Klarus ST11 vs. XT11

Confederate · Jul 14, 2013

I was initially impressed by the Klarus ST11, and still am in many ways, but after tonight I'm less taken with the new light. Handling it in the daytime is one thing. The grip is natural and strong; however, on a pitch black night, like tonight, I could not find a sure way to the side button to save my life! I kept feeling for the rubber switch, but it eluded me time after time. In an emergency self defense situation, one would have to blast an assailant from the rear. The SB11 also has no screw-in bezel, which means no filters.

The rearward switch in the XT11 also can be difficult to find, but it can be done with practice.

I may take some skateboard tape and see if I can put it just south of the button...that is, unless someone has a better idea.

As a general purpose light, which do YOU prefer? I like how the ST11 breaks down into two major parts, while the XT11 breaks into three. But I miss not being able to attach a filter.

Thanks!

Overclocker · Jul 15, 2013

that's the $1 Tiablo filter from Illumination SUpply :)

as a general purpose light the ST11 is just much better. 1-lumen low, tailstanding, on/off via side button

FlashLion · Jul 15, 2013

If you need it fast in the darkness,just press the tail switch OFF then ON and you are ready to go.;) This flashlight can be used as a single mode light.

Confederate · Jul 15, 2013

I was in a surplus store the other day and they had one of these ancient Surefire single mode light for $65...same price it was two years ago. I remember back then thinking it was a fine self defense piece. Also, about two decades ago, my sister called the police when she heard something walking around on her roof. I was in a nearby house and was looking out the window. The dark shapes of police cars entered the cul-de-sac and, once in place, lights went on everywhere. Brilliant white light lit the entire house and front and back yard. The culprits were immediately identified: several frightened racoons.

I envied the brilliance of the lights back then, but now it appears this power has now been put into fairly small, affordable flashlights. In 1973, I went up the tram at Palm Springs with a few buddies to camp overnight. I brought what I was supposed to bring, but the fellow who was supposed to bring the flashlight didn't produce it until the sun had set and we found ourselves hiking along a path with no light. He pulled it out and it was a "Hardware Special" 2-cell "D" battery chrome plated light with magnets on the side. He flipped the switch and a dim 3-lumen beam tried to make it past the plastic bezel. We were screwed! The batteries were the silver non-alkaline type and the light began to dim within moments.

It was a grim night and finding a place and setting up camp in total darkness will be one of the unpleasant memories I will carry to the grave. Every time I look at my Quark, my Nitecore, Olight, Klarus and Fenix lights, I recall that night and wonder how different it would have been had I had even the least of those lights! I learned then never to rely on someone else to bring a light, knife, firearm or other tool. We had a rough night and as far as I know, they never found the body.:whistle:

But we learned a lot from that outing, not the least of which is to stay home and let the animals have the outdoors!

As technology improves in these lights, I hope manufacturers keep an eye on the lowest level runtimes as well as brightness. Olight has been very disappointing in that regard and it's a reason I don't buy them anymore. I bought a 320-lumen M20 that had an outstanding 695-hour rating on its lowest setting. The brighter "improved" M20s, on the other hand, had lousy runtime ratings on their lowest setting and I was disappointed. Even the Quark 123 tactical one-cell light provides 60 hours of 4 lumens light.

Klarus seems to be on the right track and I like the ST11's design of a 2-part frame, or tube. I would like to see them put a glow-in-the-dark button on the side so it would be easier to access. In the meantime, I've moved the clip around so it points to the button. I know you can blast someone with full power, but I think the strobe effect is more disorienting.

Overlooker, how did you install the filter in your ST11? I checked the filters at Illumination Supply and they're clamp-ons. What filter color did you have on your Klarus (yellow?), and is it permanently installed? I have red and green for my XT11, and if I can get blue for about eleven bucks, I can tie my lights together at Christmas and put them on strobe!

I'd like to get a Nitecore srt7, but the runtimes are disappointing. I do like the UI, however.