Here are my brief review/comparisons of the TRG AURORA, INOVA 5X and PRINCETON TEC ATTITUDE
TRG AURORA
SIZE: 4 3/16" x 7/8" (head) x ¾" (body)
WEIGHT: 2.9oz
LEDS: 4 (white)
POWER 2 x 123 Lithium
ON/OFF "Clickie" tail piece. No lock-out
CONSTRUCTION: Metal. One-Piece head/body, separate tailpiece.
WATERPROOF? "To 33 feet"
COLOR: Black
PRO: Bright, Smallest 2 x 123 flashlight of any type
CON: Very blue light, no tailpiece lockout, uncomfortably hot, black
finish easily scratched.
FRAUDULENT CLAIMS VS REALITY:
1) "3.5 inches long" Actual length: 4 3/16
2) "24 hours FULL ON" Approximately 1 hour "full on"
3) "85 Lumens" A small fraction of this figure. (Don't have
accurate light meter)
Very small, bright and light, waterproof, with 4 LEDs permanently mounted in one-piece black metal head/ body. Initially somewhat brighter than Princeton Tec Attitude or LightWave 2000, but not as bright as Night Buster Ledda or Inova 5X. Red plastic button of clickie tailpiece is recessed, but tailpiece can not be locked out and accidental turn on is possible. Light gets very hot and black matte finish is easily scratched, therefore pocket carry is not advised.
RELATIVE BRIGHTNESS: TRG AURORA VS. PRINCETON TEC ATTITUDE
START: Aurora brighter than Attitude
1 Hour: Maintains lead
2 Hours: Maintains lead, but by smaller increment
3 ½ Hrs: Aurora slightly dimmer than Attitude
CONCLUSION: Although this is a decent light, it is eventually outperformed by the Attitude which is nearly as small, is lighter, less scratch-prone, lockable on or off, and uses AAA alkaline batteries. (See my reviews of the Attiitude and three other lights)
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INOVA X5
SIZE: 4 5/8" x ¾",
WEIGHT: 3oz (with batteries)
LED'S: 5 (white)
POWER: 2 x 123
CONSTRUCTION: metal (aluminum?)
WATERPROOF? - YES
COLOR: Black or "aluminum"
PRO: Very bright and small
CON: Less peripheral beam spread than some other lights
Easily pocketable, waterproof, sleek and very sturdily built with a futuristic appearance. (See Kogatana – 10/19/01) Available in black or "aluminum" color. Definitely The brightest LED light for its size that I've tried. (NOTE: SIGNIFCANTLY OUT PERFORMS TRG AURORA. ALTHOUGH I DIDN'T MAKE A HEAD TO HEAD COMPARISON, SINCE THE INOVA OUT PERFORMS THE ATTITUDE, AND THE ATTITUDE OUTPERFORMS THE AURORA (AFTER ABOUT 3 HOURS) IT FOLLOWS THAT THE INOVA OUTPERFORMS THE AURORA). Gets very warm to the touch, but maintains excellent brightness for 4-5 hours. After 4 hours of steady burning it was still as bright as the Attitude or the LW 2000 with fresh batteries. It can easily be operated with one hand, and is the light I always carry on my belt, in preference to all other
LED's (until the LS comes out). (Note that the beam pattern has somewhat less peripheral spread than some other lights)
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PRINCETON TEC ATTITUDE
SIZE: 4 ¾" x 1" (Bezel and body width) x ½" (Body "thickness"
WEIGHT: 2.5oz (with batteries)
LEDS: 3 (white)
POWER: 4 x AAA
CONSTRUCTION: Plastic
WATERPROOF? - YES
COLOR: Translucent black, etc.
PRO: Bright and small
CON: Light spill-back through translucent head
The attitude is probably the best and brightest small all round everyday carry alkaline-driven light. I would be wearing it on my belt right now if there were no Inova 5X. It's at least as bright as the LW 2000 (though it won't burn bright as long) and it is very light. There is one design flaw: The translucent body permits annoying light spill-back where the body flares to meet the bezel. This can be cured by wrapping it with black plastic tape. Princeton Tec really needs to attend to this issue. Despite this, the attitude is an excellent light.
Hope this is useful
Brightnorm
