Been reading these forums for a while and learned a lot. Hopefully, this is my chance to give back.
Costco is selling a pair of Dorcy Luxeon K2 flashlights for $30 bucks. Unfortunately, they run on AAA's...three in the small tactical one, and 6 in the larger one, but they are very bright (claimed 160 and 140 lumens.) Of course, now that we all know about Eneloops, AAA's aren't so expensive. Claimed runtime is 12 hours for the larger flashlight, 6 for the smaller (on AAA alkalines.)
Here is a quick review.
They are machined black anodized aluminum...thin aluminum with a hexagonal head (which keeps them from rolling...a feature I like.)
Smaller flashlight. It runs on 3 AAA's and has a rear mounted tiny rubber switch...about the size of a small eraser head. The rubber feels like it might not last a huge amount of cycles. Internally, the batteries are mounted in a tray and there are o-ring seals. It casts a nice bright light....80% in center with a nice 20% outside ring.
Larger flashlight. It runs on 6 AAA's in a similar tray and also has o-ring seals. It has a two power levels...cycling through them with the side mounted rubber switch (160 lumens and what appears to be the same 140 lumens of the smaller one.) The rubber switch feels more robust than the small light...but still is a little thinner than other flashlights I own. I can't help but wonder if the power level adjustment is done by bypassing one 3 of the cell groups...hope not, because that would reduce the usefullness of the low power setting. The larger flashlight has a swivel at the base to mount a lanyard but one did not come with it (or I accidentally threw it out.)
The flashlights are much lighter weight than the previous Leathermen Monarch 500...but probably plenty tough enough short of driving over them with a tire.
I did a quick dirty comparison to the Monarch (my brightest LED flashlight) and both Dorcy's were brighter and had a whiter light (didn't have fresh batteries in the Monarch though.)
Bottom line. Decent flashlight construction. Excellent performance. Heck of a price.
Costco is selling a pair of Dorcy Luxeon K2 flashlights for $30 bucks. Unfortunately, they run on AAA's...three in the small tactical one, and 6 in the larger one, but they are very bright (claimed 160 and 140 lumens.) Of course, now that we all know about Eneloops, AAA's aren't so expensive. Claimed runtime is 12 hours for the larger flashlight, 6 for the smaller (on AAA alkalines.)
Here is a quick review.
They are machined black anodized aluminum...thin aluminum with a hexagonal head (which keeps them from rolling...a feature I like.)
Smaller flashlight. It runs on 3 AAA's and has a rear mounted tiny rubber switch...about the size of a small eraser head. The rubber feels like it might not last a huge amount of cycles. Internally, the batteries are mounted in a tray and there are o-ring seals. It casts a nice bright light....80% in center with a nice 20% outside ring.
Larger flashlight. It runs on 6 AAA's in a similar tray and also has o-ring seals. It has a two power levels...cycling through them with the side mounted rubber switch (160 lumens and what appears to be the same 140 lumens of the smaller one.) The rubber switch feels more robust than the small light...but still is a little thinner than other flashlights I own. I can't help but wonder if the power level adjustment is done by bypassing one 3 of the cell groups...hope not, because that would reduce the usefullness of the low power setting. The larger flashlight has a swivel at the base to mount a lanyard but one did not come with it (or I accidentally threw it out.)
The flashlights are much lighter weight than the previous Leathermen Monarch 500...but probably plenty tough enough short of driving over them with a tire.
I did a quick dirty comparison to the Monarch (my brightest LED flashlight) and both Dorcy's were brighter and had a whiter light (didn't have fresh batteries in the Monarch though.)
Bottom line. Decent flashlight construction. Excellent performance. Heck of a price.
Last edited:
