(paid links below) As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. There are no additional costs to you. ▶ The Lumintop Tool at Amazon: amzn.to/2HibWt2 ▶ The Tool w/14500 at Amazon: amzn.to/31QgBff ▶ The Lumintop Tool White at Amazon: amzn.to/3r6hajJ
AMEN, Brother! And nothing beats having a Leatherman (or even a Gerber "Dime"), AND an ADDITIONAL GOOD, Reliable, single (not serrated!) Folder WITH a locking SINGLE Blade!
Wow - I have just purchased the exact same model a few days ago - It does seem to be a great flashlight. I am in love with the single AA format for flashlights now - far brighter than the old double D flashlights I grew up with and so easy to carry. Always in my pocket. To tell the truth I didn't realize the front twisted - you taught me something this video. Thanks for the great content!
Bought one of these a little over a year ago. The day I got it in my hands, I bought another one for myself. I've also gotten a couple for family. I use it daily (more accurately nightly) when walking the dog. I've only bothered using lithium AA's and I'm very happy. I personally have never tried it with a 14500, even though I have many 18650 cells and a few 18650 lights. But now that I see the light is 5x brighter with a 14500, I might have to get a couple!
The front head is longer than the tail and used for one handed twisty operation and easier with gloves on if working in the cold. The rear can come off and if you buy the version with both tail caps you can swap on the magnetic tail cap.
Love your videos! A GOOD LIGHT IS A WONDERFUL THING TO HAVE. An INFERIOR ONE? A Real Pain in the A$$! And I think I know a good reason that we radio guys like flashlights: It's interesting (to me) that while shortwave radios now have lighted frequency displays, and some even have an led built in flashlight, but they haven't gotten around to having lighted keyboards! So you pretty much have to carry a light with you. Always. Always! I am on a never ending Quest for a PAIR of good flashlights. I carry TWO separate light sources. I think that this is wiser than carrying a single light source that has two batteries in case of a failure of one. While this is (I would guess) rare to have a failure these days as compared to the older filament lights, redundancy is always King. Besides, they are so small and lightweight these days, it's easy to stick one in each jacket pocket. Then no matter where you reach, you have a LIGHT, and RIGHT NOW if you are in a tight spot, because you don't have to remember which pocket your light is in before you go fishing for it in your pocket. And still? Twice the endurance of what your Poop Sheet says! ;-) I use the lanyards for radios, but not lights. A lanyard might be DANGEROUS if you are say inspecting a fan belt and that light and lanyard gets "sucked in" to that or some other machinery. Or between "you" and a battery cable. In which case I'd much rather lose a light if I drop it accidentally than lose a finger, hand or arm. (Besides, I will STILL have the backup light with me! ;-)) I do clip small lights to my hat to free my hands for tasks, this is handy. For example, for changing a tire. Some lights have the clip just so you can carry in your vest pocket. Not a super handy feature... BUT, some clips have it "reversed" so that indeed you can attach it to your hat. And some can be switched either way. But usually the ones that can be switched either way? They make the "clip" as a "clip on" itself. And the damned things fall off. When you're changing a tire in Canada. Where there's black flies and mosquitos. I HATE the magnetic bases- They stick to everything, interfere with the compass on smart phones requiring an annoying recalibration, make it impossible to use to read an actual Lenstatic Compass in the dark should you have to, and make it easy to grab your keys accidentally when you reach for your flashlight. Low settings usually are just fine for adjusted eyes. As an ex-pilot, I really really like the lights with a red lens. Back in the day, I had a conventional penlight (yes I carried two of them) that allowed you with a twist of the top to change the light from white to red. If you ever see one of those in a modern led offering, I hope that you might review it...I haven't been able to find one (okay two ;)) anywhere! I know that there are some with seperate lenses, but they are a pain to carry and that's a two-handed operation that always seems to get you hit in the face with a white lens while you are making the switch, so why bother. And then you are carrying more Crap to lose...which you will. Finally, if I was a hunter or in the Military, I'd prefer a light that defaulted to the dim level (and red) and didn't make a giveaway click sound when it was activated. And REALLY FINALLY FINALLY, don't you HATE those Stupid lights that you can easily accidentally switch on while they are still in your pocket? Nothing worse than grabbing one of these in a pinch only to find that it is DOA. All the Best! 73 DE W8LV BILL.
Have you tested the battery drain from the switch cap LED light? I’m guessing it’s negligible but nonetheless slightly frustrating. I am aware that the light can be twisted to turn that off but then that kind of defeats the whole grab and click feature.
650 lumens for 33 minutes is impressive. A lot of flashlights have higher lumens, but they don't keep them up for that long--they step down due to excessive heat.
Yes, I think this one should throttle down also. I have been using it with a normal AA of late. Some have said it gets really hot. Just have to watch what mode you are in.
I think this is going to be my new EDC. Only thing I don’t like is how you get into strobe. As you showed in the video it’s very easy to mess it up and not get the mode you want. I would have strongly preferred that strobe was activated by holding the tail cap down for 1 second or so. If you’re wanting strobe it’s for a self defense encounter and the last thing I’m going to be thinking if I have to draw my gun is counting button presses. That said, I just consider this to not have strobe which isn’t a deal breaker.
The twist top is because they have a flat magnetic tail cap (comes with the $25 set on Amazon) you can replace the clicky switch with to make it shorter and able to stick to magnet friendly surfaces. Edit: I just realized you even mentioned the magnetic cap. lol Yeah, there's no switch in it. :p Much to my wife's chagrin I'm probably gonna be ordering the AA 2.0 set today. She doesn't seem to understand my Pokémon approach to flashlights, pocket knives, and multitools. Gotta catch 'em all! lol
Thanks for a great review. The best value, single AA size flashlight out there. Get the option with the 14500 battery with USB port. You won't regret it. Got it in black initially and liked it so much picked up a couple of white ones on sale. Well built, perfect size, an ideal EDC.
Companies and their UI's. Would it have killed Lumintop to have added a "2 click instant access to Turbo"??? So that we wouldn't have to shock our eyes with 650 everytime we want to cycle back to L or M??? (using the 14500 batter...if you get the black version....using AA you don't have the Turbo mode....so you avoid that). Tough to beat for the price. For a capable "throw away (if you drop it and loose it no big deal)"...
Have you found with EBL or Eneloop rechargeable 1.2 volts AA or AAA’s that the power output is noticeably less that 1.5 volt batteries? I want to switch to the rechargeable’s from alkaline but I did a test recently in a small flashlight and between a 1.2 volt EBL AAA versus a 1.5 V Duracell optimum AAA there was no comparison in brightness. The 1.5 was on another level of brightness. No comparison. Please share your thoughts and/or experiences. Thanks.
Just ordered the Lumintop edc AAA battery based on your review. Now I’m thinking about the 2.0 too! I’m kinda comparing the 2.0 to my Streamlight Protac 1L-1AA. I don’t think it’s apples and oranges really. I wish the 2.0 were more potent with AA’s. Not sure I want to start getting into the 14500’s. That’s a whole new battery category for me. Not available in stores I’m guessing. I don’t have a charger either. Confused between 14500 and 920 mah? Best brands? Expensive? Does the 2.0 stand on end without the tail cap? Thanks
There is the 2.0 Kit you can buy that comes with the 14500 which has a charging circuit built into the battery, just hook it up with a micro usb cable: amzn.to/3pQ17Tz
Maglite is way behind the game. I got two brand new aa pro+ and it’s no as good as these. I got two of these today. Sadly they don’t come with a battery. It’s a nice light that I randomly bought.
It sure is bright but heats a lot. I sold mine because it heats a lot at around 5 mins even on nimh. Switched to N7 which can last at around 15 mins without getting considerably hot even with 14500. IDK why it heats that fast maybe because of the cree led. The N7 had samsung in it. Also had a tool aaa in osram but still useable for around 10mins before getting very hot which made me think that cree heats up faster. I may be wrong but that's what I've seen with my tool aa.
Had a discussion with DTA in this and found out that cree does support higher power which leads to higher light outputs but with great power comes great heat. Lol
todderbert youre right it doesnt. I just got the lumintop today and Im dissapointed. The runtime is horrible on both and 14500 and AA on high not to mention that I couldnt hold it in my hand how hot it got. Then the throw is nowhere that of the E12s on either 14500 or AA. Theres virtually no hotspot.
@@dusaintel Ok, I'll end up getting the E12 to test side by side. I normally use these single AAs for inspection, closeup viewing. I mainly use my 18650 powered lights for when I need some throw.
@@dusaintel I never owned the E12 but I have other Fenix flashlights and they are really good at optimizing their beam. It all depends on what you use the flashlight for though. Comparing the Tool 2.0AA, I have further reaching AA/AAA flashlights with a more defined hot spot but for working up close the Tool 2.0 is a great combination beam with wide hot spot and a more modern and efficient LED so its likely perception that the battery life is that much better on the Fenix, its likely dimmer and lasting longer but the more defined hot spot lets it reach further outside. Doing a white ceiling bounce test would reveal which one has more lumen/lux to the eye and for longer. The Tool 2.0 at 650 and even 270 lumen with NIMH surely brighter to the eye than the 130 lumen E12. That much power is silly with something so small as its only usable for a minute or less before burning heat. The size of the flashlight makes it get hot fast. I use mine rarely above the 140 lumen setting.
