Thrunite TN42C V2 Flashlight Review

The Thrunite TN42C V2 is a flashlight using the Cree XHP35 HI emitter for great throw. Read on for more about this well-built light!

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Official Specs and Features

Here’s a link to the Thrunite TN42C V2 Flashlight product page.

Versions

Of this light, there are two versions;  CW and NW.  Of the TN42 family in general there are more versions.  There’s the TN42c, which also has internal battery and onboard charging. And the original TN42 is still available of course, too, if you prefer to bring your own cells to the mix.

Price

This light retails for around $270. With the cell-less TN42 requiring both cells and a charger, that’s not that huge of an increase ($70) but it’s a fairly steep difference.

Edit: updated price!  This light goes for $220 now on Thrunite’s official Amazonpage.  Also on the Thrunite website, both lights can get 20% off by using the code: 20%.

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Short Review

I like it just like I liked the TN42.  The battery pack is quite nice, and the charging proceeds at 3A, which is respectable.  I do enjoy the ability to have and charge my own cells, so my leanings are probably toward the TN42.

Long Review

The Big Table

Thrunite TN42C V2
Emitter:	Cree XHP35 HI (NW )
Price in USD at publication time:	$220.00 (referral link)
Cell:	Internal
Turbo Runtime	High Runtime
LVP?	Yes
Switch Type:	E-Switch
Quiescent Current (A):	?
On-Board Charging?	No
Claimed Lumens (lm)	2000
Measured Lumens (at 30s)	1980 (99% of claim)^
Claimed Throw (m)	1550
Candela (Calculated) in cd (at 30s)	10900lux @ 7.643m = 636728cd
Throw (Calculated) (m)	1595.9 (103% 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 TN42c V2 Flashlight
• Shoulder strap
• Spare o-rings (2)
• Split ring
• Replacement switch cover
• Spare charge port cover
• Wall wart (8.4V 3.5A output)
• Manual and paperwork

Package and Manual

Thrunite has standard packaging, and even their big lights ship in it.  It’s a simple flap-cover cardboard box with Thrunite labeling and a CW/NW checkbox on the side.

Inside, the light is cradled in custom-cut foam and packaged inside a plastic baggie.  It’s very secure packaging.

Here’s the included manual:

Build Quality and Disassembly

As most Thrunite lights, the build quality on the TN42c V2 is great.  The anodizing is smooth and tough.  The knurling is grippy diamond pattern and in the right places.  (Those places being the two places you need grip for unscrewing the body off the light.)

The head has cooling fins, and also the shoulder strap attachment point.

The knurling is extremely well done (perfectly uniform) and quite grippy.  It’s also in very useful places (head and tail, for easy separation of the parts).  That said, this light really won’t ever need to be disassembled, so….

The threads are very nice and well-lubed.

Both the head and tail have similar connection points.  Contact is made well.

Three screw hold the cover over the driver (and four for the battery compartment).  They are easily removed.

Once those are removed, the battery slides right out.

Size and Comps

Dimensions: 206mm (length) x 100mm x 52mm.
Weight: 850g (including battery).

Slightly larger than the Convoy S2+.  Slightly.

It’s exactly the same size as the TN42, however.  The addition of charging doesn’t add any length or girth or anything.

Here’s the TN42c V2 with the Imalent DX80.

Retention

The TN42 ships with a shoulder strap.

This strap has a clip ring to connect on the tailcap, and a squeeze … thing… which conects around the head (just over the switch).  I don’t love that it’s just over the switch, but it makes sense because of how the light is carried with the strap.  This basically puts the switch right at your thumb.  Of course the same argument could be made if the strap connector was on the other side, since that’d put the switch right at your index finger.  Either way, this isn’t too bad.

There’s nothing else for carrying this light.  No pouch, for example.  And no way to protect that big lens, either!

Power and Runtime

Power for this big light comes from 18650 cells.  Four of them.  But unlike the TN42, these cells are built-in and not intended to be removed.  They’re bundled with shrink wrap and have a barrel plug charge port.

Here’s a runtime on Turbo, which is exactly like the runtime from the TN42.  Output is essentially the same, too.

And here’s High.  The light is ridiculously stable on High until it shuts off.  It is possible to turn the light on even after it’s shut down because of LVP, but it will likely not run long this way.

The internal battery is charged via this 8.4V wall power adapter, rated at 3.5A.

This connects to the light with a barrel plug, which is the standard 12V size (yes, 12V size).

The charge port on the light is covered by a rubber plug.

The charge port is actually built into the battery, not the light.

User Interface and Operation

There’s a single switch on the TN42c V2.  It’s just below the head and is a clicky e-switch with an indication function.  It’s exactly like the TN42 switch (which I also loved).

I like this switch.  The action is low, the pad is wide, it’s metal (or close enough), it’s easy to find…. Thrunite does e-switches right!

Here’s a user interface table!

State	Action	Result
Off	Hold	Firefly
Off	Click	On (Mode Memory except Turbo/Firefly/Strobe)
Any	Double click	Turbo
Turbo	Double click	Strobe
On	Hold	Mode cycle (LMH)^

^ There’s a mode cycle that’s hard to explain in table form. When the light is on, the only way to get to High is to cycle from low. If you turn the light on to Medium and hold the switch to advance, the advance is to Low first, then Medium then High.  In fact, any time you’re in medium, and you release the switch, the next advance upon holding the switch, will be low, whereby you need to cycle through low and medium to get to high.  I found this to be quite cumbersome.

Modes

Mode	Mode Claimed Output (lm)	Claimed Runtime	Measured Lumens	Tailcap Amps
Turbo	2000	1.5h	1982	1.72
High	780	5.3h	848	0.78
Medium	256	17.8h	283	0.20
Low	38	4.3d	49	0.02
Firefly	0.8	58d	–	–

LED and Beam

Thrunite uses a Cree XHP35 HI for this throwiest of thowers.  The version I have is neutral white, and I think that’s the best choice.  The reflector is very smooth, broad, and deep.  There’s a centering ring around the emitter, too.

Tint vs BLF-348

Random Comparisons and Competitive Options

Here’s a relevantly filtered page on parametrek.com.  Yes, there are a bunch of “throw king” Cree XHP35 HI lights available now.  But the TN42 family still throws best. The TN42c V2 doesn’t outthrow the TN42, but at that range it’s a technicality.  Yes, the BLF-GT throws farther, absolutely.  It also has some user interface advantage (if you like ramping, and programmability).  I still like the TN42 series much more for usability and the built-in battery of this light is no joke.

Conclusion

What I like

• Very good LVP
• Indicating switch
• Hits actual throw numbers (and much more!)
• Comparatively light (since just 4×18650)
• Built in battery works very well, and powers the light fine
• Charging of the BP10 actually hits the 3A specification

What I don’t like

• Knurling is a little bit grippy for my tastes
• Weird mode cycling up to High
• More expensive than the TN42, which is already expensive

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Notes

• This light was provided by Thrunite for review. I was not paid to write this review.
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