First a little clarification on this light. In previous threads several have mistaken the ROV Sportsman Extreme 3 watt AA for this light. To clarify, this is NOT the 3 watt Cree AA that's recently come on the market and is available nationally. It's a larger C body and the packaging says "4 watt" where the other one says "3 watt". This one is also a ROV Sportsman Extreme which lead to the confusion.
I got a pair of these today after impatiently waiting for WalMart to get them in national distribution which still hasn't happened. My brother sent them from Michigan where Meijers stores have them.
Took them outside now that it's dark and compared them to my Wolf Eyes 170 lumen Cree Explorer. In short, the ROV blows it away. Yes, the purists would note the ROVs construction is leagues below it. Yes, the purists would note the WE beam pattern is exquisite - an absolute model of ergonomic illumination - where the ROVs has a few artifacts. But stand outside 200 feet from your white home in the black Idaho night and the ROV leaves no doubt that it is 'brighter' in every sense of the word to a layman. It throws farther - markedly so. I am really blown away and frankly I feel a little awkward because I wanted to be reassured that the WE was superior and worth the money difference but I didn't get that result.
Now, which would I grab in an emergency? Which is less than half the size and weight? Which lets me choose a lower level of light to work on something without searing my retinas? Which fits on my weapons and would work with a handgun hold? And which is still going to be operating 15 years from now even if I drop it in the lake a few times and use it for a hammer? The Wolf Eyes.
But if you're looking to be blown away for $25, this thing's amazing. I don't know when these are going to be in national distribution but I cannot recommend the light any higher for something that you can knock around with or let your kids play with and not wince. Get one. Rip it out of the package, toss in 3 C cells and prepare to be amazed, because unless you recently spent a lot of money on a light this will be the brightest flashlight you own. It's a whole new ball game in flashlight-land.....
DougM
I got a pair of these today after impatiently waiting for WalMart to get them in national distribution which still hasn't happened. My brother sent them from Michigan where Meijers stores have them.
Took them outside now that it's dark and compared them to my Wolf Eyes 170 lumen Cree Explorer. In short, the ROV blows it away. Yes, the purists would note the ROVs construction is leagues below it. Yes, the purists would note the WE beam pattern is exquisite - an absolute model of ergonomic illumination - where the ROVs has a few artifacts. But stand outside 200 feet from your white home in the black Idaho night and the ROV leaves no doubt that it is 'brighter' in every sense of the word to a layman. It throws farther - markedly so. I am really blown away and frankly I feel a little awkward because I wanted to be reassured that the WE was superior and worth the money difference but I didn't get that result.
Now, which would I grab in an emergency? Which is less than half the size and weight? Which lets me choose a lower level of light to work on something without searing my retinas? Which fits on my weapons and would work with a handgun hold? And which is still going to be operating 15 years from now even if I drop it in the lake a few times and use it for a hammer? The Wolf Eyes.
But if you're looking to be blown away for $25, this thing's amazing. I don't know when these are going to be in national distribution but I cannot recommend the light any higher for something that you can knock around with or let your kids play with and not wince. Get one. Rip it out of the package, toss in 3 C cells and prepare to be amazed, because unless you recently spent a lot of money on a light this will be the brightest flashlight you own. It's a whole new ball game in flashlight-land.....
DougM
