Reviewer's Overall Rating (Out of 5):
★★★★½
Summary:
Battery: | 1x 18650 battery or 2x CR123A |
Switch: | Reverse Tailcap Clicky |
Modes: | 5 Modes: Moon - Low - Medium - High + Hidden Strobe (Double Tap to activate) |
Memory: | Yes (2 second on-time) |
LED Type: | 1 x XM-L2 (Neutral White) |
Lens: | AR Coated Glass |
Tailstands: | Yes |
Price: | $29.95 (With Amazon Prime) |
Provided By: | Thorfire: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B011E9N480 |
Pros:
Great build quality.
Nice, buttery smooth beam with a great tint.
Lots of extras, good lanyard, good clip.
Smoothly machined edges.
Tight tolerances/great fitting parts.
Fits all ranges of battery length (Short, unprotected to Long, protected cells)
Perfect Moon mode (Not too bright, not too dim).
Integrated shelf for the MCPCB to sit on.
Well spaced modes.
Cons:
The hidden strobe is kind of difficult to get a handle on. I've sat down and fiddled with it for quite some time and still can only get it activated about 50% of the time.
Price is a bit steep with all things considered.
Function/UI:
Tailcap current (Amps):
Moon | .002 |
Low | .350 |
Medium | 1.15 |
High | 3.05 |
Standard reverse clicky switch operation with an extra, hidden strobe mode.
Click on. Half press for mode change. Moon - Low - Medium - High
2 rapid half presses will activate the hidden strobe mode.
Strobe is a fairly slow, constant-rate strobe.
The moon, or Eco mode, really is fantastic. I've got several flashlights with a moon mode ranging from sub-lumen (.2L, TN4a) to an SC01 with 14lm, TM16 with 5lm. I find sub-lumen to just not be bright enough, and 14lm is too bright.
The ThorFire VG15 seems to be in the 1-5lm range and is perfect at night for indoor roaming about in the pitch black.
Pictures:
Arrived in a small, well packed box.
Goodies a plenty! Nice lanyard, 3 o-rings, led spacer, replacement glass, tailcap boot cover, tailcap switch, holster, and a manual.
The holster is okay quality, nothing too special here.
Very sturdy clip. Fairly difficult to remove, but after doing so a few times the anodization remains unmarred.
Very good fitment among the parts. Square threads abound, and perfectly fitting O-rings.
Nicely lubed and square threads.
Some machining marks are visible on the bezel. The tailcap switch cover sits just below the raised edges on the tailcap; the VG15 tailstands fairly stable. The 2 cutouts allow for very comfortable mode switching.
There are 2 very small bumps underneath the anodization on the lower most cooling fin.
The driver is 17mm wide. The led sits on an integrated shelf.
Comparison Shots:
From Left to Right:
Solarstorm SC01, Convoy S2+, ThorFire VG15, Solarforce L2, Eagle Eye X6 BLF-SE, XinTD X3
Convoy S2+ next to the ThorFire VG15.
I haven't measured it yet with the calipers, but the VG15 feels ever so slightly skinnier on the tube portions. You may notice the VG15's anodization is slightly more shiny.
Beamshots:
Here's the lineup:
Flashlight | Emitter | Tailcap Current (Amps) | Throw (cd) |
SolarStorm SC01 | XML2 (NW) | 1.60 | 3600 |
Convoy S2+ | XML2 (CW) | 2.80 | 5400 |
Thorfire VG15 | XML2 (NW) | 3.05 | 6200 |
Solarforce L2 (P60) | XML2 (CW) | 3.04 | 10600 |
Eagle Eye X6 BLF-SE | XML2 (NW) | 2.90 | 18000 |
XinTD X3 | XML2 (CW) | 2.80 | 44000 |
The throw column values are measured via lux meter at a distance of 7 feet and 30 seconds after turn on. The lux value is then converted to cd.
The tree limbs on the upper left of each picture is about 10 yards away. The bare tree trunk in the center of each picture is about 50 yards away. The row of cypress trees on the water's edge is 40 yards away.
The following series of pictures are all Mouse Out, Mouse Over pictures. The Thorfire VG15 is the Mouse Over for each picture.
XinTD X3 vs Thorfire VG15
Eagle Eye X6 BLF-SE vs Thorfire VG15
Solarforce L2, P60 (XM-L2 on Noctigon, 3.04A) vs Thorfire VG15
Convoy S2+ vs Thorfire VG15
Solarstorm SC01 vs Thorfire VG15
ThorFire VG15
Moon-Low-Med-High
Conclusion:
The ThorFire VG15 is a very nice flashlight and is packaged with all the amenities and features I look for in a tube flashlight. A spectacular moon mode, a solid max output, and a couple intermediary modes. Removable clip, 2 sets of dual lanyard holes, holster, great build quality, and solid fit and finish.
I do wish the hidden strobe activation was a bit more consistent.
All things considered the VG15 is a very nice flashlight, and the package deal is decent. I rate the ThorFire VG15 a 4.5 out of 5.