On the table today for review is this new Nitecore – the P22R. It’s a tactical light, with quite a rounded out package, even including a hard belt holster. Read on for some testing!

Official Specs and Features

Here’s a link to the official product page.

Versions

Just the one version.

Price

This light goes for $109.95 on NitecoreStore.com (referral link.)

Short Review

This is a neat light, with quite an impressive package. I like the USB-C addition, and the cover for it is novel and clever. Overall the light is longer than I’d like, but the switch and paddle switch work nicely. The hard holster is good, and allows full operation of the light.

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

Nitecore P22R Flashlight

18650 to CR123x2 adapter

Lanyard

Charge cable (USB to USB-C)

Spare o-ring

Nitecore NL1835HP 3500mAh 18650

Pocket clip

Hard plastic belt holster

Lanyard

Manual etc

Package and Manual

Build Quality and Disassembly

The build quality is typical Nitecore quality. It’s very good.

The light is long though, so you’ll want to consider that.

A bit of cooling around the head.

The tailcap is also surprisingly long – really it’s where the bulk of the length becomes “extra”. The tailcap houses the charge port, and the dual switch.

The threads are unanodized, which does mean that mechanical lockout is not possible. Actually it’s kind of interesting – the thread setup does the opposite of a lockout in this light. When the cap is tightened, it works like you’d expect (ie both switches operate normally). When you back the tailcap off just a little with the light on, both switches stop doing anything, and the light stays on. Maybe that’s a feature, but it’s certainly unusual. Not a problem though, because that’s not anything you’d do accidentally.

Both head and tail get thick springs, as you’d expect on a tactical light.

Size and Comps

Length 152.8 mm / 6.01 in

Head Size 31.8 mm / 1.25 in

Weight 136 g / 4.79 oz

Retention and Carry

The holster is probably going to be the main or preferred way to carry this light. It features prominently in the branding and packaging. It’s a very big, very adequate holster. It attaches to the belt, and will generally allow bezel down carry. Both the bezel and the switches are accessible while the light is in the holster.

There’s also this very thick pocket clip.

This clip can go in any of three places, reasonably allowing bezel up or down carry on a belt. The clip is a friction fit clip, and is quite thick.

The holster may be used even while the pocket clip is in place.

Note below how the light fits very specifically into the holster.

The belt area of the holster is adjustable, ostensibly for different sized belts.

Power and Runtime

The P22R is powered by a single 18650 cell. The package from NitecoreStore includes a capable 3500mAh Nitecore branded 18650.

Also included is a 18650 to CR123x2 adapter.

Below, see a couple of runtimes. Output doesn’t quite hit the spec, but it’s just about within the 10% window that I consider reasonable based on my test setup. There is no hard shutoff for LVP, but the output steps down to a useless PWM-y area, so you’ll certainly notice that the cell should be charged.

High output is extremely well regulated.

Also included is charging via USB-C. The port cover is built into the light (so you won’t lose it), and just twists over the port and back. It’s very smooth.

Nitecore includes a cable – USB to USB-C. I presume this means USB-C to USB-C (and Power Delivery) isn’t a feature of this light…. and based on the charge rate that’s probably right.

The charge rate is “slow” but probably “right” for an 18650. One amp charging is plenty for an 18650.

During charging, the indicator blinks. When charging is complete, the indicator is solid blue.

Charging the light also disables output (even if the light was on before connection.) When removed from charging, the light will resume the previous mode.)

Note: when a cell is installed, a little blue indicating led beside the switches indicates the cell voltage. The indicator blinks the ones, then the tenths after a pause. So 3 blinks, pause, 2 blinks is a cell voltage of 3.2V. (For CR123x2, the voltage indication is an average.)

Modes and Currents

Mode Mode Claimed Output (lm) Claimed Runtime Measured Lumens Tailcap Amps Turbo 1800 30m 1612 – High 380 3h30m 423 – Mid 75 18h – Low 1 250h – –

Sorry, but I can’t measure tailcap amps in unusual button setups like this. I did try to trick it, but was unable.

PWM

No PWM to be 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 P22R. The on/off is a mechanical, very proud, button. There’s also a paddle switch, which is flush with the edge of the tailcap (unusual). But it is a paddle switch; see the hinge on the side, below:

There are three mode groups on the P22R: Daily Mode, Law Enforcement Mode, and Tactical Mode. To switch between these groups, turn the light off then loosen the tailcap. Hold the Mode (paddle) button and tighten the tailcap. The emitter will blink to show the selected group, as follows:

1 blink: Tactical Mode

2 blinks: Law Enforcement Mode

3 blinks: Daily Mode

Tactical Mode: only Turbo and Strobe are available. Turbo is always memorized. Short press paddle to activate Strobe – short press it again to get back to Turbo.

Law Enforcement Mode: Only Mid, Turbo, and Strobe are available. Turbo is always memorized. Pressing “Mode” switches between Mid and Turbo. Long press the paddle to activate Strobe – short press it to get back to Turbo.

Daily modes is fairly standard, and covered in the table.

State Action Result Off Click Power Button (PB) On (Last used mode (including Strobe!)) On Click PB Off On Click MB (Mode Button, the paddle) Mode advance (LMHT) Off Click MB Strobe (Momentary) On Hold MB Strobe (steady) Strobe Click MB Return to last used mode

LED and Beam

The emitter in this light is a CREE XHP35 HD. That emitter is surrounded by a medium depth, smooth reflector.

Notice the bezel – there are very unusual little… bearings? in three places on this bezel. They aren’t removable, nor is the bezel.

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

Tint vs BLF-348 (Killzone 219b version)

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

Conclusion

What I like

Robust package, including holster and cell

High capacity cell

Many mode groups

Battery voltage check

USB-C charging

What I don’t like

Light is [too] long

USB-C charging is not well taken advantage of (no PD)

Notes

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

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