Re: ITP A3 EOS & Maratac AAA Reviews: RUNTIMES, BEAMSHOTS, DETAILED PICS & more!
P.S.: As an aside, Marshall from GoingGear.com included a couple of his signature aluminum keychain items along with the ITP review samples. Fairly basic but solid construction, and they seem to work well (e.g. the whistle is fairly loud, and the pill bottle has an o-ring, etc):
P.P.S: I would like to extend a nod to StandardBattery for running his International group buys for the Maratac lights. He generously supplied the two Matatac review samples used here at his own cost. :bow:
My Maratac from countycom came in yesterday. 1 day ahead of schedual. I am more impressed than I thought I would be. On high in my back yard I pointed the light up my maple tree. Like a search light it looked. I cannot believe how bright a 1 AAA battery flashlight can be, (amazing). I am with selfbuilt on the modes. The mode used, at least for me, that I would normally use in the house or tent, would be low. I wished it would be lo>med>high as selfbuilt stated . I disagree with selfbuilt (ooops) about the keychain attachment. I do not like that carry mode so I wanted to take mine off right away last night. I got a pair of pliers and pulled and twisted. I tried pushing up where it is captured in a slot on each side, "no luck" To describe this carry point on the maratac, i would simply call it a compromise between hardness, and ductility, snap-ring with a loop. I finally just got my sons linemans pliers and cut it off. Was hard to cut with Klien linemans pliers. This little attachment point ( in my opinion :green: ) would NEVER break or come off in any mode of carry with it.
I will see along the road, as to this little gems durability. But for now it seems the best light I have ever seen in AAA asthetically and build quality especially for the $21.75 I paid for it. I was at Sportsmans Warehouse the other day just looking at the lights they had. And they wanted almost the same money for their streamlight single AAA Micro Light. I do like those little lights though. I like the simple on/off tailcap switch. I like the looks of it. It would make a fine EDC for someone a little less fussy as me {:-(. The only set back with the maratac is the long wait from Cal. to Chattanooga TN for me. I did see a Coast light in there. Rounded tailcap with push button switch. No clip, no lanyard attachment, and I was very impressed with its output. You could test it in the package. And at $11.99 I was even more impressed, and it had what they called a "crystal tube" that was set ahead of the LED, which they said would amplify the light. Had a glass lens, and the finish around the lens was rounded as well. This was a well thought out little pocket light from Coast. Coast has come a ways imop in their products in quality build. They have some nice stuff out their right now.
My one and only gripe for my maratac is the mode setting. Give me Low/med/high, and I would give it a strong five stars. As it is I give it a weak five stars
😛 >if you will< !
As I would look at it I would marvel. The technology to make that little thing work as it is, is an art in itself. AMAZING,>> my son got his little stream light with 2 AAA batteries, >"Pro-stylus" I think they call it< , and we tested it in pitch black darkness, and his single mode on his, seemed more dim than the medium mode on my Maratac. As far as the bright mode on the maratac, if we pointed both lights on the same spot you would never know his beamshot was there.
And I know I am long winded, Sorry };-) !!
Daniel AKA>nativecajun
