Klarus G35 Flashlight Review
The Klarus G35 is an impressive 18650×3 flashlight using a single Cree XHP35 HI emitter. This thrower has a dual switch interface, too!
Official Specs and Features
Here’s a link to the Klarus G35 Flashlight product page.
Versions
I believe there’s just one version of this G35.
Price
The MSRP looks to hover around $100, but the light can probably be found in the 70-80 range.
Short Review
This is a nice dedicated thrower, and the ability to run it on three cells or one is a nice touch. I am not sure I need dual switches on a light like this, but I appreciate the side switch. Throw is great (but not quite up to claim).
Long Review
The Big Table
| Klarus G35 | |
|---|---|
| Emitter: | Cree XHP35 HI (D4) |
| Price in USD at publication time: | $70 |
| Cell: | 3×18650 |
| Turbo Runtime | |
| LVP? | Switch Warning |
| Switch Type: | Dual E-Switch |
| On-Board Charging? | No |
| Claimed Lumens (lm) | 2000 |
| Claimed Throw (m) | 1000 |
| Candela (Calculated) in cd (at 30s) | 4900lux @ 6.088m = 181612cd |
| Throw (Calculated) (m) | 852.3 (85.2% of claim)^ |
| All my Klarus reviews! | |
^ Standard 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).
What’s Included
My package had been gutted by the time it arrived to me…. I don’t actually think it was a shipping issue, I think I just got a sample that wasn’t sellable. That’s ok but it does mean that I can’t tell you what the package includes first hand. I got the light, and a box. Looks like there should be a spare o-ring, a manual, and a lanyard included
Package and Manual
The G35 ships in the Klarus red and black box, with much printing of specs, features, and runtimes. The box even has a window for viewing the light. It’s a thin, flimsy box, though.
I didn’t receive a manual, but fortunately, I can link a pdf version, here. The manual does a good job of repeating mostly what the box says.
Build Quality and Disassembly
Klarus build nice quality lights, and the G35 is no different. The anodizing is nice and smooth.
The knurling is square-cut and moderately grippy. The side switch isn’t obfuscated by anything and is easy to find without looking.
It’s a bit of a plain light, though. Not that I want tons of printing, but there’s not much going on here.
This is the odd 3-cell light. Two cells go positive end toward the head, and one goes the other way. Interestingly, this light can run off ONE 18650. If you desire to do that, put the one cell in the bay with the RED sticker (seen below).
The tailcap is a little difficult to get oriented. There are two keyed prongs which slip into the body, and can only fit in one exact orientation. When these are aligned, the tailcap will screw on. The threads are anodized and smooth, once the posts are in their right slot.
I was not able to unscrew the head from the body. Nor was I able to unscrew the bezel from the head.
Size
Officially 160.2mm (Length) * 73mm (Bezel Diameter) * 45.5mm (Body Diameter)
It’s not really a small light, but it’s a three-18650 light, and a thrower, so these things are to be expected. It’s not overly large, in my opinion. Of course, it’s much bigger than the Emisar D1S (and also has more throw than the D1S), but is on par in size with the Convoy L2 (and also has more throw than the L2!!). I’d call build quality better on the Klarus than either of these two (not that this is a comparison between them).
Retention
There’s a lanyard included, and that attaches on the tail, but not actually on the tailcap! This is probably a nice little feature, and the lanyard can stay out of the way during cell changes. Interestingly this is one of the larger lanyard holes I’ve seen.
And that’s all. No pouch or anything else is included for carrying the G35. A pouch would have been great, really.
Power
The Klarus G35 is powered by three 18650 cells. It may also be powered by a single 18650 cell if that cell is placed in the correct bay. The correct bay is the one with the red sticker. (The other two stickers are black and white). The only difference between these setups is runtime; output is the same.
The light will work with any type 18650 (button/flat, and protected/unprotected).
Here’s a cooled runtime on Turbo. A bunch of stepdowns but it seems that the light tries to maintain them along the way. Not really ideal, with that hard drop-off turbo. Doesn’t appear thermally regulated either, since output never steps backup after the temperature drops.
At the end of this runtime, (when the switch was giving it’s warning), the cells were at 2.96V (x2) and 3.06V.
The light will also work with two CR123 cells, in the ‘single cell’ bay (the red sticker bay). The working voltage is rated up to 8.4V, so 2×18350 should be fine as well.
The light also has a battery capacity indicator:
When first turned ON, the battery capacity indicator light on the switch will flash for 5 seconds
Green: 70%-100% capacity
Orange: 30%-70% capacity
Red: less than 30% capacity
Flashing Red: Less than 10% capacity, replace battery immediately
User Interface and Operation
There are two switches on this light, and both of them are e-switches. One is on the tail, and one is on the side/body. These switches do the almost same thing.
Here’s a UI table!
| State | Action | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Off | Click (Side) | On (mode memory) |
| Off | Click (Tail) | Low |
| On | Hold | Off |
| On | Click | Mode advance (LMHT) |
| Any | Double Click | Strobe (Fast) |
| Any | Hold | Momentary Turbo |
| Strobe | Click | Exit strobe (mode memory) |
| Strobe (Fast) | Double Click | SOS |
| Off | Both Switches >3s | Lockout^ |
| Lockout | Any switch 3x | Lockout Off |
^ The indicating switch blinks red when any button is pressed during lockout.
This is a fairly good UI, with direct access to most of the modes. It could be difficult to remember what switch is for what action, but some practice makes it easy.
Modes
| Mode | Mode Claimed Output (lm) 3×18650 (1×18650) | Claimed Runtime 3×18650 (1×18650) |
|---|---|---|
| Turbo | 2000 (1200) | 3h (1h) |
| High | 400 (400) | 13h45m (3h12m) |
| Medium | 100 (100) | 44h (14h) |
| Low | 10 (10) | 210h (85h) |
| Strobe | 2000 (1200) | 6h (2h) |
| SOS | 100 (100) | 132h (42h) |
LED and Beam
Klarus smartly chose a Cree XHP35 HI for this thrower. This emitter is centered in a very smooth, large reflector, making great throw.
The beam is fantastic for a thrower. There’s a very tight, very narrow, very hotspot, with a small corona, and very little (but noticeable) spill. It’s a great beam. And artifactless, as far as I can tell.
Beamshots
These beamshots are always with the following settings: f8, ISO100, 0.3s shutter, and manual 5000K exposure.
Tint vs BLF-348 (KillzoneFlashlights.com 219b version) (affiliate link)
I keep the test flashlight on the left, and the BLF-348 reference flashlight on the right.
Random Comparisons and Competitive Options….
Here’s a relevantly filtered page on parametrek.com.
In the 18650×3 format with an XHP35 HI, there’s really nothing else like this light. There aren’t even that many single 18650 lights with the XHP35 HI. And in that list, none are real, dedicated throwers.
Conclusion
What I like
- Throw is great!
- One cell and 3 cell options
- Dual switch for a more versatile UI
- Indicating switch
What I don’t like
- Thermal regulation really doesn’t seem to do much
- No carrying pouch
- Turbo steps down much too fast
Notes
- This light was provided by GearBest for review. I was not paid to write this review.
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