Malkoff MDC - The "Poor Man's Haiku" - Another Ideal EDC
As many know, I have been a tireless proponent of the McGizmo Haiku since mid 2011 when I first got mine. I love the Haiku in all its iterations! Frankly, I don't think Don (McGizmo) can make a bad light, but I digress. Ever in the search of the perfect EDC, I settled on the Haiku and I still think that it is as close to perfect as I have come in my travels through flashaholism since about 2007 when I joined CPF. If you are interested in reading my thoughts on the Haiku, you can read my review here.
However, when suggesting the Haiku to others I am often met with criticism. "Yeah sure, I bet it is great, but at $400+ I won't be trying one anytime soon." I have heard more than one member say they wish that Don would offer aluminum versions of his lights so people could experience them without the same cash outlay.
Fortunately, I have a solution! As I have continued my search for additional Made in USA high end and Custom EDC lights, I have found a fantastic light made by another one of CPF's finest - Gene Malkoff. Although many people are familiar with Gene's dropins, I don't see so much discussion of the MDC outside of the main MDC thread. But the Malkoff MDC is a super light that needs more attention! I'd like to talk a little bit about why I feel the MDC is a very comparable alternative to the Haiku, even sharing some genetic material with the McGizmo, and available at about 1/4 the price. Interested in the Haiku experience but on a budget? Consider the MDC.
The MDC alongside a few of my favorite EDC lights. A worthy addition!
Modularity:
One of the great things about Don's lights is the modularity they afford. Different heads, bodies, and converters are available, and his lights are cross compatible, as well as compatible with SureFire E-series lights and with other Custom components built to work off that platform.
Well, the MDC series is similarly modular! Gene offers AA and CR123 bodies and heads designed to work on AA, CR123, or li-ion rechargeables with several different options as to output and modes. Cool right? Plus, MDC parts are similarly E-series compatible. If you want to put your MDC head on an E1L body or a Ti McGizmo clicky pak, you can!! Some members have come up with some pretty neat Legos using Malkoff parts, even altering the UI by combining MDC heads with alternative switching mechanisms. I have been using a Lego of a McGizmo Pak with an MDC head and I really like it.
McClicky Switch:
Remember how I said that the MDC shared genetic material with the Haiku? One of the ways is in the McClicky switch used in the MDC and designed by Don. Gene has been using McClickies for years as I recall, and they are widely known around the forum as one of the most reliable and toughest aftermarket Clicky switches around. They are excellent and responsive switches, and they are easy to remove and replace if somehow you wear one out. A dash of Don in the tail of this light and it's a beautiful thing. In McGizmoan style it is sealed in with an o-ring to keep out the elements and make this light ready for action in whatever conditions you throw at it.
User Interface:
Gene offers a couple of mode systems, including single mode, Tac modes starting at High, and a standard EDC starting at Low. I am speaking primarily about the standard Low-Med-High in this review.
Gene describes the UI as follows: The mode will advance each time the light is momentarily activated and the switch debounce time has passed. If the light is left on for more than 2 seconds, the next off/on cycle will return the light to low. If the light is not left on for 2 seconds the next off/on cycle will advance the mode. In most normal use, the light will always come on in LowLow.
So, basically, quick taps on the switch will cycle through the modes, a hard press latches on. After turning it off and back on, it will start again in Low, and cycle through Low-Med-High. This is very similar to the 3S converters Don uses in his lights, including of course the Haiku. Don too uses a well spaced 3 mode progression, Low-Med-High, except Don's lights have a memory mode. While I don't mind that, I actually really like that the MDC starts over in Low mode each time I turn it OFF/ON. In fact, I may actually prefer that, as I never forget what mode I am in, and I can simply tap through to the mode I want. A simple three mode light is definitely satisfactory for most EDC purposes and is oh so simple to operate. And for me, the 3 speeds of the MDC CR123 at 3/25/250 lumens are just about PERFECT. I love the UI and mode spacing on this little machine.
Ergonomics:
The MDC is very comparable to the Haiku in size, shape and ergonomics, especially since both can be had with either a CR123 or AA battery compartments. I find the MDC to be quite comfortable to hold, though a little more slippery than the Haiku. The ribs in the Ti on the Haiku as well as the fins on the head offer a lot of purchase on the light, even when wet. The MDC does not have knurling or ribs as such on either the body or head, and its anodized aluminum body is a bit slicker. I personally don't mind it too much as it's gentler on my pockets, but if you work in wet, muddy, bloody or gooey environments, you might want to try legoing the head with a SureFire E-series body with some knurling. Legos FTW!! Also, this is why I am working with the McMalkoff lego I showed above.
Pocket Clip:
Clips are a must for me for EDC lights. When it comes to Don's lights, I think he has the freakin' awesomest clip ever made. IMHO. The clip is my single biggest quibble with the MDC. It's OK, but it's not awesome. At least it is there and it faces the right direction though, which is more than many manufacturers can say!! I like that it is a true deep carry, and dives low in the pocket, especially in dress pants, but it is skinny. It's kind of hard to get onto my pocket edge sometime and it doesn't clamp in place quite like Don's does. I'm sure this is a non issue for most people but I am a clip snob and I just plain love the McGizmo clip.
Beam Quality:
The beam quality on the MDC is excellent, as it features another bit of DNA from McGizmo, the reflector. Once again, I believe Gene has been using McRs for many years, but it is another great example of his using the best quality components for the job. Don has been designing reflectors for years and is known for excellent quality beam patterns in his own lights. The MDC is no exception. The combination of the XP-G2 with Don's reflector serves up a plate of "punchy flood" that suits me very well, and is very comparable to the Haiku. It has plenty of throw for most applications with a generous hotspot and considerable spill. Yummy! The transition is pretty smooth and devoid of irritating rings or artifacts. For me, these lights share a similar beam that is basically ideal for EDC purposes. I like the throw of a TIR on occasion, or the perfect flood of my Mule indoors, but when you need one light for general usage throughout a day, an XP-G/2 with a McR selected for it gives the perfect blend of spot and flood.
Output/Runtime:
One of the nice things about McGizmo's lights is that he is moderate in selecting drive levels so as to give a nice blend of adequate output as well as runtime, and heatsinks the lights well to allow the lights to be run for extended periods on high without damage. While some of Gene's lights are higher output, the MDC is fairly moderately driven to give at least an hour on high and many hours on the lower modes, and well heatsinked with a brass pill screwed into the head for good dissipation. I have run the MDC on high for extended periods and while it gets warm, I have not found it to get too hot where it is uncomfortable to hold.
Personally, I don't really see the need for 1000 lumen EDC lights. I don't ever need that much light and usually runtime suffers or you need a big battery to power it, both of which make a light subpar for EDC in my opinion. I like the output ranges chosen by both Don and Gene and they are very comparable. If you like lower output for your daily tasks and have a use for a sub lumen level, the AA variant of the MDC has a very functional range of 0.3 lumens/9 lumens/115 lumens on the three modes with runtimes of 200+hrs/18+hrs/1hr. The CR123 version, which I have, has 3 lumens/25 lumens/250 lumens modes with runtimes of 100hrs/20hrs/1hr. For me these modes are great. I have designated low level lights for night time prowling, so the modes on the MDC are excellent for general EDC. 3 lumens may be just right for a dark closet or reading a menu at a restaurant, while 250 lumens is more than enough for scoping out the property at night or going for a walk. Meanwhile, the runtime is ample so I am not burning through cells all the time.
One of the nice things about the MDC is that the required voltage is 1-3v, so it is really a battery vampire!! It will drain the battery down to nothing. When the battery gets too low to power high mode, it still will turn on and run in a lower mode to get you to safety. I even put a McGizmo AA Pak on my CR123 MDC head and ran it on an Eneloop as an experiement. I lost High, but I still had light!
Durability/Reliability:
One thing McGizmo has always been recognized for is his dedication to reliability in his lights. You can read stories of them surviving all sorts of catastrophe, including jungle expeditions and motorcycle accidents. That is what drew me to McGizmo, after having some disappointing experiences with other lights: his impeccable record for durable and reliable lights. Gene likewise has made it his aim to offer the most reliable lighting tools possible. His name is synonymous with quality and commitment to post-purchase customer service on this forum and his products are trusted by LEO, military and others who demand dependability.
The MDC is certainly a rugged and reliable light! I have not had the chance to submit mine to too much abuse yet, but I am confident it will take it handily. I think that when compared to the Haiku, the only demerit in the area of durability will be its aluminum shell vs. the Haiku's titanium shell. Now, the aluminum is what is allowing us to get this light at a fraction of the cost, so we will not complain about that, but the reality is that the aluminum will not take quite as much abuse as Ti will without dings, dents and deformation. Will it likely take anything you survive? Most likely. The MDC's beautifully machined body and head are thick and sturdy. On the flip side, the MDC does have one significant advantage and that is full potting. McGizmo does not pot his electronics in epoxy as he likes to leave them open for modding and service and make it easy to swap light engines between lights. Gene is going for maximum protection when used with a weapon or in other high impact situations. So, as you look in the head you can see the fully potted electronics. This also is an advantage in the event the light is flooded. But you cannot mod it. So, I would give these lights nearly equal marks in reliability.
SO…the end of the matter is that I feel the MDC is a very comparable light to the Haiku in many ways. Its form factor, modularity, switching mechanism, UI and mode availability, durability, output and beam pattern all follow the Haiku very closely. The main differences are going to be in the body of the light, in both material and hand-feel. There is no doubt that when you hold a Haiku, you know you are holding something exceptional in your hand. A precision made tool, executed to the brink of perfection. There is nothing quite like McGizmos, except perhaps a few other Ti Customs from our esteemed builders. But the MDC is a very respectable light with outstanding build quality and gives a very similar functionality at just ¼ of the price. For that, I think it is a slam dunk! I think it is an excellent EDC light and definitely deserves more discussion than it has been given so far. Rock on Gene, the MDC is awesome and will be finding its way into my pocket a lot!
As many know, I have been a tireless proponent of the McGizmo Haiku since mid 2011 when I first got mine. I love the Haiku in all its iterations! Frankly, I don't think Don (McGizmo) can make a bad light, but I digress. Ever in the search of the perfect EDC, I settled on the Haiku and I still think that it is as close to perfect as I have come in my travels through flashaholism since about 2007 when I joined CPF. If you are interested in reading my thoughts on the Haiku, you can read my review here.
However, when suggesting the Haiku to others I am often met with criticism. "Yeah sure, I bet it is great, but at $400+ I won't be trying one anytime soon." I have heard more than one member say they wish that Don would offer aluminum versions of his lights so people could experience them without the same cash outlay.
Fortunately, I have a solution! As I have continued my search for additional Made in USA high end and Custom EDC lights, I have found a fantastic light made by another one of CPF's finest - Gene Malkoff. Although many people are familiar with Gene's dropins, I don't see so much discussion of the MDC outside of the main MDC thread. But the Malkoff MDC is a super light that needs more attention! I'd like to talk a little bit about why I feel the MDC is a very comparable alternative to the Haiku, even sharing some genetic material with the McGizmo, and available at about 1/4 the price. Interested in the Haiku experience but on a budget? Consider the MDC.
The MDC alongside a few of my favorite EDC lights. A worthy addition!
Modularity:
One of the great things about Don's lights is the modularity they afford. Different heads, bodies, and converters are available, and his lights are cross compatible, as well as compatible with SureFire E-series lights and with other Custom components built to work off that platform.
Well, the MDC series is similarly modular! Gene offers AA and CR123 bodies and heads designed to work on AA, CR123, or li-ion rechargeables with several different options as to output and modes. Cool right? Plus, MDC parts are similarly E-series compatible. If you want to put your MDC head on an E1L body or a Ti McGizmo clicky pak, you can!! Some members have come up with some pretty neat Legos using Malkoff parts, even altering the UI by combining MDC heads with alternative switching mechanisms. I have been using a Lego of a McGizmo Pak with an MDC head and I really like it.
McClicky Switch:
Remember how I said that the MDC shared genetic material with the Haiku? One of the ways is in the McClicky switch used in the MDC and designed by Don. Gene has been using McClickies for years as I recall, and they are widely known around the forum as one of the most reliable and toughest aftermarket Clicky switches around. They are excellent and responsive switches, and they are easy to remove and replace if somehow you wear one out. A dash of Don in the tail of this light and it's a beautiful thing. In McGizmoan style it is sealed in with an o-ring to keep out the elements and make this light ready for action in whatever conditions you throw at it.
User Interface:
Gene offers a couple of mode systems, including single mode, Tac modes starting at High, and a standard EDC starting at Low. I am speaking primarily about the standard Low-Med-High in this review.
Gene describes the UI as follows: The mode will advance each time the light is momentarily activated and the switch debounce time has passed. If the light is left on for more than 2 seconds, the next off/on cycle will return the light to low. If the light is not left on for 2 seconds the next off/on cycle will advance the mode. In most normal use, the light will always come on in LowLow.
So, basically, quick taps on the switch will cycle through the modes, a hard press latches on. After turning it off and back on, it will start again in Low, and cycle through Low-Med-High. This is very similar to the 3S converters Don uses in his lights, including of course the Haiku. Don too uses a well spaced 3 mode progression, Low-Med-High, except Don's lights have a memory mode. While I don't mind that, I actually really like that the MDC starts over in Low mode each time I turn it OFF/ON. In fact, I may actually prefer that, as I never forget what mode I am in, and I can simply tap through to the mode I want. A simple three mode light is definitely satisfactory for most EDC purposes and is oh so simple to operate. And for me, the 3 speeds of the MDC CR123 at 3/25/250 lumens are just about PERFECT. I love the UI and mode spacing on this little machine.
Ergonomics:
The MDC is very comparable to the Haiku in size, shape and ergonomics, especially since both can be had with either a CR123 or AA battery compartments. I find the MDC to be quite comfortable to hold, though a little more slippery than the Haiku. The ribs in the Ti on the Haiku as well as the fins on the head offer a lot of purchase on the light, even when wet. The MDC does not have knurling or ribs as such on either the body or head, and its anodized aluminum body is a bit slicker. I personally don't mind it too much as it's gentler on my pockets, but if you work in wet, muddy, bloody or gooey environments, you might want to try legoing the head with a SureFire E-series body with some knurling. Legos FTW!! Also, this is why I am working with the McMalkoff lego I showed above.
Pocket Clip:
Clips are a must for me for EDC lights. When it comes to Don's lights, I think he has the freakin' awesomest clip ever made. IMHO. The clip is my single biggest quibble with the MDC. It's OK, but it's not awesome. At least it is there and it faces the right direction though, which is more than many manufacturers can say!! I like that it is a true deep carry, and dives low in the pocket, especially in dress pants, but it is skinny. It's kind of hard to get onto my pocket edge sometime and it doesn't clamp in place quite like Don's does. I'm sure this is a non issue for most people but I am a clip snob and I just plain love the McGizmo clip.
Beam Quality:
The beam quality on the MDC is excellent, as it features another bit of DNA from McGizmo, the reflector. Once again, I believe Gene has been using McRs for many years, but it is another great example of his using the best quality components for the job. Don has been designing reflectors for years and is known for excellent quality beam patterns in his own lights. The MDC is no exception. The combination of the XP-G2 with Don's reflector serves up a plate of "punchy flood" that suits me very well, and is very comparable to the Haiku. It has plenty of throw for most applications with a generous hotspot and considerable spill. Yummy! The transition is pretty smooth and devoid of irritating rings or artifacts. For me, these lights share a similar beam that is basically ideal for EDC purposes. I like the throw of a TIR on occasion, or the perfect flood of my Mule indoors, but when you need one light for general usage throughout a day, an XP-G/2 with a McR selected for it gives the perfect blend of spot and flood.
Output/Runtime:
One of the nice things about McGizmo's lights is that he is moderate in selecting drive levels so as to give a nice blend of adequate output as well as runtime, and heatsinks the lights well to allow the lights to be run for extended periods on high without damage. While some of Gene's lights are higher output, the MDC is fairly moderately driven to give at least an hour on high and many hours on the lower modes, and well heatsinked with a brass pill screwed into the head for good dissipation. I have run the MDC on high for extended periods and while it gets warm, I have not found it to get too hot where it is uncomfortable to hold.
Personally, I don't really see the need for 1000 lumen EDC lights. I don't ever need that much light and usually runtime suffers or you need a big battery to power it, both of which make a light subpar for EDC in my opinion. I like the output ranges chosen by both Don and Gene and they are very comparable. If you like lower output for your daily tasks and have a use for a sub lumen level, the AA variant of the MDC has a very functional range of 0.3 lumens/9 lumens/115 lumens on the three modes with runtimes of 200+hrs/18+hrs/1hr. The CR123 version, which I have, has 3 lumens/25 lumens/250 lumens modes with runtimes of 100hrs/20hrs/1hr. For me these modes are great. I have designated low level lights for night time prowling, so the modes on the MDC are excellent for general EDC. 3 lumens may be just right for a dark closet or reading a menu at a restaurant, while 250 lumens is more than enough for scoping out the property at night or going for a walk. Meanwhile, the runtime is ample so I am not burning through cells all the time.
One of the nice things about the MDC is that the required voltage is 1-3v, so it is really a battery vampire!! It will drain the battery down to nothing. When the battery gets too low to power high mode, it still will turn on and run in a lower mode to get you to safety. I even put a McGizmo AA Pak on my CR123 MDC head and ran it on an Eneloop as an experiement. I lost High, but I still had light!
Durability/Reliability:
One thing McGizmo has always been recognized for is his dedication to reliability in his lights. You can read stories of them surviving all sorts of catastrophe, including jungle expeditions and motorcycle accidents. That is what drew me to McGizmo, after having some disappointing experiences with other lights: his impeccable record for durable and reliable lights. Gene likewise has made it his aim to offer the most reliable lighting tools possible. His name is synonymous with quality and commitment to post-purchase customer service on this forum and his products are trusted by LEO, military and others who demand dependability.
The MDC is certainly a rugged and reliable light! I have not had the chance to submit mine to too much abuse yet, but I am confident it will take it handily. I think that when compared to the Haiku, the only demerit in the area of durability will be its aluminum shell vs. the Haiku's titanium shell. Now, the aluminum is what is allowing us to get this light at a fraction of the cost, so we will not complain about that, but the reality is that the aluminum will not take quite as much abuse as Ti will without dings, dents and deformation. Will it likely take anything you survive? Most likely. The MDC's beautifully machined body and head are thick and sturdy. On the flip side, the MDC does have one significant advantage and that is full potting. McGizmo does not pot his electronics in epoxy as he likes to leave them open for modding and service and make it easy to swap light engines between lights. Gene is going for maximum protection when used with a weapon or in other high impact situations. So, as you look in the head you can see the fully potted electronics. This also is an advantage in the event the light is flooded. But you cannot mod it. So, I would give these lights nearly equal marks in reliability.
SO…the end of the matter is that I feel the MDC is a very comparable light to the Haiku in many ways. Its form factor, modularity, switching mechanism, UI and mode availability, durability, output and beam pattern all follow the Haiku very closely. The main differences are going to be in the body of the light, in both material and hand-feel. There is no doubt that when you hold a Haiku, you know you are holding something exceptional in your hand. A precision made tool, executed to the brink of perfection. There is nothing quite like McGizmos, except perhaps a few other Ti Customs from our esteemed builders. But the MDC is a very respectable light with outstanding build quality and gives a very similar functionality at just ¼ of the price. For that, I think it is a slam dunk! I think it is an excellent EDC light and definitely deserves more discussion than it has been given so far. Rock on Gene, the MDC is awesome and will be finding its way into my pocket a lot!