XTAR WK21 - METEOR
I hardly awaited to get this little gem. It took longer than anticipated but eventually the customs let it pass through but it took quite some effort from my part. I believe they still think it was much more expensive than i was showing them. Anyway here it is.
Super short version for those who don't want to read it all:
Tiny, well made, perfect memory option, bright, excellent modes and clip or keychain option. Excellent workmanship. Honest price. A perfect high brightness (if needed) EDC.
Indepth review:
It came in a box, a decent box pretty much like the wk25 half year ago came in. Has a decently stiff clip and aesthetically almost jewel-class keychain attachement. I like the clip but the keychain option is better for my needs.
Down to technicals:
- 5 modes lo-mid-hi-strobe-sos with option to cancel any of the unwanted modes easily by soldering the appropriate contacts (explained very well in the manual) soon to be lo-med-hi.
- Perfect mode memory, enages in about less than a sec and it's a joy to use
- Twistie - twist the head to turn on or off, twist it fast to change the modes (works surprisingly better than i was expecting)
- XM-L based but slightly consevatively powered - makes sense with 16340 batteries for both drain, runtime, heat and so on.
- SMO reflector - XM-L's have a beautifull beam generally so a SMO reflector is often preferred, especially in flashlights with small reflectors.
- Visually well anodized with very even coating.
- Strong magnet on back which works everywhere but on smooth surfaces (slides if smooth enough on a typical refrigerator, but held somehow on a more rough surface like computer case)
- Perfectly centered emitter
Since december is near many will like to know that comes in a rather good looking box. Gift friendly as opposed to many other usual retail boxes. Be sure to gift one yourself before doing it for others. You might find you have ordered one less than needed (after playing with it for a minute) :) .
The flashlight has every fetaure a flashaholic or casual user would want in a EDC. Modes config, compact, well made, sturdy, great mode memory implementation, excellent XM-L emitter (more warm than cold almost neutral) can work as a pocket rocket as "wall of ligh" as well as a gentle close work light on the lowest setting. If you care you can easily mouth (Lupin III style) hold it. It is rather heavy but the shorteness is very beneficial to this aspect. Totally noiseless operation for those who care. A bit difficult to operate single handedly but quite possible.
Bottom line:
The flashlight has to have some negative points, since no true flashaholic will find a perfect light in his lifetime search. Well i struggled to find some and here is what i found. The clip isn't screwed onto the body but uses a stiff semi ring to clamp onto the body. Excessive force can remove it however that would be true even if it was screwed down anyway. Runtime on high might be lower than wanted due to limited capacity of 16340 batteries around today. Not HA finished for those who care. Anything else? Umm... errmmm... hmmm?!?... nay, can't find any flaws in the design (in my book).
Beamshot:
Well the beam is very pretty. SMO and XM-L a re great friends anyway so there is no surprise.
It looks a bit green on my monitor and that is purely a defect of my POS pocket camera.
The other beam characteristics are close to accurate. This is a ceiling shot at roughly 1m of distance
I would like to thank www.szwholesale.com and XTAR for making this review possible and the fact i now have one of the best EDC currently on the market. It replaces the well known 1AA powered WK25. I just like this one better and it is unjust to compare both since both have it's strong points.
Link <- WK21 Meteor
Stay tuned also for the rather new 16340 dual charger MP2 which i will review shortly. Awaiting a few 16340's to test it with. Can charge both 3V and 3,7V (switch selector) versions of 16340 and comes with car adapter and standard AC adapter as well as spacers for shorty 16340 (basically accepts longer than usual 16340 which many protected are). Since the MP1 is one of the best chargers in the market i have very high expectations from this unit.