Inova Bolt Series 2xAAA and 2xAA

[cratz2]

I picked up two of the 2xAAA Bolt Series lights and one of the 2xAA Bolt series lights. Very impressed considering the price.

The 2xAA is two or three times as bright as the Radiant 2xAA light and it is a bit brighter than the 2xAA Minimag LED but I suspect the Minimag has more throw when focused most tightly as the 2xAA Bolt has a wider hotspot.

The 2xAAA light has an interesting beam... not really a true hotspot/corona/spillbeam; more like a wide flood with a very small brighter spot in the middle. I like it quite a bit but I tend to like smaller lights to lean towards flood rather than throw.

The 2xAAA Bolt is a great size, but quite a bit larger than the 2xAAA Minimag. I might try cutting the rubber part off of one to see if it feels any smaller. Plus, while the rubber coating will probably be great for use in the cold or with gloves, for pulling out of a back pocket on a warm evening, I'd rather it not have the rubber.

I'll have further comments and will post beamshots, but for now, here is a group pic along with the equilavent Radiant series lights:

 

[light_emitting_dude]

Thanks for the review. Where did you get them? I was at my local Target and did not see them.

 

[parnass]

Thanks for the review. Where did you get them? I was at my local Target and did not see them.

I saw them at Fry's Electronics (in Illinois) today.

 

[cratz2]

Yeah, I got mine at Fry's in Indianapolis when another member mentioned Fry's had them in stock in California.

 

[thezman]

What kind of switch is on them?

 

[Pellidon]

momentary twisty like a SureFire.

 

[thezman]

Thanks.......

 

[redledz]

The 2xAAA sounds like it has a nice beam. Thanks for the review!

 

[Robocop]

I have been trying to find a photo of the emitter on these new bolts and can not find anything on a search....can you maybe give us a photo of the emitter on this light??

 

[cratz2]

Without natural light, this is the best my camera could do.

These are the pics of the board from the Dorcy 4xAAA light which uses the same emitter as the 2xAAA Bolt. I couldn't get a good image of the Bolt as my camera kept focusing on the lens rather than the emitter.

 

[Robocop]

Thanks very much Cratz as I have been trying hard to locate a photo of this emitter....so this is the famous new Rigel emitter....I like it very much and also have the 4-AAA Dorcy and will also verify the beam on mine is very nice and bright.

Thanks again for the photo....

 

[cratz2]

Here are a couple of pics. First is the 2xAA Bolt Series light followed by the 2xAA Minimag LED light. Both are on fresh alkalines. Camera settings are f2.6, 2 seconds and distance is 52 feet.

To my eyes, the hotspot of the Minimag LED is about 30% brighter, and more tightly focused while the Bolt light hotspot is close to 100% larger. The spillbeam isn't very apparant, but the Bolt series spill is both quite a bit brighter and quite a bit wider. If I had to guess, I'd say the Bolt is putting out 50% more total light, but the Minimag probably has 25% more throw. For my preferences, I'd MUCH rather have the Bolt light.

 

[cratz2]

Here are some indoor pics. Distance is ~17 feet and camera settings are f2.8 and 1 second.

First is the 2xAAA Bolt, then the 2xAA Bolt, the 2xAA Minimag LED, the Niteize 1W (without the IQ switch), Radiant 2xAA all on alkaline cells.

2xAAA Bolt

2xAA Bolt

2xAA Minimag LED

Niteize 1W without IQ Switch

Radiant 2xAA

 

[ringzero]

I picked up two of the 2xAAA Bolt Series lights and one of the 2xAA Bolt series lights. Very impressed considering the price.

Thanks for for the excellent pics and mini-review cratz2.

I'm very interested in the whole Bolt series, but particularly the 2AAA model.

These lights look to be very hard to beat at their price points. For only a few bucks more than a MiniMag 2AA, the Bolt 2AA looks like an outstanding buy. The Bolt 2AA beam looks much nicer than the MiniMag 2AA beam.

Could you make a guestimate of the output of the 2AAA and 2AA Bolts? Any idea of the approximate runtimes of these lights?

Thanks again.

.

 

[cratz2]

I haven't done any sort of runtime and I don't have a light meter so any guess would be a pure guess. But I'm guessing the ~45 Lumens for the 2xAA Bolt and ~20 Lumens for the 2xAAA Bolt.

The current draw from each light:

Inova 2xAAA Bolt NiMH 270mA
Inova 2xAAA Bolt Alkaline 260mA
Inova 2xAAA Bolt Lithium 330mA
Inova 2xAA Bolt NiMH 580mA
Inova 2xAA Bolt Alkaline 610mA
Inova 2xAA Bolt Lithium 660mA

I'd guess 3-4 hours for the 2xAAA Bolt and 4-5 Hours for the 2xAA Bolt.

If I lost all of my lights, the 2xAAA would certainly be one that I would actually replace. I'd probably buy about five of them. And while I prefer the 2xAA Bolt to the 2xAA Minimag LED, I don't know that I'd acutally buy one as I don't have much need for a light of that size. Usually if I need something bigger than a good 1xAA or 1x123 light, I'll grab a modded 2C Mag. I still think they are both fine choices at their price points for lights that are available at retail stores.

 

[Cydonia]

Great mini review cratz2! I like the outdoor beamshots on the garden shed... with the crescent moon through the trees in the background!

I think Inova has made a real winner series with this new bolt line... might have to get both the AAA and AA versions. They can safely run on NiMH and Lithium's... solid with no focus adjust... wow, much better than a mini mag IMHO - far more reliable I suspect too.

 

[ringzero]

I'm guessing the ~45 Lumens for the 2xAA Bolt and ~20 Lumens for the 2xAAA Bolt....The current draw from each light: ... I'd guess 3-4 hours for the 2xAAA Bolt and 4-5 Hours for the 2xAA Bolt.

Thanks for the added info cratz2.

20 lumens is about what I was hoping for from the 2AAA Bolt.

That ouptut is more than sufficient for walking a trail and tasks around camp. Its output level, compact size, light weight, and ruggedness would seem to make it a great back up light for outdoor activities. Looks good for jacket pocket, back pocket, or rucksack pocket carry.

At 260 mA current draw, it'll probably be good for 3 hours of bright output on alkalines. Hopefully it'll tail off gradually for several more hours, rather than just cutting off abruptly like the MiniMagLED 2AA.

If I lost all of my lights, the 2xAAA would certainly be one that I would actually replace. I'd probably buy about five of them....I still think they are both fine choices at their price points for lights that are available at retail stores.

When Inova is on top of its game, it can make some really outstanding lights. Looks like the Bolt series will be a big win for Inova - unlike the rather lackluster Radiant series.

If you get round to cutting the rubber sleeve off your 2AAA Bolt, please post a pic. I might order two of the 2AAAs - one to leave stock and one to strip the rubber off for breast pocket carry. Too bad these don't have a pocket clip, but maybe a clip can be found to fit.

Thanks again cratz2.


.

 

[cratz2]

I'm adding the following information by suggestion:

1. The tailcap is like the X5 except there is more actual 'in/out' movement of the rubberized plastic insert on the Bolt than there is on the X5/X1's rubber insert.

2. In typical Inova fashion, batteries go in negative first so that the positive makes contact with the tailcap.

3. There is what I believe to be a metal contact point inside the body at the back of the light engine that has a spring underneath it. If you put the batteries in and push on the cells, you can push them in about 3/8 of an inch.

4. I think the reflector is aluminum. I've never seen an Inova with a plastic reflector. The bezel ring easily inscrews revealing the threads, the lens and the reflector but only a very small portion of the reflector is touchable. There seem to be a very few visible threads on the reflector itself, but there is so little to grab on to that simply unscrewing it ins't likely. At least I haven't been able to do it.

5. I believe the lens is glass as well. At least in 'clinks' like glass and there are ZERO visible scratches on the lens. But, I thought (and still do think) think that the lens on the 2xAAA Radiant is glass while several other sources state that it is plastic.

On the issue of toughness, I'd have to think this would be one tough little light!

 

[Cydonia]

Just when I thought it couldn't get any better!
Inova Bolt is one nice rugged light alright...
I bet someone will even do a Cree mod someday!

 

[NutSAK]

How does the tint look to you on the 2AA Bolt? It looks rather blue in the photos, but that can be subjective.