Klarus XT2CR Pro Flashlight Review

The Klarus XT2CR Pro is a tactical flashlight with USB-C charging built-in, and ships with the required 18650 included.  This is a solid value tactical flashlight.

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Official Specs and Features

Here’s a link to the Klarus XT2CR Pro flashlight product page.

Klarus XT2CR Pro Versions

There is just one version.

Price

The Klarus XT2CR Pro flashlight comes in at a surprisingly reasonable $74.95, and is available through this Amazon referral link.

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Short Review

The Klarus XT2CR Pro is a solid flashlight and seems robust.  The mode order seems well suited to the tactical application, and both tail switches work great.  As a complete package, it’s a reasonable price, too!

Klarus XT2CR Pro Long Review

The Big Table

Klarus XT2CR Pro
Emitter:	Cree XHP35 HD (6500K)
Price in USD at publication time:	$74.95 on amazon.
Cell:	1×18650 (standard, included)
Turbo Runtime Graph	High Runtime Graph
LVP?	Warning, and switch to low
Switch Type:	Both
Quiescent Current (mA):	–
On-Board Charging?	Yes (C to C works too)
Charge Port Type:	USB-C
Charge Graph
Power off Charge Port	With cell: lower 2 modes. Without cell: no modes.
Claimed Lumens (lm)	2100
Measured Lumens (at 30s)	1748 (83.2% of claim)^
Candela per Lumen	7.2
Claimed Throw (m)	240
Candela (Calculated) in cd (at 30s)	615lux @ 4.954m = 15093cd
Throw (Calculated) (m)	245.7 (102.4% of claim)^
All my Klarus 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

• Klarus XT2CR Pro Flashlight
• Klarus 3100mAh 18650
• Nylon pouch
• Charge cable (USB to USB-C)
• Lanyard
• Spare o-ring
• Manual

Package and Manual

Build Quality and Disassembly

Quite a long top-down view!  A long skinny light…

I don’t want to say “there’s nothing remarkable about the build here” but at the same time, it’s not wrong.  But that’s good.  It’s a solid build.

The grip on the body isn’t knurling, but is still adequate.

Only the tailcap is removable here, and removing it reveals anodized, square threads.  They’re fairly short, too.

There’s quite a bit going on electronically here, which supports the paddle switch.  It’s essentially an e-switch.

There are springs in the head and tail both.

Size and Comps

Officially: 28mm x 25.4mm x 128mm, and 139g without cell.

If the flashlight will headstand, I’ll show it here (usually the third photo).  If the flashlight will tailstand, I’ll show that here, too (usually the fourth photo).

Here’s the test light with the venerable Convoy S2+.  Mine’s a custom “baked” edition Nichia 219b triple.  A very nice 18650 light.

And here’s the light beside my custom engraved TorchLAB BOSS 35, an 18350 light.  I reviewed the aluminum version of that light in both 35 and 70 formats.

Retention and Carry

A friction fit pocket clip is included.

It is not reversible, so bezel down carry is the only option.

A lanyard is also included, and it attaches in this hole on the tail end.

The Klarus XT2CR Pro will not tailstand anyway, so the lanyard going over the edge doesn’t really affect anything negatively here.

Here’s the included nylon pouch.

The light shouldn’t be used while in the pouch.

Power and Runtime

The Klarus XT2CR Pro flashlight runs on a single lithium-ion cell or two CR123 cells.  Klarus includes an appropriate cell with the purchase.

This is a standard button top 18650, and has a capacity of 3100mAh.

The cell fits into the light in the usual way – positive terminal toward the head.

Here are a couple of runtime graphs.

I observe (and the manual states) the light only switches down to a very low output when the cell voltage is low.  The output is very low – not usable tactically, but certainly enough to find another cell or whatever.  There’s also a battery capacity indicator tucked into the cooling fin area, just beside the charge port.  You can just see it in the photo below, to the right of the charge port cover.

The indication is as follows:

Green: 70-100% capacity remaining
Orange: 30-70% capacity remaining
Red: <30% capacity remaining
Red flashing: <10% capacity remaining

Charging

The Klarus XT2CR Pro has built-in charging.  The charge port is USB-C and has a snug press-in cover.

A USB to USB-C cable is included.

Here are a couple of charge tests.  Charging is at a rate over 1A, and requires around 2.75 hours to complete.  It’s also extremely consistent!

I didn’t log it, but C to C works as well.

Modes and Currents

Mode	Mode Claimed Output (lm)	Claimed Runtime	Measured Lumens	Tailcap Amps
Turbo	2100+750	2m+2h	1748	?
High	400	4h	402	?
Medium	100	11h	94	?
Low	10	150h	8	?

Pulse Width Modulation

Here, as below, the mode order is represented:  the graphs from left to right are in descending brightness.

Here you can see a “baseline” – a chart with almost no light hitting the sensor.

Then there’s the Ultrafire WF-602C flashlight, which has some of the worst PWM I’ve seen. It’s so bad that I used a post about it to explain PWM! Here are multiple timescales (10ms, 5ms, 2ms, 1ms, 0.5ms, 0.2ms) to make comparing this “worst” PWM light to the test light easier. That post also explains why I didn’t test the WF-602C at the usual 50us scale.

User Interface and Operation

There are two switches on the Klarus XT2CR Pro flashlight.  As this is a tactical-use light, the switches are both on the tailcap.

One’s a paddle switch, and one is a mechanical clicky.  It’s a fairly standard tactical setup.

There are technically two mode groups.  As shipped (and tested here), the light is in the “Tactical Setting.”  Also available is the “Outdoor Setting.”  The manual states that the default is Tactical.  The other is Outdoor.  Mine actually shipped in Outdoor.  Switch between the two as follows:

From off, hold the paddle switch (“Mode”) until the indicator switch goes from green to red/green flashing.  Then tap the Primary switch.  You can release or leave the light on; the group is changed.

This user interface is just like the Klarus XT11GT Pro, which I reviewed.

Here’s a user interface table for Tactical mode.

State	Action	Result
Off	Click Primary Switch	Turbo
Off	Tap Primary Switch	Momentary Turbo
Off	Hold Paddle Switch (Mode Switch)	Strobe
Off	Tap Mode Switch	Momentary Strobe
On	Click Mode Switch	Mode advance (THML)
On	Click Primary Switch	Off

Here’s a user interface table for Outdoor mode.

State	Action	Result
Any	Click Primary Switch	Turbo
Any	Tap Primary Switch	Momentary Turbo
Off	Hold Paddle Switch (Mode Switch)	Low
Off	Tap Mode Switch	Momentary Low
On from MS	Click Mode Switch	Mode advance (LMHT)
On from PS	Click Mode Switch	Mode advance (THML)
On	Click Primary Switch	Off
On	Hold Mode Switch	Off

LED and Beam

The emitter of choice for this light is a 6500K Cree XHP35 HD.  The emitter benefits from a smooth deep reflector.

The bezel has some shape, so light will escape while headstanding.

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.

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

Conclusion

What I like

• Complete package
• USB-C Charging
• Interface which allows choice (specifically the Turbo to Low direction option in the Outdoor group, which is unusual)
• No PWM

What I don’t like

• USB-C charging could be considered slow at 1.1A.  The cell could handle much more, and USB-C could too.
• Cool white emitter

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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!
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