Re: Anyone tried this AAA LED Flashlight?
First of all, please accept my apologies for the lateness of this rewritten review. I won't bore you with inventing extenuating circumstances 'cos there aren't any. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
The short, two-word version first:-
Buy one.
Here's the slightly more in-depth version.
ARC LE on left - Rocket Torch on right. Both beams are slightly bluer than appear here.
The Rocket Torch has a very solid constructed feel to it and has a nice weight - it's noticeably heavier and 1.5cm longer than the ARC LE, some may feel it's maybe a bit too heavy/large for key ring use but personally I don't find it a problem.
Despite my worries about it scratching easily in the original review, it's still scratch free after a couple of weeks of being carried around on my key ring and thrown relatively carelessly on to my bed side table at night. Also my fears about the possible life span of the tail switch have so far been shown to be unfounded. I've spent a great deal of time testing the switch - clicking it as hard and as fast as possible, as well as as slowly and gently as I could. Not once has it threatened not to work - first time, every time.
The inside maintains the impression of quality, everything is well made and there are no visible defects in manufacture. The led is nicely centred - much better than the ARC LE - and is recessed a millimetre or two below the end which should give it more than adequate protection. The regulation appears to be very good - I've been running it with a 700mAh NiMh AAA since I bought it on the original charge and it still appears just as bright to me. NOTE: This is only an eyeball test as I don't own a light meter (yet).
The output of the led appears to be slightly brighter than the ARC LE - this could be the result of a better than average Rocket torch or a not particularly good ARC LE. The ARC has a whiter beam than the Rocket, but the Rocket is by no means the bluest "white" led I've purchased. The ARC LE does light up a slightly larger area than the Rocket Torch, with more peripheral light spill.
I haven't tested it to see if it's waterproof - there is a rubber sealing ring on the head section which bodes well, but I don't know if the tail switch would let in any water or not.
If this is indeed a copy, I have to say it's a good one, the tail switch really does make a difference to the ease of use (I'm not a fan of switchless flashlights). The only negatives are that it's longer than the ARC and noticeably heavier. It gives no indication at all of being a cheap "knock-off". I got both of these flashlights at roughly the same time and the Rocket Torch is the one I reach for every time.
