Skilhunt has been bringing the heat lately, using the Samsung LH351d emitter. They dropped the LH351b version into this little twisty, and are offering a bunch of colors. Read on for a bit of testing and thoughts!
Official Specs and Features
Here’s a link to the official product page.
Versions
There are four colors, all with the same emitter (but available in NW (seen here) or CW). Blue, Red, Black, and Other Blue.
Technically the colors are (in order below): Royal Blue, Carmine Red, Slate Blue, Carbon Black. Great color options!
Price
The MSRP on these is around $11. KillzoneFlashlights.com doesn’t actually stock these yet, but they might be coming.
Short Review
There’s a lot to love about this little light! Build quality is good, emitter is good, size is good. But it’s just one mode, and that mode isn’t really “low” – the light needs a lower mode (even if it’s the only mode).
Long Review
The Big Table
| Skilhunt E3A | |
|---|---|
| Emitter: | Samsung LH351b Neutral White |
| Price in USD at publication time: | $11.00 |
| Cell: | 1xAAA |
| Runtime | |
| LVP? | No |
| Switch Type: | Twisty |
| On-Board Charging? | No |
| Claimed Lumens (lm) | 100 |
| Measured Lumens (at 30s) | 103 (103% of claim)* |
| Candela per Lumen | 4.6 |
| Claimed Throw (m) | 37 |
| Candela (Calculated) in cd (at 30s) | 59lux @ 2.717m = 436cd |
| Throw (Calculated) (m) | 41.7 (112.7% of claim)* |
| All my Skilhunt 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
- Skilhunt E3A Flashlight
- Primary AAA cell
- Split ring (large)
- Split ring (small)
- Spare o-rings (2)
- Manual
Package and Manual
Build Quality and Disassembly
Build quality is good. Historically I have not been the biggest fan of the spirals such as are displayed here on the E3A but something about that and this being a twisty just seems to sort of work. One nice thing that goes with the spirals is that they’re also very lightly textured. This adds a bit of grip, and also breaks up the ugly spiralness.
Here’s a better view of the spirals having some texture.
The threads are anodized and square cut and appropriately long – it’s a twisty, so of course you need some length in the threads. They’re very smooth, too.
The tailcap has a broad not-very-stiff spring. The head doesn’t have a spring. There’s a little brass (?) button, and a plastic surround that should prevent flat top cells (not that there are any flat top AAA cells, not sure about that one).
The internals unscrew easily, and the optic comes out too.
The driver/emitter is a one-piece affair. Swapping the emitter would likely require a hot-air reflow, since it’d be impossible to heat the underside of the board non-destructively.
Size and Comps
Length 59.5 mm / 2.34 inch
Head diameter 14.0 mm / 0.59 inch
Weight: 7.5 g / 0.26 oz (without battery)
This light is properly small. You’d expect it out of an AAA light, but it’s small even in that category.
Retention and Carry
There is no pocket clip included, though there does look to be a spot on the tail area for one to connect. There is however, a lanyard loop. A lanyard is not included, so roll your own!
The light will technically tailstand, but it’s not a reliable way to use the light.
Power and Runtime
The E3A is powered by a single AAA sized cell, and only up to the 1.5V range. No 10440 support here. But it does support NiMH, Primary, and “Lithium” (but not lithium ion @3.7V nominal – this is the lithium 1.5V variety!!)
The cell goes into the light in the normal orientation – positive toward head.
Here’s a runtime. There’s just one mode, so this is all in the runtime section.
Reliably 100 lumens for over an hour. As I said in the intro, I’d rather there be two modes (at least) and one of them be much lower. Even if there was just one mode, I would rather it be lower. Unfortunately discussions with Skilhunt indicate it’s very unlikely.
Modes and Currents
| Mode | Mode Claimed Output (lm) | Claimed Runtime | Measured Lumens | Tailcap Amps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| On | 100 | 75m (NiMH, as tested) | 103 | 0.52 |
PWM
The one mode does not utilize PWM.
For reference, here’s a baseline shot, with all the room lights off and almost nothing hitting the sensor. And here’s the worst PWM light I have ever owned. Also one of the very first lights I ordered directly from China!
User Interface and Operation
The E3A is a twisty. The spirals on the body (specifically on the head) help with the action. The twist is very smooth, too.
No UI table necessary: tighten for on. Loosen for off. That’s it!
LED and Beam
The emitter in the E3A is a Samsung LH351b. My review copy is the neutral white option. The emitter is behind a TIR optic, which gives a nice beam profile.
It’s unclear to me why a manufacturer will use the “b” variant of the LH351 emitter instead of the “d” emitter, but it is what it is.
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)
Test light is on the left!
I compare everything to the KillzoneFlashlights.com 219b BLF-348, because it’s inexpensive and has the best tint!
Conclusion
What I like
- Simple UI
- Good twist action
- Very small
- Well regulated output
- No PWM
- Low cost
What I don’t like
- Only one mode
- Coolish
- Not High CRI
Notes
- This light was provided by KillzoneFlashlights.com 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, another site where I write!
- Use my amazon.com referral link if you’re willing to help support making more reviews like this one!
Great review. Was this the neutral white or cool white version in your beamshots?
Neutral.