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Brightest Rechargeable EDC Flashlight Review
In this review article are 2 of the brightest rechargeable EDC flashlights on the market today.
I take a look at the style, design and build quality. The battery, LED type and performance. Plus an overview of each flashlight as a package.
Both of the flashlights come with a rechargeable 5000mAh battery. In terms of illumination, the brightest is the Nitecore at 4400 lumens, the least powerful is the WowTac at 3650 lumens.
In real life usage there isn’t a great deal between the 2 as they’re both super powerful flashlights, so I wouldn’t get too focused on the lumens and make a decision on which you prefer overall in terms of design and features.
Let’s now take a look at both flashlights.
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Last update on 2024-10-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
WOWTAC A5 Super Bright Flashlight
Last update on 2024-10-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
I’ll start off with the lowest price flashlight, the WowTac A5. It comes with a 5000mAh rechargeable battery, a USB 2 amp charging cable, lanyard, plus an instruction manual.
Design and build quality
The body is the same diameter along the length of the body, with no tapering. It’s quite a thick barrel shaped body with the diameter being 1.37in/35mm. The head is slightly narrower at 1.27in/32.5mm. It does fit in the palm of your hand well and feels comfortable to hold.
The USB charging port is located in the head of the flashlight and is protected by a rubberised cover that’s easy to release and press back into place.
The head has a grey bezel around the edge and the mode button is finished with a grey inner bevel surround. The button is raised from the body so it makes it easier to locate when wearing gloves.
The waterproof rating is IPX-8. Submersible to 2 metres.
LED and reflector
Taking a close look at the business end of the flashlight you’ll notice a nice textured reflector that fits neatly around the inside of the bezel.
Illumination is provided by the Cree XHP70.2 LED. Take a look at the link if you’d like to view the data sheet for the LED. In essence the 70.2 has a longer lifetime at higher operating temperatures than its predecessor.
Contact points
Access to the battery compartment is via both the tail and the head of the body. The tail end is fairly stiff when straight out the box.
The threads on the head section do have a small amount of grease applied which makes it easier and is going to be the prefered way to open the flashlight body I would suggest.
The head has a large straight contact point, so no problems there. The tails contact point has a heavy duty dual spring design which is great to see as this ensures a more stable electrical current.
Battery
WowTac have included in the package the 26650 Lithium ion rechargeable battery. This is an ideal battery for a high powered flashlight.
The battery will handle low discharge rates, plus a high number of charging cycles with ease. A great addition to the package in my view.
The battery is protected so it does measure slightly longer than a standard 26650 battery.
Take a look at the runtimes above.
Flashlight user interface
You’ll hear the term “UI” mentioned a lot in flashlight terms, which is short for user interface. In this case it simply refers to the press button that operates the various modes of the flashlight.
Battery status is displayed on the UI button using 2 colors. Red for charging and blue denotes fully charged.
Press and hold to cycle through the 6 outputs. If you want turbo instantly just double press. During turbo mode press and hold to return to the previous mode.
Summary
This may not be some people’s idea of an EDC flashlight as it’s on the large side for an everyday carry. It all depends on what your intended use is.
The output is very impressive in high mode at 1750 lumens and turbo mode is super high at 3650 lumens. Runtime in turbo mode at around 3 minutes, the body does get very hot.
The beam is more flooded, but does have a good distance of around 234 metres.
If you’re looking for a relatively low cost high output flashlight that fits just about into the EDC category then the WowTac A5 makes a sensible choice.
Last update on 2024-10-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
NITECORE E4K 4400 Lumen EDC Flashlight
Last update on 2024-10-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The next flashlight to take a look at now is the Nitecore E4K. Output is at 4400 lumens which is incredible for its size.
Inside the packaging box you’ll find a lanyard, warranty card, belt clip, a double stitched holster, USB charging cable, plus a spare O-ring.
Also included is a CR123 adapter to allow you to run those batteries, which is a nice touch in my view.
Design and build quality
In terms of size the Nitecore is more akin to an EDC flashlight. It’s a compact unit measuring 117.56 mm / 4.62 inches in length for the body.
The mid section of the body has some good quality knurling for grip which works well and plenty of heat sinking at the head and tail end also.
The UI is large and easy to find when wearing gloves, it too also has some nice knurling patterns.
Machining and finish
As with almost all Nitecore products, the E4K is made to a high standard. The machining and finish is top notch on this flashlight.
LED and reflector
4 Cree XP-L2 LEDs provide illumination, the reflector is an SMO type also known as smooth which gives a greater throw compared to OP reflectors.
Contact points
Unscrew the tail end and you’ll find a single heavy duty spring as a contact point. The head of the light has a straight contact point with no spring.
Battery
Supplied with the E4K is a 5000mAh protected battery. A quick check made on the current running into the USB charge point read at 1 amp, this means the 20A battery will take a while to charge which is a bit of a minus point. Overall the battery is fit for purpose and shouldn’t have any problems.
Flashlight user interface
The UI is a little tricky at first, it soon becomes second nature to operate. Press, hold and release the button to select the first mode which is moonlight. From there press and hold again takes you to the highest output, then release takes you back a mode.
Overall there’s all the modes you’d expect from an EDC flashlight. It’s possible to program additional modes for tactical uses, which is a nice feature to have.
Summary
Having the tactical programmable option is a really nice feature. The size of the E4K makes it an ideal choice for everyday carry.
The only minus point I can think of is, as mentioned earlier is the slow charge time. Having said that the run times are very good. The E4K is definitely one to consider adding to your EDC pouch.
Last update on 2024-10-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
EDC & Tactical Gear
