I was looking to purchase several cheap lights to give out like candies to my friends, and saw that LightStar 100 was available at Battery Junction for $15 each, cheaper than iTP A3 EOS by about $5. I grabbed three of them, along with some fresh CR123's for my existing lights, and they threw in a cap light for free. (Gave that away to a friend who has a car without a functioning interior light.)
After having used my Quark AA Tactical S2 for a while, which I determined to be an excellent backup for my TD-15, I wasn't really expecting much. I usually test the lights that I buy, even if they are for someone else, to make sure that they work. (Although I have to admit that I like to play with the light for a bit as well.) I ripped open the packaging, inserted the battery, turned the light on and was hit by an epic nerdgasm.
A very comfortable neutral white beam with a tight spot and usable spill was NOT something I expected from a single AA light. I was expecting a mostly floody light with a wide and dim spot. That expectation was utterly crushed as this thing can actually THROW. Even a Quark AA with R2 wouldn't have had the same tightness or intensity of that spot. I peered into the light and, if I'm not mistaken, realized that it had a TIR lens. Even with less overall brightness due to obsolete emitter, it successfully out-threw my Quark AA S2 by a wide margin, while having more than enough spill for general tasks.
Even with unrated water-resistance rating ("water resistant" according to TerraLUX website) and outdated emitter (P4), this light has effectively replaced the iTP A3 EOS as giveaway lights for me. Honestly, I doubt that any of the people I give it away to will be encountering anything heavier than rain, not to mention the fact that 100 "claimed" lumens on high (most likely 70~80 OTF) with tight spot will be more than enough for general tasks.
Unfortunately, I gave all three of the lights away to my friends. One of them is going on a camping trip with his friends in a few weeks, where they won't have access to landline electricity. I can't wait to hear how the light performs.
On the brighter side, I ordered six more of the sucker, one of which I will be keeping for myself. While it won't be replacing my Quark as my backup, it will be complementing it.
I'm also surprised about how it's rarely mentioned, to the point where it's virtually unknown. But, hey, I'm not complaining as this is the best $15 I have spent this year. Seriously, the last time I was this much excited about a flashlight was when I first got my T20C2 MkII.
Now, if you will excuse me, I have to order six more on top of the other six I ordered...
After having used my Quark AA Tactical S2 for a while, which I determined to be an excellent backup for my TD-15, I wasn't really expecting much. I usually test the lights that I buy, even if they are for someone else, to make sure that they work. (Although I have to admit that I like to play with the light for a bit as well.) I ripped open the packaging, inserted the battery, turned the light on and was hit by an epic nerdgasm.
A very comfortable neutral white beam with a tight spot and usable spill was NOT something I expected from a single AA light. I was expecting a mostly floody light with a wide and dim spot. That expectation was utterly crushed as this thing can actually THROW. Even a Quark AA with R2 wouldn't have had the same tightness or intensity of that spot. I peered into the light and, if I'm not mistaken, realized that it had a TIR lens. Even with less overall brightness due to obsolete emitter, it successfully out-threw my Quark AA S2 by a wide margin, while having more than enough spill for general tasks.
Even with unrated water-resistance rating ("water resistant" according to TerraLUX website) and outdated emitter (P4), this light has effectively replaced the iTP A3 EOS as giveaway lights for me. Honestly, I doubt that any of the people I give it away to will be encountering anything heavier than rain, not to mention the fact that 100 "claimed" lumens on high (most likely 70~80 OTF) with tight spot will be more than enough for general tasks.
Unfortunately, I gave all three of the lights away to my friends. One of them is going on a camping trip with his friends in a few weeks, where they won't have access to landline electricity. I can't wait to hear how the light performs.
On the brighter side, I ordered six more of the sucker, one of which I will be keeping for myself. While it won't be replacing my Quark as my backup, it will be complementing it.
I'm also surprised about how it's rarely mentioned, to the point where it's virtually unknown. But, hey, I'm not complaining as this is the best $15 I have spent this year. Seriously, the last time I was this much excited about a flashlight was when I first got my T20C2 MkII.
Now, if you will excuse me, I have to order six more on top of the other six I ordered...
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