REVIEW - Thrunite Archer 1A V3

For submission in the Reviews forum

Hello everyone! Today I am going to be reviewing the Thrunite Archer 1A V3. Flashlights like the Archer 1A V3 are
becoming very popular as I am sure you all know. The rugged feel as well as the compact and powerful output are
all things that I think make this flashlight very competitive.


Manufacturers listed description

• Upgraded version of the Archer 1A V2 with more user-friendly UI.
• Five modes: firefly, low, medium, high and strobe.
• Momentary "forward clicky" tactical switch.
• Strike bezel for defense and emergency applications.
• Reversed polarity protection system prevents damage to the light.
• Orange peel reflector for a high quality beam.
• Ultra clear tempered glass lens with anti-reflective coating.
• Aircraft grade aluminum body structure with tactical knurling for firm grip.
• Premium type III hard anodized anti-abrasive finish.
• U shape groove at the tail for easy ACTIVATION as well as preventing accidentally activation.
• Reversible and removable pocket clip with titanium coating for durability.
• Memory function to set any mode(except for strobe) for immediate use.

Manufacturers listed specification

• LED: CREE XP-L V6 LED with a lifespan of 20+ years of run time.
• Modes & Run-time:
• -Firefly: 0.1lumen (17days);
• -Low: 17lumen (22hours);
• -Medium: 75lumen (5hours)
• -High: 200lumen (115minutes);
• -Strobe: 200lumen (3.5hours).
• Max output: 200lumens using one Ni-Mh AA battery.
• Max run time: 17days (Firefly mode)
• Working voltage: 0.9v to 5.0v.
• Battery: 1 AA
• Max beam distance: 66 meters.
• Peak beam intensity: 1088cd.
• Impact resistant: 1.5 meters.
• Waterproof to IPX-8 Standard (1.5meters)
• Weight: 42g without battery
• Dimensions: 110mm in length, 23mm bezel diameter.
• Accessories: Pocket clip x1, Spare O-ring x1, Lanyard x1

Unboxing

When I first unboxed the flashlight I was pleasantly surprised by the careful and well designed packaging and
presentation of the torch. Usually products aimed at the more budget end of the market like this tend to be not
as well packaged as this however the flashlight came in a protective bag in a soft foam slot in the box. The
accessories also came in a small bag. Inside the box was the flashlight, an instruction leaflet, a thanks you
card, a lanyard, two spare O-rings, and a spare push button cover. The pocket clip was pre-attached to the
flashlight.

Build quality and ergonomics

Now onto the important stuff! I don't know really how to describe how this torch feels, it really is fantastic to
hold and perfectly balanced with an AA battery inside so that is it comfortable. The box felt very light when
I first received it however with the torch out and a battery inside it is a very comfortable weight and easy
something that can be thrown in a bag or put in a pocket to carry around.

The torch feels very sturdy and strong and I am sure it would withstand a lot of what I could throw at it and
certainly everyday life. It is not something at I would be worried about dropping on a hard floor or anything.

The torch fits fairly snugly in your hands and your thumb rests easily on the mode switch button. I was not
sure if I would actually use the lanyard however it has actually come in very handy and with the small clip
on the lanyard you can tighten it over your hand so there is no way you will lose it! Perfect if you're like
me and losing and dropping things comes second nature! The torch is made from aircraft grade aluminium
with a variety of knurlings down its body to make it easy to grip. It also has a hexagonal part of its body
by the tip of the flashlight that will stop it from rolling off a table (however if you are like me and keep the
pocket clip attached this won't be a problem anyway).

To sum up the build quality of the flashlight I would have to say is is fantastic! It is a great compact size and
is certainly something everybody could carry around with them all day and have no risk of breaking.

Function

The operation of the torch is fairly simple, there is a switch on the base of the unit that turns it on and off
and also acts as a momentary switch if you press it only gently. Once the flashlight is on you can switch
modes by pressing the button on the side of the torch. There are four normal modes, firefly, low, medium
and high. There is also a strobe mode which seems to be the high mode in a strobe output. From the
testing I have done with the torch I usually use either the medium or high modes as with a quoted 115
minutes on high and 5 hours on medium this is plenty of time for me. I haven't used the firefly or the low
modes much however I can definitely see their usefulness in a situation where you need to conserve
battery life (like in an emergency) or when only a small amount of light is needed (such as reading in
a tent). I think this system to change the modes of the flashlight works really well for a small light like
this as it is easy to switch between modes to see which mode you are in.

The photos below show the CREE XP-L V6 LED in the off mode and in firefly mode.

Here the inside of the torch can be seen. The positive battery ternimal is shown well on the second
photo.

The manufacturer states the torch is impact resistant to 1.5 metres and waterproof to IPX-8 (1.5 metres).
I haven't tested the waterproofing however I have dropped the torch a few times and it is working fine with
no damage.


Beam tests

I tested the flashlight outside when it was dark to see how powerful the beam is. I dont think the photos do
the power of this flashlight justice, all powered by a single AA battery!

Each set of four photos is made up from a photo using firefly mode, low mode, medium mode and high mode.

Test 1:

Test 2:

Test 3:

Test 4:

Conclusion

To conclude I have to say I am very impressed with this little torch. To think this is all powered by a single AA
battery is amazing! For the price I think this is a great purchase. I have used Maglites for a long time and this
small torch is much better than any of them that I have used, and as a bonus, is much cheaper! If you interested
in a torch like this, I think this is a very good option.



Price
£30.95 on Amazon United Kingdom (http://amazon.co.uk/shops/A2DUUB2J3TY3X1http://amazon.co.uk/shops/A2DUUB2J3TY3X1)
€35.95 on Amazon Germany (http://amazon.de/shops/A2DUUB2J3TY3X1http://amazon.de/shops/A2DUUB2J3TY3X1)
$35.95 on the official Thrunite website (http://www.thrunite.com/http://www.thrunite.com/)

Thrunite have kindly provided me with a 5% off discount code "THRUNITE" to use on their official website only.

Great review. I just got one of these and I'm impressed by the feel and build quality. It's a fairly floody beam, which I really like. The UI is perfect. This is the forth Thrunite light I've purchased this year. They seem to be knocking it out of the park.

Hugh Johnson said:

Great review. I just got one of these and I'm impressed by the feel and build quality. It's a fairly floody beam, which I really like. The UI is perfect. This is the forth Thrunite light I've purchased this year. They seem to be knocking it out of the park.

Click to expand...

My experience with this light has not been quite as rosy. I do like everything about how the light functions, when it functions. I will say that yes, I have dropped the light a couple times. I did need to remove the head in order to fully clean the circuit card in order to get it to function again. I still have some intermittent problems getting the light working, sometimes it seems like it is the switch, others the connection from the body to the board, then it suddenly starts working again.

The funny thing is when I dropped it hard, or so I thought, it continued to work right through that. It stopped working the first time when I dropped it about 4" to the floor. The whole experience has lead me to realize I don't need even 200 lumens in a light (but it can be nice . .) and that AAA twisties are more along the lines of my flashlight needs.

I hope your light is handled more gently than mine was. I still really like the light in general, but I wish it was a bit more robust.

Update i contacted customer service about the light after another bout of intermittancy. They say that the light is under warranty (2 year) and they will send me a new one. I requested to purchase a replacement head, so I guess it is not clear if they are sending a new head or a new light, but either way it sounds like excellent customer service.