Klarus E1 Flashlight Review

Here’s the Klarus E1 Flashlight with a dual switch (including one paddle switch) and a charging 18650.  A neat little 18650 light.  Read on!

---

Official Specs and Features

Here’s a link to the Klarus E1 Flashlight product page.

Versions

Only this one.

Price

These are going for $49.95 on amazon!  That’s a referral link.

---

Short Review

This is a nice light, with the optic that allows for an overall shorter body.  I don’t like that the paddle switch prevents tailstanding, but I still like the paddle switch overall.  And generally, the light performs to spec, so it’s a win to me.

Long Review

The Big Table

Klarus E1
Emitter:	Cree XP-L HI (6500K)
Price in USD at publication time:	$49.95 on amazon
Cell:	1×18650
Turbo Runtime	High Runtime
LVP?	Yes
Switch Type:	Dual
On-Board Charging?	Yes
Chargetime
Power off Charge Port with no Cell?	–
Claimed Lumens (lm)	1000
Measured Lumens (at 30s)	967 (96.7% of claim)^
Candela per Lumen	8.7
Claimed Throw (m)	190
Candela (Calculated) in cd (at 30s)	378lux @ 4.965m = 9318cd
Throw (Calculated) (m)	193.1 (101.6% of claim)^
All my Klarus reviews!

^ 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

• Klarus E1 Flashlight
• Klarus 2600mAh 18650 (with micro-USB charging)
• Lanyard
• Charge cable (USB to micro-USB)
• Carry Pouch
• Manual etc

Package and Manual

Build Quality and Disassembly

Build quality is good.

The paddle switch, along with the mechanical switch, is easily accessible and useful.

The threads on the tail end are very nice.  Anodized, square-cut, lubed appropriately, and smooth.

There’s a spring on both head and tail, keeping the cell very secured.

The tailcap has reeding, which helps when unscrewing.

Size and Comps

• Dimensions: φ23mm(0.91″) Head x φ22.8mm(0.90″) Body x 105.1mm(4.14″) Length

• Weight: 50.5g(1.78oz)

Retention and Carry

One thing I really like about this light is the clip.  Nice big mouth, good deep shoulder, and also full bezel-level deep.

The carry is bezel-up only, and the clip is not reversible.  It’s a friction fit clip, so it’s easily removable.

The clip orientation does mean that this can be a reasonable hatlight.

And there’s the pouch too, but that doesn’t have any loops or anything.  Basically good for carry in a bag or the like.

Power and Runtime

The E1 is powered by a single 18650, which is included.

The included cell has a plastic collar around the positive terminal – a button top of sorts.  To be sure I’m not actually sure what purpose this serves because the cell charges fine in the chargers I tested it with.  However, the light will not work with button-top 18650s, and will also not work with flat-top 18650s.  So the plastic shroud mentioned and seen above simply allows this cell to work in this light.  Nothing more, and the light will not work without it, so that’s a massive downside.

The cell goes into the light in the “normal” way.  Positive terminal toward the head.

Here are a couple of runtimes.  The light performs well, meeting spec.  The stepdown after the initial 1000 on High really is quite dramatic, but still around 450 lumens.  The light switched to very low output when the voltage was low.

Charging

The cell also has charging, via micro-USB.  A cable is included.

Charging is fairly good at around 1A at a maximum, and around 3.5 hours before charging stops.

Modes and Currents

I wasn’t able to test the tailcap currents, because of the way the tailcap integrates into the operation.

Mode	Mode Claimed Output (lm)	Claimed Runtime	Measured Lumens	Tailcap Amps
High	1000	2h	967	–
Medium	400	4.6h	369	–
Low	100	20h	94	–
Moonlight	2	600h	–	–

Pulse Width Modulation

No PWM is seen.

For reference, here’s a baseline shot, with all the room lights off and almost nothing hitting the sensor.  Also, here’s the light with the worst PWM I could find.  I’m adding multiple timescales, so it’ll be easier to compare to the test light.  Unfortunately, the PWM on this light is so bad that it doesn’t even work with my normal scale, with is 50 microseconds (50us).  10ms.  5ms.  2ms.  1ms.  0.5ms.  0.2ms.  In a display faster than 0.2ms or so, the on/off cycle is more than one screen, so it’d just (very incorrectly) look like a flat line.  I wrote more about this Ultrafire WF-602C flashlight and explained a little about PWM too.

User Interface and Operation

There are two switches on the E1, and they’re both on the tail end.  One’s a common mechanical switch and is very proud.  The other is a paddle e-switch and occupies half a side of the tailcap, so is also easily accessible.

Here can be seen why the light will not tailstand in any way shape or form.   But also why the switches are so easy to access.

I do not dislike these switches at all.  I tend to like paddle switches, and I think this is a good implementation, too.

There are two mode groups.  Tactical, and Outdoor.  The E1 ships in Outdoor mode.  Switching between the groups is as follows:  With the light off, hold the mode switch (the paddle) for 5s.  The indicator will flash red and green.  While still holding the mode switch, click the primary switch.

Tactical is fairly simple:  Click the primary switch for High and the Mode switch for Strobe.  Both can be momentary or steady.  For steady on the paddle, hold it for 2s.  When the light is on, clicking the mode switch cycles from High to Moonlight.

Here’s a UI table for Outdoor mode!

State	Action	Result
Off	Click Primary Switch (PS)	On (Mode Memory)
On	Click PS	Off
Off	Click Mode Switch (MS)	Moonlight (Click for momentary, hold for steady)
On	Click MS	Mode advance (Moonlight to High)
On	Cycle modes, then hold for 3s	SOS

There is no electronic lockout – but loosening the tailcap very slightly will mechanically lock the light.

LED and Beam

Under this interesting TIR optic, is a Cree XP-L HI.  In this case, it’s a 6500K temperature emitter.

I like this style of optic.  I first saw it in some very tiny Fenix lights.  I believe overall this style optic is “shorter”, and so lights can shave off a few mm using this.  And I happen to really like the beam profile!

The press-fit or screwed in bezel means that no light escapes when the light stands on its head.

LED Color Report (CRI and CCT)

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.

I compare everything to the Killzone 219b BLF-348 because it’s inexpensive and has the best tint!

Conclusion

What I like

• Complete package
• Dual switch interface is easy to understand
• Pretty good price for a complete package
• Nice deep carry clip
• Potential for use as a long-lasting hatlight
• Dual group UI (Tactical and Outdoor)

What I don’t like

• 6500K emitter
• Requires proprietary cell (with the shroud on the positive terminal)
• No tailstanding

---

Notes

• This light was provided by Klarus for review. I was not paid to write this review.
• This content originally appeared at zeroair.org.  Please visit there for the best experience!
• For flashlight-related patches, stickers, and gear, head over to PhotonPhreaks.com!
• Use my amazon.com referral link if you’re willing to help support making more reviews like this one!
• Please support me on Patreon!  Feeding flashlights is expensive!  And funding Fun Fund Friday even more so.  I deeply appreciate your support!