I wanted to do a quick write-up with some comparison pictures of the ever-popular FW3A and it’s lesser-known sibling, the EDC18. I have had the EDC18 since last November and have enjoyed it immensely. It has become one of my favorite lights and the SST20 high-CRI LEDs have spoiled me. Even though it is essentially the more mainstream version of the FW3A, I still wanted to have both in my collection.
Both lights run Anduril, which works very well and is rich in features. They also share the same options for LEDs: Luminus SST20, CREE XP-L HI, and the Nichia 219ct. Both of my personal lights are the Luminus varients, which have excellent CRI (95, I believe). As most have noted, the bins that Lumintop received were beautiful. There is no green tint in either of my lights, which was a common complaint from many of the SST20.
Small, Subtle Differences
The EDC18 is slightly heavier at 76.5 grams, compared to 53 grams with the FW3A. When in the hand, I can personally feel a small difference, but not nearly as much when it is in a pocket. For most people, including myself, it shouldn’t be that noticeable in everyday use.
The FW3A is about 1.5 mm longer, which is negligible and doesn’t affect carry at all. I know the picture makes the EDC18 look longer, but that is just the angle of the camera (sorry).
The one difference that I thought would make a difference, that really doesn’t in my opinion, is the slightly bigger head of the EDC18. It measures about 27.8 mm, compared to 25.5. This is due to the side e-switch that Lumintop went with on the EDC18. I thought it would make it feel bulkier in my pocket (I wear slightly tailored jeans), but I just positioned the clip 90 degrees from the switch, and that keeps it from feeling thicker (plus saves me from accidentally turning it on).
The FW3A has a one-way clip that is “attached” by a collar around the neck of the light. I have seen a lot of people say they prefer this style of clip, but I personally prefer the deep carry clip that comes with the EDC18. I am not a big fan of my lights poking out of my pocket, so the EDC18 is less noticeable when carrying. For most people, this doesn’t matter, but I work in behavioral health/social work and it would look a bit silly in those environments. I also appreciate that the deep carry clip is reversible, so it can be clipped to a hat to function as a headlamp.
The tail of both lights are the same diameter, but the FW3A (of course) has the tail switch, while the EDC18 has a magnetic tailcap. I personally value the magnetic tailcap, as it comes in very handy for working hands free. The magnet used is very strong and I haven’t had any issues with it not holding.
The biggest difference between the two lights are the switches. The EDC18 has the side e-switch and the FW3A has it in the tail. This really comes down to which placement you prefer. For me personally, I like both. I feel that I am “quicker” with the tail switch because it is right on the tail when I take it out of my pocket, so it is easier to find by touch. The EDC18 button fairs better when it comes to sensitivity. The FW3A switch is much more sensitive and prone to accidental activation, in my opinion. I also like the glowing bunny on the EDC18. It is easy to find in pitch darkness, which comes in handy for me, as I live in an area where we lose power more often than others.
These lights are so similar they are almost interchangeable. The FW3A has certainly gotten more love from the community, which is certainly fair since it was designed by them. I don’t think you can go wrong with either torch; it all comes down to preference in how you handle the light (button placement) and how you carry it.
I bought the Fw3a from Amazon, Amazon.com.
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