AardvarkSagus
Flashlight Enthusiast
JETBeam BC10 (Also JETBeam BA10) - Submitted for consideration for the review forum
JETBeam has historically been a purveyor of middle to high priced lights with serious attention to quality. Their "B" series intentionally brings up the bottom rung of their model line, but does it live up to the JETBeam name?
JETBeam BC10
Meat and Potatoes
The JETBeam "B" series represents a step into a wider world for this company. A new set of budget offerings that still manage to exude quality. Offering a two stage interface akin to base models from other companies, the BC10 is an excellent mix of new technology and simple usability. Changing between modes is as simple as twisting the head tightened for high and slightly loosened for low.
JETBeam BC10
Utilizing one CR123A cell to power today's most common powerhouse LED, the Cree XP-G, JETBeam has not skimped when it comes to output. Pairing the XP-G's superb efficiency with its characteristically excellent emission pattern, the BC10 projects its 270 lumens in a beautifully smooth beam, aided in that endeavour by a lightly stippled reflector. The spread of the beam is very middle of the road. It is a good all purpose pattern balancing moderate flood and throw. As usual with this LED, there is still an excellent transitional corona and decently bright spill assisting in eliminating any "tunnel vision". The BC10 has a very excellent level spacing also, providing a useful general purpose mode with a very bright high mode on top of that.
JETBeam BC10
The machine work on the BC10 is top notch. Every corner and edge has been smoothed to a comfortable finish. The anodizing seems thick and durable. Of interesting note, the knurling is definitively less aggressive than many lights I have seen lately, though it still provides adequate retention. It's just much less chance of being a pocket shredder. Even the tension mounted pocket clip has been smoothed so there are no rough edges.
Constructive Criticism
Speaking of the pocket clip, It is really quite a tight clip, which is somewhat unusual for this type of mounting method. Generally tension mounted clips are prone to accidentally falling off with the slightest tug, but this model appears to be nearly immune to such afflictions. However, this death grip on the barrel of the light also transitions to becoming difficult to use. The clip is so tight it takes a very concentrated effort to be able to use at all. Add to that the fact that the clip rubs against the head of the light, potentially scratching the anodizing on the head with each successive mode change, and you see why my light will be growing old without this particular accessory.
Pocket Clip
Conclusions
Clearly JETBeam hasn't skimped on the quality in order to make this new budget line a success. These lights seem to be about all the little extra touches, from the forward clicky to the quality lanyard (one of the minimally few lanyards I will actually leave in place beyond the review period), JETBeam looks to have gone the distance to make quality light affordable, rather than the other way around.
JETBeam BC10
Provided for review by the kind folks at JETBeam.
JETBeam has historically been a purveyor of middle to high priced lights with serious attention to quality. Their "B" series intentionally brings up the bottom rung of their model line, but does it live up to the JETBeam name?
JETBeam BC10
Meat and Potatoes
The JETBeam "B" series represents a step into a wider world for this company. A new set of budget offerings that still manage to exude quality. Offering a two stage interface akin to base models from other companies, the BC10 is an excellent mix of new technology and simple usability. Changing between modes is as simple as twisting the head tightened for high and slightly loosened for low.
JETBeam BC10
Utilizing one CR123A cell to power today's most common powerhouse LED, the Cree XP-G, JETBeam has not skimped when it comes to output. Pairing the XP-G's superb efficiency with its characteristically excellent emission pattern, the BC10 projects its 270 lumens in a beautifully smooth beam, aided in that endeavour by a lightly stippled reflector. The spread of the beam is very middle of the road. It is a good all purpose pattern balancing moderate flood and throw. As usual with this LED, there is still an excellent transitional corona and decently bright spill assisting in eliminating any "tunnel vision". The BC10 has a very excellent level spacing also, providing a useful general purpose mode with a very bright high mode on top of that.
JETBeam BC10
The machine work on the BC10 is top notch. Every corner and edge has been smoothed to a comfortable finish. The anodizing seems thick and durable. Of interesting note, the knurling is definitively less aggressive than many lights I have seen lately, though it still provides adequate retention. It's just much less chance of being a pocket shredder. Even the tension mounted pocket clip has been smoothed so there are no rough edges.
Constructive Criticism
Speaking of the pocket clip, It is really quite a tight clip, which is somewhat unusual for this type of mounting method. Generally tension mounted clips are prone to accidentally falling off with the slightest tug, but this model appears to be nearly immune to such afflictions. However, this death grip on the barrel of the light also transitions to becoming difficult to use. The clip is so tight it takes a very concentrated effort to be able to use at all. Add to that the fact that the clip rubs against the head of the light, potentially scratching the anodizing on the head with each successive mode change, and you see why my light will be growing old without this particular accessory.
Pocket Clip
Conclusions
Clearly JETBeam hasn't skimped on the quality in order to make this new budget line a success. These lights seem to be about all the little extra touches, from the forward clicky to the quality lanyard (one of the minimally few lanyards I will actually leave in place beyond the review period), JETBeam looks to have gone the distance to make quality light affordable, rather than the other way around.
JETBeam BC10
Provided for review by the kind folks at JETBeam.
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Sounds good so far, I'm new to Jetbeams and was so pleased with a recent purchase of the Ti TC-R2, that I ordered a BC10 about 10 days ago, can't wait now.
