The MMU - X3R is FourSevens ’ hopeful handheld flashlight yet . At 2,000 lumens , it ’s bright than my automobile ’s eminent beams and is small-scale enough to fit into the palm tree of my bridge player . But , is it the right light for you ?
What Is It?
Three Cree XML-2s — some of the most powerful LEDs on the market — pile into a individual light and driven as severely as current technology is adequate to of , while retaining total reliableness . Power come from a new , proprietary 26650 heap button - cell battery pack that was intention - designed by FourSevens just for this light . At 4,000mAh , this battery hold around three times the electricity a smart earpiece can ; it ’s sinewy .
Charging is handle via an onboard micro - USB port , eliminate the need to carry or rely on an external courser . You just plug it into any USB outlet or use the included power brick to secure it into the rampart . And , by connecting it via USB to a computer , you’re able to change the tail - mounted click - switch ’s drug user interface .
Doing that , you’re able to select between five mode of operation and realise access to four special mode : strobe , SOS , beacon ( high ) and beacon ( low ) . you may tailor the modes you want memory access to or even just set it to only work in a single one . I prefer the stock certificate setting , which allows you to click the light on and off rapidly , cycling through low , medium , in high spirits and strobe . A computer storage function remembers which mode you used last and turn the lighter back on in that style if you sprain it off .
The 110 lumen low provides 11 hr of continuous surgical process on a full guardianship ; medium ’s 900 lumens will run for 5 hours and the brightness will run in high at 2,000 lumens for 60 second base , before thermal regulation commence backing that down to 1,000 over the next 60 seconds , which will then run for 2.5 hours . That thermal regulation allow you to click the visible light off and on , back to 2,000 lm , once the light has cooled down enough . It never gets hot to the touch thanks to that regulation and the built - in heat energy sink that is the brightness level ’s head , but it definitely mother ardent .
A note on take luminance : As the maker of what are probably the high-pitched lineament production flashlights in the world , FourSevens does n’t feel the need to oversell its product . Its light routinely exceed claimed numbers in independent , third party examination ; numbers that beat lights from less reputable companies who quote figures that are … challenging .
TheMMU - X3R’sreflector is smooth , which is typical of a light specializing in throw . But , its angles come out to be sew to flood . unite with the massive output , that creates a intercrossed brightness level that ’s capable of illuminating a wide area out to recollective distance .
Who’s It For?
FourSevens ’ David Chow describes the X3R as a “ duty light source . ” It ’s specifically designed for police officers , soldier and security guard who are looking for a portable light that ’s as bright as potential . The light is designed to be carried in a holster , either on a belt or load - give birth waistcoat ; while it fits in your hand , the large - diameter head simply is n’t pocket - friendly .
passably much everyone else will be advantageously served by a 2xAAA , single LED ignitor likethe $ 50 FourSevens Preon P2 . Such a design is not only vastly more pocketable , but also develop a more utile range of light for everyday tasks ; even the X3R ’s 110 lumen modest is right smart too bright for most daily penury .
Using It
The nighttime beforehunting turkeys , Corey and I found ourselves necessitate to examination - flak our shotguns to process towards an idealistic stab pattern with young , untested ammunition . We taped paper quarry to cardboard boxes , set them at 35 yard and I move my Subaru Outback around to illuminate them . The result ? Not almost enough light from the car ’s HID high beams and a mussy figure full of shadows to boot . No bother , the X3R was ride in the glovebox , charging from one of the car ’s USB port . I just grabbed it , prepare it to gamy and signal it at the box . Voila : the target were not only bathed in light , but that light was completely even and artefact - free making for gentle nighttime shot .
The Good
I bought my first super - powerful luminosity six or seven twelvemonth ago . It was a first - coevals FourSevens Maelstrom that put out a then unbelievable 450 lumen , which only persist for about 45 minutes on in high spirits . That sparkle was also incredibly impractical ; its throw - focussed reflecting telescope dissipate light out in a entirely straight , narrow pattern , like a prospicient piston chamber only as great around as the flashlight ’s heading . Sure , I could spotlight stuff 250 yards away , but it was totally worthless for light up a dark path at my feet or working on something with my hands . Not only is this young X3R cheaper , bright and longer long-lasting , but its hybrid cam stroke / outpouring reflector is much more practical . Light engineering is advancing insanely fast .
While shining the light at a nearby white paries or roof will produce a notable three - ring pattern from its three LEDs , this outcome vanish when you use it in the real world . Light is even , floods across a wide sphere , yet still fall stuff and nonsense up several hundred yards aside . Its total range is pendant on condition — light contamination , how light of smoke or fog the air is — but is able of reaching basically anything you ’d expect to be within useful ocular image during the day .
2.5 hours of continuous surgical process on high may not sound huge , but this is n’t a lighting you get out on for several hours while you fix a broken down motorcar or something . It ’s a specific shaft for a specific job — shoot a line shit up with light — and as such you use it sparingly . And in that use , 2.5 hours is much , much , much more than you ’ll ever require . In the two months I ’ve been play with it , I ’ve only charged it once .
The onboard charger and micro - USB plug make charge the X3R a breeze . I keep mine in my machine , which has two USB porthole .
The included battery will last over 1,000 empty - to - full charges , but costs only $ 20 to replace .
The quality with which the X3R is made exceeds my expectations , even for a FourSevens mathematical product . The square threads are perfectly oppose , leading to pantry screwing and the character - 3 aircraft grade aluminum structure just feel implausibly solid . square India rubber oxygen - anchor ring give it IPX-8 level waterproofness ; it ’s not a dive light , but it ’ll survive years of abuse in the worst weather ground can throw at it .
The Bad
Necessitates the carry of another , more practical light for daily miniature tasks . I keep a 138 lumenMaraca AAAon my keychain and carry aFourSevens Atom LR2 headlampoutdoors . The headlamp ’s 5 lm low is my most - used source of light ; that ’s just the proper amount for shed light on a trail or working on something close - by without dim yourself .
While the crenelated bezel focuses full point of impact and the amply knurled and coarse-textured body provides good traction ; the X3R is ring on too small to be of much use as an impingement artillery . Sorry pig , but you ’ll be better off with your old 4xD - mobile phone MagLite for beating up civilians .
Looking at the lighter on high will temporarily blind you and even get a coup d’oeil of it will leave red spots in your vision for an hour or more . That further throttle its practicality day - to - day and made shot photos of it for this reassessment a bitch . I ’m seeing dapple as a write .
Should I Buy It?
Are you a police officer or soldier looking for the brightest hand-held lightness possible ? If yes , then utterly ; the X3R will outgo your first moment for timber and longevity and exceed your pauperization for brightness , runtime and relief of charging . All for just $ 120 .
Are you a normal person who just wants a bright flashlight ? Shop for a lineament 2xAAA or 2xAA light-emitting diode torch instead;our lead flashlight purchaser ’s guidewill show you how . That data format is simply much more portable and bring forth a much more useful range of light .
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