Nitecore MT22C Multi-Task Tactical Flashlight Review
The Nitecore MT22C Multi-Task tactical flashlight is in the “multi-task” series, offering 18650 support as well as a Cree XP-L HD emitter. Read on!
Official Specs and Features
Here’s a link to the Nitecore MT22C Multi-Task tactical flashlight product page.
Versions
There’s just one version of the MT22C.
Price
The MSRP on this light is a reasonable $49.95. You can buy this one at NitecoreStore.com.
Short Review
This is another solid iteration in the MT series, with infinite adjustment. Just like on the P26, the user interface – the rotary dial – really needs to have a detent to differentiate Turbo from the rest of the regular modes.
Long Review
The Big Table
| Nitecore MT22C | |
|---|---|
| Emitter: | Cree XP-L HD (V6) |
| Price in USD at publication time: | $49.95 |
| Cell: | 1×18650 |
| Turbo Runtime | |
| LVP? | No |
| Switch Type: | Dual |
| On-Board Charging? | No |
| Claimed Lumens (lm) | 1000 |
| Claimed Throw (m) | 185 |
| Candela (Calculated) in cd (at 30s) | 403lux @ 5.078m = 10392cd |
| Throw (Calculated) (m) | 203.9 (110.2% of claim)^ |
| All my Nitecore 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
- Nitecore MT22C
- Lanyard
- Pocket clip
- Nylon pouch
- Spare boot
- Spare o-ring (2)
- Manual and paperwork
Package and Manual
Standard Nitecore package!
Build Quality and Disassembly
Much like most of Nitecore’s lights, this one has good build quality. The anodizing seems nice and thick, and is somewhat glossy.
There’s a lot going on with the tube light. There are two sections of diamond knurling. There are some cooling fins around the head. There’s the tactical ring (even though technically this light isn’t described as a tactical light). There’s the hex area around the head.
The tail threads are triangle anodized threads. Oddly, the head threads are square-cut (and also anodized). Because of this, I’d recommend changing the cell by removing the head (though I never had any concern with cross-threading either end). This means the cell tube isn’t reversible (anyway, OD on these parts is different.)
The tailcap is held together simply by a retaining ring with divots. The head is held together differently – the driver is possibly press-fit in, but it’s hard to say. To be honest, however, it’s held together; I was distracted by the face that Nitecore has clearly designed into this part:
Here’s a close-up of the light and the tactical ring. More on the tac ring later. The knurling is comfortable and not too grabby. Not even all that grippy to be sure.
Size
Officially, the light is 136mm long and 25.4mm in diameter. It weighs 92g.
It’s pretty long for a light that doesn’t add any features like onboard charging. Presumably, the rotary dial adds a good bit of length.
Retention
The included nylon pouch is standard flashlight fare. There’s a plastic D-ring and a double belt loop, including one with velcro. The light will really fit either way, except with the tactical ring installed. If installed, the light will fit just one way, and not even fully into the pouch at that.
The tactical ring has a loop for lanyard attachment.
There’s also a loop on both sides of the tailcap, which is made for accepting the lanyard. The light will tailstand, but not all that gracefully, since the tailcap has such large cutouts for glove operation.
The pocket clip has grooves on both ends of the light, but in both cases, part of the light will stick up an inch or more. The tactical ring makes the clip positioning specific. But the clip and the ring may be used concurrently.
The tactical ring is threaded onto the light. It doesn’t rotate freely. So it’s removable, but if removed, there will be left (and exposed) fairly fine threading for it.
Power
The MT22C is intended for use with a single 18650. It’ll also work with two CR123 cells, and even with RCR123 cells. Since it works with RCR123 cells (x2), it should have no problem with 18350×2 as well. (And it works just fine with 18350×2 – tested with the Vapcell 18350’s from LiIonWholesale.) I don’t believe output is any better with two-up cells, though.
Both button-top and flat-top cells work
Here’s a runtime on the highest output, with the 18650 pictured above. There appears to be no regulation, and a slow but steady decline from Turbo begins immediately. That’s disappointing. In the test, I failed to connect the thermal sensor appropriately, so the first 10 minutes or so (the important bit, of course) is missing. Apologies for that.
The light does not have low voltage protection. As tested with my bench power, the light never really shuts off, but the cell voltage gets below the forward voltage of the emitter. This point seemed to be around 2.3-2.4V.
User Interface and Operation
There are two switches on the MT22C. The primary one is a mechanical forward tail clicky.
The second is an unusual rotary dial on the head of the light. And even though it looks like there’s a button in the center of the rotary, there isn’t.
Here’s a user interface table!
| State | Action | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Off | Click | On (Mode set by dial) |
| On | Click | Off |
| On | Fully clockwise | Ultralow |
| On | Fully counterclockwise | Strobe |
While the rotary dial is neat and works well, it could be better. My primary qualm is that the only dial feedback is a single click between Turbo (or 100%) and Strobe. One of my two issues is that this is not an exact position. Sometimes, the strobe will engage before the actual click. That’s one complaint. The second complaint is tied to this – It’s hard (if not impossible) to reliably dial directly to 100% and move on to operation. At the very least, the dial needs two clicks. One that is reliably turbo, and one (much stiffer IMO) for strobe. Or maybe that little button-looking-not-a-button in the center of the dial could be harnessed for a strobe.
If you’re wondering if the above sounds familiar, it should. Or, well, it should if you manage to usually read through most of my text. It’s the same as the user interface for the P26. In fact, these lights are essentially the same from the driver’s point of view. The head differs, as does the emitter, but otherwise, these lights are identical.
Modes
| Mode | Mode Claimed Output (lm) | Claimed Runtime | Mode Measured Lux | Tailcap Amps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turbo | 1000 | 1h | 20700 | 3.06 |
| Ultralow | 0.5 | 500h | ~0 | ~0.0 |
| Strobe | 1000 | – | – | – |
LED and Beam
The MT22C uses a Cree XP-L HD. The reflector is smooth and shallow. This makes a fairly artifacted beam with a hotspot showing the shape of the emitter fairly clearly. The spill has a tint I don’t care for, too. All in all, it’s far from my favorite beam.
Just like the P26, the MT22C outthrows its rating by a substantial margin. 204m, when rated for 185.
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.
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 many lights that compare to this one, except when the rotary dial is added to the criteria. So the rotary must be considered the selling point. I like the rotary, but it does need a touch of work. I would absolutely love the two improvements mentioned, and I think they’re doable. Even in this current state, it’s a reasonable light.
Conclusion
What I like
- The rotary switch works well
- User interface is very simple
- Build quality is good
What I don’t like
- Rotary switch needs improvement to work really well
- Light is a bit long
- Output is unregulated
- No Low Voltage Protection
Notes
- This light was provided by Nitecore for review. I was not paid to write this review.
- This content originally appeared at zeroair.org. Please visit there for the best experience!
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