- Joined
- Dec 27, 2004
- Messages
- 1,500
Introduction
What, a flashlight review on a knife site?
Well, why not? We carry knives for their functionality in everyday life, and for
their utility in case things go all wrong. Same thing with flashlights: a little extra light comes in handy when looking for a lost pen under your desk or routing a cable behind your computer, or a real lifesaver if you find yourself in a power outage or on the side of the road at night. No wonder many knife knuts see a good light as just another part of their EDC equipment.
If you're a little behind on current flashlight technology, you may think a 2 D-cell MagLite is as good as it gets. But in the last few years, two trends have changed the scene dramatically: improved battery technology, and solid-state light emitting (LED) technology. A single CR123A lithium battery, just 3/8" thick and about an inch long, puts out the same 3 volts as those two alkaline D cells, in about one tenth the volume and weight, and the latest Luxeon I and III LEDs convert that power into light more efficiently, with whiter light and less heat, than a bulb. The latest lights put out incredible light, and fit easily in your pocket. Try that with your MagLite.
A few years ago, a company called Arc Flashlight (http://www.arcflashlight.com) raised the bar for ultra-compact lights, with their single-AAA-cell LED light (and later a single AA light). They weren't cheap, but made those tiny MagLite Solitaire lights look like kids' toys, and were quite popular. Unfortunately, Arc went out of business, and while they've recently gone back into production, their absence left a void for others to fill.
One company rose to the challenge: Peak LED Systems (http://www.peakledsolutions.com/). Their product line now includes compact LED lights in a wide range of form factors, using AAA, AA, CR123A or N cells, with low-power 5mm Nichia LEDs or high-power Luxeon LEDs, manufactured from anodized aluminum, brass or stainless steel. There's something in a size and price range for just about anyone.
For this passaround, we have three typical models: the Peak Matterhorn (three 5mm LEDs, 1xAAA cell), Kino Bay (Luxeon LED with reflector, 1xAA cell) and Mediterranean (Luxeon, 1xCR123A 3V lithium cell), all in hard-anodized aluminum. These three lights cover the full range of sizes offered by Peak.
(Left to right: Peak Mediterranean, Peak Kino Bay, Peak Matterhorn 3 LED.)
First Impressions
I'm no stranger to LED lights; while I don't have as many lights as I have knives, I've got a bunch!! I have several MagLites converted to LEDs, CMG and Gerber Infinities and Sonics, assorted cheapo Dorcy and no-name Chinese lights, various high-quality Nuwai lights, several Inova lights, an original Arc AAA light, and an older model Peak Matterhorn. I was curious how the new Matterhorn compared to the old one, as well as how the new, bigger, more powerful models perform.
The first thing I noticed was the finish on these lights. It's a gorgeous, glossy black HA-III anodizing. Don't mistake this for the more common HA-II anodizing; I have a number of lights finished in HA-II, and the finish wears easily, exposing the underlying bare metal. HA-III is not only more attractive, but a lot tougher: it's just as hard as the underlying aluminum, and won't wear off in your pocket.
A Closer Look
All three lights share other features. There is no external switch, you turn them on or off by twisting the head; this saves space and makes them more water-resistant, but at the cost of a "momentary on" capability. The bodies have a subtle machined checkering to provide a positive grip. The heads have machined flats to prevent rolling, but only on slight inclines.
None of the Peak lights come with a pocket clip, either; instead, there's a lug that screws into the rear of the light, which accommodates a split-ring for a lanyard or keychain. This feature is unique to Peak's lights; rather than use a fancy clip, you can simply unscrew this lug to remove the light from the keychain or lanyard. Peak also offers their lights with a more typical non-removable lug, which makes for a shorter light, or no lug at all ("Pocket style") for minimum size. Check their site for details.
Another thing all three lights have in common: they put out a LOT of light for their size! The Matterhorn does it by strapping three LEDs together; the other two use a high-power single Luxeon instead. If your experience with LED lights is limited to the little pinch-light on your keychain, be prepared to be blown away by these little lights.
The two bigger lights are equipped with reflectors, which do a splendid job of directing as much of the LEDs' output forward. Also, the color of the light emitted by all three is excellent, with none of the bluish tint or yellow fringing of even last year's LED lights. Compared to the Peaks, even a 3 D-cell MagLite looks a sickly yellow.
Comparing the new Matterhorn to my older model, I noticed that the new one is a bit longer. The difference isn't in the head, as I first expected; it's at the rear. Disassembling both lights, I noticed that all three new lights have a screwed-in plug behind the screw-in keychain lug, which adds length. I now remember reading that this plug improves electrical contact with the battery, and can be replaced in the event that a battery leaks and corrodes the inside of the body.
(Top to bottom: MagLite Solitaire, Peak Matterhorn 3LED (new model), Peak Matterhorn 3 LED (old model), Arc AAA Premium.)
There is also a difference in the heads between the old and new Matterhorns. The old one has the three LEDs set into recesses in a flat, solid face; Inova took Peak to court, claiming that this design violated their patents. So, the new one has a dished-out, concave face, with the three LEDs set into the edge. Pretty minor change, but it was enough to skirt Inova's patent. However, while both lights put out about as much light in total, the new Matterhorn design seems to spread out the light a bit more.
(Left to right: New model Matterhorn 3 LED, old model Matterhorn.)
In Use
As I mentioned earlier, the output of these lights is impressive. I compare them all to the best lights I had that were in the same class: the Matterhorn to my old Matterhorn and Arc AAA, the Mediterranean to the Nuwai Quantum III, and the Kino Bay to the Nuwai .5W AA and Gerber Infinity AA.
(Top: Mini MagLite AA. Left to right: Peak Mediterranean, Nuwai Quantum III; Peak Kino Bay, CMG Infinity; Peak Matterhorn 3 LED, Arc AAA Premium. Bottom: MagLite Solitaire.)
Both Matterhorns ($30-$35 from Peak) are a bit longer than the Arc, which is still a marvel of miniaturization. The heads are a tad bigger, too, to accommodate the three LEDs versus the Arc's single LED. Compared to the Peak lights, though, the Arc's output looks feeble, and very, very blue.
The Mediterranean ($110) was definitely the brightest of the three, but then, it's the only one that uses a 3v lithium cell, too. It's more compact overall than the Nuwai Q-III, and the big Peak reflector focused to a tighter, brighter center hot-spot than the Nuwai. I loooove my Q-III, but I had to admit, the Mediterranean's output was better.
The Kino Bay ($70) is quite a bit bigger than the Gerber, but the difference is obvious: the Peak includes a good-sized reflector, whereas the Gerber's LED is simply recessed. The difference in output is startling: the Gerber can't come even close. (Of course, the Gerber will also run for dozens of hours on a battery, versus about five hours for the Peak!) The Nuwai .5W also has a good reflector, and hence did somewhat better, but still paled in comparison to the Kino Bay.
(Top: Left to right: Mini MagLite AA, Peak Mediterranean, Nuwai Quantum III, Peak Kino Bay, CMG Infinity, Peak Matterhorn 3 LED, Arc AAA Premium, MagLite Solitaire.)
Overall, the Kino Bay impressed me most. Despite using an old-school AA cell for power, and having a smaller reflector, its output was nearly as bright as the Mediterranean and Q-III. It's a tad longer than the Mediterranean; but it's also slimmer, especially in the head; so it carries a bit easier in the pocket. All in all, a remarkable light!
Conclusion
LED light technology is advancing at an amazing rate, and Peak is in the forefront of maximum output in a minimum package. The Matterhorn offers a lot of light in a package that will fit on your keychain, without weighing you down. The Mediterranean puts a ton of well-focussed light in your hand, but it's too big for a keychain, and a lot more expensive. The Kino Bay seems to me the bargain of the bunch, balancing awesome output in a slimmer, less expensive package.
Honestly, though, you really can't go wrong with any of them!
What, a flashlight review on a knife site?
Well, why not? We carry knives for their functionality in everyday life, and for
their utility in case things go all wrong. Same thing with flashlights: a little extra light comes in handy when looking for a lost pen under your desk or routing a cable behind your computer, or a real lifesaver if you find yourself in a power outage or on the side of the road at night. No wonder many knife knuts see a good light as just another part of their EDC equipment.
If you're a little behind on current flashlight technology, you may think a 2 D-cell MagLite is as good as it gets. But in the last few years, two trends have changed the scene dramatically: improved battery technology, and solid-state light emitting (LED) technology. A single CR123A lithium battery, just 3/8" thick and about an inch long, puts out the same 3 volts as those two alkaline D cells, in about one tenth the volume and weight, and the latest Luxeon I and III LEDs convert that power into light more efficiently, with whiter light and less heat, than a bulb. The latest lights put out incredible light, and fit easily in your pocket. Try that with your MagLite.
A few years ago, a company called Arc Flashlight (http://www.arcflashlight.com) raised the bar for ultra-compact lights, with their single-AAA-cell LED light (and later a single AA light). They weren't cheap, but made those tiny MagLite Solitaire lights look like kids' toys, and were quite popular. Unfortunately, Arc went out of business, and while they've recently gone back into production, their absence left a void for others to fill.
One company rose to the challenge: Peak LED Systems (http://www.peakledsolutions.com/). Their product line now includes compact LED lights in a wide range of form factors, using AAA, AA, CR123A or N cells, with low-power 5mm Nichia LEDs or high-power Luxeon LEDs, manufactured from anodized aluminum, brass or stainless steel. There's something in a size and price range for just about anyone.
For this passaround, we have three typical models: the Peak Matterhorn (three 5mm LEDs, 1xAAA cell), Kino Bay (Luxeon LED with reflector, 1xAA cell) and Mediterranean (Luxeon, 1xCR123A 3V lithium cell), all in hard-anodized aluminum. These three lights cover the full range of sizes offered by Peak.
(Left to right: Peak Mediterranean, Peak Kino Bay, Peak Matterhorn 3 LED.)
First Impressions
I'm no stranger to LED lights; while I don't have as many lights as I have knives, I've got a bunch!! I have several MagLites converted to LEDs, CMG and Gerber Infinities and Sonics, assorted cheapo Dorcy and no-name Chinese lights, various high-quality Nuwai lights, several Inova lights, an original Arc AAA light, and an older model Peak Matterhorn. I was curious how the new Matterhorn compared to the old one, as well as how the new, bigger, more powerful models perform.
The first thing I noticed was the finish on these lights. It's a gorgeous, glossy black HA-III anodizing. Don't mistake this for the more common HA-II anodizing; I have a number of lights finished in HA-II, and the finish wears easily, exposing the underlying bare metal. HA-III is not only more attractive, but a lot tougher: it's just as hard as the underlying aluminum, and won't wear off in your pocket.
A Closer Look
All three lights share other features. There is no external switch, you turn them on or off by twisting the head; this saves space and makes them more water-resistant, but at the cost of a "momentary on" capability. The bodies have a subtle machined checkering to provide a positive grip. The heads have machined flats to prevent rolling, but only on slight inclines.
None of the Peak lights come with a pocket clip, either; instead, there's a lug that screws into the rear of the light, which accommodates a split-ring for a lanyard or keychain. This feature is unique to Peak's lights; rather than use a fancy clip, you can simply unscrew this lug to remove the light from the keychain or lanyard. Peak also offers their lights with a more typical non-removable lug, which makes for a shorter light, or no lug at all ("Pocket style") for minimum size. Check their site for details.
Another thing all three lights have in common: they put out a LOT of light for their size! The Matterhorn does it by strapping three LEDs together; the other two use a high-power single Luxeon instead. If your experience with LED lights is limited to the little pinch-light on your keychain, be prepared to be blown away by these little lights.
The two bigger lights are equipped with reflectors, which do a splendid job of directing as much of the LEDs' output forward. Also, the color of the light emitted by all three is excellent, with none of the bluish tint or yellow fringing of even last year's LED lights. Compared to the Peaks, even a 3 D-cell MagLite looks a sickly yellow.
Comparing the new Matterhorn to my older model, I noticed that the new one is a bit longer. The difference isn't in the head, as I first expected; it's at the rear. Disassembling both lights, I noticed that all three new lights have a screwed-in plug behind the screw-in keychain lug, which adds length. I now remember reading that this plug improves electrical contact with the battery, and can be replaced in the event that a battery leaks and corrodes the inside of the body.
(Top to bottom: MagLite Solitaire, Peak Matterhorn 3LED (new model), Peak Matterhorn 3 LED (old model), Arc AAA Premium.)
There is also a difference in the heads between the old and new Matterhorns. The old one has the three LEDs set into recesses in a flat, solid face; Inova took Peak to court, claiming that this design violated their patents. So, the new one has a dished-out, concave face, with the three LEDs set into the edge. Pretty minor change, but it was enough to skirt Inova's patent. However, while both lights put out about as much light in total, the new Matterhorn design seems to spread out the light a bit more.
(Left to right: New model Matterhorn 3 LED, old model Matterhorn.)
In Use
As I mentioned earlier, the output of these lights is impressive. I compare them all to the best lights I had that were in the same class: the Matterhorn to my old Matterhorn and Arc AAA, the Mediterranean to the Nuwai Quantum III, and the Kino Bay to the Nuwai .5W AA and Gerber Infinity AA.
(Top: Mini MagLite AA. Left to right: Peak Mediterranean, Nuwai Quantum III; Peak Kino Bay, CMG Infinity; Peak Matterhorn 3 LED, Arc AAA Premium. Bottom: MagLite Solitaire.)
Both Matterhorns ($30-$35 from Peak) are a bit longer than the Arc, which is still a marvel of miniaturization. The heads are a tad bigger, too, to accommodate the three LEDs versus the Arc's single LED. Compared to the Peak lights, though, the Arc's output looks feeble, and very, very blue.
The Mediterranean ($110) was definitely the brightest of the three, but then, it's the only one that uses a 3v lithium cell, too. It's more compact overall than the Nuwai Q-III, and the big Peak reflector focused to a tighter, brighter center hot-spot than the Nuwai. I loooove my Q-III, but I had to admit, the Mediterranean's output was better.
The Kino Bay ($70) is quite a bit bigger than the Gerber, but the difference is obvious: the Peak includes a good-sized reflector, whereas the Gerber's LED is simply recessed. The difference in output is startling: the Gerber can't come even close. (Of course, the Gerber will also run for dozens of hours on a battery, versus about five hours for the Peak!) The Nuwai .5W also has a good reflector, and hence did somewhat better, but still paled in comparison to the Kino Bay.
(Top: Left to right: Mini MagLite AA, Peak Mediterranean, Nuwai Quantum III, Peak Kino Bay, CMG Infinity, Peak Matterhorn 3 LED, Arc AAA Premium, MagLite Solitaire.)
Overall, the Kino Bay impressed me most. Despite using an old-school AA cell for power, and having a smaller reflector, its output was nearly as bright as the Mediterranean and Q-III. It's a tad longer than the Mediterranean; but it's also slimmer, especially in the head; so it carries a bit easier in the pocket. All in all, a remarkable light!
Conclusion
LED light technology is advancing at an amazing rate, and Peak is in the forefront of maximum output in a minimum package. The Matterhorn offers a lot of light in a package that will fit on your keychain, without weighing you down. The Mediterranean puts a ton of well-focussed light in your hand, but it's too big for a keychain, and a lot more expensive. The Kino Bay seems to me the bargain of the bunch, balancing awesome output in a slimmer, less expensive package.
Honestly, though, you really can't go wrong with any of them!
