Thrunite Catapult V6 Flashlight Review

Thrunite has introduced the Catapult V6, a flashlight using the Cree XHP35 HI emitter for great throw, and a 26650 for great runtimes.

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Official Specs and Features

Here’s a link to the Thrunite Catapult V6 flashlight product page.

Versions

There is a cool white (CW) and neutral white (NW) version of this light.  I’m not sure the NW version is actually available yet, however.

Price

MSRP is $74.99, and that includes a full package – you won’t have to buy anything else!!  Here’s a link to the Amazon Store.  If you pre-order this light through Thrunite’s official site, you can use the coupon code “20%” for 20% off.  That puts this thrower under $60, from the official store!!

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Short Review

Initial handling of this light I was kind of like ‘eh’ but after using it some, I actually quite like it.  The cell is good, the throw is great, and the build quality is probably better than I expected.  I like this one!

Long Review

The Big Table

Thrunite Catapult V6
Emitter:	Cree XHP35 HI
Price in USD at publication time:	$60.00 on amazon (referral link).
Cell:	1×26650
Turbo Runtime	High Runtime
LVP?	Yes (3.26V)
Switch Type:	E-Switch
Quiescent Current (A):	0.00001
On-Board Charging?	Yes
Chargetime
Power off Charge Port with no Cell?	?
Claimed Lumens (lm)	1700
Measured Lumens (at 30s)	–
Claimed Throw (m)	750
Candela (Calculated) in cd (at 30s)	4490lux @ 5.871m = 154764cd
Throw (Calculated) (m)	786.8 (104.9% of claim)^
All my Thrunite 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

• Thrunite Catapult V6
• 5000mAh 26650 Thrunite branded cell
• Lanyard
• Charge cable
• Spare o-rings (2)
• Spare button
• Split ring
• Nylon pouch
• Paperwork

Second time I’ve remembered to get a shot of the cell! Woo!

Package and Manual

Slip-fit cardboard box, with branding and “NW/CW” checkbox.  This is a CW light.

The manual is fairly simple.  I believe it has 4 languages, but folds to you can easily view fully the one you need most.

Build Quality and Disassembly

I am pleasantly pleased with the build of the Catapult V6.  In particular I like the hand-feel (can I call it that?)  The anodizing is smooth, and comfortable to hold.
The head has a few thick fins for heat dissipation, but it’s not overly finned.


Layout is pretty standard, with the user interface switch on one side, and a charging port on the other.  The light will of course, head and tailstand easily.

Here’s a breakdown of parts.  I couldn’t get the bezel off, but it does have indentations on the inside, which would allow for a spanner or some such to be used to unscrew it.

Note that the cell tube is directional.  The anodized threads go into the head.

The body has this interesting pineapple pattern, of “knurling” (not really knurling).  I love this pattern – a favorite from one of my very first flashlight reviews – but it’s not all that grippy.  What it lacks in added grip, the light’s size and shape make up for.  (I find 26650 lights to be nearly ideally sized for my hand.)

Size

Officially 132mm (Length) x 58mm (Bezel Diameter) x 33.5mm (Tube Diameter).

This light isn’t that much bigger than the Emisar D1S.  The D1S is a light I think everyone should own, but between the two I like the Thrunite better – at least in build.  (I hate the anno on the D1S.)  The throw is about the same, too.

Retention

A nylon pouch is included.  The light will only go one direction – tail down.  The pouch is of normal quality.

Also included is a lanyard, which attaches on the tailcap through the hole below.

Power

The Catapult V6 has a working voltage: 2.75V-4.2V.  In my experience the light shuts off at 3.26V (seriously, exactly 3.26V in two runtime tests).  That’s great.  Might not suck every gram of energy out of a cell, but I like it anyway.
The light doesn’t prefer protected or unprotected, and works with flat or button top cells equally.  What it does need is a cell capable of providing very high output.  Turbo draws over 8 amps.  I can’t recall a single light I’ve reviewed drawing that much current.
I’ve been requested to test lights on both Turbo and at least one other mode.  I never knew if that should be in one graph or two, so this time I’m trying two.  Here’s Turbo.  Note that the output on Turbo stays fairly stable for around 2 minutes, then steps down.  After that, the light is generally on “High” for the duration of the runtime, until the light shuts off (LVP).

High proceeds similarly, except does so for a few more minutes.  Both runtimes are flat for the first 40 minutes, then begin a gradual decline, before plummeting toward the end.  I’d be interested to know what about the cell changes around 40 minutes, to start the decline.

Charging

The Thrunite Catapult V6 also has onboard charging.  It’s standard micro-USB, with a rubber press-in boot.  This feels like a very secure cover.

Charging is an extremely impressive >2A for over 2 hours.  The charge graph follows a typical CC/CV pattern, and looks pretty stable. This is one of the things that really made me say “hmm, this really is a solid light” when I was testing.  Two amp charging is more than just respectable….

During charging, the switch is red.  When charge is complete, the switch is blue.  If the switch is purple, this means something is abnormal in charging.

User Interface and Operation

The Catapult V6 has a single switch.  It’s a side, indicating, e-switch.  The indicator is a small circle in the center.

The switch doesn’t sit too proud, and has fairly low travel, but is positively clicky.  It’s not a hollow click though, and not too loud.  The switch feels like actual metal, and the rubber part under the switch is replaceable.

Here’s a user interface table!

State	Action	Result
Off	Click	On (Mode Memory)
Off	Hold	Firefly
Any	Double Click	Turbo
On	Click	Off
On	Long Press	Mode Cycle (LMH)
Turbo	Double Click	Strobe

I appreciate the simple nature of this UI, but I do wish the indicating side switch was more heavily utilized.  Namely, I think every light with indicating switches should have a battery check feature.  Every light with indicating switches.  Every of the lights.

Modes

Mode	Mode Claimed Output (lm)	Claimed Runtime	Tailcap Amps
Turbo	1700	150m	8.10
High	950	165m	2.84
Medium	180	9h	0.38
Low	22	62h	0.04
Firefly	0.5	41d	–
Strobe	1200	180m	–

LED and Beam

Thrunite has a Cree XHP35 HI in CW, in the Catapult V6.  There will likely be a NW version, but it doesn’t seem to be available yet.  The XHP35 HI is a 12V emitter, with a Vf of around 11.3V – so the light boost the voltage from the single 26650 to 12V for operation.

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 aren’t many lights that compete directly with the 26650 format.  And the ones which do, namely the Manker U21, are overall enough larger that I’d prefer the Thrunite.

Conclusion

What I like

• Output surpasses its target throw by tens of meters
• Charging is properly at 2A
• user interface is simple

What I don’t like

• user interface lacks any real battery check
• Doesn’t seem to be available in NW currently

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Notes

• This light was provided by Thrunite 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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