| Date ordered | 2013/07/07 |
| Date received | 2013/07/15 |
| Price paid | $25.43 after 5% BLF discount |
| From | Fasttech |
Manufacturer/Vendor Specifications
| Emitter | XM-L U2 |
| Lumens | 890 |
| Modes | High > Med > Lo > Strobe > SOS |
| Tail-cap current | 2500 mA |
| Battery | 18650 w/sleeve, 26650 |
| Switch | Reverse clicky, glow-in-the-dark |
| Lens | Glass |
| Dimensions | 129mm X 41mm X 41mm Reflector diameter: 3.6 cm Head diameter: 4.1 cm Tube diameter: 3.9 cm |
| Weight | 215 g |
Reviewer Specifications
| Driver | 46mm |
| Tail-cap current | |
| Battery | Button top 18650 w/sleeve, button top 26650 Protected or unprotected |
| Modes | Low -> Medium -> High, hidden strobe & SOS, no memory |
| Switch | side reverse clicky w/o half press, green backlighting |
| Lens | AR glass |
| Anodized threads | Yes |
| Tailstands | Yes |
| Lanyard | Yes |
| Dimensions | Length: 128 mm Head: 41 mm Tube, grip: 37 mm Tube, tail-cap: 39 mm |
| Weight | 194.5 g |
Pros:
- multiple battery choices
- high quality anodization
- tailcap lockout thanks to anodized threads
- hidden blinkie modes
Cons:
- low isn't nearly low enough
- spill isn't that wide
- battery tube o-ring isn't tight enough
To follow: lux meter readings, wall shots, mcpcb measurement, pictures of pill/driver/mcpcb
Images
The light arrived packaged in a box with foam protecting the sides and bottom of the flashlight. This did a good job of preventing damage, which makes this one of my very few lights to arrive without any nicks or scratches to the anodization.
I was hoping to show off the anti-reflective coating, but I haven't figured that out that trick yet. At the 1 o'clock position you can see a minor blemish on the bezel.
A contact plate without a spring means flat top batteries might not work. A protected button top Keeppower 26650 fits with room to spare both vertically and horizontally, and this is a big cell, so this light should work with any 18650 or 26650 with a button top. Anodized threads here mean that tail cap lockout is possible.
Battery Fitment
Cells tested:
| Cell | Results |
|---|---|
| Panasonic NCR18650, 2900 mAh, unprotected, flat top | Works. |
| MNKE IMR26650, unprotected, button top | Works. |
| King Kong INR26650, unprotected, button top | Works. |
| King Kong ICR26650, unprotected, flat top | Does not work. |
| Trustfire flames ICR26650, protected, button top | Works if battery tube o-ring is removed. |
| Keeppower ICR26650, protected, button top | Works. |
Construction
It has almost no flaws at all, and the only flaw I could find was on the edge of the inside of the bezel. Magnets are not attracted to the bezel.
The XM-L U2 is perfectly centered thanks to a centering ring. The reflector doesn't have any dust or fingerprints, and it sits behind a lens with an anti-reflective coating.
The rest of the body is aluminum and claims to have HA-III anodization. The threads are anodized, smooth, and came with a coating of thin oil.
The head has flats that help prevent the light from rolling, but attaching a diffuser will make the light roll easily again.
The inside of the battery tube is anodized, has an ID of 27mm and accepts a button-top protected Keeppower 26650.
None of the o-rings glow, but they are as thick and meaty as the o-rings on the real Sky Ray King. The o-ring for the battery tube is thick, yet loose, that care much be taken to make sure that it seats correctly. The o-ring seems to cause flickering when using Trustfire flames 26650's, which are my longest cells, but it works fine if the o-ring is removed. While the o-rings don't glow, the side clickie is backlit while the light is on.
The switch is a reverse clickie with hidden blinkie modes that are accessed by turning on the light and then holding down the switch.
The lanyard hole is in the side of of the battery tube, which allows a lanyard to be used with little to no chance of affecting the ability of the light to tail stand.
The build quality falls somewhere between the oLight S10 and the real Sky Ray King. If it had a metal switch, I'd rate it just below the SRK by the slightest amount. The UI of the oLight S10 is far superior to both the K2 and SRK.
As far as disappointments, it's using an XM-L U2 when XM-L2's have been around for a while. The modes feel nicely spaced, but it can really benefit from a much lower low.
Light output
The color is cold, and when indoors I see a little purple. It looks fine outdoors though. The beam profile reminds me of the BLF A8. It has a tight hot spot and when holding the light at my side, the spill starts a few feet in front of me. The low mode is very high even for night hiking.
Compared to the HD2010, it has less spill, but the spill contains more light. It doesn't throw as far or as tightly. The picture below was taken on a humid night over a creek, so the throw was limited by the environment. I think the HD2010 will throw much further on a clear night.
Compared to the BLF A8, it has more spill and the spill contains more light. The BLF A8 is much warmer, and its tint should be NW. The K2 has a much tighter hotspot than the BLF A8 and can throw much farther.
Low and medium has PWM.
Beam shots: Distance to the front of the bridge is 25 meters, the end of the bridge is 160 meters, and the shrubs behind the curve at the end of the bridge are 225 meters away.
Here's another set of beam shots.
First, the testing venue showing the distances taken for each shot:
The HD2010 is branded with the Ultrafire logo, and came from Tmart back when the East92 drivers were all direct drive. The light is unmodified aside from greasing the threads. The HD2010 is powered by a King Kong INR26650.
The SolarStorm K2 is also powered by a King Kong INR26650 is these beam shots.
SolarStorm K2 vs. Ultrafire HD2010 @61.45 meters
SolarStorm K2 vs. Xeno e03 @61.45 meters
SolarStorm K2 vs. Ultrafire HD2010 @89.04 meters
SolarStorm K2 vs. Xeno e03 @89.04 meters
SolarStorm K2 vs. Ultrafire HD2010 @162.51 meters
SolarStorm K2 vs. Xeno e03 @162.51 meters
