Leatherman Monarch 500

ernsanada

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Apr 29, 2004
Messages
2,962
I just got the Leatherman Monarch 500 from Costco. I paid $29.99 before taxes. SKU # 230492. There must have been around 20 left.

Cree Led.

Stainless Steel.

Adjustable beam. Has the typical Cree rings in the beam. Aluminum SMO Reflector.

Forward clickie with momentary on / off.

Uses 3AAA Batteries.

Nylon Holster, extra batteries (3AAA) and lanyard.

Weight, 7.7 ounces. Feels hefty.

Length, 5.125"

Shock and Water resistant.


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I think this is not a bad deal for $30.00. You get a nice tough built holster and the extra 3aaa Batteries.

The light is made of Stainless Steel and the light feels hefty.

Fit and finish is very good.

The beam has the typical Cree Rings but it does not bother me.

Don't know the run time but I'm sure somebody else will find out.


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Looking towards the Cree Module.

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Forward clickie with momentary on / off.

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Comes extra batteries (3AAA) and lanyard.

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Comes with this Nylon Holster. Built tough, not a bad holster.

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3AAA Battery Carrier.

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Has o-ring front and back.

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Left, Leatherman Monarch 500. Right, Fenix T1

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Left, Leatherman Monarch 500. Right, Fenix T1

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I also took lux readings of the lights shown above. These are the lux readings I got. I am using a Meterman LM631 Light Meter measured at 1 meter. I waited 2 minutes before taking the readings. I am using AW's Protected RCR123's which were fully charged with the Fenix T1. I used the supplied 3AAA Duracell Alkalines for the Leatherman Monarch 500.

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Leatherman Monarch 500 3AAA Alkalines - 2950 lux @ 1 meter

Fenix T1 Q5 OP 2 RCR123's - 5950 lux @ 1 meter


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Leatherman Monarch 500 3AAA Alkalines @ 80"

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Fenix T1 Q5 OP 2 RCR123's @ 80"

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Leatherman Monarch 500 3AAA Alkalines @ 80" Stepped down exposure

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Fenix T1 Q5 OP 2 RCR123's @ 80" Stepped down exposure

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Left, Leatherman Monarch 500 3AAA Alkalines. Right, Fenix T1 Q5 OP 2 RCR123's@ 80"

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Left, Leatherman Monarch 500 3AAA Alkalines. Right, Fenix T1 Q5 OP 2 RCR123's @ 80" Stepped down exposure

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LukeA

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Jun 3, 2007
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near Pittsburgh
Re: Leatherman Monarch 500 ( 145 Lumens )

6AAA? Why not 2AA? It doesn't make very much sense.
 

swxb12

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Oct 31, 2006
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Bay Area, CA
Re: Leatherman Monarch 500 ( 145 Lumens )

6aaa is alright, but a 4-socket for Ists would probably be better. Looking forward to pictures.
 

PhantomPhoton

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Jan 15, 2007
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NV
Re: Leatherman Monarch 500 ( 145 Lumens )

Heres hoping that we can substitute 2 18500s in there instead of
... 6AAA's :toilet:

1X AAA Light - good. 3 or more AAAs in a Light - bad.

Other than the above rant, I am looking forward to checking out this light. Thanks for the heads up.
 

NeitherExtreme

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Joined
May 16, 2007
Messages
37
Re: Leatherman Monarch 500 ( 145 Lumens )

Can any of you tell if this light looks like a "branded" light with the name just slapped on there, or if looks like an original? Also, did anyone ask the country of manufacture? Thanks...:popcorn:
 

oregon

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Feb 8, 2006
Messages
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Location
Oregon
Re: Leatherman Monarch 500 ( 145 Lumens )

Can any of you tell :popcorn:

http://www.costcoconnection.com/connection/200711/?u1=texterity

The magazine "Costco Connection" is online, I got to it thru searching Costco online, and you can view page 97 from your computer.

Interesting looking light. Looks somewhat slippery as its shiny stainless steel and is shown in a belt sheath too. However, the pic is small, clicking on it expands its size, and can be found at the bottom right corner of p 97.

The Leatherman mfg facility is out by the airport here in PDX. Never been there but I would like to go. I don't know where the flashlights are made but it is a good question (I've sent email to Leatherman and I will post any response).

All the best,

oregon
 
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Illumination

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Sep 29, 2005
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New York City
Re: Leatherman Monarch 500 ( 145 Lumens )

Nice looking light.

Strange choice of batteries...

I understand the desire to make the thing run off of alkaline primaries but Fenix and others get similar stats on 2 AAs

This would have been killer as a 3 AA or even 2C light!
 

Haz

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Apr 14, 2005
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Sydney, Australia
Re: Leatherman Monarch 500 ( 145 Lumens )

The light looks nice, but i agree with all the other posters, about the choice of batteries. I'm not keen on 6AAA, it's costly to run on primaries, and if i use rechargeables, i have to use 2 chargers, or charge 4 first and then 2 if the batteries run flat, since all the chargers i have charge 4 batteries, which is the most common format i believe.
 
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zpaulg

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Aug 6, 2006
Messages
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Re: Leatherman Monarch 500 ( 145 Lumens )

Surely, just because it comes with 6 batteries doesn't mean it takes all 6 at once!
 

GregU2

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Oct 12, 2007
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Location
Alberta, Canada
Re: Leatherman Monarch 500 ( 145 Lumens )

Looking at the size of the pouch, it looks like you could fit 3AAAs vertically along the side. So they give you 3 for the flashlight and 3 spares. Maybe.
 

Melven

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Sep 25, 2002
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Re: Leatherman Monarch 500 ( 145 Lumens )

I would guess it only takes 3 AAA's, and is probably a direct drive light. I could be wrong, but that is my best guess.
 

easilyled

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Jun 25, 2004
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Middlesex, UK
Re: Leatherman Monarch 500 ( 145 Lumens )

Even 3AAAs is not a very practical form-factor
1 rechargeable AA holds practically as much charge as 3AAAs
and can be used in a much smaller form factor.

OK, so one would need a driver to boost the voltage for 1AA but
this would be considerably more reliable than Direct driving off 3AAAs
which is what this light presumably does.

If this assumption is correct, it will lose its initial brightness very
quickly as the voltage from the AAAs sags quickly.
 

bigfoot

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May 23, 2006
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Orygun
Re: Leatherman Monarch 500 ( 145 Lumens )

BUMP!

Anybody see one of these in person yet?
 

spider-cricket-hater

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Joined
Mar 7, 2007
Messages
84
Re: Leatherman Monarch 500 ( 145 Lumens )

funny that you mention. I was dreaming last night about this very light. Not that I like it so much, or anything. ..In my dream I was in Costco, and picked up this light, thinking - yeah.. I wanted to check it out.. So I did.

If felt pretty good in hand, slick but a bit heavy. Not sure if this help haha..
:)
 

oregon

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Joined
Feb 8, 2006
Messages
651
Location
Oregon
Re: Leatherman Monarch 500 ( 145 Lumens )

I called my local Costco (Wilsonville, Oregon) and the lovely woman on the other end of the line checked that store and two others in the area. She said that it is shown as a "new item" but not in stock and not on order.

We now return to dream land already in progress...

oregon
 
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