Since i already mentioned in my review several competing products such as Xeno and Zebralight, let's compare the features of affordable (< 100$) "mass-produced" commercial flashlights suitable as EDC, and not necessarily keychain light!, for their sheer versatility, practicability, useful light output and compactness.
| DX's Romisen RC-29 | Quark "X" AA Tactical | Xeno E03 XML | Klarus P1A | Zebralight SC80 | |
| emitter | Cree XP-E Q5 CW | Cree XM-L T6 CW | Cree XM-L T6 CW | Cree XP-G R5 CW | Cree XP-G R5 CW |
| tint options | no | NW / WW / High CRI | NW / WW | no | NW / High CRI |
| operating voltage | 1.2~4.2V | 0.9~4.2V | 0.8~4.2V | "0.8~1.8V" | 0.7~4.2V |
| 14500 / Protected 14500 | yes / yes | yes / yes | yes / yes | yes / yes | yes / limited |
| tailstand | yes | yes (for 12$ extra) | yes | yes | yes |
| switch | forward clicky | forward clicky | reverse clicky | forward clicky | electronic side softy |
| tactical momentary on | no | yes | no | yes | no |
| ultralow Low | no | yes (0.3|2.7 lm) | no (20|80 lm) | no (11 lm) | yes (0.12|2.5 lm) |
| brightness levels | 2 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 6 |
| extra modes | 1 (strobe) | 3 (strobe, SOS, beacon) | 0 | 0 | 1 (strobe) |
| mode memory | no | yes | no | yes | yes |
| mule mode possible | yes, perfect 180° extreme flood | no | no | no | no |
| net weight (grams) | 63.944 (41.104 in mule mode) | 45.519 | 48.760 | 59 | "55" |
| number of extended parts | 3 (+ bezel crown) | 4 | 2 (+ bezel crown) | 4 | 3 |
| body wall thickness (mm) | 1.85 | 1.34 | 1.91 | 2.50 | ? |
| length (mm) | tba (mule mode, "zoom 0x") 98.0 (zoom 1x) 108.8 (zoom 8x) |
97.20 | 106.29 | 81.6 | |
| char. diameter (mm) | mule 21.8, bezel 30.0 | head 22.0, body 19.0 | head 21.5 | head 23.1, body 20.9 | throughout 23.9 |
| fits LD20 diffuser kit | yes (mule mode), tight | yes, very tight | yes, perfectly | no (23mm) | no |
| fits clip / points to | LD20 / tail | yes / reversible | LD20 / reversible | yes / head | yes / reversible |
| assault bezel | yes | no | no | no | no |
| original anti-roll design | yes (by bezel) | yes (by clip) | no | yes (by clip) | yes (by clip) |
| reverse polarity protection | no | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| water-resistant | yes (4 o-rings) | yes, IPX-8 | yes, 10m | yes, IPX-8 | yes, IPX-8 |
| shock-resistant | (yes, plastic lens) | (yes) | yes, GFC system | yes, 1.5m FL-1 | (yes) |
| thread lockout | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| threads anodized | yes | no | yes | tail yes, head no | yes |
| anodization | HA Type II(?) | HA Type II-like haha | HA Type III | HA Type III | HA Type III |
| lens | plastic, aspheric | glass | glass | glass | glass |
| reflector | white plastic | aluminum LOP | aluminum OP | aluminum LOP | aluminum OP |
| beam pattern | mule mode vs. extreme throw | floody w/ big hotspot | floody | throwy | very floody |
| hotspot size | N/A | large | less large | small | tba |
| throw | 350m (zoom 8x) | 80m | 60m | 100m FL-1 | 40m |
| CW tint impression | purplish | very greenish | greenish | less greenish | least greenish |
| overall CW tint quality | ★★☆☆☆ |
☆☆☆☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ |
★★★☆☆ |
★★★★☆ |
| built quality & finish |
★★★☆☆ | ★☆☆☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ |
| constant brightness |
★★★☆☆ |
★★★★☆ |
★★☆☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ |
★★★★★ |
| PWM |
yes |
no |
no |
no |
no |
| ease of replacing parts |
★★★★☆ (buy another!) |
★★★★★ (10yrs warranty) |
★★★☆☆ |
★★★☆☆ |
★☆☆☆☆ |
| cost of upgradability |
★★★★★ (buy a new one!) |
★☆☆☆☆ (new lego parts) |
★★★☆☆ |
★★★☆☆ |
☆☆☆☆☆ |
| plan'n fun factor |
★★★★★ |
★★★★☆ |
★★☆☆☆ |
★★☆☆☆ |
★☆☆☆☆ |
| look'n feel factor |
★★★★★ |
★★★☆☆ |
★★☆☆☆ |
★★★☆☆ |
☆☆☆☆☆ |
| brand awareness |
★★★☆☆ |
★★★★★ |
★★★☆☆ |
★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ |
| packaged accessories |
★☆☆☆☆ |
★★★★☆ |
★★☆☆☆ |
★★☆☆☆ |
★★☆☆☆ |
| runtime@Max (min) |
43min@"180lm" (14500) | 58min@280lm+ (14500) |
41min@430lm (14500) |
41min@245lm+ (14500) |
54min@200lm (eneloop) |
| runtime@~100lm |
2.6h@"90lm" (14500) | 2.0h@115lm+ (14500) | 3.5h@80lm (14500) | 100lm mode N/A |
2.6h@90lm (eneloop) |
| runtimes@14500 (hrs) |
0.75 / 2.6 |
1.0 / 2.0 / 11.1 / 49.5 / ? |
0.7 / 1.0 / 3.5 | 0.7 / 2.5 |
unknown |
| runtimes@eneloop (hrs) |
1.85 / 6.5 |
tba | 1.0 / 4.0 / 35 | 1.0 / 25 | 0.9 / 2.6 / 7 / 23 / 3d / 29d |
| related products |
Led Lenser L5, M5, T5, P5, P5R |
UltraFire C3 (different editions) |
Zebralight SC51 | ||
| price shipped globally |
14.99$ w/o lottery |
73.88$ on holiday sale (+19% import taxes) |
29.99$ | 21.39$ w/o giftcard |
(+19% import taxes) |
I have carefully chosen these five particular models because of their immense popularity (Xeno), versatility (Romisen), lego flexibility (Quarks), low price (Klarus P-series, Jetbeam BA-series) and state-of-the-art efficiency (Zebralight SC80) or size (Zebralight SC51). Each of them could be used as near-to-perfect EDC, and at the end of the day a personal preference regarding knock-out criteria would be the purchase decision maker. If money doesnt matter, then i would buy them all and use in EDC rotation. Personally, i do define "EDC flashlight" also with "something good which can be replaced easily". Why replace? Because you carry it everyday with you, it drops out of your hand, a car may roll over it and semi-crush it, it may get lost somewhere (because it's an EDC but not a keychain light), it may get stolen, or it gets broken for some good reason (overuse, abuse, misuse). To me it makes sense *not* to carry the best and most valuable things with me or on me. I could carry my ~110$ worth EagleTac T20 with me as EDC .. but no, to me, an EDC should be much smaller and less valuable/expensive. And since i already ordered a keychain light (Lumintop Worm SS), i surely dont need an additional EDC flashlight on me, such as the Romisen or the quite fantastic (yet bulky?) Quark as depicted in the customized compilation.
Anyone who already owns one of the four, certainly doesnt need any of the other three. If money really doesnt matter but i had to choose a single model only, then the winner with a high score of 90.0% in this (unfair) comparison would probably be the way overpriced Quark which seems to offer the best compromise between neat runtimes, brightness, new LED technology, flexibility and versatility (while it doesnt offer that much more than the Romisen, check the table!). It is not the perfect (~99.5%) EDC but there isnt much to criticize about it either except for its price and moderate efficiency compared to: The Zebralight is only interesting for its efficient use of standard cells (Lithium primary, Alkaline, NiMH) and its cute little size and weight; it's a wide(!) angle flooder with no throw! The Xeno has top-notch built quality, looks and finish, is practically indestructible and boasts with bursts of brightness, and last but not least comes from a very likeable company and original manufacturing site, Zhongwin, which manufactures LED lights and acts as OEM and ODM company since 1998. And finally the dealextreme's Romisen .. like the Quark a near-to-perfect allround flashlight with good runtimes and much bright light. If the Quark was actually worth its 80 bucks, then this Romisen's corrected value should be 49.95$. Hope you understand what i mean 