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How useful are flashlights? Let me put it this way: While installing the included clip I dropped one of the small hex screws and had to use the same flashlight I was attempting to install it on to find said screw under the table. I just don’t understand anymore how anyone can function without a flashlight in their pocket.
As it happens with most everyday carry items, flashlights eventually become more than just a tool and it becomes a personal totem, a lucky charm of sorts. We want out gear and tools to work and work well. Be rugged and durable. But if they can look good while doing so that’s even better. In the world of EDC, aluminum is cheap, stainless is tough and classy (though heavy) and titanium means premium, combining both durability and light weight. The Leatherman Charge is a perfect example. Its durable, practical, yet no matter how much you use it, it still holds on and still looks good, providing a small bonus pleasure whenever you clip it to your pocket. EDC items must be functional above all things, but if they also look good and you enjoy having them around then that’s even better.
Thrunite T10T
Thanks to its slick looks and titanium construction, the Thrunite T10T does just that, and it does it at a very affordable price. The T10T is a good looking yet tough flashlight, drop tested to 1.5m and water resistant to IPX-8 (2 meters). Dropping it a few times from a height of 5 feet on a wooden floor the flashlight showed no signs of damage, neither did spending half an hour in a muddy puddle. These aren’t extreme tests but the kind of thing that may happen during normal use when accidentally dropped either indoors or out in the field.
The Thrunite T10T reflects that simplicity and elegance both on its exterior design and its user interface. It uses a single AA battery, commonly available. It has a reverse clicky interface, although it can also be used as a twisty when left ON. Clicking on the tail switch turns the flashlight on and clicking again or tapping on the switch cycles through three different modes, low (0.2 lumens/147 hours), medium (20 lumens/39 hours) and high (169 lumens/ 1.5 hours). The memory function remembers the last mode used. You can choose between cool white or neutral white XP-G2 LED.
The
T10T comes in a nice presentation metal box. I generally don’t care
about packaging, but it does make for a better presentation when giving
it as a gift. The light comes with a clip that is easily installed. This
is recommended because it makes the light easier to hold on to, you can
clip it to your pocket and it stops the light from rolling around on
flat surfaces. Thrunite website shows a two year warranty for any
manufacturers related problems and service after that with the client
paying for the materials needed for any repairs. Included in the box
along with the light is a plastic diffuser wand. This works pretty well
and given that the light can stand on its tale it turns the EDC light
into a lantern. Given the long runtime and the affordable batteries it
uses this makes the T10T a very viable option for power outages and
emergency lighting.
The Thrunite T10T is available in Amazon or through Thrunite’s website.
The Thrunite T10T is available in Amazon or through Thrunite’s website.
FerFAL
Fernando “FerFAL” Aguirre is the author of “The Modern Survival Manual: Surviving the Economic Collapse” and “Bugging Out and Relocating: When Staying is not an Option”.
3 comments:
That is a beautiful flash, but for $15 less, you could have a far superior device:
960 lumens, with three levels, a strobe, SOS mode, and a beacon mode:
http://www.batteryjunction.com/nitecore-ec20.html
And it runs on safe, rechargeable batteries, which can be recharged up to 2000 times:
http://www.batteryjunction.com/6rcr123a-combo.html
I have both, and love them. I've been using the LiFePO4 batteries for years now.
First, I would point out that this is the titanium version. All titanium lights are more expensive. And, I think Ferfal is right. It's probably the least expensive titanium light you can buy. However, comparing it to the EC20 isn't really a fair comparison. In my opinion, if you're on a budget, tatanium is a colossal waste of money. It's looks nice and all, but any gains in durability are negligible. The anodized aluminum version is less than half the price with the exact same performance. At $25 it's very hard to find a light that performs that well.
I have several 18650 and CR123 lights. They're great, and perform well. However, the advances in LED technology have made AA lights a formidable alternative. 18650 batteries are nearly impossible to come by in emergency situations. CR123 are a little easier, but very expensive. We can all agree that AA batteries are by far the most common battery in existence. The advantages of having a few AA lights for that reason alone outweigh many of the advantages of the other lights. Rechargable eneloops are cheap compared to the quality lithium rechargables.
I like the Thrunite lights, because they seem to have better prices in relation to their competition. The T10 is a nice light to own, and I highly recommend it. There are three versions - anodized aluminum $25, stainless steel $35 and titanium $55. All thre perform exaclty the same.
The rechargeable lithium RCR123As sell for $3 each. Since they recharge up to 2000 times (yes, it may be hype, but if they get even 1/4 of that - 500 times - then they only cost pennies apiece) they are far cheaper than even the cheapest of rechargeable AA batteries, which won't last anywhere near as long. I can only vouch for 360 times, so far, but those LiFePO4 batteries are still going strong.
These RCR123As are each cheaper to use than any Enloop AA rechargeable. I have bought and used both, so I know that for a fact. I buy Enloops for $2 each, and the LiFePO4 batteries for $3. The lithium batteries last over four times as long as the Enloops.
If you buy 4 or 6 of these for each flash light that uses them, along with a couple of chargers, you'll never have to worry about "coming by them in an emergency". You'll already have all you need. And they will recharge from the 12 volt outlet in your car or truck, as well as some of the small solar chargers.
So - a flashlight that puts out 960 lumen instead of 150 (over SIX times the brightness), uses batteries that cost less than a penny per charge ($3 divided by 500 charges = $.006 per charge, even less if they last as long as they are rated for), and costs $10 less.
We can all agree that baloney is far more common than rib eye, but that doesn't mean we need to settle for baloney.
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