zespectre
Flashlight Enthusiast
ZeSpectre's "Real World Reviews"
09/16/2007
Hey everyone, sorry I've been gone so long but there have been a LOT of life changes and things keeping me busy. Still the flashlight addiction never -really- goes away so I'm back and here's the first Real World review since my "grand" return <grin>.
First a technical note. I've moved from Arlington to Staunton, VA since my last reviews so the "standard evening walk" has changed somewhat. Interestingly enough I was able to find "targets" along the new walk that are very similar to most of my previously used ones.
The New "Standard Evening Walk"
The evening walk takes place over a 1.5 mile loop. It begins on a well lit and well paved street, proceeds parallel to a large, unlit, cemetary, and then into an unlit neighborhood. We then usually cross a short gravel path into another unlit neighborhood and back down a steep hill to a regular lit/paved area. In the course of these walks I have chosen 6 "standard" targets to compare flashlight capabilites. #1) The fence at the end of our parking lot (approx 50 ft). Weathered brown wood that makes a good test of color rendition. #2) A light grey mailbox from 30 yards away. #3) Cemetary (how many rows of headstones can I illuminate) distance test. #4) Thick shrubbery along the edge of the walkway (approx 6 ft away, testing penetration vs bounceback). #5) Red fire hydrant and three phone poles roughly 50 yards away on an unlit street (Can I see all?) #6) Steep downhill gravel path with bad sideways crown (the "confidence" test).
Initial Impression(s)
River Rock 1w LED (1xAA)
The River Rock light is fairly small and slim and feels well made. It has a pocket clip with absolute no spring to it and that bends out of shape on the first use. The pocket clip is a useless piece of garbage, unclip it and chuck it! The supplied lanyard is in the best traditions of Surefire and other companies. It has a stiff little loop that makes mounting easy and the lanyard itself is a nice length with two spring clips to adjust the length. The lanyard is every bit as nice as the pocket clip is crappy.
The switch is a simple on/off reverse clicky under a nice rubber pad. The switch is mounted below the tailcap rim so the light can be stood on end "candle mode" style. The tailcap has a rubber "o" ring and although I didn't test waterproofness I'm sure this light will be at least "dunkable". The rest of the body is a nicely machined aluminum that is pleasing to the eye, heavy enough to be durable, light enough to make for nice pocket carry. The emitter is a nice 1 watt luxeon mounted within a surprisingly deep reflector. The light takes 1xAA battery to operate.
Standard Evening Walk
Balance, retention, and single hand operation of the light are first rate due to it's body styling and with the lanyard attached there is absolutely no drop risk. The light is also extremely sturdy and I seriously doubt dropping it would do more than mar the finish.
The switch is a reverse clicky with a nice positive tactile and audible feedback and was easily operated one handed.
This light seems to be mostly designed for a controlled throw with a sharp hot spot and then an abrupt transition to the spill area. The side spill is very usable, but on the "confidence" areas of my walk there was a definite "follow the bouncing ball" effect from the sharp hotspot and this, as always, means that you slow down and pick your footing a bit more carefully under these circumstances.
Even though it's a 1xAA powered light, it did a fine job of illuminating all distance targets. I would put it easily on par with the old EDC-60 on "turbo" mode.
The slight blue color made distinction on target #1 less than optimal, but still acceptable.
#2 was an easy spot due to the strong throw of this light.
#3) distance was good and I could see 3 rows (approximately 30 yards)
#4) Decent "punch through" of the shrubbery with very little "bounceback" to blind me
#5) Not quite enough power to see well at that distance
#6) "Follow the bouncing ball" effect so only medium confidence walking that trail.
Summary:
Hey, this is a nice little light and may be my new EDC for the briefcase.
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED.
09/16/2007
Hey everyone, sorry I've been gone so long but there have been a LOT of life changes and things keeping me busy. Still the flashlight addiction never -really- goes away so I'm back and here's the first Real World review since my "grand" return <grin>.
First a technical note. I've moved from Arlington to Staunton, VA since my last reviews so the "standard evening walk" has changed somewhat. Interestingly enough I was able to find "targets" along the new walk that are very similar to most of my previously used ones.
The New "Standard Evening Walk"
The evening walk takes place over a 1.5 mile loop. It begins on a well lit and well paved street, proceeds parallel to a large, unlit, cemetary, and then into an unlit neighborhood. We then usually cross a short gravel path into another unlit neighborhood and back down a steep hill to a regular lit/paved area. In the course of these walks I have chosen 6 "standard" targets to compare flashlight capabilites. #1) The fence at the end of our parking lot (approx 50 ft). Weathered brown wood that makes a good test of color rendition. #2) A light grey mailbox from 30 yards away. #3) Cemetary (how many rows of headstones can I illuminate) distance test. #4) Thick shrubbery along the edge of the walkway (approx 6 ft away, testing penetration vs bounceback). #5) Red fire hydrant and three phone poles roughly 50 yards away on an unlit street (Can I see all?) #6) Steep downhill gravel path with bad sideways crown (the "confidence" test).
Initial Impression(s)
River Rock 1w LED (1xAA)
The River Rock light is fairly small and slim and feels well made. It has a pocket clip with absolute no spring to it and that bends out of shape on the first use. The pocket clip is a useless piece of garbage, unclip it and chuck it! The supplied lanyard is in the best traditions of Surefire and other companies. It has a stiff little loop that makes mounting easy and the lanyard itself is a nice length with two spring clips to adjust the length. The lanyard is every bit as nice as the pocket clip is crappy.
The switch is a simple on/off reverse clicky under a nice rubber pad. The switch is mounted below the tailcap rim so the light can be stood on end "candle mode" style. The tailcap has a rubber "o" ring and although I didn't test waterproofness I'm sure this light will be at least "dunkable". The rest of the body is a nicely machined aluminum that is pleasing to the eye, heavy enough to be durable, light enough to make for nice pocket carry. The emitter is a nice 1 watt luxeon mounted within a surprisingly deep reflector. The light takes 1xAA battery to operate.
Standard Evening Walk
Balance, retention, and single hand operation of the light are first rate due to it's body styling and with the lanyard attached there is absolutely no drop risk. The light is also extremely sturdy and I seriously doubt dropping it would do more than mar the finish.
The switch is a reverse clicky with a nice positive tactile and audible feedback and was easily operated one handed.
This light seems to be mostly designed for a controlled throw with a sharp hot spot and then an abrupt transition to the spill area. The side spill is very usable, but on the "confidence" areas of my walk there was a definite "follow the bouncing ball" effect from the sharp hotspot and this, as always, means that you slow down and pick your footing a bit more carefully under these circumstances.
Even though it's a 1xAA powered light, it did a fine job of illuminating all distance targets. I would put it easily on par with the old EDC-60 on "turbo" mode.
The slight blue color made distinction on target #1 less than optimal, but still acceptable.
#2 was an easy spot due to the strong throw of this light.
#3) distance was good and I could see 3 rows (approximately 30 yards)
#4) Decent "punch through" of the shrubbery with very little "bounceback" to blind me
#5) Not quite enough power to see well at that distance
#6) "Follow the bouncing ball" effect so only medium confidence walking that trail.
Summary:
Hey, this is a nice little light and may be my new EDC for the briefcase.
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED.
