pc_light
Enlightened
Pocket De-lights (Acebeam UC15 Manker LAD Nitecore TIP Surefire Sidekick & ...)
Keychain lights have come a long way since my first Photon Micro-light a little under 20-years ago at a little over $20 at the time. It seems most manufacturers now have some version of a rectangular/non-cylindrical relatively high-powered (i.e., >5mm emitter) pocket/keychain light offering these days. Some such as Mecarmy and Nitecore even offer several variants of their keychain light. With the increased efficiency of emitters/driver/batteries, these pocket lights easily surpass the illumination and run-times of full sized lights from a decade ago. Here is a quick peek/comparison and some impressions (and NOT a detailed review) of (just) four I've picked up recently.
[These lights were all purchased on the open market and I have no affiliation with any of the manufacturers or any retailer.]
Note - the LAD and TIP are not fully stock though so bear that in mind.
In brand alphabetic order (Left to Right) - Acebeam UC15 (stock), Manker LAD (actually a LADvn w219C), Nitecore TIP (w/XP-L Hi 5A2), Surefire Sidekick (stock)
Specifications Per Manufacturer for the models shown
Size and Weight (with batteries) in descending order
Relative Throw in descending order
Battery Size in descending order
Level/Mode Features in descending order
Additional Features -
Expense (MAP) in descending order
Options available in descending order
On Lowest main emitter level -
Acebeam UC15 - 10 lumens (19 hrs), Manker LAD - 23 (5.6 hrs), Nitecore TIP - 1 (46 hrs), Surefire Sidekick - 5 (45 hrs)
On Highest main emitter level - (Nitecore TIP is being held down for Turbo level)
Acebeam UC15 - 1,000(?!) lumens (1min+0.75hrs), Manker LAD - 300 (0.5hr) ,Nitecore TIP - 360 (0.5hrs) , Surefire Sidekick - 300 (1.25 hrs)
(On highest against 90 White paper)
Special level/modes (Red LED) - Acebeam UC15 (? lumens but crazy bright, 1.5hrs) and Manker LAD (low-low 1 lumens for 100 hrs) only
Special level/modes (UV LED) - Acebeam UC15 (1.2hrs) only
(Red line security feature on US$100, is considered a good indicator/test of 365nm wavelength)
Some observations -
The right tool for the job and here we have something for everyone; we really are spoiled for choice in lights these days!
As a resource to anyone perusing this thread I decided to compile the list (below) of any similar higher-powered (e.g., >100 lumen) non-tubular pocket/keychain lights. Feel free to suggest additional models for the list.
Keychain lights have come a long way since my first Photon Micro-light a little under 20-years ago at a little over $20 at the time. It seems most manufacturers now have some version of a rectangular/non-cylindrical relatively high-powered (i.e., >5mm emitter) pocket/keychain light offering these days. Some such as Mecarmy and Nitecore even offer several variants of their keychain light. With the increased efficiency of emitters/driver/batteries, these pocket lights easily surpass the illumination and run-times of full sized lights from a decade ago. Here is a quick peek/comparison and some impressions (and NOT a detailed review) of (just) four I've picked up recently.
[These lights were all purchased on the open market and I have no affiliation with any of the manufacturers or any retailer.]
Note - the LAD and TIP are not fully stock though so bear that in mind.
In brand alphabetic order (Left to Right) - Acebeam UC15 (stock), Manker LAD (actually a LADvn w219C), Nitecore TIP (w/XP-L Hi 5A2), Surefire Sidekick (stock)
Specifications Per Manufacturer for the models shown
Size and Weight (with batteries) in descending order
- UC15 (56g w/clip, 52 w/o) – about the same as some mini cr123/16350 lights, approaching small AA size/weights
- Sidekick (40 w/clip, 38 w/o) – thickest of the group but owing to the polymer body it's lighter than its size would appear
- TIP (AL model, 27g w/clip, 25 w/o) – slim and light and the only two buttoned light of the group.
- LAD (25g, no clip) – smallest of the group but punches well for its size. Great choice if smallest size and lightest weight are your objective in this group of lights
Relative Throw in descending order
- UC15 (107m) (SMO and largest reflector, traditional hotspot with wide spill) – would work well as a pocket or belt backup to a larger sized light.
- TIP (74m) )(OP with smooth hotspot to spill beam) – great backup light for all around use. Useful wide beams for shorter-to-middle distances (e.g., less than 20m).
- Sidekick (>50m) (Maxvision Reflector with smooth hotspot to spill beam) – great backup light for all around use. Useful wide beams for shorter-to-middle distances.
- LAD (58.6m) (OP with smooth hotspot to spill beam) – size makes it ideal as a keychain light for shorter distances (<20m)
Battery Size in descending order
- UC15 (2-AAA/14500 replaceable, variable size, I used 2x350=700 mAh) – can be used as long as there are AAA batteries available but no built-in recharging
- Sidekick (internal 640 mAh lithium, USB rechargeable) – The Sidekick is apparently sealed, opening and resealing will be difficult if possible
- TIP (internal 500 mAh lithium, USB rechargeable) – Can be unscrewed/opened and possibly serviced by replacing the soldered internal lithium battery pack
- LAD (internal 280 mAh lithium, USB rechargeable) – Can be unscrewed/opened and possibly serviced by replacing the soldered internal lithium battery pack
Level/Mode Features in descending order
- UC15 (3-modes + strobe + Red + UV, memory / battery level)
- TIP (4-modes, direct access to moonlight/turbo, memory / battery level, clip can also physical lockout)
- LAD (3-modes + Red, memory)
- Sidekick (3-modes start L -M-H, no memory)
Additional Features -
- TIP - Blinks Battery Level Indicator
- UC15 - Low battery LED indicator
- LAD - Low battery LED indicator
- Sidekick - L-M-H on order can be reversed to H-M-L
Expense (MAP) in descending order
- Sidekick most expensive of the group 1-yr warranty
- UC15 also expensive 5-yr warranty
- TIP variable 1-yr warranty
- LAD most affordable of the group 5-yr warranty
Options available in descending order
- TIP (7+ body colors, AL or SS body material, main emitter XP-G2 cool or Nichia 219C)
- UC15 (4 body colors, XP-L2 cool-neutral)
- LAD (3 body colors, XP-G3 cool or Nichia 219C)
- Sidekick (3 body colors, XP-G2 cool-neutral)
On Lowest main emitter level -
Acebeam UC15 - 10 lumens (19 hrs), Manker LAD - 23 (5.6 hrs), Nitecore TIP - 1 (46 hrs), Surefire Sidekick - 5 (45 hrs)
On Highest main emitter level - (Nitecore TIP is being held down for Turbo level)
Acebeam UC15 - 1,000(?!) lumens (1min+0.75hrs), Manker LAD - 300 (0.5hr) ,Nitecore TIP - 360 (0.5hrs) , Surefire Sidekick - 300 (1.25 hrs)
(On highest against 90 White paper)
Special level/modes (Red LED) - Acebeam UC15 (? lumens but crazy bright, 1.5hrs) and Manker LAD (low-low 1 lumens for 100 hrs) only
Special level/modes (UV LED) - Acebeam UC15 (1.2hrs) only
(Red line security feature on US$100, is considered a good indicator/test of 365nm wavelength)
Some observations -
Good | Meh |
Acebeam UC15 "For maximum lumens, plus" | |
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Manker LAD "When size and weight matter most" | |
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Nitecore TIP "Direct access to levels; SS bodies, colors, ..." | |
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Surefire Sidekick '"The no non-sense choice" | |
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The right tool for the job and here we have something for everyone; we really are spoiled for choice in lights these days!
As a resource to anyone perusing this thread I decided to compile the list (below) of any similar higher-powered (e.g., >100 lumen) non-tubular pocket/keychain lights. Feel free to suggest additional models for the list.
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