The Freeplay Sherpa X-ray is the LED version of their original incandescent Freeplay flashlight. Hmmmm... In fact, this body type with LEDs in it looks a bit familiar... Oh well, on with the review... The folks at Freeplay have put in 7 LEDs, a high and low output option, and given it a clear body so you can see the parts at work.

Body: The body is translucent polycarbonate and seems reasonably durable. On top of the light is the 2-way switch. On the bottom is the cranking mechanism which folds neatly against the body. Since the body is essentially clear, you can see all the parts working as you crank it and charge up the batteries. Pretty neat!

Bezel/Head: The head of the light contains 7 LEDs, a smooth silvered reflector and a clear lens for protection.

Output: The beam from the light is pretty much a directional flood of light, weighted toward the center. The white light produced by the LED is a high color temperature and produces good color rendition weighted toward the blue end of the spectrum. A slight purplish tint is detectable when compared against a near sunlight-white source, but this tinting is not noticeable during normal use.

Beam at one meter at target center

Runtime Plot: Runtimes with rechargeable batteries demand a lot of attention to prevent the batteries from being damaged. As a result this runtime plot may have to wait a bit.

More information on runtime plots is available HERE.

Switch: The switch is a simple 2 way click switch. Forward is "high", rearward is "low" and pressing on the dot in the center turns the light off.

Seals / Water Resistance: Unknown. Keep it dry. If it gets wet inside, let it dry before using again.

Ergonomics: Weighs about as much as a can of soda and is a little awkward to grip due to its shape. Cranking does require some effort.

Size compared to a common 2AA aluminum light

Batteries: The batteries are an internal NiMH battery pack. It takes an initial 24 hour charge on household voltage to condition the internal NiMH cells, and after that it takes about 24 hours to fully charge a completely drained light. Once a month you should discharge it fully and then recharge it immediately. I know it's a pain in the butt to do this, but it'll keep the batteries in top shape. Plus, if you do this, it'll always be ready for a power outage and you can crank to charge it after the initial charge is depleted.

The charging light stays on as long as the light is plugged in. The light can be left plugged in to keep the batteries fully charged. The DC-in socket is at the rear of the light and is covered by a rubber tab.

To use the crank handle, flip it out and start cranking. Maintain a speed which keeps the green indicator light lit. 30 seconds of cranking gives about 10 minutes of light on low power. 40 minutes of cranking would constitute a full charge. It does take some effort, so don't expect the handle to turn by itself!

Accessories: 110V household charger is also included.

What I Liked: Self powered or rechargeable, Good battery life, Bright

What I Didn't Like: Hard to grip

Picky Little Things: Cranking requires a fair amount of effort.

Conclusions: A very good emergency light. It seems obvious to me that the Freeplay crank lights are the ones that everyone is trying to copy, and doing so rather unsuccessfully. These seem to have the highest quality of the crank lights I have tested and just plain feel solid. No rattles, no grinding, no poorly fitted parts. The clear case makes this light a great learning experience for kids and entertaining to watch while charging with the crank.

Quick Facts Table: