REVIEW – The ATUMAN FL1 Multi-function Flashlight is a unique looking flashlight. The lumens are not stated at Amazon but the light does have seven lighting modes, including three kinds of flash modes. The FL1 casts a broad floodlight beam and can light up a complete backyard. Can this flashlight gain a place in your EDC or would its shape be too much for your belt or pocket? Could it serve as a ‘trouble light’ in your home, car, boat or camper?
What is it?
The ATUMAN FL1 Multi-function Flashlight is a ‘large candy bar’ shaped, flashlight with the light source mounted in a non-traditional position.
What’s included?
- ATUMAN FL1 flashlight
- Charging cable – USB-A to USB-C
- Neck lanyard
- Bike handlebar strap
- Instructions
- Pocket clip
Tech specs
Click to expand
- Lumens: Not stated
- Light source: COB style LEDs
- Battery: 2150mAh lithium ion
- Modes: Low white, medium white, high white, white strobe, red-blue alternating strobe, red strobe, white SOS.
- Weight: 7.83 ounces claimed. Review unit is 5.3 ounces
- Dimensions: 0.9″D x 1.4″W x 5.1″H
- Construction: Aluminum and plastic
Design and features
The LEDs in the ATUMAN FL1 are COB style, or ‘chip on board’. This LED style is characterized by an array of LEDs embedded into yellow and/or white substrate material.
While the battery capacity is not stated at the Amazon listing for the ATUMAN flashlight, I found it at the manufacturer’s website. 2150mAh it is. Lumens remain unknown. The light runtime is said to be 43 hours at the lowest brightness setting and 3.5 hours at the brightest mode.
Assembly, Installation, Setup
I topped off the charge of the ATUMAN flashlight in 30 minutes and it was ready to use. There is a LED-lit border around the power switch which ‘breathes’ or fades off and on in red color while the ATUMAN charges. When charged, the border light turns steady white.
Performance
The ATUMAN flashlight is a pocket-full. You really have to commit to this light if you want it in your pocket or clipped to a pocket or belt.
The clip seems to keep the light secure in a pocket but I’m not sure I’d trust it for belt carry. If you bump the light hard against something while it’s on your belt, I can imagine the light flying off somewhere, the clip either unsnapping from the light, or the clip breaking if it doesn’t detach from the light.
You lose the magnetic grip ability of the FL1 if you use the pocket/belt clip because the clip covers the magnet near the lower back of the light. The FL1 would not grip for me on vertical steel surfaces with only one magnet in play. It slides right down the metal surface. So I had to remove the clip to allow both magnets to grip. That’s inconvenient.
I’m surprised there isn’t a magnet on the top or bottom of the light. That limits its utility as a work light. I don’t always have a space the size of the full length of this flashlight where I can mount a magnetic flashlight.
The video shows the 7 lighting modes of the FL1.
The ATUMAN FL1 did in fact receive a design award but it’s unclear how much user convenience figured into the equation.
The power switch LED indicates battery power while the light is on. And it will be shining in your face when you try to see the power button because the switch and light lens are both on the front of the light. I guess we cover the lens with a hand to check the power level? With the battery at over 25% capacity, the power button light shines white. Below 25% battery capacity, the light is red.
It does seem easy to hold the FL1 ‘lens up’ facing away from me, with my middle finger on the power switch. For a longer night walk I’d hold the light down at arm’s length, with the beam shining out in front of me, with my thumb on the power switch.
Walking with the light on the lanyard could be useful for night walks or hands-free task work.
Quick presses of the power switch are not effective to speed through the modes. It takes somewhat slow, deliberate switch presses to get to the desired light mode.
The red-blue alternating strobe is too weak to serve as a daytime warning light. The red strobe is brighter than the red-blue alternating strobe and could be useful day or night as a bike tail light or walking light. The white strobe is plenty bright for daytime use but the flash rate is the annoying ‘self defense’ rapid flash, and I’m calling it unsuitable for car, bike or walking use. I don’t want to cause a seizure for someone driving towards me. The FL1’s white SOS mode flashes very brightly and could be a useful warning light day or night.
The ATUMAN FL1 flashlight came with a rubber strap intended for bike handlebar mounting, but I’m not sure it’s a great way to mount the light. You’d need to pad the back of the light for stability and protection of the flashlight and handlebar finishes. Otherwise the strap will hold the flat back of the flashlight against the curved handlebar, which seems a stability mismatch. The FL1 seemed wobbly and unstable when I put it on my bike’s handlebars. I might wire tie it to the rear rack of my mountain bike and use its red strobe as a tail light.
What I like about the ATUMAN FL1 Multi-function Flashlight
- Long battery life from the lower beams and flash modes
- Solid construction
- Good range of brightness and color modes
What needs to be improved?
- Having to cycle through the light modes is inconvenient
- Battery and lumen specs should be stated everywhere the flashlight is sold
- There should be a magnet in the bottom of the light
- Needs a stable, secure bike mounting solution
Final thoughts
The ATUMAN FL1 is a powerful flashlight with 7 light modes and if the shape and operation of the light are ok with you, the price seems pretty reasonable. It could be a useful flashlight to have on hand for emergencies. With its floodlight beam it would make a great area light in a variety of settings.
Price: $35.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided for free by ATUMAN and the company did not have a final say on the review and did not preview the review before it was published.
