I want an EDC with a < 1 lumen low, low - what are my options??

[RichS]

My current EDC is a Fenix LOD Q4 - love it. But I want an EDC with a low low - less than 1 lumen.

The only choices I am aware of are:

• Novatac 120P/120T
• Ra Twisty
• LiteFlux LF2X/LF3, etc.

Any other options for an EDC with a very low low??

Thanks in advance!

-Rich

UPDATED:


Here is a compiled list of lights with a low low per your suggestions for those that might be looking for this as well. Thanks for all your help!

• Novatac 120P
• LiteFlux LF2, LF2XT, LF3, LF5
• Ra Twisty
• Ra Clicky
• Photon Freedom Microlight
• Draco
• Titan
• NiteCore EX10/D10
• Insight H2X Typhoon
• ARCmania Extreme III
• Night Ops Gladius w/SSC P4
• CPF Limited Edition
• Spartanian 2
• fauxton
• HDS
• Spy 007
• Zebralight H60 (11/7)
• PalLight
• 4sevens Quark Line

 

[rockz4532]

i recommend the novatac 120p, the .2 lumen setting is low.

 

[HoopleHead]

i think the lumapower incendio had a decent low, but i forget

but my low low choice is the novatac 120P. the twisty is low as well, but lowest is not as low as the novatacs low.

or have milky build something.

 

[Marduke]

Photon Freedom Microlight, either the regular or covert version. Well below 1lm. On 1xCR2032, the dimmest level is approximately that of a small vial of tritium.

Photon Proton Pro comes on in red <1lm. It also has white <=1lm, but you have to ramp down from high white first. Easy enough to do when pressed against hand or leg, but it's an extra step.

 

[IcantC]

If you do not mind me asking, what is intended use for such a low?(Serious Q, just always wonder when I see such threads 🙂)

 

[Watchguy]

I'm not RichS but for me I like a really low, low to read or do things without affecting my night adapted vision (like for astronomy). I use red sometimes but need white sometimes also.

 

[PhantomPhoton]

+1 for the Proton Pro. LF5XT goes pretty low as well but I don't think it is under 1 lumen.

 

[gswitter]

I took some quick measurements with an Extech light meter (model #401025). For reference, the test were done in a fairly dark room. After zeroing the meter, it showed a value of 2 in the ambient light. The lights were placed bezel down directly on the meter and read as follows...

• NiteCore D10 (XR-E): > 2000
• Night-Ops Gladius w/SSC P4: 1602
• Photon Proton Pro (XR-E/White): 747
• ARCmania Extreme III (Rebel): 731
• Insight H2X Typhoon (Lux III): 726
• Ra-100-T: 602
• Ra-85-Tr: 458
• NovaTac 120P: 431
• Draco (XR-E): 297
• HDS U60GT: 196
• Surefire Titan: 14

And, no, that last one isn't an error. The lowest output from the Titan really is that dim.

I'll make no claims about the accuracy of the meter. It hasn't been used much in the last few years, and to my knowledge has never been calibrated. However, multiple tests of the same lights showed consistent results, so it's probably good enough for this evaluation.

 

[adirondackdestroyer]

The Nitecore EX10/D10 are both under 1 lumen on low. I tested the D20 to be around .6 lumens on low.

 

[Bonky]

how about a birthday candle and a strike-anywhere match? 🙂

 

[EngrPaul]

Vampire much? 😉

 

[glockboy]

+1

The Nitecore EX10/D10 are both under 1 lumen on low.

 

[Sgt. LED]

Low low?

Static electricity!

Carry a balloon around your house rubbing it on your head while barefoot.
😀

 

[1dash1]

+1 Novatac 120P

8 distinct and usable levels under 1 lumen, at least four levels lower than either the D10 or the EX10. And for your night assignments, you can customize the output modes to suit your needs (all four modes under 1 lumen, if you so choose). :candle:

Note: The lowest lows that I've seen are the CPF Limited Edition which goes so low that you have to look directly at the emitter to tell whether it is on. However, its beam is rather throwy, so I can't recommend it - unless you want to pinpoint something with a tiny amount of light, e.g., circuitry.

P.S. For night-adapted vision, even the lowest level of the 120P may be too bright if the flashlight is held too close for reading. You may have to hold the 120P a foot or more away in order to preserve your night vision.

 

[d1dd1]

The Spartanian 2 will have a very low low (not released yet but there are some reviews of samples out there)

But even more impressive is its low mode - it can actually go slightly lower than my Novatac 120P (which has a lowest setting of 0.08 lumens). In fact, based on the calibration of my lightbox using the 120P, I'd estimate the Spartanian II's lowest level to be ~ 0.06 lumens!

I have a Novatac 120P and the lowest low is very low on this 😀

 

[Stress_Test]

If you do not mind me asking, what is intended use for such a low?(Serious Q, just always wonder when I see such threads 🙂)

+1 on this.


Also, for a point of reference, how much is one lumen anyway? Is a match brighter than one lumen? Is a stock Mag Solitaire brighter or dimmer than one lumen?

It'd help me (and maybe others too) if we had a common everyday reference point so we could think "okay, 1 lumen is about as bright as a ______".

 

[gswitter]

If you do not mind me asking, what is intended use for such a low?

I use the lowest setting on the NovaTac to navigate the house when the wife and kid are asleep. Between my kid's toys and shoes and the wife's tendency to leave laundry baskets in the middle of the hall, a torch is essential for me to navigate upstairs, and the wife is a light enough sleeper that brighter lights have woken her. The lowest setting on the NovaTac has been perfect for my needs - just enough for me to see, and not enough for others to notice.

 

[mossyoak]

i recommend the novatac 120p, the .2 lumen setting is low.

and the 0.08 lumen setting is even lower, and that it runs for somewhere over 1200 hours is amazing

 

[d1dd1]

I use the lowest setting on the NovaTac to navigate the house when the wife and kid are asleep. Between my kid's toys and shoes and the wife's tendency to leave laundry baskets in the middle of the hall, a torch is essential for me to navigate upstairs, and the wife is a light enough sleeper that brighter lights have woken her. The lowest setting on the NovaTac has been perfect for my needs - just enough for me to see, and not enough for others to notice.

+1 :candle:

 

[Phaserburn]

Get a fauxton, let it run for a few hours or more until the desired dimness is achieved. At that point, it will provide hours more runtime at that level.