So I got my new Surefire U2 in the mail the other day. These are my initial impressions, or review if you like that better. Since I know you guys just love reading this stuff as much as I do
I'll disclose that I've been looking into Surefire and other high-end flashlights for years both as a toy and as a one-tool-solution to my lighting needs. I don't like having a bunch of stuff hanging around -- I'd just like one really good solution. After hours of research I decided that the U2 would be the best first choice.
I bought it over ebay. Got a decent deal on it, $205 for a model with the removable plastic tube should I decide to go li-ion one day. I see that unopened U2s go for as little as $190 on ebay however, so if you want a light for cheap, ebay might be the place to check! I say "unopened" instead of new because obviously people selling on ebay don't tend to have the latest stock
The U2 is very nice upon first inspection... I'm still amazed by how small it is. I'm used to having junky 4*AA and 4*D flashlights hanging around, so having something the size of a minimag but the power of a... superdupermag is pretty neat. The cost of use isn't bad for $1 a battery as long as you don't use it too much, which I won't. And if you do, I can see that li-ions are a rocking way to power a light.
The paper sheet that came with it says revision A 2004, so I guess either this is a well-aged light, or that is a well-aged piece of paper Some specks of dust under the glass but not a problem. Clicky works fine but something does rattle in there when it's on. Twisty brightness dial is a bit stiffer than I expected, but fine. I actually expected some feedback, like clicks when it turns, but it makes sense that it doesn't.
On the doughnut: a pretty significant "x"-shaped dark spot in the beam, with the best way to tell being holding it 1" away from a dark surface, in this case my keyboard wrist rest: http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/9475/cimg0102ge6.jpg . I can actually see an "x" (or "+", if you will) on the LED in the form of the square being slightly divided into 4 smaller squares. None of this is significant enough to matter in practice, however! Just knowing that I could return it at any time eases my mind into not caring that it's not perfect. And I'm a bit of a perfectionist, too!
The batteries that came in it were probably around 2.8v each, and every one of the 2*12 Surefire batts I bought separately are 3.0v. Expiration is 6/7-2015, not too old. I'm very happy about getting good quality and non-exploding batteries
Engineering comments:
It is well-balanced. This isn't conciously a big deal to many people, but I like tools to be balanced a certain way, and this light has it.
I bet you anything that the power ring would rotate better with one thumb of the indentations were slightly deeper and ribbed like the rest of it.
I would prefer a tailcap that allowed it to stand on its end, but still let you operate the switch with your thumb in the Psycho holding method. (I guess I just christened it the psycho method, you know what I mean... http://www.ixbt.com/dvd/films/psycho/psycho_shower_large.jpg )
I like the usability of the mag light switch compared to the tail switch. This is obviously just because I'm most likely to hold it with the traditional water-hose method (oops there I go again making terms up ) Of course a Surefire U2 isn't designed with the same requirements in mind as a Mag, so I'm not suggesting the U2 needs a side switch. But this does make me appreciate the side switch more.
I wish the belt clip was removable because I might never use it. But it looks built in pretty solidly, so I don't really care too much.
What's the deal with getting a lanyard on this thing? I've yet to see a U2 with a lanyard but I figured I could rig something up once I got one. It looks like knotting around the belt clip is the way to go. The heatsink indentation by the LED is an option, but I'd shy away from filling that with thermal insulation.
I'd prefer more rough surfaces on the body of the light, especially up toward the brightness selection ring. I find that smooth aluminum is excessively smooth to have anywhere I'm gripping. The more grippy surfaces the better, I say!
I enjoy the beam. Very bright in the center with a large and useful dimmer outer-area.
For general use however I'd love a way to diffuse the beam. I know there's a Surefire beam shaper for this, but it looks like it would be huge and clunky... I'd prefer something built into the light.
I love rubberized stuff with rubberized edges, so I wish a flashlight in this class had something of the sort. Rubberized stuff protects said stuff, but it also protects other stuff that said rubberized stuff rams into. In the case of the U2 I believe it is as durable as a tank -- but the stuff I accidentally drop it on or smash it into will not be
What's with the paper dot on the front of the light, is anyone else feeling superstitious about removing it? (only 95% joking)
So my overall impression is: Holy crap this thing is small and bright, but wait there's a dark X in the middle of the beam.
My requirements for the light were high durability and adjustable brightness with long life at low and high brightness at high. Ultimately I think I am satisfied with the U2. Or at least sufficiently satisfied that I'm not going to sell it, buy something else, or return it for a new one...
...or at least not right away. THE CANDLEPOWER ADVENTURE CONTINUES
I'll disclose that I've been looking into Surefire and other high-end flashlights for years both as a toy and as a one-tool-solution to my lighting needs. I don't like having a bunch of stuff hanging around -- I'd just like one really good solution. After hours of research I decided that the U2 would be the best first choice.
I bought it over ebay. Got a decent deal on it, $205 for a model with the removable plastic tube should I decide to go li-ion one day. I see that unopened U2s go for as little as $190 on ebay however, so if you want a light for cheap, ebay might be the place to check! I say "unopened" instead of new because obviously people selling on ebay don't tend to have the latest stock
The U2 is very nice upon first inspection... I'm still amazed by how small it is. I'm used to having junky 4*AA and 4*D flashlights hanging around, so having something the size of a minimag but the power of a... superdupermag is pretty neat. The cost of use isn't bad for $1 a battery as long as you don't use it too much, which I won't. And if you do, I can see that li-ions are a rocking way to power a light.
The paper sheet that came with it says revision A 2004, so I guess either this is a well-aged light, or that is a well-aged piece of paper Some specks of dust under the glass but not a problem. Clicky works fine but something does rattle in there when it's on. Twisty brightness dial is a bit stiffer than I expected, but fine. I actually expected some feedback, like clicks when it turns, but it makes sense that it doesn't.
On the doughnut: a pretty significant "x"-shaped dark spot in the beam, with the best way to tell being holding it 1" away from a dark surface, in this case my keyboard wrist rest: http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/9475/cimg0102ge6.jpg . I can actually see an "x" (or "+", if you will) on the LED in the form of the square being slightly divided into 4 smaller squares. None of this is significant enough to matter in practice, however! Just knowing that I could return it at any time eases my mind into not caring that it's not perfect. And I'm a bit of a perfectionist, too!
The batteries that came in it were probably around 2.8v each, and every one of the 2*12 Surefire batts I bought separately are 3.0v. Expiration is 6/7-2015, not too old. I'm very happy about getting good quality and non-exploding batteries
Engineering comments:
It is well-balanced. This isn't conciously a big deal to many people, but I like tools to be balanced a certain way, and this light has it.
I bet you anything that the power ring would rotate better with one thumb of the indentations were slightly deeper and ribbed like the rest of it.
I would prefer a tailcap that allowed it to stand on its end, but still let you operate the switch with your thumb in the Psycho holding method. (I guess I just christened it the psycho method, you know what I mean... http://www.ixbt.com/dvd/films/psycho/psycho_shower_large.jpg )
I like the usability of the mag light switch compared to the tail switch. This is obviously just because I'm most likely to hold it with the traditional water-hose method (oops there I go again making terms up ) Of course a Surefire U2 isn't designed with the same requirements in mind as a Mag, so I'm not suggesting the U2 needs a side switch. But this does make me appreciate the side switch more.
I wish the belt clip was removable because I might never use it. But it looks built in pretty solidly, so I don't really care too much.
What's the deal with getting a lanyard on this thing? I've yet to see a U2 with a lanyard but I figured I could rig something up once I got one. It looks like knotting around the belt clip is the way to go. The heatsink indentation by the LED is an option, but I'd shy away from filling that with thermal insulation.
I'd prefer more rough surfaces on the body of the light, especially up toward the brightness selection ring. I find that smooth aluminum is excessively smooth to have anywhere I'm gripping. The more grippy surfaces the better, I say!
I enjoy the beam. Very bright in the center with a large and useful dimmer outer-area.
For general use however I'd love a way to diffuse the beam. I know there's a Surefire beam shaper for this, but it looks like it would be huge and clunky... I'd prefer something built into the light.
I love rubberized stuff with rubberized edges, so I wish a flashlight in this class had something of the sort. Rubberized stuff protects said stuff, but it also protects other stuff that said rubberized stuff rams into. In the case of the U2 I believe it is as durable as a tank -- but the stuff I accidentally drop it on or smash it into will not be
What's with the paper dot on the front of the light, is anyone else feeling superstitious about removing it? (only 95% joking)
So my overall impression is: Holy crap this thing is small and bright, but wait there's a dark X in the middle of the beam.
My requirements for the light were high durability and adjustable brightness with long life at low and high brightness at high. Ultimately I think I am satisfied with the U2. Or at least sufficiently satisfied that I'm not going to sell it, buy something else, or return it for a new one...
...or at least not right away. THE CANDLEPOWER ADVENTURE CONTINUES
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