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Nitecore SRT6 from GearBest
This is a first for me. I don't think I have ever agreed to do a review of a free review unit before (although I may be forgetting something). Over the years, a number of companies have offered free stuff for review, and I've typically turned them down. But when GearBest offered, I gave it some serious thought. So far, I've been impressed with the way they've approached this forum, their strategy for advertising, and their engagement of our community. They've had creative promotions, and they've managed to promote their site to us without being spammy or classless. Very few gadget sites hit that balance correctly around here, and since GearBest has, I decided that was worth supporting. I hope they keep up this same approach going forward.
BUT, I also wasn't going to spend my time reviewing some generic flashlight. In searching for something to suggest for review, I had a mission! I have always wanted to do a laser build with magnetic continuously variable output. Picking the right "body donor" was quite the task. I knew it needed to be an XML light so that the driver circuitry was capable of handling the current we run multi-mode blues at. I also knew that the VDrop of a multimode blue would be higher than an XML, so I wanted a driver that was already used to 2-cell bucking. Since I also wanted a compact host, that meant searching for a flashlight with continuous variability, an XML LED, and the ability to run off of 2x 16340 (CR123) cells.... and that's the story of how I found the SRT6!
Here are the flashlight's official specs:
Emitter Type: XM-L T6
Total Emitter: 1 x Cree XML T6
Lumens: 930lm
Battery Type: 18650, CR123
Battery Quantity: 1 x 18650 / 2 x CR123 (not included)
Waterproof: IPX-8 Standard Waterproof (Underwater 2m)
Now, I'll be honest, at this stage, I expected GearBest to say no to my proposed flashlight. This is a $95 flashlight, I didn't think they'd let me review it, or I expected them to want it back. (note: GearBest gave me a coupon code to share that gets the price a whole bunch lower than $95 for anyone reading this review). I was honest with GearBest, and told them that if they gave me the flashlight to review, I wanted to keep it, and turn it into a laser.....to my surprise. they said sure!
The Pros:
I am impressed by this light. Before I received it, I was skeptical that the build quality would be worth the price tag. But even as a non-flashaholic, after receiving this light, it's no challenge at all to spot the finish quality that justifies this light's cost. Little details like the smoothness of the threads, the consistency of the finish, and the high quality metal (titanium?) that the crown is made of, really impressed me and convey that this is a light made with care and attention to detail.
There is a lot to love about the infinite variability of the output, but one of the coolest aspects of this feature in my mind is the light's ability to dim to a near non-existent output. I took a photo of the light on as low as I could get it to go, next to the indicator LED on a USB power bank. That's right, this XML flashlight is able to dim down to about a quarter of the output of an indicator LED! That's very cool on its own, but to see that kind of low range on a light that has a high range (from 1 emitter) that's almost as bright as an SRK (with 3 emitters)? Remarkable.
The Cons:
I only have one real complaint with this light, and that's that the positive contact terminal has some sort of plastic floating disk mechanism that doesn't play well with flat top 18650 cells. This blows my mind, because surely anyone spending $100 on a nice flashlight is going to be using high quality 18650 flat top cells. The easy solution is to use spacer magnets, but I'd prefer not to have to keep track of magnets if I'm out in the wilderness, on a camping trip, backpacking around another country, etc.
The Price: $94.95, but I understand that the code NCSRT6CM will reduce that to $62.99 for the time being.
Nitecore SRT6 Cree XM-L T6 930lm 18650/CR123 Electrodeless Dimming Flashlight-94.95 and Free Shipping| GearBest.com
The Secret Pro?
There's one more secret pro that I haven't spoken about yet.....
Based on initial testing, it looks like you can swap out the XML emitter and attach the exact same leads to a 9mm 445, with zero driver modification, and you've got yourself a laser conversation that retains all of the awesome functionality of this light's variable driver circuitry. The current lines up beautifully, the modes work, and the dimming circuitry works. Eudamonium is currently making me a heatsink to fit this host based on my measurements, and I'll keep everyone updated on how that turns out.
This is a first for me. I don't think I have ever agreed to do a review of a free review unit before (although I may be forgetting something). Over the years, a number of companies have offered free stuff for review, and I've typically turned them down. But when GearBest offered, I gave it some serious thought. So far, I've been impressed with the way they've approached this forum, their strategy for advertising, and their engagement of our community. They've had creative promotions, and they've managed to promote their site to us without being spammy or classless. Very few gadget sites hit that balance correctly around here, and since GearBest has, I decided that was worth supporting. I hope they keep up this same approach going forward.
BUT, I also wasn't going to spend my time reviewing some generic flashlight. In searching for something to suggest for review, I had a mission! I have always wanted to do a laser build with magnetic continuously variable output. Picking the right "body donor" was quite the task. I knew it needed to be an XML light so that the driver circuitry was capable of handling the current we run multi-mode blues at. I also knew that the VDrop of a multimode blue would be higher than an XML, so I wanted a driver that was already used to 2-cell bucking. Since I also wanted a compact host, that meant searching for a flashlight with continuous variability, an XML LED, and the ability to run off of 2x 16340 (CR123) cells.... and that's the story of how I found the SRT6!
Here are the flashlight's official specs:
Emitter Type: XM-L T6
Total Emitter: 1 x Cree XML T6
Lumens: 930lm
Battery Type: 18650, CR123
Battery Quantity: 1 x 18650 / 2 x CR123 (not included)
Waterproof: IPX-8 Standard Waterproof (Underwater 2m)
Now, I'll be honest, at this stage, I expected GearBest to say no to my proposed flashlight. This is a $95 flashlight, I didn't think they'd let me review it, or I expected them to want it back. (note: GearBest gave me a coupon code to share that gets the price a whole bunch lower than $95 for anyone reading this review). I was honest with GearBest, and told them that if they gave me the flashlight to review, I wanted to keep it, and turn it into a laser.....to my surprise. they said sure!
The Pros:
I am impressed by this light. Before I received it, I was skeptical that the build quality would be worth the price tag. But even as a non-flashaholic, after receiving this light, it's no challenge at all to spot the finish quality that justifies this light's cost. Little details like the smoothness of the threads, the consistency of the finish, and the high quality metal (titanium?) that the crown is made of, really impressed me and convey that this is a light made with care and attention to detail.
There is a lot to love about the infinite variability of the output, but one of the coolest aspects of this feature in my mind is the light's ability to dim to a near non-existent output. I took a photo of the light on as low as I could get it to go, next to the indicator LED on a USB power bank. That's right, this XML flashlight is able to dim down to about a quarter of the output of an indicator LED! That's very cool on its own, but to see that kind of low range on a light that has a high range (from 1 emitter) that's almost as bright as an SRK (with 3 emitters)? Remarkable.
The Cons:
I only have one real complaint with this light, and that's that the positive contact terminal has some sort of plastic floating disk mechanism that doesn't play well with flat top 18650 cells. This blows my mind, because surely anyone spending $100 on a nice flashlight is going to be using high quality 18650 flat top cells. The easy solution is to use spacer magnets, but I'd prefer not to have to keep track of magnets if I'm out in the wilderness, on a camping trip, backpacking around another country, etc.
The Price: $94.95, but I understand that the code NCSRT6CM will reduce that to $62.99 for the time being.
Nitecore SRT6 Cree XM-L T6 930lm 18650/CR123 Electrodeless Dimming Flashlight-94.95 and Free Shipping| GearBest.com
The Secret Pro?
There's one more secret pro that I haven't spoken about yet.....
Based on initial testing, it looks like you can swap out the XML emitter and attach the exact same leads to a 9mm 445, with zero driver modification, and you've got yourself a laser conversation that retains all of the awesome functionality of this light's variable driver circuitry. The current lines up beautifully, the modes work, and the dimming circuitry works. Eudamonium is currently making me a heatsink to fit this host based on my measurements, and I'll keep everyone updated on how that turns out.
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