Well my XP-G2 1xCR123 Haiku got here.
It was well packed in a Priority Mail heavy cardboard box. I had company for dinner, so I hurriedly cut the tapes with a pair of scissors, then took the box to my room to finish opening it.
Inside, the package was taped to the box, to keep it from rattling. I fumbled for a minute or 2 before I can untape the bubble wrap around the flashlight itself.
All I can say is I'm extremely happy with the flashlight, and all buyer's remorse vanished as soon as I picked it up, put a battery in, and cycled through the 3 light levels.
Compared to my Elzetta flashlights of anodized aircraft aluminum, which feel heavy, tanklike, and cool, the Haiku feels tanklike, and warm!
The design shows character, and definitely in a different class than the mass produced lights.
The color temperature is perfect for me. I agonized between the XM-L2, XP-G2, and CRI, and finally decided on XP-G2. The color is not bluish cold like a fluorescent light, and not too yellow, like an incandescent light. At 4500K, it is just on the warm side of neutral, enough to give a relaxing color.
The beam has enough throw to walk the dog at night. It lights up my long driveway and the tree across the street. The spill is very proportional, and gets larger at the brighter settings. The spill is a gentle transition from the center spot.
Having recently played with the 960 lumen Nitecore SRT7, the 650 lumen Elzetta Bravo, and the 900 lumen Elzetta Charlie, I was worried that the maximum 200 lumens of the Haiku would not satisfy me. This worry was unfounded.
On the low setting, the Haiku was as bright as the 15 lumen low setting of the Elzetta, when placed next to each other. When I placed the Haiku and Elzetta next to each other, I could see a difference between the highest setting of the Haiku and the 900 lumens of the Elzetta, but when I used them individually, the throw and spill of the Haiku is the same functionally as the Elzetta, as it can light up as far ahead, and as brightly, as my eyes would care to look. Inside my bedroom, it matches and outshines my ceiling light with 4x75W LED bulbs.
The Haiku looks and feels classic enough to be an heirloom piece, but it feels strong enough that I feel confident carrying it around, and not put it in a velvet box.
This flashlight makes me forget about well-built mass produced flashlights. It makes me forget about lumen counts.
I came to this forum looking for a flashlight that is high quality, powerful, and reliable. I feel like I've fallen down the rabbit hole, and my adventure is just beginning.
And I'm enjoying it.
I think the 4500 lumen XP-G2 is the perfect emitter for me. Next I'll probably covet the AA version of XP-G2 with the 1xAA body, which I could use with both heads.
