess, I hate the clip and ring. I see no use whatsoever for rings unless you’re depending on “cigar hold” to hold/aim the light. And clips, I never use them except in rate circumstances, in which case I’d use a deep-carry clip only. If the ring could be removed and the light still close completely (like an L2), I’d definitely be tempted.

Question: did you use it a while? ’Cause I see a lot of nicks and dings and bare spots in the coating, especially around sharp edges.

But love the color of the beam (imagine it’s, what?, 4000K or so?), and the switch is fine by me. Even the twisty head to select modes is nice, as it reminds me of my Quark 2AA-X. (Surprised AT didn’t get a visit from Suefire’s lowyers…)

Wonder if the coating’s that chalky coating like also on the L2. Kinda skeeves me by feel, but yeah, it sticks like sandpaper. Attracts oils (even skin oil) and other stains, but is quite grippy.

You can remove the clip and the ring. They are 100% optional (in my video you see the light disassembled). I outfitted my light with them cause I like them on my night shifts. I have a 360° rotation holster (see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09YOr_7cKAQ ) and the clip is needed so the light does not slip through in the head down position. The cigar grip adds to the operation of the light in my opinion but you don’t need it on if you don’t like it. The amazing coating alone provides enough grip. You can also clean it well with a bit of water and soap if you care enough.

Yes, my light is dinged up a bit cause my lights generally don’t go to beauty pegants instead they wear their little nicks with pride At the time of the review the light already had gone through 2 weeks of daily use and about 6 night shifts.

LightUpTheDark · 2018-06-21T14:28:54.000Z

What really hindered mine (w/ XP-L HI LED) was the deep bezel, it affected the side spill a lot when compared to my other XP-L equipped lights with shallower bezels. Kinda like the effect of shining a light through a tube. The rough anodize finish did lend to a very grippy light despite the absence of knurling but it did attract dust and oil more than I’d like.

Markus · 2018-06-21T14:44:47.000Z

LightUpTheDark:

What really hindered mine (w/ XP-L HI LED) was the deep bezel, it affected the side spill a lot when compared to my other XP-L equipped lights with shallower bezels. Kinda like the effect of shining a light through a tube. The rough anodize finish did lend to a very grippy light despite the absence of knurling but it did attract dust and oil more than I’d like.

I understand your point. The Dobermann gives you a very narrow field of strong illumination without a very focused hotspot. The area it lights up though it lights up very, very well. But in front of your feet it leaves the area almost pitch black. So either you point the light a bit down, use a diffusor, or u use a secondary light for close up.

I always suggest a dedicated light for close up illumination in case u really plan on moving a lot in the dark. Nothing beats i.e. a Skilhunt H03 in warm with with TIR lens (review https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSMNPq5c6-s&t=53s) . Such a lamp will allow you to move safely through difficult terrain, no side spill of a conventional light can do that for you.

Flashlights are quite specialized tools. I still think the Dobermann is quite a useful allround light good for EDC. The deep bezel helps to protect the light.

Lightbringer · 2018-06-21T16:04:28.000Z

Speaking as someone who just dropped a camera in its case and not only busted the clear (“UV filter”) glass that I use to keep off dirt and fingerprints, but also bent the rim of the cover and lens, believe me, I’d appreciate the thick and deep bezel.

I was just concerned that if you remove the ring and screw the pieces back together, you might end up with a gap that’d just collect dirt on the exposed threads, etc.

Saw the vid for the holster, looks nice. I had one for my “candybar” phone æons ago when they were all the rage.

SKV89 · 2018-06-21T18:00:31.000Z

Markus:

I always suggest a dedicated light for close up illumination in case u really plan on moving a lot in the dark. Nothing beats i.e. a Skilhunt H03 in warm with with TIR lens (review https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSMNPq5c6-s&t=53s) . Such a lamp will allow you to move safely through difficult terrain, no side spill of a conventional light can do that for you.

I have the Skilhunt H03 and while it is great for the price, the Acebeam H15 NW kicks it in the ass in terms of brightness and flood. My Olight H2R NW and Armytek Wizard Pro WW is also much better than the H03 but for almost triple the price. The Wizard has the best tint of all and the older H2R has a good tint. The later batch of the H2R NW has an ugly green tint so I returned it.

I like Armytek flashlights. They have great build quality and really does feel premium.

Markus · 2018-06-21T18:11:28.000Z

Lightbringer:

I was just concerned that if you remove the ring and screw the pieces back together, you might end up with a gap that’d just collect dirt on the exposed threads, etc.

This pic of a naked Armytek Dobermann might ease your concern:

Markus · 2018-06-21T18:14:50.000Z

SKV89:

Markus:

I always suggest a dedicated light for close up illumination in case u really plan on moving a lot in the dark. Nothing beats i.e. a Skilhunt H03 in warm with with TIR lens (review https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSMNPq5c6-s&t=53s) . Such a lamp will allow you to move safely through difficult terrain, no side spill of a conventional light can do that for you.

I have the Skilhunt H03 and while it is great for the price, the Acebeam H15 NW kicks it in the ass in terms of brightness and flood. My Olight H2R NW and Armytek Wizard Pro WW is also much better than the H03 but for almost triple the price. The Wizard has the best tint of all and the older H2R has a good tint. The later batch of the H2R NW has an ugly green tint so I returned it.

I like Armytek flashlights. They have great build quality and really does feel premium.

Thx for you insight. The Skilhunt H03 is not the most powerful of course but about 1000lumens are very bright for a headlamp anyways. I mostly use it between 300 and 500 lumens. The field of light is just awesome. A lamp like that is a must for outdoor puposes.

Lightbringer · 2018-06-21T18:44:31.000Z

Tnx!

Markus · 2018-06-21T19:34:48.000Z

Lightbringer:

Tnx!

Just like and subscribe my channel! :money_mouth_face: So one day, I can buy a light from all the money I make on YouTube…LOL Never gonna happen…

Lightbringer · 2018-06-21T20:52:50.000Z

Sounds good to me.

Markus · 2018-07-31T11:48:56.000Z

Here is my update after using the light every day for 2 months, including many night shifts. I also do hard testing of the water resistance:

Lightbringer · 2018-07-31T19:10:34.000Z

Kewl!

(Just don’t change the cells underwater. )

Markus · 2018-08-01T12:26:36.000Z

Someone said a Elzetta light can survive a change of cells underwater. Maybe the Armytek as well?

Lightbringer · 2018-08-01T16:31:52.000Z

Eep!

I don’t even know how they could manage that. Screwing down the tailcap, if the innards are now filled with water (incompressible), there’d be nowhere for the water to go with further tightening except into the head and/or switch.

That’s a neat trick if they could pull it off, though!

maukka · 2018-08-01T17:58:05.000Z

HDS Battery Change… under water

Markus · 2018-08-01T17:36:14.000Z

Nice vid! Which light is that? This is a feature that may turn out to be useful under extreme circumstances like rain storm, flooding and so on.