Gerber Tempo, My Thoughts

[kramer5150]

I've been using a little Gerber Tempo for a couple weeks, so I thought I'd post up some impressions...

Cheers-
-Cheap, $10 B&M availability from REI and Sports Authority stores.
-Good regulation for 6-7 hours, output tapers off as cell completely depletes. No abrupt cut off.
-Robust construction and smooth anodize finish.
-Smooth floody, night vision preserving 7-8 Lumen beam from Nichia-CS.
-Faint-blue colored hot spot with some warm yellow tint side flood.
-Runs equally-well with standard AAA NiMH or Alkaline.
-Switch activation feels solid as the cap is twisted, no "spongy" feel.
-Smooth threads and tailcap O-ring.
-Solid feeling twist-switch, that can be used as a momentary switch.
-Spring contacts at both + and - ends to maintain battery contact.

Jeers-
-Anodize scratches very easily.
-I question my particular units water submersibility. I can blow air through the front of the light, indicating its not completely sealed. Although I do think its sealed well enough for anything less than a water-dunk.
-No lanyard included.
-Questionable build quality from unit to unit.

Overall I am happy with this little light. Its not something to WOW everyone around a camp fire, its more a night-vision preserving utility tool. I find ~7 lumens just about right for this kind of application. Its bright enough to illuminate the ground 7-10 feet in front of you, or gently illuminate a room with night adjusted vision. Its gentile output will not leave you blind with night dilated vision.

The first unit I bought from REI, had an off-center aimed emitter and developed a flicker condition. So I took it back and exchanged it for the one you see here, which I more carefully picked for its centered emitter. So, while I am happy with mine, I would not recommend purchasing one on-line. Local B&M I think is the only safe way to acquire one of these.

Heres my video review:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nHrLU6VfN4

Here are some pics:thumbsup:

The tempo runs off a single AAA, the AA battery is pictured below for size comparison only.

 

[riversedge]

Jeers-
...
-Not water submersible, no O-ring seal around the emitter. Light splash resistant only.

I beg to differ on that point. Mine had a little o-ring inside the head, around the led, when I took it apart.

It's also been on the bottom of the Potomac River more than once and still functioned.

Otherwise, nicely said...:twothumbs

 

[kramer5150]

I beg to differ on that point. Mine had a little o-ring inside the head, around the led, when I took it apart.

It's also been on the bottom of the Potomac River more than once and still functioned.

Otherwise, nicely said...:twothumbs

Cool... how did you take it apart? My bezel seems glued to the body. Will th ehair-dryer trick work? I can blow air through the front of the light, hence my hesitation to proclaim it as dunk-proof.

(runs off to garage to try and open it up)

 

[riversedge]

Cool... how did you take it apart? My bezel seems glued to the body. Will th ehair-dryer trick work? I can blow air through the front of the light, hence my hesitation to proclaim it as dunk-proof.

(runs off to garage to try and open it up)

Shop rag and 2 pairs of pliers

. Then the pill unscrews with a nail or something similar(I used a pushpin).

 

[sol-leks]

doesnt this light use a AAA battery? I guess its just for size comparison, but I find your pics slightly deceiving with that AA battery there.

 

[kramer5150]

doesnt this light use a AAA battery? I guess its just for size comparison, but I find your pics slightly deceiving with that AA battery there.

Oops... I added some commentary to address that. yes it uses a single AAA battery. Thanks!

 

[sol-leks]

No worries, its def a nice light, especially if you can find it in a store. I feel like off a website though a fenix e01 is still prolly better no? With shipping it cant be more than a 2-3 dollar difference.

 

[kramer5150]

No worries, its def a nice light, especially if you can find it in a store. I feel like off a website though a fenix e01 is still prolly better no? With shipping it cant be more than a 2-3 dollar difference.

I was counting the number of posts till' someone would mention the E01. I don't own an E01 (yet) so, I cant really comment much. I think its safe to say the HAIII, proven submersibility from CPF members, and long track record of reliability/durability make the E01 the better choice. I don't think theres any design element of the Tempo thats clearly superior to the E01. Maybe if you wanted a smooth surface AAA light with no knurling... then perhaps the Tempo would be a better choice.

The suspect build quality from light to light really prevents me from recommending the Gerber Tempo openly. You're better off hand picking one in store, from a reputable retailer with a good return policy... stay away from WWW retailers on this one.

On that note, REI took my faulty unit back no questions. They didn't even open it up to inspect it. So, cheers go out to REI.

 

[riversedge]

No worries, its def a nice light, especially if you can find it in a store. I feel like off a website though a fenix e01 is still prolly better no? With shipping it cant be more than a 2-3 dollar difference.

The E01 may be better, but it's not available OTC to the masses. The Tempo is the light that has kept me from buying an E01 for that reason alone(although an L0D is in my near future).

 

[Radiophile]

Thanks for the review and pictures Kramer5150. I don't think I'll be buying one for a while in the hopes that they'll iron out the problems by the time my Sonic goes south.

 

[angelofwar]

Just got one of these the other day NIP for $7 (my old COAST AAA crapped out on me) since I needed a decent AAA, and 5mm are the best for the long runtime. Only thing I didn't care for was the dry threads and that awful screeching sound. Slapped a little plumbers grease on it, and it's GTG now. All I have to do now is charge my AAA Duraloops every 6 months and I have a decent power outage light for the kiddo's!

 

[parnass]

Here is an old thread on the Gerber Tempo.

A Gerber Tempo failed shortly after purchasing it for my wife in 2007. Returned it to REI and gave her a Peak Matterhorn instead. She has been using 1-LED and 3-LED Matterhorns almost daily for the past few years without a failure.