Review (Quick) Zanflare F1 Neutral White

LED Flashlights – General Info 18650 Flashlights
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Zanflare F1 XP-L (V6) 4500k to 5000k NW

Zanflare themselves posted a code over at BLF to pick up their new NW version of the F1. The discount code puts it in the mid $20 range on Amazon. Here is Zanflare’s BLF thread with a discount code

Several reviews have already been done with the Cool White, so check these too.

Dale’s review
Budda’s review
WestBam’s review

Packaging is top notch. Included is the spare o-rings, lanyard, pocket clip, and a nice little zipper bag for tossing the light in your backpack. The bag almost feels like a wet suit type material.

I really like the uniqueness of this light in a few ways. The knurling is very unique and nicely done. The side switch button sticks out so it’s easy to find in the dark by feel. It’s also nicely rounded and smooth. The tail switch IMO is fantastic. Firm with a great mechanical feel click to it. Also has a cool little glass breaker on it.



Charging is easy. Turn the collar counter clockwise and pull down exposes the usb port. I added some silicon grease to the double o-rings and it slides very smooth. In reverse, push up on the collar and turn clockwise to snug it. Red for charging, and green for full charge.

Here is a comparison of the tint to a cool white XPL-HI Jetbeam (on the right). And finally a backyard beamshot

Output is, 1lm (moon), 50lm (low), 290lm (med), 590lm (high), 1240lm (turbo). It’s a pretty throwy light for a tube, but not a bad combo of spill and throw. A Convoy S2+ has considerably more flood less throw by comparison.

I like the UI, and the fact the blinkys are well hidden with a two second hold, and that turbo is a quick double click while in any mode including the blinkys.

The light works with 18650 flat tops, button tops, and plenty of room for protected cells. Also works with (2) CR123’s.

I really like this Neutral White version, and like everything about this light. For mid $20 dollar flashlight? You kidding me? Grab one before the code runs out. I have no affiliation with the Amazon link above. Enjoy!

Edit… Low voltage protection works on the F1. I left an unprotected cell in it with the light on. After I noticed the light shut off I put it on the multimeter and it showed 2.76v. Zanflare says the light will shut off at 2.6v.

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The Neutral tint looks good! good price. wish they sold on amazon.ca.

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Try messaging user Zanflare. Maybe they can start amazon.ca, or ship you one from China at a good deal. There are also group buy codes floating around. Check with users Freeme and M4DM4X

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Thanks. For now I found the gearbest link and code through Fin’s which came out to $40cnd. Man our dollar tanked! @ 20usd that is 27cdn which is doable but i think that price is only amazon.com.

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Did you try Freeme? Message him and ask

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Almost pulled the trigger on the NW one but then read about the 30 Second Turbo/Flare timer.
That kills it for me.
30 seconds is just way too short. With the copper board you would think it could be at least 2 minutes.
Is your sample still this way?

Thanks,
Keith

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[quote=Muto]
Almost pulled the trigger on the NW one but then read about the 30 Second Turbo/Flare timer.
That kills it for me.
30 seconds is just way too short. With the copper board you would think it could be at least 2 minutes.
Is your sample still this way?

Thanks,
Keith[/quote

Its a deal breaker for me as well. Anything under 3 minutes. Ive had the drivers replaced in every light that has it. Or had them reflashed if can’t be programmed. The only thing that’s stopped me from getting the blf a6 is the 45 second turbo timer

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I just tested it, and yes, after 30-35 seconds it starts to gradually ramp down to maybe 800lm. You can double click at anytime and bump it back up to turbo. After about 3 minutes or so of keeping it up on turbo, the head got up to 121F (49.5C)

edit… I just emailed Zanflare to see if there was a way to change the turbo timer. They may have built in a way to do it by multiple clicks, etc…

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Nice review- looks attractive, especially neutral white.

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Ummm, maybe it’s me, but I just got my F1 today, and the beam’s an ugly green. Pea-soup green. Quark green. Sickly green. Green, green, green. I’m turning green just thinking about it.

Am I the only one? Seems like a nice light, but what a hideous color…

And if everything’s glued shut (and would void the warranty), now what?

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You must have lost the tint lottery. The beam on mine is excellent. If you bought it on Amazon, return it. Did you get the NW version?

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GB. Dunno if that qualifies as “defective” or not.

Yep, NW.

And the beam itself is kinda yicky. Funny halo around the hotspot, kinda ringy. Kinda sad when my lowly ’502 throws a better beam than this.

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Amazon has no idea what an emitter is, let alone the tint. Just tell them the light is defective. You don’t have to talk to anyone, or pay to ship it back. Just print out a return label. You have your choice of replacement or money back.

Mine is definitely a keeper and has none of those problems.

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Mine’s from GB, and the beam is greenish too. Opted for the cool white but now I have cool green.

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Ah, but will GB do the same? Might just be a write-off rather than try sending it back, snailmailing it to /dev/null, and having hassles without refund or light. :stuck_out_tongue:

Guess it can’t hurt to just write ’em and find out…

At least with FT, when I mailed back a defective item, it went someplace right here in the ’states, and I got reimbursed for postage (like 6bux). Heard horror stories of trying to mail something back to China, having it disappear in the Bermudong Triangle, and then… ??

Anyway, like I said, can’t hurt to just write ’em (GB) and see what they say.

Or did anyone ever deal with Zanfare customer support? Good? Bad? Ugly?

Nice light otherwise…

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“4500K CG”? :smiley:

Hey, that’s why I stopped carrying my Quark (2AA-X or whatever). Nice little light, nice UI, but damn that green…