Klarus XT1C Tactical Flashlight Review

The Klarus XT1C Tactical Flashlight uses a single 16340 cell and has a Cree XP-L HI emitter. Read on for thoughts!

---

Official Specs and Features

Here’s a link to the Klarus XT1C Tactical flashlight product page.

Features:
• All-new upgraded edition. Compact design; superb functionality; industry-leading patented features
• Newest CREE XP-L HI V3 LED; 700 Lumen output, light beam reaches over 210 meters;
• Easy Interface: One-Touch Strobe; One-Touch High; One-Touch Low; ITS temperature control; SOS; Quick mode change
• Compact and light (Bezel 25.2mm(0.99″) (D)，Body 23.2mm (0.91″)(D)，Length 85mm(3.35″), Weight 47.5g(1.76oz)，w/o battery
• Patented Dual-Switch Control; One-hand tactile control, an evolution of flashlight UI
• Two Interfaces: Tactical Setting; Outdoor Setting
◇ Tactical Setting: Classic KLARUS XT series control. One-Touch High; One-Touch Strobe; versatile in all tasks
◇ Outdoor Setting: Specially designed for the wilderness. One-Touch Low; One-Touch High; SOS; suitable for all needs in Hiking and Camping
• ITS temperature control, real-time monitor, and auto-adjust output levels to keep the LED and crucial components safe for the best balance of performance and equipment safety
• Constant Current Circuit driven, no flashes and no PWM blinking
• Springs at the bezel and tail resist shock and drop damages
• Reverse Polarity Protection; eliminates damage from incorrect battery installation
• Aero-space Aluminum alloy body with CNC technology; Military spec hard anodizing (HA III); lightweight and robust
• Monolith bezel design for efficient heat dissipation
• Hardened Mineral Glass lens with AR coating; scratch-resistant

Specifications:
• Utilizes CREE XP-L HI V3 LED with a lifespan of up to 50,000 hours
• Classic Tactical Setting as factory default
• Working voltage: 2.0V-4.2V
• Compatible Batteries: 1x 16340 battery or 1 x CR123A battery
• Reflector: Smooth reflector
• Switch type: Dual Tactical Tail Switch
• Dimension: (Head)25.2mm(0.99″) × (Body)23.2mm(0.91″) × (Length) 85mm(3.35″)
• Net weight: 47.5 g(1.67oz) (Excluding battery)
• Material: Aero-space Aluminum alloy 6061-T6; Military spec hard anodizing (HA III)
• Waterproof: IPX-8 (underwater 2 metres)
• Lens: Toughened ultra-clear glass with anti-corrosion AR coating

Mode	Output (lm)	Runtime
High	700	50m
Medium	100	3h
Low	5	53h
Strobe	700	1h40m
SOS	100	9h

Versions

Just one version! This is an update to the older version, though (also named the XT1C). So be sure which you’re buying when you buy!

---

Short Review

I love this light for its “Outdoor” mode (the non-tactical group), because I love the momentary access to Low. It’s also a sturdy light, and the size is very good.

Long Review

The Big Table

Klarus XT1C
Emitter:	Cree XP-L HI (V3)
Price in USD at publication time:	?
Cell:	1×16340
Runtime
LVP?	?
Switch Type:	Dual
On-Board Charging?	No
Claimed Lumens (lm)	700
Claimed Throw (m)	210
Candela (Calculated) in cd (at 30s)	650lux @ 3.876m = 9765cd
Throw (Calculated) (m)	197.6 (94.1% of claim)^
All my Klarus reviews!

^ Measurement disclaimer: Testing flashlights is my hobby. I use hobbyist-level equipment for testing, including some I made myself. Try not to get buried in the details of manufacturer specifications versus measurements recorded here; A certain amount of difference (say, 10 or 15%) is perfectly reasonable.

What’s Included

• Klarus XT1C
• Klarus 16340 700mAh
• Spare o-ring
• Lanyard

Package and Manual

This XT1C comes in a plastic package, much like what Olight uses so often.

There’s a lot of text describing the light and its features, etc., which GearBest covers with their sticker.

The light is held in a plastic tray, and the accessories are in a tiny box at the bottom of the package. The manual is one long fold-out affair.

“XT,” by the way, stands for “eXtreme Tactical”. Yes, yes it does.

Build Quality, Disassembly, and Durability

I have been quite pleased with the build quality of this light, though I should have expected it. All my other Klarus lights have been great; this one is too. The knurling is of the “pineapple” variety (like the Mecarmy PT16, but less rounded).

The switches are “protected” by some tailcap parts, which also allow for tailstanding. The threads are not anodized, but are big and square-cut. I like anodized threads – I think they’re harder to damage by careless threading. But these are beefy enough that I never really felt like I was about to damage them. The clip is a spring clip, and is the ‘new standard’ – though in this case it’s decidedly not my favorite. The quality is fine, though. There are springs on both ends: the head has a gold (colored?) spring, and the tailcap has a thick double spring. For a tactical light, this seems like a must.

Bad news as far as disassembly goes, however. I don’t see much access to either end of the light. The driver looks to be press-fit. So if you aren’t in love with XP-L HI, then there might be better options out there. The tailcap does look to unscrew, but I was not able to unscrew it. It’s feasible that the head will also unscrew from the driver, but again, I wasn’t able to budge that.

This light held up to my normal everyday set of abuses just fine. All the switches actuate very well, and nothing gave even a little.

Size

As I measured:

Head: 23mm
Tail: 23.69mm
Length: 84.86mm

It’s not the smallest 16340 light available, but as a tactical light (ie, dual switch), it’s a good size. There’s definitely not enough room for an 18350. For holding in one’s hand the way you see people hold a light when also holding a gun, this length of light is almost necessary. So it’s impossible to deduct any points whatsoever for the length.

Retention

The pocket clip comes installed and is the ubiquitous spring clip.

Nothing special, and nothing bad about the clip itself. I do not care for its location on the body, unfortunately. It is too central, not allowing for good, deep carry. It’s generally bezel up, too, though it can be reversed (and then it’s even higher in the pocket!). I haven’t had it tip out and get lost.

There’s a simple lanyard. The kind that doesn’t have a bunch of extra bits and isn’t easily broken. The lanyard connects to the tailcap, though it could also connect through a hole in the pocket clip if you wish.

Power

Power is through a single 16340 cell, and a 700mAh 16340 is generously provided! CR123As will work, of course. 18350’s will not fit, as the tube is just big enough for 16340 cells. There is no onboard charging. I believe this is a protected cell, but I don’t see that verbiage on the cell or documentation.

I have to say, the inclusion of a 16340 is a very nice touch, especially on a light that doesn’t have onboard charging.

Runtime cutoffs: 2.54V for High, and 2.85V for Medium.

User Interface and Operation

There are two tailswitches – one with a rubber boot, and one with a rubber boot and a paddle switch. The non-paddle is the “power” switch, and the paddle switch is the “mode” switch.

There are also two mode groups on this light. The first (and default) is the “Tactical” setting. The other is an “Outdoor” setting.

Tactical Group:

State	Action	Result
Off	Primary Click	High
Off	Mode	Momentary Strobe
Off	Mode Hold	Strobe (constant)
On	Primary Click	Off
On	Mode Click	Mode cycle (H>M>L)
On	Mode Hold	Strobe (constant)

Outdoor Group:

State	Action	Result
Off	Primary Click	High
Off	Mode	Momentary Low
Off	Mode Hold	Low (constant)
On	Primary Click	Off
On	Mode Click	Mode cycle (L>M>H)
On	Mode Hold	SOS (constant)

To switch between the mode groups:

1. Have the light on.
2. Hold the primary button (light will go off- keep holding), for 5 seconds.
3. Light will flicker very fast: Click Mode and light will flash 1 (for Tactical) or 2 (for Outdoor).
4. Release after the desired mode flash.

Notes: SOS is only accessible in Outdoor mode.

LED and Beam

The LED is a single Cree XP-L HI V3.

I find it to be a cool XP-L HI, and I’m normally a huge fan of this emitter…. In a tactical light, I don’t think CW is any huge surprise, but I’d still like it to lean toward neutral, since it has the outdoor modes.

The reflector is not too big or deep, but given the size of the light (marginally big for a 16340), there’s plenty of reflector. It’s also a smooth reflector, so the beam is tightly concentrated – there’s a distinct hotspot. The beam is also very smooth – no artifacts to speak of.

I didn’t throw this on my Oscope, but I’m fairly sure I can detect some PWM on the low mode. I’m extremely sensitive to PWM, so I really doubt most people would ever notice it.

Beamshots

These beamshots always have the following settings:  f8, ISO100, 0.3s shutter, and manual 5000K exposure. These photos are taken at floor level, and the beam hits the ceiling around 9 feet away.

Random Comparisons and Competitive Options

As far as my searches go, this is the only tail switch XP-L HI 16340 light. It’s also unique in that it’s the only 16340 light with a paddle switch (that I could find, at least). There are some other “tactical” 16340 lights, however, like the Thrunite Archer 1c V2. That just has a tail clicky (no paddle).

Conclusion

I typically have no huge need for a tactical light, but I like this one for the dual tail switch. I’d like it even more if it weren’t CW, particularly for outdoor applications, but it’s still a fine little light. For tactical purposes, it’s a great size – fitting neatly in the hand and allowing ease-of-access to the switches.

What I like

• Dual Switch
• Momentary paddle switch (particularly Low)
• Versatile UI, including two mode groups

What I don’t like

• Pocket clip
• Cool White tint

Final Thoughts

This is a fun little light. I don’t even need tactical lights, but I happen to really like dual tail switches. That’s new, really – I didn’t use to care for them. But I like the versatility, and I find the modes to be quite easy to more or less just guess without having to commit the user interface to memory. That’s a great feature.

Parting shot

---

Notes

• This light was provided by GearBest for review. I was not paid to write this review.
• This content originally appeared at zeroair.org. Please visit there for the best experience!
• Use my amazon.com referral link if you’re willing to help support making more reviews like this one!
• Please support me on Patreon! I deeply appreciate your support!