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TN31(XM-L2 Version) & TN30(XM-L U2 Version) Review
DIR By: Spasmod
Date: February 26, 2013, 7:41 pm
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ThruNite TN31 XM-L2 U2 & ThruNite TN30 XM-L U2 Review.
HTML http://www.thrunite-store.com/media/wysiwyg//TN30-NEW/TN31-1.jpg
HTML http://www.thrunite-store.com/media/wysiwyg/TN30/TN30-1.jpg
First of all I would like to say a gracious Thank You to
ThruNite for the opportunity to review these lights on their
behalf. Both of these lights were supplied by ThruNite for
review.
This is my very first review of any flashlight products. It will
be far from perfect and lacking any detailed analysis which can
be found in some of the elite reviews. I will however, try to
give an honest opinion and try to be as professional as possible
with my limited equipment and experience.
I apologise in advance for my pictures and camera quality. It
was difficult at best to convey the images the way I wanted you
to see them. My goal in the near future is to acquire a manual
focus camera system for ease of use and quality.
Thank you for your understanding.
Mfr: specifications
ThruNite TN30 XM-L U2
· LED: Three Cree XM-L U2 LEDs with a lifespan of 20+years of
run time.
· Max 3000 lumen output using 3 * 18650 batteries.
· Level 1: 1 lm. 1200 hours; Level 2: 38 lm. 75 hours; Level 3:
352 lm. 10 hours; Level 4: 932 lm. 3.5 hours.
· Level 5: 1580 lm. 2.5 hours; Level 6: 2780 lm. 1.2 hours;
Standby: 67 uA; Strobe: 2780 lm. 2hours.
· Working voltage: 8V to 13V.
· Max runtime: 1200 hours.
· Max beam distance: 370 meters.
· Peak beam intensity: 35000cd.
· Impact resistant: 1.2 meters.
· Waterproof to IPX-8 standard, 2M.
· 178.00mm length, 64.50mm bezel diameter.
· Weight: 559.80g without battery.
· Aircraft grade aluminum body structure.
· Premium type III hard anodized anti-abrasive finish.
· Ultra-clear tempered glass lens with anti-reflective coating.
· Momentary forward click tactical switch.
· Strobe mode for tactical and emergency use.
· Smooth reflector for max light output.
· Highly focused beam for maximum distance.
· Tactical knurling for firm grip.
· Streamlined body design.
· Mechanical reversed polarity protection design for battery
carrier.
· Intelligent highly efficient circuit board design for max
performance and long run time.
· Specially designed for Military, Law Enforcement,
Self-defense, Hunting, Search & Rescue and Outdoor activities.
· Intelligent temperature controlled light output for user
safety.
ThruNite TN31 XM-L2 U2
· LED: Cree XM-L2 LED with a lifespan of 20+years of run time.
· Max 1376 lumen output using 3 * 18650 batteries.
· Level 1: 0.6 lm. 2000 hours; Level 2: 23 lm. 140 hours; Level
3: 175 lm. 22 hours; Level 4: 439 lm. 9 hours.
· Level 5: 744 lm. 5 hours; Level 6: 1376lm. 2 hours; Standby:
65 uA; Strobe: 1376 lm. 4 hours.
· Working voltage: 4V to 13V.
· Max runtime: 2000 hours.
· Max beam distance: 840 meters.
· Peak beam intensity: 90000cd.
· Impact resistant: 1.2 meters.
· Waterproof to IPX-8 standard, 2M.
· 201.70mm length, 79.00mm bezel diameter.
· Weight: 452.80g without battery.
· Aircraft grade aluminum body structure.
· Premium type III hard anodized anti-abrasive finish.
· Ultra-clear tempered glass lens with anti-reflective coating.
· Momentary forward click tactical switch.
· Strobe mode for tactical and emergency use.
· Smooth reflector for max light output.
· Highly focused beam for maximum distance.
· Tactical knurling for firm grip.
· Streamlined body design.
· Mechanical reversed polarity protection design for battery
carrier.
· Intelligent highly efficient circuit board design for max
performance and long run time.
· Specially designed for Military, Law Enforcement,
Self-defense, Hunting, Search & Rescue and Outdoor activities.
· Intelligent temperature controlled light output for user
safety.
Initial impressions
The lights arrived very speedily from ThruNite, they were well
packaged and undamaged. This is what I found when I opened the
box.
Two very well presented and professional looking cases. Upon
inspecting the cases, they appear to be well built and very
sturdy.
The lights themselves inside were a nice snug fit with plenty of
soft padding to protect them incase of the unforeseen ground
magnets.
HTML http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/8278/casessi.jpg
Here is what was inside each case
ThruNite TN30
HTML http://img547.imageshack.us/img547/4047/opencasetn30.jpg
ThruNite TN31
HTML http://img838.imageshack.us/img838/5412/opencasetn31.jpg
Supplied as standard accessories with each light were
1x Belt Holster
1x High quality lanyard
2x Spare rubber O-rings
ThruNite TN30
HTML http://img853.imageshack.us/img853/4578/tn30contents.jpg
ThruNite TN31
HTML http://img845.imageshack.us/img845/3738/tn31contents.jpg
Here are the two lights out of their boxes and sat side by side
for a direct size comparison. As you can see, the TN31 is
substantially larger than the TN30.
HTML http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/9458/sizecomparisonm.jpg
In this next image, you will see why the TN31 is larger than the
TN30, This is due to the rather large diameter and very deep
reflector fitted to the TN31.
This allows for a very tight beam and hotspot for the maximum
throw possible with minimal losses.
In fact, the ThruNite TN31 XM-L2 is one of the longest throwing
Standard Production Single LED Flashlights available on the
market today.
HTML http://img850.imageshack.us/img850/387/lenscomparison.jpg
Styling & Features
Both the TN30 and the TN31 share the same design rear body, rear
clicky master on/off switch and battery carrier. They also share
the same User Interface for mode/brightness selection.
This is achieved by rotating the magnetic ring located just
under the head of the lights.
Here you can see the mode selection ring which has six
brightness levels, ranging from moonlight mode (1 lumen) all the
way up to level six (maximum output).
Turning this ring allows for full control of output brightness
in real time, thus no need for ‘Stepping’ through modes with
partial clicks on the rear switch.
This is a very well thought out design, especially as these
lights are a fairly large carry in the hand. Attempting to
change modes with the rear clicky, although possible would be
very cumbersome indeed.
What I particularly liked about this design is that you’re able
to easily change brightness levels comfortably one handed as the
hand rests naturally with the thumb and fore-finger perfectly
seated to twist the control ring.
Unfortunately the levels 1-6 are not marked under the control
ring as are Standby and Strobe. Just personal preference I
realise, but it would have been something I would have
appreciated.
HTML http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/316/selectionring.jpg
Both the TN30 and the TN31 have what I would call very sleek
styling.
The TN31 is less aggressive looking around the head, but this is
mainly due to the fact that the TN30 pulls a lot more power and
needs to dissipate much more generated internal heat.
Here you can see the difference in the head design around the
heatsink fins. Both are machined to an exacting standard with
very deep grooves to allow adequate airflow between the grooves.
Thrunite TN30 (notice the more aggressive heatsinking potential)
HTML http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/2301/tn30anodizingandheatsin.jpg
ThruNite TN31
HTML http://img835.imageshack.us/img835/1821/tn31anodizingandheatsin.jpg
Both lights share the same tailcap design shown below. It’s
worth noting that the lights will tailstand with no problems
since the switch itself is nicely recessed.
You will notice that there are cutout indents (crenelations) in
the tailcap itself which enables the lights to be easily
activated if being used in a ‘Overhand’ grip.
This also makes using the forward clicky tactical partial press
activation much less cumbersome.
I will note though at this point that my wife was unable to
activate the switch with an overhand grip without losing grip of
the light itself.
You will need ‘fairly’ large hands to accomplish this easily
without fear of dropping the light.
HTML http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/5553/tailcapcomparison.jpg
Another difference worth mentioning is the business end of these
lights. The TN30 has a discreet bezel which is anodized
Aluminium and integral to the head itself.
Whereas the TN31 has a very shiny Stainless steel bezel with
prominent styling.
This offers a touch of class to the overall look of light and
somehow gives the impression that the diameter of the light is
larger than it really is. Just a small design touch that
impressed me personally.
TN30 Bezel
HTML http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/5470/tn30bezel.jpg
TN31 Bezel
HTML http://img842.imageshack.us/img842/5450/tn31bezel.jpg
You may have also noticed the discreet cutout indentations
(crenelations) on the bezels of both lights, this allows light
to escape if the lights are accidently left running when face
down.
Below shows the lights both left running and facing down in a
darkened room.
HTML http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/3889/bezellightescape.jpg
Design, Workmanship & Build Quality
Overall, the design and workmanship on the these ThruNite lights
are exemplary with very few negative points to mention, however
there are a few.. I will get to those a little further on.
As far as the exterior goes, there are no noticeable
imperfections on either of the lights. The Hard HAIII anodizing
is absolutely perfect on both lights with no anodizing missing
between grooves and no light spots of thin anodize anywhere to
be seen.
I have checked them both thoroughly and honestly, they’re
perfect.
When removing the tube to access the battery carrier, it feels
very tight and concise on the threads and with a very positive
feel on the O-ring.
It grips nicely and was perfectly lubricated as were the threads
on both lights.
The threads themselves are very course with a Trapezoidal cut
with absolutely zero grittiness.
Below you can see the quality of the threads, these are
identical on both the TN30 and the TN31
HTML http://img542.imageshack.us/img542/8633/threadquality.jpg
The knurling on the battery tube provides excellent grip without
offering any discomfort.
I found this to be a very important detail as it allows the
lights to be carried over long distances without causing muscle
fatigue in the forearms.
I was able to carry the TN31 (the heavier of the two) on a 5
mile round trip with surprising ease.
This is an important factor for prolonged use due to not having
to use excessive force to ‘keep the light safe’ from dropping.
Below you can see the depth of the knurling which offers
precisely the correct abrasion.
HTML http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/1148/knurlingquality.jpg
Once the battery carrier is removed, it’s immediately noticeable
how well it is constructed.
I’ve read several reviews of the TN30 and TN31 and each one has
Aluminium ends. Mine both had thick solid brass ends, not only
on the battery carrier (both ends) but also on the bottom of the
pills (on both lights)
The design of the battery carrier is clearly well thought out
with sturdy construction and what looks like Carbon Fibre
supporting struts.
On the lights I received, all the screws were fully tightened
and the contacts were all clean.
There are no flickering issues and neither of the lights dim or
turn off when the side is tapped. I know this has been an issue
in the past and it looks like ThruNite has managed to rectify
this issue with the current production of their lights.
Below are pictures of the battery carrier and the bottom of the
pill. The pill battery connection is identical on both lights.
HTML http://img854.imageshack.us/img854/2845/batterycarrier.jpg
HTML http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/119/batterycarrier2.jpg
HTML http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/7450/pillbasebrass.jpg
The reflectors in these lights are clear with a highly polished
look. Both lights have the SMO (Smooth) reflectors.
The TN30 triple reflector is much more shallow in depth when
compared with the TN31 but is still fairly noticeably deep when
compared to most other Triple LED style lights.
As a result of this, the TN30 although being primarily designed
for Flood, offers surprisingly exceptional throw for a light in
it’s class.
The LED’s were perfectly centered within the reflectors on both
the TN30 and the TN31
ThruNite TN30
HTML http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/7020/tn30emitters.jpg
ThruNite TN31
HTML http://img837.imageshack.us/img837/6990/tn31emitter.jpg
Finally, before I mention the minor issues and offer the
beamshots, I would like to give you an idea of the head size
difference between the TN30 and the TN31
ThruNite TN30
HTML http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/7016/tn30headsize.jpg
ThruNite TN31
HTML http://img845.imageshack.us/img845/6364/tn31headsize.jpg
Beamshots
Here are the comparison beamshots taken at different ranges and
with different backgrounds in an attempt to highlight the tint,
brightness and throw capabilities of these lights.
Also, thrown into the mix for direct comparison purposes is my
very bright XM-L Aspheric thrower. 2800mA nanjg 105c 8×7135 XM-L
U3 LED
*Please note* With the limited capabilities of my camera, I was
unable to get true ‘real life brightness’ images. All of the
following images are very slightly darker than ‘real life’ naked
eye brightness.
All shots below are taken with the lights at their Highest
Brightness settings
Garden shots
Distance: 50 metres to metal fence and trees.
Control shot (my son is at the bottom in yellow)
HTML http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/3595/controlpv.jpg
Aspheric Thrower XM-L U3 2800mA
HTML http://img547.imageshack.us/img547/7074/asphericxml.jpg
ThruNite TN30 3x XM-L U2
HTML http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/9297/tn30.jpg
ThruNite TN31 XM-L2 U2
HTML http://img842.imageshack.us/img842/9720/tn31.jpg
As you can see, both the TN30 and the TN31 completely destroy
the Aspheric thrower in terms of overall light output and spot
brightness.
But what about over a longer distance ? surely the Aspheric
thrower will be able to compete against the TN30 ? after all the
TN30 isn’t specifically designed to throw.
Well let’s see.
Conifer tree
Distance: 140m to top of tree
Control shot
HTML http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/3875/controlj.jpg
Aspheric Thrower XM-L U3 2800mA (if you look carefully you can
see it)
HTML http://img571.imageshack.us/img571/7074/asphericxml.jpg
ThruNite TN30 XM-L U2
HTML http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/8948/tn30i.jpg
ThruNite TN31 XM-L2 U2
HTML http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/9929/tn31b.jpg
So there we have it, The TN30 and the TN31 both beat the
dedicated Aspheric thrower. Not overly surprising I know but I
did expect the Aspheric to come a little closer than it did.
After all, this thing is no slouch, it’s well driven and
properly heatsinked and is Very bright, just not in a same
ballpark as the ThruNite lights.
So, next up is an attempt to portray the colour tint of these
ThruNite TN30 and TN31, they both have a very warm and natural
tint.
It’s difficult to portray this in the images but with the naked
eye, it’s easy to see how they bring out the natural greens and
yellows in plant life and vegetation.
Bushy Hedge
Distance: 3m
Control shot
HTML http://img801.imageshack.us/img801/3687/controly.jpg
Aspheric Thrower XM-L U3 2800mA (I had to widen the beam to be
able to see some of the hedge)
HTML http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/7074/asphericxml.jpg
ThruNite TN30 XM-L U2
HTML http://img703.imageshack.us/img703/2910/tn30h.jpg
ThruNite TN31 XM-L2 U2
HTML http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/6745/tn31e.jpg
And now for the final set of beamshots
Barn Wall Hunting
Distance: 4m
Here is portrayed the beam pattern of each of the lights on my
barn wall.
The barn wall is about 200 years old so the reflective quality
isn’t what it once was but nevertheless, it gives an honest
impression of the beam profile of each light.
Control Shot
HTML http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/3011/controlsf.jpg
Aspheric Thrower XM-L U3 2800mA
HTML http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/7074/asphericxml.jpg
ThruNite TN30 XM-L U2
HTML http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/9297/tn30.jpg
ThruNite TN31 XM-L2 U2
HTML http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/9210/tn31d.jpg
With the beamshots out of the way which I hope you found useful
the only things left to detail are the minor problems discovered
as mentioned earlier, and relatively minor they are.
Both lights had a slightly wobbly control ring but nothing major
as to cause any ongoing issues that I can see. I know this has
been mentioned many times in the past in previous reviews and it
looks like it still hasn’t been addressed.
Whether this is due to the integral design and cannot be
addressed without a complete design overhaul, I really do not
know.
With the price range these lights find themselves in, and with
the very high standard of workmanship on the whole, it would be
nice to see a solution at some point in the near future.
Aside from the wobbly control ring, the ThruNite TN30 was
absolutely flawless in every way.
Not so however with the ThruNite TN31..
The TN31 I received has a couple of minor issues. Pretty much
cosmetic from my own point of view but needless to say, for the
price of the TN31 new, these quality control issues shouldn't be
allowed to slip through the net.
The main problem I have found with the TN31 is condensation on
the inside of the glass lens. Whenever the light is taken into a
cold environment, the front lens fogs up quite badly.
It takes more than half an hour for the fogging to subside to a
half inch diameter and I haven’t been outside with the light
long enough to find out how long it takes to fully dissipate the
fogging.
I can only assume the light was assembled in a damp environment
and the problem is always going to be difficult to contend with
due to the volume of air inside the reflector cavity, but I can
certainly say that the TN30 does not suffer from the same
problem in the slightest.
Perhaps it’s not a common problem and is only an issue with the
light I received, I’m not sure. I haven’t seen this mentioned
before so who knows.
The next problem I had was a badly damaged O-ring seal upon
opening the light for the first time, although to their credit,
ThruNite do supply two spare O-rings.. Thank you Thrunite!
I replaced the O-ring and all has been fine since. (perhaps this
is linked with the condensation)
HTML http://img543.imageshack.us/img543/2446/tn31oringdamage.jpg
The final problem to mention was with the reflector. There
appears to be some kind of spotty residue on the reflector
itself.
It’s barely noticeable and does not affect the beam or cause
artefacts in any way. I only noticed it when it caught my eye in
a certain light. However, here is a picture of what it looks
like.
*Please note* These spots are not on the front lens, they are on
the reflector itself. I have not opened the head of the light so
I do not know what it is. Fungus perhaps ?
HTML http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/6300/tn31reflectorissue.jpg
Overall though, with the minor problems mentioned above, it
certainly does not detract from the performance and build
quality of these lights.
They are both very well build, very sturdy construction and
perform to a mind boggling standard. If any further issues
arise, or if there is anything I have forgotten to mention, I
will be sure to update this post.
My conclusion is that despite the high-ish price bracket these
lights fall into, they are well worth the money and once you get
your hands on either of them, you will see why.
Thank you for reading Ladies and Gentlemen
All the best
Spasmod
UPDATE
I am now 100% certain that the condensation problem and
reflector particles were due to the damaged O-ring.
The particles on the reflector it turns out were very tiny water
droplets and not any kind of fungus. *good news*
I’m happy to say that since completely drying the moisture from
the head of the TN31 and replacing the O-ring. There are no
longer any condensation issues and the tiny particles have gone
completely.
I now have a 100% perfect ThruNite TN31 and I absolutely love
this flashlight, it blows me away everytime I use it.
My hat is off to ThruNite for the amazing quality of the
products they manufacture.
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