Maratac Floodmaster Flashlight Review
The Maratac Floodmaster flashlight runs either an AA (1.5V) or a 14500 cell. Twist operation allows easy mode selection. It lives up to the name “Floodmaster!”
Official Specs and Features
Here’s a link to the Maratac Floodmaster flashlight product page.
Versions
The product page looks to have just one version of the Maratac Floodmaster flashlight. It wouldn’t be unusual to see this light in a different body color, but any options will probably be using this same emitter.
Price
The Maratac Floodmaster flashlight sells for $39.95.
What’s Included
- Maratac Floodmaster flashlight
- Diffuser
- Spare o-rings (2)
- Lanyard
- Product card
Package and Manual
There is no manual (though the product page does give a fair description of the light).
Build Quality and Disassembly
The Maratac Floodmaster flashlight is a two-piece light. There’s a head and cell section, but the tail cap/end does not come off.
The pill is just threaded into the head. Threaded in reverse, which seems unusual, but threaded nonetheless. Below you can see the spring in the cell tube, too.
The head has flat-top preventing ring around the positive contact. So you’ll need to use a button top cell, no matter which type you pick.
Size and Comps
Size: 84×18.9mm (Length x head Ø x tube Ø)
Net Weight: 1 Ounces (Aluminum)
If the flashlight will headstand, I’ll show it here (usually the third photo). If the flashlight will tailstand, I’ll also show that (usually in the fourth photo).
Here’s the test light with the venerable Convoy S2+. The version below is a custom laser-engraved Convoy S2+ host by GadgetConnections.com. I did a full post on an engraved orange host right here! Or go straight to GadgetConnections.com to buy your Convoy S2+ now!
Also above is the light beside a TorchLAB BOSS 35, an 18350 light. I reviewed the aluminum version of that light in both 35 and 70 formats. I also reviewed that specific edition, the “Oveready BOSS FT Collector Vintage Brass” 35. I love it!
Retention and Carry
There is no pocket clip, and really nowhere to attach one. The included lanyard attaches through this hole in the tailcap.
The hole goes all the way through (demonstrated below) and also in the other direction. So technically you could attach the lanyard in a number of ways, all through the tail end.
Power and Runtime
The Maratac Floodmaster flashlight is probably meant for 14500 usage, but it can also run AA cells (any 1.5V AA).
Maratac doesn’t include a cell, so I tested with a Skilhunt 1050mAh button top. You’ll have to use a button top, too, for the reasons mentioned above. The 14500 CountyComm links is an 800mAh version, which is probably what their output duration claims are based on.
Whatever cell you use, it goes into the Maratac Floodmaster flashlight in the same way – button toward the head.
Here is a set of runtimes with both 14500 and an IKEA LADDA NiMH AA.
I’m interested in the difference in output style between lithium-ion and AA. Based on the graph above (specifically comparing the two cells), I’d call this an AA light that also runs 14500. I much prefer the flat output for a time over output that steps down immediately and/or drifts down steadily.
Modes and Currents
| Mode | Mode Claimed Output (lm) | Claimed Runtime | Measured Lumens | Tailcap Amps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14500 Turbo | 760 | 5m+1h5m | 632 (0s) 530 (30s) |
2.70 |
| 14500 High | 450 | 58m | 432 (0s) 399 (30s) |
1.29 |
| 14500 Medium | 130 | 4h10m | 100 | 0.33 |
| 14500 Low | 8 | 50h | 6.2 | 0.03 |
| AA (NiMH) Turbo | 320 | 1h5m | 254 (0s) 249(30s) |
1.95 |
| AA (NiMH) High | 130 | 2h28m | 109 (0s) 108 (30s) |
0.60 |
| AA (NiMH) Medium | 20 | 16h | 23 | 0.10 |
| AA (NiMH) Low | 2 | 80h | 2.5 | [low] |
Pulse Width Modulation
The lowest three modes of 14500 on the Maratac Floodmaster flashlight use PWM. It’s fast PWM, so likely to be no problem. Turbo does not use PWM. All the outputs with AA usage do not use PWM at all. Yay!
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
The Maratac Floodmaster flashlight is a twisty light. It’s nicely appointed for that, with appropriate knurling in the right places. As far as twisties go, it’s an easy to use light.
If you twist the head down to where it’s “just off” you can sort of squeeze the head and body together for momentary. Still a twisty, but momentary, too.
Here’s a user interface table!
| State | Action | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Off | Tighten head (clockwise) | High |
| On | Loosen/tighten (as one action, no delay) | Mode advance |
| On | Loosen head (counterclockwise) | Off |
| Any | Loosen/tighten (as one action, no delay) six times | Strobe |
LED and Beam
CountyComm says this is an “OSRAM” emitter. I would have guessed it’s an Osram P9 but I was not able to confirm that. The emitter uses a dimpled TIR, which makes perfect sense for a light called “Floodmaster.”
Below you can see just a hint of glow gasket. Note that there’s no lens – the TIR sits all the way at the front edge with no cover.
A little diffuser is included.
This diffuser glows, too, and can fit loosely as seen below or all the way down over the light.
LED Color Report (CRI and CCT)
Whether this is an Osram P9 or whatever, here you can see the characterization. The output is cool white, but doesn’t get over 6000K, and is even lower when run on an AA cell. CRI is low, at around 70, and the Duv is positive across the board.
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.
You can see that the output is clearly brighter with the 14500.
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. These photos are taken around 18 inches from the door.
I compare everything to the KillzoneFlashlights.com 219b BLF-348 because it’s inexpensive and has the best tint!
Summary and Conclusion
I really appreciate that this Maratac Floodmaster flashlight can run both AA and 14500. That’s a huge plus for me, and a thing I look for in 14500 lights. But I would say that across the board, the Maratac Floodmaster flashlight is better on an AA (so I’d consider it an AA light!). It’s a twisty, but the user interface is pretty simple and you can avoid strobe fairly easily. For $40, this is a fun light to grab!
The Big Table
| Maratac Floodmaster Flashlight | |
|---|---|
| Emitter: | Unstated |
| Price in USD at publication time: | $39.95 |
| Cell: | 1×14500 1xAA |
| Runtime Graphs | |
| LVP? | Yes |
| Switch Type: | Twisty |
| On-Board Charging? | No |
| Claimed Lumens (lm) | 14500: 760 AA (NiMH): 320 |
| Measured Lumens (at 30s) | 14500: 530 (69.7% of claim)^ AA (NiMH): 249 (77.8% of claim)^ |
| Candela per Lumen | 1.41 |
| Claimed Throw (m) | 70 |
| Candela (Calculated) in cd (at 30s) | 14500: 71lux @ 3.438m = 839cd AA (NiMH): 92lux @ 2.056m = 389cd |
| Throw (Calculated) (m) | 14500: 57.9 (82.7% of claim)^ AA (NiMH): 39.4 |
| Claimed CCT | – |
| Measured CCT Range (K) | 14500: 5800-6000 Kelvin AA (NiMH): 5600-5800 Kelvin |
| Item provided for review by: | CountyComm |
| All my Maratac 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 I like
- Simple enough user interface, with easy to avoid strobe
- Runs AA and 14500
- It is, in fact, very floody! (That’s the point!)
- Probably modifiable, since the pill is just screwed in.
- It’s very small!
What I don’t like
- Cell isn’t included
- Cool white
- Low CRI
- Weird version of mode memory that seems to revert to high after some time.
Notes
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