GearBest Enters the game with the Zanflare F1

Crazyeddiethefirst

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Mar 13, 2012
Messages
2,005
Location
Southern California
Zanflare F1 Review

A while ago, Kathy from GearBest asked if I would put a flashlight through it's paces and give my honest impression. Due to a couple of surgeries, I did not post my findings in a timely manner, so now I am posting my review and evaluation after test driving it for a while.
The Flashlight, the Zanflare F1, represents Gearbest's foray into their own light. The white cardboard box it arrives in is solid with foam cutouts, clear and concise printing and a solid feel of quality packaging. The light arrived with no damage to the box or any of it's contents. The package includes an instruction manual in English only, and as a refreshing difference from a lot of instructions, it has coherent English with attention to grammar, context and proper sentence structure. This may seem like I am being overly critical of other manufacturers. I have spent easily over $100 for various lights who's instruction appear to be written in one language, put into Google translate and then reproduced word for word. An example of this problem borrowed from a CPF thread today: here are the instructions from the manufacturer: ";Depress-and-hold (within 2 seconds)the switch button until the LED flash once to lock the light and perform the same operation to unlock it"

So it is nice to have a well written and clear instruction manual.
The package contains two spare "O" rings, a lanyard, a reversible clip, USB cable for recharging, and instead of the usual inexpensive holster, the F1 comes with a "wetsuit". I use that term because the material the pouch is made of feels like neoprene and has a zipper, and a carry loop with the logo and name "Zanflare" embroidered in. It is a snug fit, perhaps a little overkill since the light is IPX-8 level of waterproofing already.

The light is an 18650 based multipurpose light with a Cree XP-L LED, smooth reflector, lens with anti reflective coating and a USB port for recharging. This port is covered and waterproofed by a threaded cover ring. A red LED indicates charging and green LED indicates Charge Complete. There is a mechanical reverse clicky tail switch(covered with what looks and feels like a metal switch cap that fits and functions very well. The tail cap has good grip pattern to untwist if changing batteries. A tiny metal dot that almost escapes notice on the tail cap is the glass breaker should you ever encounter someone trapped in a burning or submerging vehicle. The knurling on the body is very mild, but the more aggressive pattern on the tail cap and head make it easy to grasp even with gloves on. The user interface is accessed via the electronic side switch(tail switch is on/off or momentary). There are 7 modes, and no PWM that I (nor my iPod 6) could detect. When a new battery is inserted, the light always starts in moonlight(1 Lumen), then with each press of the side switch it cycles through ML(1 Lumen), low(50 lumens), medium(290 lumens),high(590 lumens) the back to ML. To access Turbo(they call it "Flare" mode-1240 lumens) just press the side switch twice from the "on" position. I did not notice the light having any problem with heat dissipation when on "Flare" mode, but the instruction have a caveat that states if the Flare mode is on to the point of overhearing it will automatically select a lower mode(run time on Flare mode is 30 seconds, but I saw no automatic lowering when on high for a few minutes. From the on position, holding the side button accesses strobe & SOS modes. Mode memory is present. The head is sealed, with a warning in the instructions to leave it that way. The head has a post so button top or flat top batteries work. The instructions recommend a high quality battery. It can run on an 18650, two CR123's or two 16340's. When the Sanyo 3500mAh 10 Amp 18650 I was using was in need of recharging, it took approximately 3 hours and 20 minutes to reach 4.18 using the USB charging port(specifications state 4 hours is the nominal charging time.
The runtimes are posted in the instructions:
ML (1 Lumen) 550 hours.
Low (50 Lumen) 22 hours.
Medium (290 Lumen) 6 hours.
High (590 Lumen) 2.5 hours.
Flare (1240 Lumen) 30 seconds.
My digital camera recently died and I apologize for the poor be shots:
Moonlight:
http://i958.photobucket.com/albums/...ghts/E94F62C9-EC22-4CF4-B2FD-05E41AD286E8.jpg

Low:
http://i958.photobucket.com/albums/...ghts/C411FB9C-35D0-46AB-806C-AC38E19C8123.jpg

Medium:
http://i958.photobucket.com/albums/...ghts/6FF826EF-4134-4DD5-84D9-278942C04CB2.jpg

High:
http://i958.photobucket.com/albums/...ghts/4C106042-40B4-4C97-A153-87952B5673F4.jpg

FLARE:
http://i958.photobucket.com/albums/...ghts/248D9085-1F41-44BA-B8BD-5D07114937B0.jpg

Red LED indicates charging:
http://i958.photobucket.com/albums/...ghts/5D93DD21-70A8-4658-B3B4-A2B2B81B19C2.jpg
Green LED indicates fully charged:
http://i958.photobucket.com/albums/...ghts/803185ED-7D4C-4051-8518-A49D63DEF5E6.jpg
After unwrapping the box, putting the battery in and the spare "O" rings away:
http://i958.photobucket.com/albums/...ghts/F494F405-B9FF-411D-B567-C4E845E4B8A6.jpg
The side switch, and the knurling patterns:
http://i958.photobucket.com/albums/...ghts/53EC1103-C559-4BDC-9638-1AC935710D22.jpg
Well centered Cree XP-L, smooth polished aluminum reflector, and A/R Lens:
http://i958.photobucket.com/albums/...ghts/EC0D9F86-C070-45F6-98C5-28EFE78609C4.jpg
Solidly mounted mechanical switch with glass breaker, Lanyard mount and ability to tail stand solidly:
http://i958.photobucket.com/albums/...ghts/1CB388C2-36B7-441F-BC3F-1159C0A8CC31.jpg
Stud at positive end, spring in the tail:
http://i958.photobucket.com/albums/...ghts/54602571-592B-4D0A-BA9C-AEC4E2FEBC29.jpg
http://i958.photobucket.com/albums/...ghts/1B653214-0269-4C33-BCDC-2C755FA41FBA.jpg

There is also low voltage protection and warning. When the voltage is under 2.8V, the red led blinks once per minute.
When the voltage is under 2.6V, the red light blinks three times and the light turns off. There is also reverse polarity protection.

The instructions are also very clear on the F1 warranty:
If DOA, Free replacement within 72 hours.
If in the first 30 days you decide you don't like it for ANY reason, you can return it for 100% full refund.
Amazon 5 year free repair/replace Warranty: if your light light has any problem in the first 5 years, Zanflare will repair or replace it free of charge.
Lifetime Limited Warranty: For the life of the purchaser-Zanflare will repair the light but will charge for the actual cost of labor only...

Impression: Since I have had the light & been able to move it in and out of rotation with my other lights I have had plenty of time to consider this. I am impressed with Zanflare's attention to detail. This does not feel like an amateur attempt to break into the flashlight market. I like the overall result and look forward to their future endeavors. From the quality packaging to the varied knurling patterns, this light espouses quality in the manufacturing process-there do not seem to be any areas that say "economy light", rather the feel is that of a higher end product that started with the intent of "let's do it right" rather than "let's do it quick or cheap".
I would like to see different spacing on the modes, 50 lumens to 290 lumens is a big jump. As much as I like the novelty of the neoprene holster(and for me personally this is very useful as I go kayaking on the open ocean), I think a more conventional approach would be more useful to the majority of people. I definitely give this light high marks for attention to detail and including the threaded cover of the USB, the glass breaker on the tail cap, anti-reflective coating on the lens, quality of packaging, well thought out and written instruction manual, etc.
They have used the basic premise of build a quality product without unnecessary "gimmicks". They have outlined a solid warranty and no ambiguity about what was covered and what was not. I wonder what my impression would have been of the early Astrolux or Convoy lights? They are universally accepted as quality, economical products of high value today. Perhaps this will be another addition to affordable added-value flashlights. Kudos to GearBest for their entry to this field.
 

Newlumen

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Feb 12, 2016
Messages
4,398
Location
United States
Thank you sir.. ordered one neutral white zanflare f1.. i will compare this light with fenix pd35vn.. i will report back..
 
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