Eneloops
Newly Enlightened
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2012
- Messages
- 171
Re: ITP A3 EOS & Maratac AAA Reviews: RUNTIMES, BEAMSHOTS, DETAILED PICS & more!
I can second that. The electro-polished stainless steel AAA Maratac has been living around my neck on a piece of their "tether cord" which melts really well together, for a "break-away clasp" that is permanently closed.
This thing has been my EDC since I got it, and it's been pretty amazing. That polished, stainless finish is pretty unreal. It looks really amazing. I got a pretty huge ding in mine, don't know how it happened so I don't know how hard it was hit. Other than that huge ding, the finish and exterior are still mint, like new, shiny as chrome off a trailer hitch.
I REALLY like the knurling on the Maratac, because the stainless threads (even with fresh SuperLube) always seem hard to turn. That knurling provides some mean purchase!
The Maratac lanyard hole LOOKS weak, but mine has performed it's duty without a hiccup - and there's a break test on youtube - but I do like how hardcore the lanyard hole is on the ITP A3 EOS, since I never do "tailstands" at stoplights anyway. Being around my neck, it's pretty much an in-the-mouth affair. Don't know if anyone else does that, and I won't let anyone borrow my light, but it's like a coach with a chrome whistle, quickly held between my upper teeth and bottom lip with that neck lanyard (with a titanium carrier bead, just for grins). It is just really convenient. That tiny form factor, with Sanyo Eneloops, makes having it constantly there is an easy reality.
I sleep with it around my neck. I haven't been strangled yet, but often I forget it's there and fall asleep with it. The only time I take it off is in the shower. It's embarrassing. It's too shiny, like jewelry around my neck. I have been covering it up, zipped inside my jacket, but now the weather is warming up, so I might have to wear it under my shirt. Then salt and sweat will test just how stainless that steel really is. I would have preferred sand-blasted stainless, but polished was all they had available when I got it, but I just am really happy that it's stainless. And steel. Too many anodized aluminum flashlights out there.
Copper sounds cool. But it's really expensive, and tarnishes so quick. I wouldn't like how copper tastes in my mouth - since I do "mouth carry" from neck lanyard. It would look dirty, and green, all tarnished, and probably taste like a dirty penny. Stainless is tastefully food-safe. Something to consider.
I do need to "upgrade" this thing though. One day. A titanium specimen will replace it, but it's gotta be nice. Titanium. With the best knurling. I only want one mode, bright. Momentary and on/off tail switch that tastes good.
I gotta say, hanging from a neck lanyard, the Maratac lanyard clip thing - how it's off to the side - makes it hang funny, but provides a nice thumb-spot for holding in cigar-mode. I wouldn't know where to put my thumb on the ITP A3 EOS, but it would hang straight, so that would be pretty cool...
I can second that. The electro-polished stainless steel AAA Maratac has been living around my neck on a piece of their "tether cord" which melts really well together, for a "break-away clasp" that is permanently closed.
This thing has been my EDC since I got it, and it's been pretty amazing. That polished, stainless finish is pretty unreal. It looks really amazing. I got a pretty huge ding in mine, don't know how it happened so I don't know how hard it was hit. Other than that huge ding, the finish and exterior are still mint, like new, shiny as chrome off a trailer hitch.
I REALLY like the knurling on the Maratac, because the stainless threads (even with fresh SuperLube) always seem hard to turn. That knurling provides some mean purchase!
The Maratac lanyard hole LOOKS weak, but mine has performed it's duty without a hiccup - and there's a break test on youtube - but I do like how hardcore the lanyard hole is on the ITP A3 EOS, since I never do "tailstands" at stoplights anyway. Being around my neck, it's pretty much an in-the-mouth affair. Don't know if anyone else does that, and I won't let anyone borrow my light, but it's like a coach with a chrome whistle, quickly held between my upper teeth and bottom lip with that neck lanyard (with a titanium carrier bead, just for grins). It is just really convenient. That tiny form factor, with Sanyo Eneloops, makes having it constantly there is an easy reality.
I sleep with it around my neck. I haven't been strangled yet, but often I forget it's there and fall asleep with it. The only time I take it off is in the shower. It's embarrassing. It's too shiny, like jewelry around my neck. I have been covering it up, zipped inside my jacket, but now the weather is warming up, so I might have to wear it under my shirt. Then salt and sweat will test just how stainless that steel really is. I would have preferred sand-blasted stainless, but polished was all they had available when I got it, but I just am really happy that it's stainless. And steel. Too many anodized aluminum flashlights out there.
Copper sounds cool. But it's really expensive, and tarnishes so quick. I wouldn't like how copper tastes in my mouth - since I do "mouth carry" from neck lanyard. It would look dirty, and green, all tarnished, and probably taste like a dirty penny. Stainless is tastefully food-safe. Something to consider.
I do need to "upgrade" this thing though. One day. A titanium specimen will replace it, but it's gotta be nice. Titanium. With the best knurling. I only want one mode, bright. Momentary and on/off tail switch that tastes good.
I gotta say, hanging from a neck lanyard, the Maratac lanyard clip thing - how it's off to the side - makes it hang funny, but provides a nice thumb-spot for holding in cigar-mode. I wouldn't know where to put my thumb on the ITP A3 EOS, but it would hang straight, so that would be pretty cool...
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