Manker E03H Headlamp Review

Manker has released the E03H, a headlamp offering output from a Cree XP-L HD but with some “slide over” covers to change the output. Read on!

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Official Specs and Features

Versions

There’s just one body/package available for this light, but it’s available with two emitter choices.  There’s the Cree XP-L (seen here), and the Nichia 219C (>90CRI).

Price

MSRP on the E03H is $29.95 for both versions.  They’re both 29.85 on FastTech right now.  Cree XP-L HD, and Nichia 219C.

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Short Review

I like this little light.  I like it enough that I’m likely to get the Nichia version.  That’s the one I’d recommend, and I think it’s certainly worth the asking price.

Long Review

The Big Table

Manker E03H
Emitter:	Cree XP-L HD
Price in USD at publication time:	$29.95
Cell:	1xAA
Runtime
LVP?	Yes
Switch Type:	E-Switch
Quiescent Current (A):	0.002
On-Board Charging?	No
Claimed Lumens (lm)	350
Claimed Throw (m)	58
Candela (Calculated) in cd (at 30s)	80lux @ 3.227m = 833cd
Throw (Calculated) (m)	57.7 (99.5% of claim)^
All my Manker 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

• Manker E03H Headlamp
• Headband
• Spare o-ring
• Split ring
• Pocket clip
• Lanyard
• Red, Green, and White (diffused) lens covers
• Manual and paperwork

Package and Manual

The package Manker uses here is a display-ready cardboard package with a window, which displays the light nicely.  The package has very general specs, and an illustration of the light, but not more.

The manual is very useful, and quite required for the UI diagram.  The UI is Manker’s typical UI (not sure offhand if there are variations on this, or if this is standard on all their lights).  More on the UI later.  The rest of the manual covers specs and output/runtime as you’d expect and it should.  It’s a fine manual.

Build Quality and Disassembly

The E03H has a good feel – right away this is noticeable.  The knurling on the body and tailcap is a diamond pattern, and not too grippy.  The head has some cooling fins, but they’re not very deep.  Due to the way the diffuser connects and works, the head is a little unusual in shape, but not unwieldy.

The threads on the tailcap are quite nice, being square-cut and reasonably lubed.  They’re anodized, and the anodizing is slightly matte finish, and a bit …. chalkboardish (but nowhere near Armytek level), so that can be felt in the threads.

It’s possible to unscrew the body from the head, as well, but I believe it is glued in.  With a little effort, though, it did come off (and left a bit of nasty glue residue, too).  The driver is held in place by a brass retaining ring and should unscrew fairly easily.

All in all the fit and finish is fine.  Especially aT the $30-light-level.

Size

Officially the E03H is 78mm long and 20mm in diameter.

About the same diameter as an 18650, but a little longer.

Retention

There are a number of methods of retention included for the E03H.  Primarily, as this is a headlamp, is the headstrap.  This is the thinnest, stiffest headstrap I’ve ever seen or used. Not to say it’s bad, it’s just quite unusual.  Just like the R1 I just reviewed, I really like the color choices on this headband.  The body-gripper is silicone and is just one piece.  It holds the light well but is incompatible with the pocket clip.

Next is the pocket clip, which again is very “Manker.”  It’s not just like the one on my U11 (which is one of my favorite lights, and now has a Nichia 319 emitter.)   It’s a fine clip, and extremely sturdy – one of the thicker clips I can recall offhand.  It’s also reversible, with attachment points on the head and tail end of the body tube.

Then there’s the magnet, which is on the tailcap, is very strong, and holds the light quite well.  The magnet is on the outside of the tailcap, which is somewhat unusual, and undoubtedly adds to the feel of strength.  This also means that the magnet is glued in, and could only be removed permanently.

The final option is the lanyard, which is a standard lanyard and connects through a hole in the tailcap.  It could also connect to the pocket clip without interfering with the use of the pocket clip.

Power

Two options for powering the E03H are NiMH and Alkaline.  Li-ion is not supported.  In fact, the manual fortunately gives a working voltage range of 0.6 -1.8V.  I don’t mind lack of Li-ion support – in all honesty, if a light supports both or all, I’m almost always going to use a NiMH in it anyway.

The positive terminal has physical reverse polarity protection, which means flat tops shouldn’t make contact anyway.

The output is impressively specific – the manual says there’s a stepdown after 3 minutes, and the light maintains literal 100% output until over 3 minutes!  After that, the light steps down to High (specifically, not some generic output near high – it’s actually exactly “High”).  And it maintains High until it shuts off without any further stepdown, or fade, or anything.

User Interface and Operation

One silicone e-switch is located on the head of the E03H.  To be sure it’s quite small, and just a little recessed for my tastes.  It’s quite responsive, and quiet.

Here’s a user interface table!

State	Action	Result
Off	Click	Moonlight
Off	Hold	Regular Group^ (Mode memory)
Regular Group	Click	Mode Cycle** (Moon,L,M,H,M,L,Moon>)
Regular Group	Double Click	Turbo
Off	Double Click	Turbo
Turbo	Click	Strobe>SOS>Beacon>[Regular Group]
Turbo Group***	Hold	Off
Turbo Group	Double Click	Regular Group
On	Hold	Off
Off	Single then Double then Triple Click	Lockout
Lockout	Single then Double then Triple Click	Unlock
Off	Four quick clicks	Engineering Modeª

^ Regular group is Moonlight, Low, Mid, and High.  Regular Group does not include Turbo.
** Mode cycle in the Regular Group goes up every click until High then goes down to Moon.  That’s the cycle – there’s no gross swap from High to Moon or vice versa.  All very gradual.
*** Turbo Group is Turbo, Strobe, SOS, and Beacon.  That Turbo is in the group with these other probably less desired mode means those can be hit accidentally and easily.  But a little care can prevent use of all Strobe modes entirely.
ª Engineer mode is for programming Moonlight mode. When in Engineering mode, single clicking advances through 10 (or so) possibilities for Moonlight. When at the desired output, long click to set this as Moonlight. The light cycles from lowest to highest (moonlight) and then at the highest goes back to the lowest. (Which is what I’d want it to do – you can always be sure you’re getting the very lowest, or the very highest easily.)

I love that off is reliably a long hold from anything.
I love that moonlight is the default on action.

This is a fantastic UI.

And here is the Manker UI graphic, which is pretty useful indeed:

Modes

Mode	Mode Claimed Output (lm)	Claimed Runtime	Mode Measured Lux	Tailcap Amps^
Turbo	350/140	3m/2.8h	3970	2.880
High	140	3h	1823	0.700
Mid	50	7.5h	640	0.230
Low	12	30h	50	0.026
Moonlight	0.1	175h	0	0.006
Strobe	350	–	–	–

^ Series measure Amps

LED and Beam

Manker’s opted for a Cree XP-L HD in the E03H.  They also have the Nichia 219C option.  The reflector is orange peel and shallow, making a beam with a good hotspot, but with a spill, and a smooth transition.

Not only that, the light has a built-in diffuser attachment.  It’s removable, but can and will stay on the light “permanently” if desired.  Just slide this diffuser over the emitter for a very diffuse beam.

Not only that but there are two color diffusers, too!  There’s a red and a green.  There’s no good way to carry these – no pouch or anything like that.  Also, they’re not all that easy to swap out.  To swap, just pry one off, and click another in place.

Beamshots

These beamshots are always with 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.

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.

There are a few similar lights, but if one limits the search to Nichia 219C, all the other choices fall away.  I think this is a fantastic offering, too, with a great UI.  Other good offerings (without Nichia) would be some by Armytek, which certainly have a more accessible button.

Conclusion

What I like

• Nichia availability
• Size
• Stronk magnet
• Great clip
• I really love the UI!
• The color diffusers are a nice touch
• Engineer mode on Moonlight

What I don’t like

• No Li-Ion support
• Small small button
• Diffusers are hard to keep up with

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Notes

• This light was provided by FastTech for review. I was not paid to write this review.
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