Apart from it's silly name, this is rather unusual as 18650 torches go in that it has a rotatable head to allow it to function as both a normal torch, and as a right-angle headed torch.
Torch in box...
I’ve been very remiss in getting this review written, but the last week has been manic at work and I've not been up to doing much upon getting home from work other than sleeping. So, many apologies for keeping you all waiting, and I hope that this review will be informative.
Here's the tech-specs from the manufacturer:
- Cree XP-G LED (R5) with a life span of 50,000 hours
- Uses two 3V CR123A Lithium batteries or one 18650 Li-ion battery
- 144mm (Length) x 24mm (Diameter)
- 90-gram weight (excluding batteries)
- Using a unique lamp holder rotating patent structure
- Digitally regulated output - maintains constant brightness
- Intelligent memory circuit,automatically memorizes last level used
- Reverse polarity protection,
- Over discharge protection
- Waterproof to IPX-8
- Tactical tail cap switch with momentary-on function
- Made of durable aircraft-grade aluminum
- Premium Type III hard-anodized anti-abrasive finish
- Toughened ultra-clear glass lens with anti-reflective coating
Powered by two CR123A primary cells (the manual states only 3V primary cells should be used) or one 18650 (3.7-4.2V) battery, the JR20 has four power levels and a number of flashing settings, selected via the side button at the head of the light (just below where it rotates). According to the manufacturer, these are:
- Turbo Mode: 310 ANSI Lumens (2 hour 30 minutes runtime)
- High Mode: 150 ANSI Lumens (5 hour 30 minute runtime)
- Medium Mode: 50 ANSI Lumens (20 hrs runtime)
- Low Mode: 5 ANSI Lumens (205 hrs runtime)
- Strobe: 310 Lumens
- SOS: 50 Lumens
- Beacon (fast flash): 50 lumens
They do not state what cells those runtime tests and lumens were taken from, but I believe that they were using an 18650 cell.
Yes, it's not a "lumens monster" like some more recent 700 or so lumen XML LED torches, but how often do we really need that much light from a torch if we're being honest with ourselves? This one offers a good usable range of brightness levels, and coupled with the XP-G LED if you mostly use high mode you'll get a nicely usable runtime from it.
The box contains a warranty card, manual (printed in english and chinese on the same page), a halfway decent belt sheath for the torch, the usual assortment of spare o-rings and a very decent woodland camo "paracord" lanyard with a split ring at one end and a plastic cordlock at the other, which was a nice surprise.
Package contents
The torch is anodised in black, will tailstand (but is rather wobbly) and has a nice finish to it. The knurling on the body is not too aggressive (some people might like it to be more so) and the body features 5 milled-in grooves that run the length of the body for extra grip.
There is an excellent sprung pocket clip in polished steel that comes with the torch, which snaps on and off of the torch and can be fitted in two positions - just below the mode changing button at the head of the torch or right at the top of the tailcap. Unlike some other snap-on / snap-off clips which feel like they're going to fall off really easily, this one takes quite a bit of force to fit which gives me confidence in using it.
Size wise, I decided to compare it to 3 of my other single 18650 / 2 x CR123 torches - Sunwayman V20C, Solarforce L2T with stainless tactical tailcap + stainless crenelated bezel and a Surefire 6P.
Left to right - Rofis, Solarforce, Sunwayman, Surefire
It is slightly longer than the Sunwayman and the Surefire, and about the same length as the Solarforce L2T because of it's crenelated bezel. It is very slightly slimmer than the sunwayman, a bit slimmer than the surefire and much slimmer than the tank-like Solarforce L2T, and unlike those three torches, it is the same diameter down it's lenght - the head does not get wider.
It has a fairly deep OP reflector behind the antireflect coated lens and the head is very slightly crenelated so you can see if you've left it turned on. Would be nice to see it with a steel bezel for a bit more drop protection though.
A view of the reflector an LED
Rotating the head is pleasingly stiff (yet smooth) with a solid stop at either end, and with it turned to right-angle mode you can e.g. clip it to a rucksack chest strap, clip it to the brim of a hat, or stick it through a third party head-torch strap and wear it as a rather large head torch for hands-free use. I think this makes it an eminently practical torch.
So, what's it like as a torch?
Out of the box, I failed to notice the tail-switch and assumed I had a DOA torch because clicking the side switch on the head did nothing at all. Then I looked at the torch again, and spotted the tailswitch.
The tailcap switch performs only one function - turning the torch on and off. Tailcap thread are anodised, so you can "lockout" the torch by unscrewing the tail cap slightly (less than 1/8 of a turn does the job). This is a nice feature which a surprisingly large number of torches lack.
Torch in "normal mode" with pocket clip fitted below the head (just below the mode button)
The fact that mode switching is seperated from the tailcap is nice because you can use the tail switch for signalling (using half-presses of the switch) without it ever changing mode.
Upon turning the torch on, pressing the mode-change side switch cycles through low, medium, high, turbo and back to low. It is only when you hold down the mode switch for a second or so that it goes into strobe.
The strobe is a very fast strobe, followed by a slower strobe and then back to very fast - just to really make your eyes hurt… A press of the mode button then changes you to SOS mode, and another press takes you to beacon. To change back to normal lighting mode you either have to hold down the mode button again for a second or so, or turn the torch off and on again.
The torch has memory and always comes on in the last NON-FLASHING mode that you used.
The beam quality is very good, with only one or two rings towards the outer edge of the beam, thanks to the nicely centred XP-G LED which has a nice almost-neutral tint to it.
Using my highly scientific method of shining it at a spinning fan and changing modes, I was unable to notice any horrible PWM effects, but your mileage may vary.
The beam has a good mix of throw and flood with a decent side spill, although it seems a little more biased towards "throw". Going for a brief walk with it showed that holding it at waist height parrallel to the ground it lit up the path about 3 feet infront of me with the spill while lighting up a good way ahead. (Unsurprising considering the XP-G LED fitted, as they are pretty good throwers anyway).
Clipped onto a rucksack strap with the clip at the "head end" and the head angled so it shines forwards it might be a bit hard to get it not shining up into the air - depending on where on the strap you clip it to. Also, due to the location of the mode button, if you have it clipped with the clip at the "back" of the torch when it right angle mode, whatever you have it clipped to could make it awkward to get at the mode switch.
Right angle mode with pocket clip at the head end
Because the clip can be rotated around the torch body, you could clip this pretty much anywhere (inside a shirt pocket perhaps) and still have the beam shining more-or-less forwards.
I wait and see how the rotation mechanism holds up in long term use, as depending on how it has been done, it could wear and become "floppy" in the long term, but out of the box you can turn it to any angle within it's range of motion and it'll stay there. The reason for my "wait and see" on how it will wear is because it has already developed a very small amount of play in the mechanism compared to how it came straight out of the box (that said, the play is only noticeable when you go to rotate the head).
Combining the rotatable head with clipping the pocket clip to the tail cap so the torch would be shining straight downwards, you can have the torch mounted on a rucksack strap and have it shining down and forwards for either map-reading or for extra light right in front of your feet if traversing awkward terrain. (or perhaps if you were a police officer you could clip it to your vest and use it to light up your note-book or ID / Driving licence if you did a night time traffic stop). Very nice!
This makes it a definite "winner" in my book and eminently practical!
Right angle mode with pocket clip at the tail end
About the only thing I don't like about it is because of the rotation mechanism - when the torch is in "normal torch" mode you can feel the transition between the two parts of the torch, and there's a definite gap between the two sections with the central post that the head rotates around. The gap is only probably 0.5mm - 0.75mm wide, but I think it could accumulate fine dust / sand which could perhaps cause undue wear? Perhaps something to keep an eye out for in long term use.
The other "downer" for me is that it can't run on 2 x 16340 / RCR123 3.7V cells, but as I would most likely be running it on an 18650 cell for the extra runtime, that's not a big issue really.
Would I recommend one?
Yes. For the money (£54.95 including free delivery from flashaholics) this is a very practical and somewhat unusual torch; and because it does not feature the latest XML LED instead using a lower power XP-G LED it features good runtimes if the manufacturer figures are accurate (disclaimer - I have yet to complete a runtime test on the 18650 cell, I will update later)
Disclaimer: This torch was provided free of charge by flashaholics.co.uk for this review. Many thanks Antony!
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