Here’s a Klarus light with a dual switch (including one paddle switch) and a 18650 cell with charging. A pretty neat little 18650 light. Read on for some testing!

Official Specs and Features

Here’s a link to the official product page.

Versions

Only this one.

Price

These are going for $49.95 on amazon! That’s a referral link.

Short Review

This is a nice light, with the optic that allows for an overall shorter body. I don’t like that the paddle switch prevents tailstanding, but I still like the paddle switch overall. And generally the light performs to spec, so it’s a win to me.

Long Review

The Big Table

* Measurement disclaimer: I am an amateur flashlight reviewer. I don’t have $10,000 or even $1,000 worth of testing equipment. I test output and such in PVC tubes!! Please consider claims within 10% of what I measure to be perfectly reasonable (accurate, even).

What’s Included

Klarus E1 Flashlight

Klarus 2600mAh 18650 (with micro-USB charging)

Lanyard

Charge cable (USB to micro-USB)

Carry Pouch

Manual etc

Package and Manual

Build Quality and Disassembly

Build quality is good.

The paddle switch, along with the mechanical switch, are easily accessible and useful.

The threads on the tail end are very nice. Anodized, square cut, lubed appropriately, and smooth.

There’s a spring on both head and tail, keeping the cell very secured.

The tailcap has reeding, which helps when unscrewing.

Size and Comps

• Dimensions: φ23mm(0.91″) Head x φ22.8mm(0.90″) Body x 105.1mm(4.14″) Length

• Weight: 50.5g(1.78oz)

Retention and Carry

One thing I really like about this light is the clip. Nice big mouth, good deep shoulder, and also full bezel-level deep.

The carry is bezel-up only, and the clip is not reversible. It’s a friction fit clip, so it’s easily removable.

The clip orientation does mean that this can be a reasonable hatlight.

And there’s the pouch too, but that doesn’t have any loops or anything. Basically good for carry in a bag or the like.

Power and Runtime

The E1 is powered by a single 18650, which is included.

The included cell has a plastic collar around the positive terminal – a button top of sorts. To be sure I’m not actually sure what purpose this serves, because the cell charges fine in the chargers I tested it with. However, the light will not work with button top 18650s, and will also not work with flat top 18650s. So the plastic shroud mentioned and seen above simply allows this cell to work in this light. Nothing more, and the light will not work without it, so that’s a massive downside.

The cell goes into the light in the “normal” way. Positive terminal toward the head.

Here are a couple of runtimes. The light performs well, meeting spec. The stepdown after the initial 1000 on High really is quite dramatic, but still around 450 lumens. The light switched to very low output when the voltage was low.

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The cell also has charging, via micro-USB. A cable is included.

Charging is fairly good at around 1A at a maximum, and around 3.5 hours before charging stops.

Modes and Currents

I wasn’t able to test the tailcap currents, because of the way the tailcap integrates into the operation.

Mode Mode Claimed Output (lm) Claimed Runtime Measured Lumens Tailcap Amps High 1000 2h 967 – Medium 400 4.6h 369 – Low 100 20h 94 – Moonlight 2 600h – –

PWM

No PWM is seen.

For reference, here’s a baseline shot, with all the room lights off and almost nothing hitting the sensor. And here’s the worst PWM light I have ever owned. Also one of the very first lights I ordered directly from China!

User Interface and Operation

There are two switches on the E1, and they’re both on the tail end. One’s a common mechanical switch, and is very proud. The other is a paddle e-switch, and occupies half a side of the tailcap, so is also easily accessible.

Here can be seen why the light will not tailstand in any way shape or form. But also why the switches are so easy to access.

I do not dislike these switches at all. I tend to like paddle switches, and I think this is a good implementation, too.

There are two mode groups. Tactical, and Outdoor. The E1 ships in Outdoor mode. Switching between the groups is as follows: With the light off, hold the mode switch (the paddle) for 5s. The indicator will flash red and green. While still holding the mode switch, click the primary switch.

Tactical is fairly simple: Click the primary switch for High, and the Mode switch for Strobe. Both can be momentary or steady. For steady on the paddle, hold it for 2s. When the light is on, clicking the mode switch cycles from High to Moonlight.

Here’s a UI table for Outdoor mode!

State Action Result Off Click Primary Switch (PS) On (Mode Memory) On Click PS Off Off Click Mode Switch (MS) Moonlight (Click for momentary, hold for steady) On Click MS Mode advance (Moonlight to High) On Cycle modes, then hold for 3s SOS

There is no electronic lockout – but loosening the tailcap very slightly will mechanically lock the light.

LED and Beam

Under this interesting TIR optic, is a Cree XP-L HI. In this case, it’s a 6500K temperature emitter.

I like this style optic. I first saw it in some very tiny Fenix lights. I believe overall this style optic is “shorter”, and so lights can shave off a few mm using this. And I happen to really like the beam profile!

The press fit or screwed in bezel mean that no light escapes when the light stands on its head.

These beamshots are always with the following settings: f8, ISO100, 0.3s shutter, and manual 5000K exposure.

Tint vs BLF-348 (Killzone 219b version)

Test light is on the left.

I compare everything to the Killzone 219b BLF-348, because it’s inexpensive and has the best tint!

Random Comparisons and Competitive Options….

Here’s a link to a relevantly filtered page on parametrek.com. I use that site a lot!

Conclusion

What I like

Complete package

Dual switch interface is easy to understand

Pretty good price for a complete package

Nice deep carry clip

Potential for use as a long-lasting hatlight

Dual group UI (Tactical and Outdoor)

What I don’t like

6500K emitter

Requires proprietary cell (with the shroud on the positive terminal)

No tailstanding

Notes

This light was provided by Klarus for review. I was not paid to write this review.

This content originally appeared at zeroair.org. Please visit there for the best experience!

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