Quark Minis: "Awesome Wilderness Lights" by Nutnfancy - outdoor lighting
Quark Minis: "Awesome Wilderness Lights" by Nutnfancy
They're tiny, lightweight, super bright, and reliable. For me that makes them some of the best "Wilderness Lights" out there. The 4Sevens Mini 123, CR2, and AA single cell lights are reviewed in this Nutnfancy flashlight video. At a whopping 189 OTF Lumens and good burn times, the 1.4 oz Mini 123 is my favorite (it also has an wonderful area-flooding beam pattern). It excels in tent illumination (just hang from gear loop!), camp lighting duties, and even serious search functions. You will be blown away by its flood of light which seems almost impossible coming from single cell torch. The tiny 1.0 oz Mini CR2 makes a great EDC light, burning for 4.4 hrs on its 40 Lumen Medium mode. It carries invisibly in your daily system and is the best choice for keychains. If battery availability is a concern, then you might want to opt for the still small and lightweight Mini AA (also 1.4 oz) that has a 90 Lumen Max mode (akaline cell). Also note with the Mini AA version: if you run "AW" brand #14500 IC-protected cells in your Mini AA it will transform the light into a mini searchlight (wow!). However the 14500 3.7 Volt 750 mah power source runs the light hard in High mode and results in more heat (could be good if you need the heat). The usually hidden but still easily accessed special modes are very useful in the Wilderness light POU as well: SOS, Strobe, High and Low Beacon modes. Expect the beacon modes to be very useful for finding your tent (boat, campsite, stranded person ...
[Video Rating: 4 / 5[/random]
Just ordered the Mini AA, so excited to use this light. Thanks for the comprehensive review and bringing these awesome products to our attention!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the battery info!:)
ReplyDeleteSafe with regards to the battery. Too much power draw.
ReplyDeleteHow is it not safe? As long as you don't use it on turbo for more than a few minutes, it should be ok. Even if it isn't safe, it still gets 450 otf lumes on a regular cr123.
ReplyDeleteIt is not safe with an ICR.
ReplyDeleteThe MiNi and MiNiX are more usable with the voltage regulation, in that you still have three levels.
Actually, It gets 770 out the front lumens on a regular ICR 16340, although the runtime is terrible.
ReplyDeleteYeah, but you need an IMR rcr16340.
ReplyDeleteThere is so little capacity there the light is dead in about 20 minutes. (if your hand doesn't get burned by then)
Its amazing how led technology has advanced in 2 years. The Eagletac d25c xm-l gets 770 out the front lumens on one rechargeable cr123!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the upload, and Love your videos, but feel you let the side down a little with too much yack-in about comparisons when out with the main light and on with all 3 tested flashlights would be a real example of power, even for something as 'minimal' as to have a pee or something!
ReplyDeleteI realise your camera may not work for a few seconds, .......
ReplyDeleteTry the display with extra area lights OFF! To give a real idea of brightness? Just a suggestion.
The low setting on these is still enough to read a book, write a letter, or check a map in a Tent, right? Again, with every-other light off, we could get a very obvious and real idea of how bright even the low and beacon settings are.
Iv been going along with a lot of people thinking that AA is definately the way to go with flashlights due to the availability of cells. But I was just checking out the specs and with the 123 cells you get more lumens and much longer run times. Expecially when you compare AA lights with 123 lights with similar lumens.
ReplyDeleteI'll be getting a CR2 as well as a Spyderco Ladybug H2 Hawkbill for my keychain.
ReplyDeleteI bought one of the cr2 minis and love it. Im kinda a noob. Is there a product that will allow me to secure it to my glock 17 rail?
ReplyDeleteI've EDC'd the Quark mini AA for a long time now, S2 version. The light has been fantastic. No problems, and mine is all worn and dinged up. Worst I've had as far as maintenance is once I had to clean dirt out of the threads. For backpacking my primary is the Mini AA2, with the AA as a backup, in a head band. Both work great for that too.
ReplyDeleteI've given 4Sevens lights as gifts a few times, and the nice packaging I think is great for that.
Green packaging Rocks
ReplyDeleteDoes thee Preon 2 have the same shock resistance?
ReplyDeleteBoba Fett wear and tear made me chuckle :)
ReplyDelete...And I have used it several times this spring as a stand-in light for our hot tub. Several hours each day, and no water penetration.
ReplyDelete...And still no scratches on the scratch-resistant lens.
ReplyDeleteAbout a year ago, I used my Quark AA2 Turbo for a strobe light at a party for my friend. I basically leaned off a stairwell and duct taped it to the ceiling. About ten minutes later, the tape failed and it fell onto the solid tile floor about 20 feet below, and it kept strobing away. It has taken numerous, smaller spills as well since I bought it a few years back. To this day, it's still my EDC light. Only complaint is the pocket clip broke, now it just rides in my pocket with my change.
ReplyDeleteis this still one of the best little tiny awesome lights? or are there better ones now that its 2012?
ReplyDeletea puppy, thats some funny sh-t........oh sh-t im not the only one that thought that was funny.........i am laughing out loud right now........frigggin puppy jeeez man
ReplyDeletehe would jump into the pool if there was a puppy drowning.
ReplyDeleteDude, Which Q Mini can throw the furthest?
ReplyDelete