5W Output bright to 300 lumens.
Internal wiring applies the high efficient booster circuit, working voltage is wide and can utilize the batteries in the largest extent.
Water-resistant design.
Aluminum alloy casing.
Aluminum alloy reflector.
3 switch Mode: Strong Brightness / Normal Brightness / Flashing.
Model of Battery required: 1 x 18650 3.7v.
Color : Black.
External Dimension : 140mm x 40mm x 24mm.
Weight : 165g or 3.9 ounces.
Nylon Holster with metal clasps and belt loop for secure transport.
Owner Reviews, Ratings, Comments and Criticism
Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF): This is an amazingly powerful flashlight with a well focused central beam, good clean spillover illumination, great value, and a pain in the butt control interface. I was impressed enough to buy 4 lights to keep around my AZ ranch.
Details: I am an Electronics Engineer and a flashlight "nerd" - owning generations of lights from many manufacturers including Streamlight, Pelican, Dorsey, Fenix, MagLite, Surefire, etc. Although I lack the test equipment to confirm the MXDL CREE's 300 lumen claim, I've compared it to "brand name" flashlights costing many times more and it clearly holds its own.
The light is marked "Waterproof" and "USA" - although I highly doubt this is made in the United States. I've not tested the waterproof claim, but the unit has O-ring seals, well fitting threads, and appears very well made. While it might not survive a SCUBA diving adventure to 50' depths, it should not be bothered by a heavy rain or getting dropped in a puddle. It has a good gripping surface (non-slip), a solid feel (not cheap), and a semi roll-resistant tail cap.
This light is amazing bright, with a well focused central beam transitioning quickly (with minimal ringing or donuts) to a consistent side "spillover" beam having a radius approximately 4.5 times that of the center beam diameter. The spillover beam is very clean with minimal spots, shadows, defects, or reflections. The light's color is very white, especially when compared to older tungsten and LED emitters.
I've not conducted a "run down" test to verify battery life under continuous ON conditions, but I have been using the light a lot around my ranch for over a month with the original 18650 3000 mAH battery charged only once when the light arrived. I've noticed no decrease in light output. Before writing this review, I swapped back and forth between the used and a freshly charged battery without perceptible difference.
This unit's only significant weakness is the 4-mode rear button control. The modes are: OFF - HIGH - LOW - STROBE. You switch between the three powered modes by either partially or fully depressing the tail-cap switch (as in turning the light off). Fully depressing the switch always turns the unit on or off.
The MXDL CREE lacks "memory" to return to the last mode it was in. Thus, if using the light in HIGH mode and you press the control fully to turn it off, the next time you turn it on, it will come up in LOW mode. If you turn off the light while in LOW, the next power on cycle will come up in STROBE mode, etc. I've developed a habit of always quickly partially pressing the button twice before fully clicking it fully to turn off - that way it returns to the mode I was last using on the next power up cycle.
Another lesser weakness is the lack of a "momentary on" feature as recommended and taught by many tactical firearm academies. In other words, you cannot partially depress the switch to turn on the light only while pressure is applied and turn it off by releasing said pressure.
Pros:
- Small single cell (18650) light the same size as typical 2 cell CR-123 lights.
- Extremely bright, very white, well focused center beam with no significant defects, hot spots, or shadows. Tested against $135 240 lumen lights and meets or beats them.
- Center beam carries well over 125 yards with enough light to clearly spot coyote-sized targets on a moonless desert night.
- A "perfect" amount of spillover illuminates the area surrounding the central beam with enough light to identify a target and allow you to direct the central beam to it. The spillover illumination at 35 yards against white garage doors on a moonless night appeared as bright as the center of a 75 lumen narrow-beam light.
- Rotating the light along it long axis shows a few minor shadows in the spillover pattern, but nothing distracting or bad enough to allow a target to go unseen.
- Decent wrist strap and case provided.
- Battery life is very impressive with good cells.
- Incredible value!
Cons:
- The rear button control interface is frustrating as described above.
- No instructions or warranty paperwork. Remove the tail cap, insert the positive end of the battery toward the LED, replace the tail cap.
Note: Another reviewer states this light unscrews in the middle. That is not correct for the 4 lights I purchased from Amazon.com; they open at the tail cap.
In summary, this is the most flashlight I've ever purchased for the money. While I dislike the idiotic tail-cap control, for $16 plus the cost of good batteries, this light is without equal so far (but I'm always looking).
