Here’s a light that is “another in the series” so in many ways this is a review you can already sort of expect. On the other hand this is the first of the series of FW type lights to be right angle! This is the HL3A, and I’ve had this review done for a while and waiting on the official product page. That’s up, so here’s this review!

Official Specs and Features

Here’s a link to the official product page.

Versions

There’s just one body, but a few (at least?) emitter options. There are two emitter temperature options in the Cree XP-L HI emitter. Cool white (seen here), and Neutral white. Also available is a Luminus SST20 (4000K), and a Nichia 219c 4000K option.

Price

The MSRP is $54.95. It’s available at LumintopOnline store. And here’s a 25% off coupon! TOPHF25

Short Review

This is a great headlamp. If you need a headlamp with Anduril in an 18650 triple emitter format, then this is a good one!

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).

*Both these measurements appear very low because they’re taken at 30s. At startup, the light does hit the 2800 lumen claim, and no doubt also hits the throw measurement. But only at startup, and only for a few seconds.

What’s Included

Lumintop HL3A Headlamp

Pocket clip

Headband

Spare o-rings (2)

Manual etc

Package and Manual

Build Quality and Disassembly

Pretty typical build quality from Lumintop, which is to say good. The design is sort of interesting but not all that unusual anymore. It’s very much a right-angle light.

The emitter and whatnot stick out dramatically from the body/cell tube.

The knurling is good, and different from more usual Lumintop lights – much more defined in this case.

Branding on the tailcap can be seen below, as well as (surprise) a serial number!

The head can be removed for cell swaps, but it’s maybe not an ideal scenario….

The threads on the head are unanodized. This does mean that mechanical lockout isn’t really possible. Also the cell tube is one piece – the very end of the tailcap does not come off.

The threads here are also quite long, so lots of twisting required. They’re nice threads, though. Square cut, and smooth.

Both head and tail have a spring. There’s a magnet in the tail end.

The head comes off in a nice little compartmentalized flashlighty bit.

Size and Comps

Size: 23.8 mm Ø head x 81 mm length x 23.5mm Ø tube.

Weight: Approximately 54 g without cells

Retention and Carry

This is a “headlamp” but as much as that it’s a “right angle light” because it works well either way. Works as well either way.

The headband is good, and of course the best because it’s orange. Silicone and stretchy, so the light slips in easily.

The headband isn’t directional – the light will go in either way. That could suit right- or left-handed users.

Again, the head may be removed while in the headband, but it’s not really ideal to do it this way. Too much stretching on the stretchy parts. (Also just generally cumbersome.

There’s also a pocket clip. The friction fit pocket clip is ok – it has come off during use once. It may not be used at the same time as the headband, though.

There’s also a lanyard hole in the tailcap.

AND a magnet! Which is very strong, and plenty strong to hold the light securely. I think if you have the right tools, you could remove the magnet (by removing the spring).

Power and Runtime

This is an 18650 light. Since the threads are unanodized and make electrical contact themselves, any type 18650 should work fine. Since it’s an Anduril light, and thus has a FET for turbo, you’ll get better performance out of an unprotected 18650, with high discharge capability. I’ve tested here with the cell seen below, a Vapcell G26 2600mAh 18650.

A couple of runtimes below. I did not calibrate the light for temperature settings, because I don’t think most users will, nor do I think most users should have to. So what you see is what you’ll get, and what you can expect.

Notably the initial output IS what Lumintop claims, but at 30 seconds it’s stepped down dramatically (though, still not at the bottom of the step).

High steps down too, and to around the same output as Turbo. Shutoff voltage on this run was 2.97V (I’ll have to add that back to the graph, sorry).

Modes and Currents

Mode Mode Claimed Output (lm) Claimed Runtime Measured Lumens Tailcap Amps 1 – – 683 7.5 [FET] 2 – – 455 2.46 3 – – 606 1.49 4 – – 355 0.87 5 – – 179 0.42 6 – – 84 0.21 7 – – 33 0.08 8 – – – 0.02

PWM

There’s PWM on all modes but the top two, but that’s no surprise for Anduril.

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

This is an Anduril light. There’s a metal button e-switch on one end. I didn’t measure but I’d expect this button is the same size and shape and everything as the FW3A etc buttons.

The button itself is metal (with that rubber cover under), and has a very minimal amount of travel (1mm or less). Despite being a very big switch, it’s possible to actuate from anywhere on the surface – even the tiniest fingernail on the very edge will still work.

Anduril is well Ddocumented here. So this is mostly going to be a copy and paste from other posts.

Here’s a UI table anyway!

State Action Result Off Hold On (Low) Off Click On (Mode Memory) Off Click 2x Highest Hybrid Mode Off Click 3x Blinkie Mode Group Off Click 4x Lockout Off Click 5x Momentary Off Click 6x Muggle Off Click, Click, Hold Strobe Group (Mode Memory Strobe) Strobe Group Click 2x Strobe Cycle (Candle > Bike Flasher > Party Strobe > Tactical Strobe > Lightning Storm) Blinkie Mode Group Click 2x Blinke Cycle (Sunset > Beacon > TempCheck > BattCheck) On Click 3x Switch between Stepped and Smooth Ramp On Click 4x Ramp Configuration TempCheck Click 4x Thermal Configuration Beacon Click 4x Beacon Configuration Lockout Click 4x Off Strobe Group Click Off (Basically) On Click Off Candle Click 3x 30 minute timer to off Strobe Group Hold Heighten selected mode (Make faster or brighter) Strobe Group Click, Hold Lessen selected mode (Make slower or dimmer) On Click 2x FET Turbo Ramp Configuration [Wait for Single flash] Click N time for level N. Selection of the “Low” you like best by clicking 1, 2, 3, etc. where 1, 2, 3, etc are different levels of low. Ramp Configuration [Wait for Second flash] Click N time for 1+Turbo-N. Selection of the “Ceiling” you like best by clicking 1, 2, 3, etc. where 1, 2, 3, etc are different Ceiling levels. Ramp Configuration [Wait for Third flash] Click for how many steps you want in Stepped mode. Sets Number of Steps. Thermal Configuration [Wait for First flash] Click for N times for N degrees C. Displays Current Temperature. Thermal Configuration [Wait for Second flash] Click for N times for 30C + N. Sets Temperature Limit. Beacon Configuration [Wait for First flash] Click for N times N seconds per flash Sets Beacon Speed.

LED and Beam

The emitters here are three Cree XP-L HI. I love this emitter in general, but the temperature here is cool white, which is not my favorite.

The TIR optic is described as “standard” which likely just means it’s a Carclo optic, but does not state which degree it is (narrow, medium, or flood).

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!

Conclusion

What I like

Good headlamp version of the FW series of lights

Extreme output at startup

Good build quality (it’s on par or better than usual Lumintops, I think).

Anduril is very configurable

What I don’t like

This one is CW (but NW should be available)

Difficulty removing the head while in the headband

Clip and headband can’t be used at the same time

Notes

This light was provided by Lumintop 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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