Rofis TR18 Flashlight Review
The Rofis TR18 flashlight can twist from forward to right-angle. It uses a Cree XP-L HI emitter and runs on one 16340. Read on!
Official Specs and Features
Here’s a link to the Rofis TR18 flashlight product page.
Versions
There’s really only one version, but that sells the light a little short since it’s quite feature-rich. But just one tint option, and emitter option, and body color, etc.
MSRP
The price is around $50.
Short Review
Quite a nice light, with a good user interface and a nice option to switch between right angle and OTF. And of course, I love some XP-L HI….
Long Review
The Big Table
| Rofis TR18 | |
|---|---|
| Emitter: | Cree XP-L HI (V3) |
| Price in USD at publication time: | $50 |
| Cell: | 1×18650 |
| Turbo Runtime | |
| LVP? | ? |
| Switch Type: | E-switch |
| Quiescent Current (A): | ? |
| On-Board Charging? | No |
| Claimed Lumens (lm) | 1100 |
| Claimed Throw (m) | 136 |
| Candela (Calculated) in cd (at 30s) | 475lux @ 4.23m = 8499cd |
| Throw (Calculated) (m) | 184.4 (135.6% of claim)^ |
| All my Rofis 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
- Rofis TR18
- Pocket clip
- Spare O-ring (2)
- Lanyard
- Detachable magnet tailcap
- Holster
- Manual
(Special note: NOT included is a headband to make this work as a headlamp. Despite what many product shots you see may depict.)
Package and Manual
The package is a cardboard box with no window. There’s a lot of printing, including specs and photos. GearBest includes its inventory sticker right on the back, which obscures whatever the box has printed on the main back portion.
The manual is a long piece of paper with English on one side and Chinese on the back. The manual is comprehensive, describing the user interface, specs, and warranty quite well. It also folds small, in case you are inclined to carry manuals in your pocket.
Build Quality and Disassembly
Like the TR10, the TR18 is quite well built. The anodizing is glossy but doesn’t feel cheap. Honestly, I find it’s a bit of a crapshoot whether matte or glossy anodizing feels cheap or quality. Sometimes glossy feels cheap, sometimes it feels quality. Sometimes matte feels cheap, sometimes quality. Either way, this anodizing feels and looks just fine.
Now, about the angle head. As you can see in the photo there, the head switches to the angle type. The head doesn’t come off; it just twists over. It’s an easy maneuver and doesn’t require locking or anything of the sort. And doesn’t require any special tools, which is nice. Also noteworthy is how useful this feature could be just based on the fact that this light has a magnet in the tailcap – the angled head might let you get the light exactly where you need it, while stuck to something ferrous. The light will work through the full range of motion.
The angled head makes removing the bezel a little difficult. That’s because it’s practically the same motion – unscrewing the bezel requires one to hold the light in the same way as when holding it to turn the light to the angled head. This isn’t a big deal, but something to think about if you were considering an emitter swap.
The threads on the tailcap are unanodized and square-cut. The threads are good threads, but as you can see in that photo, the clip is confounding. More on that later.
Size
As far as 18650 lights go, this isn’t a small light. But with the angle option head, it’s probably “small”. It’s actually a great size and length for carrying in hand and holding. And as a right-angle light too, the TR18 is very comfortable.
The light is 118mm by 24.5mm and 69.5g.
Of course, many other current lights of the 18650 variety are going to be smaller, but most don’t offer the head option.
Retention
The TR18 comes with a pocket clip installed. As on the TR10, the pocket clip is probably my biggest gripe about the light. The clip is nearly in the center of the light, which makes the light very unbalanced when clipped in a pocket. This clip also interferes in a frustrating way when reinstalling the tail cap. The end of the clip deflects the tailcap just enough to make screwing the cap on to these unanodized threads sketchy.
Unlike the TR10, there’s no magnet in the tailcap. There is, however, a 1/4″ threaded connection for use on tripods in the tailcap.
However, there is a magnet available! The magnet “tailcap” actually screws into the 1/4″ threads. Now that’s very clever…. The magnet is a kind of “donut” magnet, with the threads in the center. It’s a nice option to add to this light.
Power
The TR18 is powered by a single 18650. All my use and testing have been with an EVVA-protected button-top 18650. Flat tops will work (there’s a spring on the head and tail end).
Two CR123 batteries may be used as well (per the manual). I’d extrapolate this to mean it’ll also work with two 18350 cells.
The Turbo runtime terminated at 2.56V – soft termination at that. Output was very minimal, and the indicating switch was red. But it was still outputting light.
Note that the stepdown from turbo doesn’t step down to high, but to something much higher than high. Since turbo only lasts for about a minute, this is effectively another mode, almost a Turbo 2 or something.
User Interface and Operation
There’s a single side clicky, and it has an indicating function. It’s a plastic button, and very clicky, but also fairly quiet. I like this button. But it’s a little easy to activate, so when you have the TR18 clipped in your pocket, be aware of where it’s clipped in relation to the button.
The indicating button indicates when the cell gets low, but nothing else. When the cell gets to 2.6V (or lower), the indicating switch will flash red twice per second to let you know to charge that cell.
The user interface is versatile:
| State | Action | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Off | Click | Memory (Excluding strobes and moonlight) |
| Off | Hold | Moonlight |
| Off | Long Hold | Lockout |
| Lockout | Hold | Lockout Off |
| On | Click | Off |
| On | Hold | Cycle modes (UL>L>M>H>T) (Moonlight is excluded) |
| Any | Triple click | Strobe |
| Strobe | Short Hold | Next Strobe (Fast, Beacon, SOS) |
I can honestly say that I like this user interface a lot. I was able to reliably get the mode I wanted without getting bad modes that I didn’t want with very little practice with the light. That said, I’m not sure the light needs this many modes, particularly since the highest two are so visually similar.
Modes
The modes with the TR18 are slightly different than the modes with the TR10. I’m not sure if this one was first, or the TR10, but the TR18 looks better to me. Fewer modes overall, but with smarter spacing, all while removing the High that was too near Turbo, and not having High step down at all. This looks like a big winner to me.
| Mode | Mode Claimed Output (lm) | Claimed Runtime | Mode Measured Lux | Calculated Output (lm)^ | Measured Amps (A) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moon | 2 | 320h | 37 | – | 0.008 |
| Low | 16 | 88h | 347 | – | 0.045 |
| Medium | 65 | 29h | 1599 | – | 0.155 |
| High | 230 | 455m | 5550 | 200 | 0.592 |
| Turbo | 1100/550 | 30s (stepdown: 75m) | 18700 | 1050 | 2.61 |
^These numbers are based on information from this chart.
LED and Beam
There’s a Cree XP-L HI in this light, and that’s just about my favorite emitter. The reflector is lightly orange-peeled, and shallow, so the beam has a spot but quite a bit of spill too.
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
The only thing I can turn up that’s like this light is the Klarus AR10. That looks like a fine light, though more expensive.
Conclusion
What I like
- XP-L HI
- Head angle thing is neat
- Magnet!
- Clicky is a good clicky (and indicating!)
What I don’t like
- The clip.
- Really, the clip. I don’t know how it could have been done better, but there has to be a way.
- Headstrap isn’t included (but is pictured in many of the product photos).
Parting Shot
Draw me like one of your French girls…
Notes
- This light was provided by GearBest.com for review. I was not paid to write this review.
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