REVIEW – The Wuben L1 flashlight not only has two light heads but they have a unique swivel feature which changes the configuration of the light and how you hold and use it. It comes with a large capacity battery and throws a little or a lot of light. Is there a fly in the pie or could this be your next EDC flashlight?
What is it?
The Wuben L1 flashlight is a hand-held, rechargeable, LED flashlight with two different styles of light heads that are adjustable to allow for either head to project at 90 degrees from the flashlight body, or straight out in line with the body in the traditional flashlight format.
What’s in the box?
- Wuben L1 flashlight
- USB C charging cable
- Carrying sheath
- 2 spare O rings
- Wuben lanyard
- Instruction sheet
Hardware specs
- Battery: Size 21700 Lithium ion, 4800 mAh, 3.7V
- Main LED: Luminus SST-40-W
- USB C port designed input and output
- Auxiliary LED: Either: OSRAM P9 5000k or NICHIA 519A
- Magnetic tail cap
- Aluminum body
- Weight: 6.3 oz with battery
- Dimensions: 5.04” Length, 1.10” Diameter
- Drop resistance: 1.5 meter
- Water resistance: IP68
Design and features
The Wuben L1 flashlight has two heads with two different styles of lenses and types of projection. The head is adjustable in that it swivels to allow for either head to project at 90 degrees from the flashlight body, or straight out in line with the body. The photo above shows the head half rotated, and both lights turn on in any position.
The L1 has a USB-C charging port at the head end of the light and has a flexible rubber port seal cover.
The website description claims 2.5 hours charging time for a depleted battery, and 90 hours runtime on low light mode.
The red / blue LED between the power switches also indicates battery capacity. The indicator stays on for 5 seconds each time the light is turned on in any mode. If battery capacity is 90% or more, the light is steady blue. Between 90% and 40% the blue LED flashes. Between 40% and 15% the red LED illuminates steadily. At under 15% the red LED flashes.
A carrying sheath comes with the L1 and is a nice convenience.
The L1 is a bit large for my pants pocket, and the clip on it tends to pick at the pocket fabric edge due to how it is made. If the light is set to have the larger lens in line with the body of the light it sits pretty high out of the pocket. And I had to rotate the clip around the body of the light to find a position that didn’t cause the light to turn on while I was moving around. Both of the lens ends get very hot at their brightest modes.
The lower switch controls the smaller diameter floodlight, and the upper switch controls the larger spotlight. The floodlight produces low, medium and high beams with a single press to turn the light on, and long presses to cycle through the modes.
The upper switch turns on the spotlight with a single press and cycles through low, medium and high beam with long presses. From off, a quick double press activates the high beam. From off, a triple press activates strobe, and while strobe is flashing, a triple press changes to SOS mode. Strobe is brighter than SOS.
Lumen levels for the light modes were not listed on the instructions or on the product box but I found this chart at the website. The maximum lumens are listed as 2000 for the spotlight beam and either 1000 or 600 depending on the LED type in the smaller floodlight head. During online purchase, one can choose either an OSRAM P9 LED or a Nichia 519A for the auxiliary light. The Nichia 519A LED type was shipped for this review. The website provides a description of the qualities of the two LED types.
The L1 can charge other devices by plugging in the supplied cable or any other USB C cable into the L1 and the device needing a charge. The L1 didn’t charge my Pixel 6a at high speed but held a respectable 1300-1400 mA during the time I tested the charge output of the L1.
Setup
There was a current flow prevention tab at the negative end of the battery. With that removed I charged the L1. There is a charge indicator light between the two switches. It is red when charging, and blue when fully charged.
Performance
On the low beam of either LED, there is no perceivable heat at the flashlight head. With the spotlight at medium mode I start to feel a bit of heat, but at turbo, the head gets uncomfortably hot pretty soon.
On the other hand, I mean the other head, the floodlight gets pretty warm at its high setting. The floodlight does not do turbo or strobe. The floodlight produces a low, medium and high beam.
The Wuben L1 never flickered or failed as I used every mode it’s made to deliver, except strobe and SOS. The lumen levels of the L1 gave appropriate brightness for all the tasks on which I used it.
What I like
- Unique swivel head design
- Strobe and SOS mode
- Solid build and finish
What I’d change
- Pocket clip needs to be reconfigured for easier clipping onto pocket or belt
- High heat at the light head is concerning
Final thoughts
If the price is right for you, the Wuben L1 with its dual light heads and swiveling aim feature may suit your needs for a new style of EDC flashlight for work, home or recreational use.
Price: $79
Where to buy: Wuben ( Save 20% with code: aff20 )
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Wuben.
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I have a Anker light that heats up enough to be uncomfortable to hold. So I would pass on this light even though it has some unique and useful features