Nitecore EDC29 Review
I review the Nitecore EDC29 tactical flashlight. This is the brightest flat-style flashlight I own (it produces nearly 9000 lumens!).
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General thoughts after a week of usage/size comparison/practicality/interesting things:
• So Nitecore has released some new EDC flashlights, and the EDC29 was the one I was most interested in due to the impressive specs: 6500 lumens and 400m range – unheard of for a light of this size. Nitecore provided me with a sample of the EDC29 for review. I haven’t been paid to make this video nor held back on any negative opinions of this light. I like that Nitecore has put its spin on the flat-style flashlight design, and doubled down on a tactical UI, paired with high output. This makes this a perfect flashlight for self-defense and general use.
• What’s in the box? You also get a chunky lanyard, USB-C Charging cable, and instruction manual.
• Comparison with RovyVon E30, EDC23, Wurkkos Flat Lights. There are no auxiliary lights.
Overall Construction, LED, lens, bezel and reflector
• The Nitecore EDC29 is constructed from stainless steel with an internal carbon fiber frame. The light has a unique military-futuristic design that catches my attention, but at the same time is covert when tucked away in your pocket. Nitecore uses a process called PVD (Physical Vapour Deposition) to apply the titanium coating on the shell of the light. The coating is matt black and feels surprisingly grippy, more so when you apply more grip to the light. There’s some knurling on the side of the light. There are also some heat dissipation ridges along the light. The head and tail end stick out a bit more, due to heatsinking and the OLED display. There is a clip on the back – it’s very rigid and you won’t have issues with the light moving around or falling out of your pocket.
• The light is operated via two metal switches on the rear (one is raised so you can tell them apart in the dark) and a lockout switch on the side. Nitecore are using a 2500mAh Li-ion battery. There’s a USB-C charging port on the side, covered by a rigid port cover. I almost couldn’t find it in the beginning. The OLED display is perfectly implemented at a nice level of brightness, and it also switches off quickly when not in use. The display shows battery voltage, and mode, and even estimates the remaining runtime on the mode being used, based on the remaining battery life. The EDC29 features a proximity sensor that only activates on high mode 1200 lumens (not turbo). This means you can use turbo and it will not step down when objects get in the way.
• This is the exciting part! Nitecore is using 2xUHi 20 MAX LEDs rated at 6500 lumens. I’m not able to verify the actual output, but several other reviewers have reported more than 8500 lumens! No wonder it nearly blinded me up close when I first used it! The design of these LEDs is something I’ve never seen before – they come with 9 emitting surfaces. 8 for the flood LEDs and 1 for the spot. Each emitting surface is 1mm2 or less. OP reflectors make sense here to create a more blended beam for all the emitting surfaces. I also like that Nitecore uses an anti-reflective glass lens on the front for extra durability.
UI – modes
• Lock switch – up position for full lock, down for unlocked. You can semi-lock the light so that only LUMIN SHIELD (6500 lumens) and SEARCH (3000 lumens) modes are available. This is akin to a basic tactical UI.
• The lower switch has two steps, half press for SEARCH and full press for LUMIN SHIELD. You can also switch LUMIN SHIELD to STROBE by fully pressing LS and then fully pressing the higher switch.
• The higher switch – half press to switch UL, L, M, H. Full press lock-in. The screen also displays modes. You can switch modes during operation too.
• Semi lock – press the lower switch, and slide lock up.
Performance – total output, beam profile, longevity, practicality
• Ceiling bounce test, CRI, CCT
• Blinding wall of light, careful of accidentally activating the light up close. There’s a surprisingly distinct hotspot too. It appears almost perfectly circular despite the dual reflector design.
Considerations
• Non-replaceable battery. I don’t know if it’s possible to source another from a third party but it seems somewhat straightforward to get into the case.
• Short runtimes on high and you’d deplete the battery faster if you’re using turbo often. Turbo also only lasts for a few seconds – think of it more as a mode you’d use to spot something quickly or in a self-defense situation.
• Would prefer a deep carry clip, but I see the utility of having the light stick out of your pocket slightly for easy access, and to prevent accidental activation.
• No proper moonlight mode.
Verdict
This is the tactical EDC light I’ve been waiting for! I don’t feel that wow factor for most lights I review these days, but this thing is seriously bright and throw at the same time, it’s the perfect tactical light for a night out, or a short trip, as you’re unlikely to exhaust the battery during that time, especially on the lower modes. There are compromises with this light, such as the non-replaceable battery, and lower runtimes but that’s something you need to factor in if you want a pocketable light with almost 9000 lumens of blinding output! It’s perfect for my purposes as an EDC and self-defense light that will fit in my pocket without me even noticing.
