Top positive review
5.0 out of 5 starsUpdated: light is bright twice as much. Needs 18650 batteries and charger when ordering this light
Reviewed in the United States on March 15, 2017
Update: July 2019
Light is still going strong. No issues after 2 years. They lowered thr price since I bought my two light. They are down to $39 each. Avery good price for what you get.
This review is for the ThruNite TN12 2016 XP-L Neutral White EDC LED Flashlight...
For the price this is the best deal going. It performs as good as lights costing twice as much.
Color Tint: I prefer neutral white (NW) and thus one is truly NW.
Brightness:
-I do not have a way to test actual lumens, but from my experience with other lights verified by those that do have the means to verify lumens, this light is definitely a +1000 lumen light.
Output Levels:
-are well spaced from 2-5. 1 to level 2 jumps quite a bit due to level 1 being firefly mode. Firefly is truly a low level light that is very useful for getting up in the middle of the night for a munchy or latrine break. I have other lights with low level outputs that are brighter than they need to be. This one is just perfect when going from just woke up, to you are now in the bathroom.
Throw/Flood/Spotlight:
-the beam throws a nice hot spot with a good deal of flood light. It makes searching an area much easier than lights which use a spotlight with minimal flood.
-the beam cannot be adjusted but thanks to the design of the reflectors, you get good center brightness and the flood covers your peripheral vision areas quite nicely.
Build Quality/Strength:
-the quality of the metal is obviously very good. The knurling could be a bit more aggressive. I plan on putting non-skid tape on several contact spots
--Tail cap has flanges that protect the on/off button and also allow the flashlight to be stood on its end. The flanges also have slots for attaching lanyards/wrist straps if desired. The flashlight comes with one that I like.
NOTE: the tail cap appears to be the weakest link with this flashlight. I am comparing the TN12
against the Fenix PD35Tac. The TN12 rubber cover seems a little thinner and the button
not as robust. Not a deal breaker by any means. I am trusting the warranty to have my
back on this point.
--The threading on both ends of the body are well machined and thread smoothly. O-rings are snugly fitted.
--The lens material is very sturdy and should withstand very rough treatment
Ergonomics:
-I find the length of the light to be a perfect fit in MY hand. When gripped, the level change button is directly under my thumb.
-The ribbed areas are right where they need to be to feel comfortable and to provide additional grip
-I do not use the clip that came with the light. They tend to make flashlights uncomfortable to hold.
I read several reviews where the owners had trouble with the light build/defects. I will update this review if I have any troubles or discover more positives.
The old saying "you get what you pay for" does not apply as much these days. Many American products are over priced or crippled so you have to buy the next more expensive version. I am talking minor improvements, not evolutionary improvements. Many lights such as SureFire sell lights with only one level of brightness and have the nerve to charge as much as other lights having at least 3 levels of lighting. If I received value for the money I spend, I would buy more American products. I do not see the value for the dollar spent for many (not all) American products.
This light is in the quality and brightness levels as the Fenix PD35 TAC for almost half the price. I own the PD 35 Tac and like it, but would have bought the TN12 2016 had I discovered it first. This light does not have a tactical mode but most users do not need or use this mode.