Some impressions.
Construction and Machining
Besides being perfectly machined and built like a typical Surefire, one distinctive feature of the U2 is the new clip. While it is certainly beautiful, it offers bezel-down carry which I find preferable for this class of light. Together with the ingenious plastic button and the non-knurled body surface it can be used quickly and securely without destroying the tissue of my pants, which are not mil-spec but normal civilian pants. While it will certainly look awkward in an “official” environment, this carry-method is well suited for standard outdoor usage. The scalloped bezel does not sport really sharp edges either which greatly helps in this regard, too.
The batteries are rather loose in the tube which permits the use of rechargeables if you really have to go in that direction /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon15.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crackup.gif. Although this is a very cool feature for some of us, I do not care for rechargeables on a personal level. Battery rattle is eliminated nicely though; no concern here.
One problem is the tailcap: while it works flawlessly, I would have preferred a not aggressively guarded cap for tailstand ability (which may be important for general illumination in non-tactical environments) and protection against unwanted activation during backpack-carry of the light. In my world I do not use holsters and such things to carry a light, it is either in my pocket, coat pocket or backpack. A little bit less convenient the secure lockout has to be achieved by unscrewing the tailcap.
At first I was astonished that the selection ring was made of “plastic”, but it has proven itself grippy and functional and I have no complaints here.
The anodise: The purplish tint of the head and tail section might annoy certain anal people, though I personally do like it. It is much more pronounced in digital photos than in reality I have observed.
I forced my girl to take the U2 in the bathtub with her and change brightness every now and then for about 30 minutes … it passed the test with flying banners, no leak.
One last comment on construction: the domed window is very classy looking. If it does anything good to the beam or is more sturdy I cannot tell and certainly do not want to find out the hard way.
An interesting question: since I do not see any method of unscrewing the selection ring, how is it serviceable once dirty or otherwise compromised?
Ergonomics
In addition to the points already raised above, there is one thing I immediately noticed upon grabbing the U2 for the first time: it fits my hand perfectly, just as if it was made to be there. I have average male hands with some extra fat, so my experience should be quite similar for everyone, which is a major asset of this light. In a standard non-tactical grip (light down pointed forward) the thumb and index finger sit perfectly on the selection ring and have just the right range of possible movement to dial all available levels without changing grip or doing some other uncomfortable manoeuvre. And without having to spend mental energy that is needed elsewhere than on the flashlight.
That brings me to point number two: ease of use. The U2’s switching method is very intuitive and
a) doesn’t require a learning curve to use it for the first time and
b) does not require extra thoughts while using it that could detract from the main activity.
I have given the light to two other non-flashaholic persons and they were able to figure it out in less than 1 minute.
In a tactical grip (light up) brightness selection is not possible one-handed, at least not easily enough to be worth while; for me, that is. But with a pre-dialled brightness the U2 is fine just like any other Surefire.
In the end the switching method provides the best compromise currently available and unites the best assets of the two worlds
Comparing the U2 switch with the McE2S / L1 / L2 / A2 type of switch, the U2 offers more and fully regulated modes of operation and it has a clicky. The drawback is the lack of a momentary instant-high beam.
Size-wise the U2 is too big for EDC, it is the classical “grab” or “task” light that can be conveniently carried if so desired, fits perfectly in your hand and offers everything you’d expect from such a light. I just wouldn’t want to have it on me 24/7, but I do not think this was the intention behind this light anyway.
The switch needs just the right pressure to activate momentarily and constantly, just as the selection ring has the right kind of resistance to comfortably dial the amount of light you want. This leads us to …
The LIGHT and how it performs
And I’ll start with a problem: after running a complete set of batteries through the light on high lying on a table without cooling the selection ring got kind of “cranky”. While the unit becomes very hot the ring sometimes develops excess resistance and turns roughly thus making it difficult to dial the amount of light desired. After cooling everything went back to normal
Apart from that, the ring performs admirably and the “in-between” levels are barely noticeable at all. One neat feature is the fact that the U2, once the batteries start to get weak, just jumps down one level no matter the position of the ring. This is great because
a) no flickering worth mentioning occurs and
b) it serves as some kind of battery indicator (which is a feature I am really missing in all lights currently available)
After the initial disappointment I am not missing the detents on the ring any more. High and low are easy to find at the end of the movement of the ring, and the intermediate levels are just between those points. Nothing more is necessary, and every click would mean something that can wear off …
The “soft start” feature is also nice for me because it is easier on the eyes, but it may be less desirable for a tactical environment where the instant light of LEDs is a plus. Whether this really is a feature or just a by-product of the electric wizardry I do not know though.
Heat is only a problem when left on without cooling on high; I could run one complete set of batteries through it on high while doing a hike at about 10°C outside temperature without the light overheating. And this was of course an artificial “high performance” since the U2 could have done the job very well a few levels lower.
Let’s finally talk about light. The spacing of the six levels is very well done, there is a distinct step between each level up and down, and those steps seem evenly distributed to my eyes, which makes it easy and intuitive to choose the right setting immediately. I would have preferred that the lowest level be a little lower still since right now it is still more than necessary to navigate a pitch black house and will disrupt night vision. High, of course, is quite bright and overly sufficient for all tasks I encountered. It easily lights up the landscape at 75m in an adequate manner to make out enough details and reaches even further with less optimal results of course. The power of the U2 leaves nothing in the dark, but it is still beaten by an X3T driven at 750mA for total output (at least my eyes tell me this) and by a LuxIII in a McLux-PR for throw.
I got about 45 min constant-on on high until the highest level fell out of regulation which is what I expected of this light and this satisfies me 100% as the highest level is seldom necessary and the runtime in the lower levels should be greatly superior. On lowest level the light can stay on for about two days, roughly speaking. This versatility is the biggest positive argument the U2 has on its side … just the right amount of light for every task with an immense runtime because you rarely need 100lm but you’ve got them when you call for them! That’s it! The grail.
The beam is what Don calls a “ram of light” ©McGizmo2004. Rather concentrated spill with a good hotspot and in my unit, unfortunately, a donut hole. As this cannot be corrected in production lights I won’t explore on it. I personally would have preferred a beam a little wider, something between the L4 and the U2, but I know I am a “medium-flood-man” and most others prefer throw, so the beam of the U2 should be right on target with almost everyone. With the U2 I need to swing the light around to view a room or my garden from the 1st floor window whereas with a 5W in a PR I have a better coverage which is more convenient to navigate at the expense of throw. As I personally rarely need throw it does not matter and I’d prefer this setting, the U2 however covers a wider range of applications (such as spotting something while doing a night hike.
Conclusion
The U2 Ultra is not a wow-light or the eye-scorcher to impress your grandma. It is, however, the most versatile general illumination tool I have encountered so far, a true Jack-of-all-trades without a major drawback or weakness. While it is beaten by some other high-end flashlights in several single aspects of illumination, no other light I have ever held in my hands is able to master ALL aspects and needs of general portable lighting to the extend the U2 does.
If I had to choose one single light to own, it would be the Surefire U2 Ultra with Don’s custom McLux-PR BB750 X3T with McE2S being a very close second.
bernhard
Construction and Machining
Besides being perfectly machined and built like a typical Surefire, one distinctive feature of the U2 is the new clip. While it is certainly beautiful, it offers bezel-down carry which I find preferable for this class of light. Together with the ingenious plastic button and the non-knurled body surface it can be used quickly and securely without destroying the tissue of my pants, which are not mil-spec but normal civilian pants. While it will certainly look awkward in an “official” environment, this carry-method is well suited for standard outdoor usage. The scalloped bezel does not sport really sharp edges either which greatly helps in this regard, too.
The batteries are rather loose in the tube which permits the use of rechargeables if you really have to go in that direction /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon15.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crackup.gif. Although this is a very cool feature for some of us, I do not care for rechargeables on a personal level. Battery rattle is eliminated nicely though; no concern here.
One problem is the tailcap: while it works flawlessly, I would have preferred a not aggressively guarded cap for tailstand ability (which may be important for general illumination in non-tactical environments) and protection against unwanted activation during backpack-carry of the light. In my world I do not use holsters and such things to carry a light, it is either in my pocket, coat pocket or backpack. A little bit less convenient the secure lockout has to be achieved by unscrewing the tailcap.
At first I was astonished that the selection ring was made of “plastic”, but it has proven itself grippy and functional and I have no complaints here.
The anodise: The purplish tint of the head and tail section might annoy certain anal people, though I personally do like it. It is much more pronounced in digital photos than in reality I have observed.
I forced my girl to take the U2 in the bathtub with her and change brightness every now and then for about 30 minutes … it passed the test with flying banners, no leak.
One last comment on construction: the domed window is very classy looking. If it does anything good to the beam or is more sturdy I cannot tell and certainly do not want to find out the hard way.
An interesting question: since I do not see any method of unscrewing the selection ring, how is it serviceable once dirty or otherwise compromised?
Ergonomics
In addition to the points already raised above, there is one thing I immediately noticed upon grabbing the U2 for the first time: it fits my hand perfectly, just as if it was made to be there. I have average male hands with some extra fat, so my experience should be quite similar for everyone, which is a major asset of this light. In a standard non-tactical grip (light down pointed forward) the thumb and index finger sit perfectly on the selection ring and have just the right range of possible movement to dial all available levels without changing grip or doing some other uncomfortable manoeuvre. And without having to spend mental energy that is needed elsewhere than on the flashlight.
That brings me to point number two: ease of use. The U2’s switching method is very intuitive and
a) doesn’t require a learning curve to use it for the first time and
b) does not require extra thoughts while using it that could detract from the main activity.
I have given the light to two other non-flashaholic persons and they were able to figure it out in less than 1 minute.
In a tactical grip (light up) brightness selection is not possible one-handed, at least not easily enough to be worth while; for me, that is. But with a pre-dialled brightness the U2 is fine just like any other Surefire.
In the end the switching method provides the best compromise currently available and unites the best assets of the two worlds
Comparing the U2 switch with the McE2S / L1 / L2 / A2 type of switch, the U2 offers more and fully regulated modes of operation and it has a clicky. The drawback is the lack of a momentary instant-high beam.
Size-wise the U2 is too big for EDC, it is the classical “grab” or “task” light that can be conveniently carried if so desired, fits perfectly in your hand and offers everything you’d expect from such a light. I just wouldn’t want to have it on me 24/7, but I do not think this was the intention behind this light anyway.
The switch needs just the right pressure to activate momentarily and constantly, just as the selection ring has the right kind of resistance to comfortably dial the amount of light you want. This leads us to …
The LIGHT and how it performs
And I’ll start with a problem: after running a complete set of batteries through the light on high lying on a table without cooling the selection ring got kind of “cranky”. While the unit becomes very hot the ring sometimes develops excess resistance and turns roughly thus making it difficult to dial the amount of light desired. After cooling everything went back to normal
Apart from that, the ring performs admirably and the “in-between” levels are barely noticeable at all. One neat feature is the fact that the U2, once the batteries start to get weak, just jumps down one level no matter the position of the ring. This is great because
a) no flickering worth mentioning occurs and
b) it serves as some kind of battery indicator (which is a feature I am really missing in all lights currently available)
After the initial disappointment I am not missing the detents on the ring any more. High and low are easy to find at the end of the movement of the ring, and the intermediate levels are just between those points. Nothing more is necessary, and every click would mean something that can wear off …
The “soft start” feature is also nice for me because it is easier on the eyes, but it may be less desirable for a tactical environment where the instant light of LEDs is a plus. Whether this really is a feature or just a by-product of the electric wizardry I do not know though.
Heat is only a problem when left on without cooling on high; I could run one complete set of batteries through it on high while doing a hike at about 10°C outside temperature without the light overheating. And this was of course an artificial “high performance” since the U2 could have done the job very well a few levels lower.
Let’s finally talk about light. The spacing of the six levels is very well done, there is a distinct step between each level up and down, and those steps seem evenly distributed to my eyes, which makes it easy and intuitive to choose the right setting immediately. I would have preferred that the lowest level be a little lower still since right now it is still more than necessary to navigate a pitch black house and will disrupt night vision. High, of course, is quite bright and overly sufficient for all tasks I encountered. It easily lights up the landscape at 75m in an adequate manner to make out enough details and reaches even further with less optimal results of course. The power of the U2 leaves nothing in the dark, but it is still beaten by an X3T driven at 750mA for total output (at least my eyes tell me this) and by a LuxIII in a McLux-PR for throw.
I got about 45 min constant-on on high until the highest level fell out of regulation which is what I expected of this light and this satisfies me 100% as the highest level is seldom necessary and the runtime in the lower levels should be greatly superior. On lowest level the light can stay on for about two days, roughly speaking. This versatility is the biggest positive argument the U2 has on its side … just the right amount of light for every task with an immense runtime because you rarely need 100lm but you’ve got them when you call for them! That’s it! The grail.
The beam is what Don calls a “ram of light” ©McGizmo2004. Rather concentrated spill with a good hotspot and in my unit, unfortunately, a donut hole. As this cannot be corrected in production lights I won’t explore on it. I personally would have preferred a beam a little wider, something between the L4 and the U2, but I know I am a “medium-flood-man” and most others prefer throw, so the beam of the U2 should be right on target with almost everyone. With the U2 I need to swing the light around to view a room or my garden from the 1st floor window whereas with a 5W in a PR I have a better coverage which is more convenient to navigate at the expense of throw. As I personally rarely need throw it does not matter and I’d prefer this setting, the U2 however covers a wider range of applications (such as spotting something while doing a night hike.
Conclusion
The U2 Ultra is not a wow-light or the eye-scorcher to impress your grandma. It is, however, the most versatile general illumination tool I have encountered so far, a true Jack-of-all-trades without a major drawback or weakness. While it is beaten by some other high-end flashlights in several single aspects of illumination, no other light I have ever held in my hands is able to master ALL aspects and needs of general portable lighting to the extend the U2 does.
If I had to choose one single light to own, it would be the Surefire U2 Ultra with Don’s custom McLux-PR BB750 X3T with McE2S being a very close second.
bernhard
