The trend for flat flashlights shows no signs of slowing down. Especially in the EDC area, the advantages are obvious: a flat flashlight takes up less space in your pocket than a round model with the same performance.
In addition to white light, the new Nitecore EDC17 also features a green laser and a powerful UV light. However, the main focus is on its special design and intuitive operation via a sliding switch.
You can find the German version of this review on my website: SammysHP Blog › Nitecore EDC17
The flashlight was provided by the manufacturer for this review. Thank you very much!
Overview
For this review I received a pre-production sample that came without packaging or a printed manual.
- Lanyard
- Alternative insert for glass breaker
- USB-C charging cable
A clip and the glass breaker come pre-installed. The user manual is available in nine languages (EN, DE, FR, RU, JA, UK, IT, PL, CN) and explains all functions in an easy-to-understand way. However, the flashlight is so intuitive to use that you hardly need the manual at all.
If you take a moment to appreciate the design, the resemblance to a certain type of pocketknife becomes quite clear. With these OTF knives (out the front), sliding the switch cocks and releases a spring mechanism that causes the blade to shoot out the front. With the EDC17, of course, no blade pops out – just light.
With its slim shape with a thickness of 16 mm and a weight of just over 100 g, the EDC17 disappears discreetly into your pocket.
Length: 123 mm
Width: 27 – 31 mm
Thickness: 16 mm
Weight: 106 g
However, the flashlight is a bit longer than comparable models. This gives it a better grip and makes the sliding switch more comfortable to use.
The front of the flashlight with its bezel is angled, while a bulge at the rear improves grip and completes the overall design.
On the back, there’s a sticker with information about the laser classification, which can be removed easily without leaving any residue. Behind the clip, you can see the heat sink, which helps dissipate some of the heat during operation. The clip prevents direct contact with it, protecting the user from potential burns.
The clip, secured with two screws, is long and flat, with a comfortable opening and just the right tension. It’s positioned far enough back that the flashlight sits completely inside the pocket. In short: it’s perfect.
Generous grip areas and a textured pattern all around the edge provide excellent handling of the EDC17. These sections are made of plastic, while the frame is constructed from stainless steel with a matte black PVD coating.
The rear end of the flashlight features an integrated glass breaker. If you don’t need it, it can easily be replaced with an insert without the silicon nitride ball (a T9 screwdriver is required). In practice, this isn’t really necessary, as the glass breaker is small and unobtrusive. However, the interchangeable insert design can cause a slight rattle, which can be easily fixed with a tiny piece of foam.
The flashlight is charged via a USB-C port, which is protected by a cover against dirt and water. The outer part of the cover is made of rigid plastic, while the inner half is silicone. This provides a good seal while still allowing the cover to open and close easily.
The built-in 1500 mAh battery is fully charged in about 90 minutes. No special power supply is needed, as the current is just 1.5 A. The flashlight can be used normally while charging.
For the first time in a flat flashlight of the EDC-series, the EDC17 is rated IPX7, providing “protection against temporary immersion”, which is more than sufficient for an everyday carry flashlight. It is also said to withstand drops from up to two meters. The overall build quality feels premium, making the EDC17 a great EDC accessory.
User interface
A side-mounted sliding switch allows for intuitive operation of the flashlight. It clicks nicely into four precise positions. Further toward the front is a button that lets you toggle between the three light modes – white, laser and UV – with a short press. Both buttons are made of plastic but feel high-quality.
The sliding switch works by using Hall sensors to detect the position of a magnet built into the switch, making it waterproof and durable. The system is to a large extend resistant to external magnetic fields: a strong magnet may temporarily prevent brightness adjustments, but it won’t change the brightness or turn the flashlight on or off.
The sliding switch turns the flashlight on and adjusts the brightness in three levels (Low, Mid and High for white light, Levels 1 to 3 for UV light). Holding down the front button while switching it on gives access to an additional Ultralow mode for the white light.
The green laser operates at a fixed brightness, regardless of the switch position. In addition to continuous mode, it can be temporarily activated by holding the button, whether the flashlight is on or off. This makes it an ideal tool for presentations and, when combined with the white light, even in the dark.
Because the button serves a dual function, the laser may briefly turn on when activating the Ultralow mode. This should be kept in mind to avoid accidentally shining it in someone’s eyes.
After turning the flashlight on – or with a short press of the button – four LEDs on the front indicate the approximate battery level for four seconds.
| Indicator | Battery level |
|---|---|
| ☼☼☼☼ | 75% – 100% |
| ☼☼☼ | 50% – 75% |
| ☼☼ | 25% – 50% |
| ☼ | 10% – 25% |
| ☼ blinking | < 10% |
Since the design is inspired by a pocketknife and was ergonomically planned from the start, it’s no surprise that the flashlight feels comfortable in hand. The switch sits perfectly for easy operation with the thumb.
Unlike many other flashlights, the EDC17 has no separate lockout. The sliding switch handles this function and, in my experience, is just as effective as the “Rapid Lock” sliding switch found on other EDC-series lights. So far, the flashlight has never turned on accidentally.
Illumination
The white light is produced by a “NiteLab UHi 25” LED. This model is used exclusively by Nitecore but looks identical to the Luminus SFT-25R. Its small, round light-emitting surface allows for good focusing.
For the 365 nm UV light, Nitecore doesn’t specify the LED used. Based on its appearance, however, it is likely a Luminus SST-10 UV LED.
Both LEDs sit in a deep, slightly textured reflector. Like the front of the flashlight, the reflector is angled as well – actually even more – but this doesn’t affect the beam, which remains perfectly straight. The reflector is protected by a glass with a magenta anti-reflective coating.
The white light produces a fairly compact spot that transitions smoothly into the spill. I estimate the color temperature of the cool white light at around 6000 K. At full brightness, the light appears neutral, while at lower levels it shows a slight greenish tint.
Thanks to its tightly focused beam, the small flashlight achieves an impressive throw. At the same time, it remains fairly usable at shorter distances.
UV light is an exciting topic, as we cannot see it directly by eye, but only through the fluorescence of illuminated objects. It is divided into three categories, of which only UV-A is relevant for flashlights. Inexpensive UV flashlights in particular use LEDs with a fairly long wavelength (around 400 nm) and a high amount of visible light. As a result, the effect of fluorescence is partially hidden by the visible light.
Better UV flashlights use LEDs with a wavelength of 365 nm, such as the EDC17. Many minerals, security features on money and ID cards or “organic residues” in the bathroom or on the carpet fluoresce in this range. These LEDs also have a small amount of visible light, which can be eliminated with a ZWB2 filter (which is not installed in the EDC17).
In practice, I use the UV light to check the even application of certain lubricants with a UV indicator or to detect dirt (detergents, dust). In geocaching there are sometimes tasks that require UV light. In general, it often opens up a completely different perspective on the surroundings, as you can see in this example:
What I particularly like about the EDC17 is that the UV light can be used in three brightness levels. Often, flashlights offer only one level, sometimes two. With the EDC17, you get the same convenience as with the white light.
The green laser is specified with a wavelength of 510 to 530 nm. Depending on the region, it is offered either in a weaker Class 1 version or as a Class 3R laser with an output less than 5 mW. I received the stronger version, and in most situations, the laser is far too bright for me. Improper or careless use also carries a risk of eye injury.
It’s notable that the laser produces a clean, round dot without any artifacts. The angled glass may contribute to this excellent result. Additionally, the laser is perfectly aligned with the flashlight’s axis, shining exactly where you expect it to.
Driver and runtime
Nitecore describes the driver as a “highly efficient constant current circuit”, without providing much detail. Based on my observations, I believe it’s a buck driver. The brightness and runtime numbers provided by the manufacturer refer to maximum output at startup and explicitly do not account for thermal regulation, so actual performance may vary in practice.
| Mode | Brightness¹ | Runtime¹ | Intensity¹ (Throw²) |
|---|---|---|---|
| High | 1500 lm | 1:45 h | 12400 cd (230 m) |
| Mid | 220 lm | 3:30 h | 2230 cd (95 m) |
| Low | 50 lm | 16 h | 480 cd (45 m) |
| Ultralow | 1 lm | 260 h | 16 cd (8 m) |
| UV Level 3 | 1350 mW | 2 h | |
| UV Level 2 | 650 mW | 5 h | |
| UV Level 1 | 220 mW | 13 h | |
| Laser | < 5 mW | 72 h |
¹ According to manufacturer ² ANSI FL1
At the lower brightness levels, the output remains nicely constant throughout the runtime. The overall runtime also matches the manufacturer’s specifications quite well. Only at the highest level the flashlight shuts off earlier, likely due to cooling and the consequently higher brightness.
At the highest level, after 40 seconds the brightness gradually drops to about 40% of its initial level. The temperature briefly rises to 45 °C but then stabilizes around 38 °C with slight cooling. At lower levels, heat buildup is negligible.
At the highest UV level, the brightness is initially somewhat inconsistent and then begins to gradually decline relatively early. This is likely due to the rather high forward voltage of the UV LED, which the buck driver can no longer maintain as the battery voltage drops. On level 2, the brightness remains stable for a much longer period.
All levels are regulated by the driver without PWM. Using an oscilloscope, a slight ripple at 100 kHz can be detected in the Low mode, but it is completely invisible to the naked eye. The flashlight shuts off when the battery is empty to prevent deep discharge. Because the battery is built-in, measuring current draw or cutoff voltage was not possible.
Conclusion
Not just an ordinary flashlight: with its remarkable design inspired by an OTF pocketknife, the Nitecore EDC17 presents itself as a stylish EDC accessory. In addition to white light, it also features a green laser and a powerful 365 nm UV light. The best feature, however, is its intuitive control system with a sliding switch that makes adjusting the brightness very easy. Overall, the EDC17 is a fantastic combination of great design, solid ergonomics, intuitive controls and a variety of light sources.
When purchasing, it’s important to check whether you’re getting a Class 1 or Class 3R laser, depending on the retailer and your preference. Due to the lower risk to the eyes, I would recommend the weaker version, which is more than sufficient for most presentation purposes.
