REVIEW – Face it, flashlights are a necessity. But what makes a ‘good’ flashlight? Let’s take a look at the ThruNite Archer 2A C flashlight and find out.
What is it?
The ThruNite Archer 2A C is a compact LED flashlight that can emit over 1000 lumens. It uses a 1600mAh rechargeable battery and is IPX-8 rated.
What’s included?
- ThruNite Archer 2A C flashlight
- 1600mAh USB-C rechargeable battery
- Lanyard
- Pocket clip
- Rubber button (extra)
- Rubber O-rings X 2 (extra)
- USB-C charging cable
Tech specs
Click to expand
- Model: ThruNite Archer 2A C
- Weight: 101g / 3.6oz
- Dimensions: 155mm x 22mm / 6.1in x 0.8in
- Material: Aluminum alloy
- Surface: Hard-anodized type III
- Output: High (519-1018 lumens) / Medium (213 lumens) / Low (20 lumens) / Firefly (0.3 lumens) / Strobe (1000 lumens)
- Run time: High (30secs + 128mins) / Medium (5hrs 34mins) / Low (37hrs) / Firefly (27 days) / Strobe (120min)
- Distance: 167 meters / 547 feet (max)
- Intensity: 7000 cd (max)
- Impact resistance: 1.5 meters / 4.9 feet
- Waterproof: IPX-8 (2 meters / 6.5 feet)
Design and features
The ThruNite Archer 2A C flashlight is a thin, metal, compact flashlight that is powered by a 1600mAh USB-C rechargeable battery. Dimensionally, the included battery is about the size of two AA batteries, end to end. There is a USB-C plug directly on the battery, so no need for a separate charger. I’m seeing more batteries like this, and I think it’s a great direction. It’s as long as a pen but thicker around. The included pocket clip is great for keeping the flashlight put in a pocket. There is also a lanyard to help keep the flashlight from slipping from your hand. The bottom end is textured to help unscrew it to gain access to the battery. This is also how you would replace the button and o-rings if needed. The rubber button on the bottom of the flashlight serves as the on/off button.
There is a small metallic button near the front lens area that when pushed, will change the intensity of the light. Firefly is the lowest setting. Keep tapping the button to cycle through low, medium, and high. Holding the small metallic button down for a few seconds activates the strobe mode. This is extremely bright at 1000 lumens and, according to the documentation, will last for 120 minutes. At the highest brightness (1018 lumens), the max beam distance is 167 meters or 547 feet.
ThruNite also sent their Archer 1A flashlight. It’s about half the size and does not come with a battery. It takes 1 AA battery. I may pick up a USB-C AA rechargeable battery from Amazon. The ThruNite Archer 1A has a high setting (312 lumens for 64 mins) or a low setting (32 lumens for 15 hours). It is also IPX-8 rated.
What I like about the ThruNite Archer 2A C flashlight
- I like the rechargeable battery, even more with USB-C!
- Very powerful for a flashlight this size
- Including a lanyard, spare o-rings and button is a great touch
What needs to be improved?
- I thought the button that selects the output strength was also a magnet, maybe a missed opportunity?
- There is no adjustment of the light other than the intensity, no option to change the spread of light
Final thoughts
I was impressed by a couple of things about the ThruNite Archer 2A C flashlight. One was the rechargeable battery using a directly connected USB-C cable. The fact that I can recharge this flashlight using a portable battery is great for camping and adventuring. It’s wonderful not having to rely on normal alkaline batteries. The other is how powerful this compact flashlight is. It’s easy to carry and seems like it would stand up to many conditions.
I’ll probably keep this flashlight right by the front door, so it’s handy to grab on my out or if I’m out at night. Regardless, the ThruNite Archer 2A C flashlight is a keeper and will see a lot of use!
Price: $39.99
Where to buy: ThruNite Direct and Amazon (ThruNite Archer 2A V3)
Source: The sample of this product was provided for free by ThruNite. ThruNite did not have a final say on the review and did not preview the review before it was published.
