Arclight LS or Inova X5?

jefroman

jefroman

Gold Member
Joined
May 17, 2001
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Which one would you choose? I don't have any experience with either of these lights, so I need someone who is more knowledgeble about flashlights than me. The LS should be cheaper to maintain than the X5 if you use the 2 AA battery pack, but the light itself is also a lot more expensive than the Inova!

Thanks,

Jeff
 
I think most people in the flashlight know will say the ARC LS. I have the X5 and it is my daily carry. Well made, cool looking and very bright. Some say that the LED's in the X5 are overdriven. That said, I will also get the LS. I like the fact that you can get different bodies for the lighthead.

The other reason I have the X5 is that you can't get an LS unless you preordered on a while ago. I'm not sure about the wait time but I did hear February as a possiblity. Go over to www.candlepowerforums.com and there are many discussions about both lights.

Good luck in your search,

S.

BTW - Which knife did you end up getting ?
 
I just got the Arc LS, and have been admiring the Inova X5. The Arc LS I have uses the 1x123A battery pack. As such, I believe (someone correct me if I'm wrong) it is brighter than the Inova (even though the Inova uses 2x123A), and the two have similar run times. So the Arc should cost less to run.

The advantage of the Inova over the Arc LS 123A is the Inova seems to be one-hand operable, or is at least easily useable with two hands. The Arc 123A DEFINITELY is not (in fact, it's extremely difficult to turn on even with two hands), although that may change as Arc tunes their fit & finish (and that rubber gasket, ack).

All in all, I would stick with my decision to go with the Arc LS 123A if and only if Arc fixes the operating mechanism to be easier to use. Right now it's so difficult, I have trouble turning the light on with two hands, much less one. That makes the Arc LS a novelty light, or a rarely-used just-in-case light. I had bought it hoping it would replace my E1 as my bright-but-compact light. It will definitely need a better operating mechanism for that.

If you're willing to go with the 2xAA, I would go with the Arc, again if and only if the operating mechanism is suitable for one-hand use, or it's at least pleasant to use with two-hand use. I don't have one, so I don't know.
 
Sidewinder, I just found out about a big knife store in my area, so I think that I will handle some knives there! I haven't actually decided yet, but I'm thinking about the BM Axis AFCK.

Jeff
 
I've had my LS about 10 days, and have all three battery packs (1xAA, 2xAA, 123A). Comparing to my X5, the LS throws a longer, narrower beam, with a much more natural color. The X5 overdrives its LEDs to the point where the beam color is on the blue side. The most impressive thing I can say about the LS is that it's the first LED light that puts out a beam that doesn't look like a LED light--if that makes sense.

Joe, the problem with the tough on-off operation is limited to the 123A battery pack. Reason is that the 123As positive "button" is larger and flatter than the AA version. ARC has been recommending an interim solution of making the hole in the foam gasket larger. They will be sending out a redesigned gasket to all owners in the near future. My solution to the problem was to drop a small (10-32 ??) nut into the hole in the gasket. That plus a little o-ring lube solved the problem, and I can now operate the 123A config with one hand. I've tried out the AA packs, but I'm more interested in small size/high performance, so I will stick with the 123A pack.

I think the X5 is an incredible value for $40, and it continues to be a good value if it can use batteries out of a dead Surefire. This is supposed to be possible--I haven't tried it. The LS is superior, but costs a lot more for the performance increase. Aside from the LS, the X5 is the overall best LED light I've seen at any price (well, nearly any price).

It's a safe bet that you will soon see other manufacturers using this new type of LED (Luxeon Star from Lumileds), and that prices will come down, and no doubt multi-LS models, which should be BRIGHT. LumiLeds also has an improved LS design (Lambertian) on the way that will be even brighter.
 
Overdriven LEDs or not my vote goes to the Inova. Great light, water resistant to 150 feet great for kubaton use and hella bright. I contacted Inova and was told that while the LEDs are operating at there operational limits it only costs $15.00 to replace the LEDs and they are supposed to last 10,000 hours. Hope this helps more than it confuses
 
sas: Sure enough, a little tweaking improved my LS a lot. I increased the size of the gasket and put silicone grease on the threads. It's still not one-hand operating, but it operates easily with two hands. And with that, the LS 123A is brighter and provides whiter light than the Inova X5, the LS runs for 3 hours on a single 123A, and the LS is smaller. It's a killer package.

Arc knows about the problem with the 123A batteries and is going to mail out a new gasket to all current owners (I assume next production run will all have the fixed gasket already). Note this is not a problem for the AA and 2AA bodies.

Pretty killer light. I'd say wait until the next production run, so the remaining kinks get worked out, and pick one up for sure.

Joe
 
I'd say wait until the next production run, so the remaining kinks get worked out, and pick one up for sure.
Click to expand...

Joe, do you know when this will be? I can't seem to get a hold of any LS.

jefroman - the BM Axis AFCK is a nice knife. I'm sure it will serve you will. I really like BM's one of the first "tatical" blades I owned was a BM. I still have it and love it.

S
 
Based on the posts in candlepowerforums, it doesn't even sound like Arc knows when it'll be. They're having some problems with the colored versions they're trying to fix, and meanwhile their waiting list is so backed up they've stopped taking backorders. It sounds like it'll be 2-3 months before things get cleared up.

Joe
 
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