The In2theLight 329 is similar to several other inexpensive 29 LED lights out on the market right now. The difference is in the seller and the quality of the product. In2theLight states that they test all of their lights before shipping, load them with Duracell Procell batteries, and back their products with a 30 day return policy (minus shipping). They also communicated that they have shopped around extensively to find the best quality lights of the type they sell. There are many knock-offs made with inferior quality parts, but from the outside they may look the same. These are still inexpensive LED lights, but they're not "cheap quality".

The body of the light is anodized aluminum with raised rectangular sections along the battery tube for grip. The tailcap unscrews to reveal a 3 AAA battery carrier. The tailcap itself has notches for grip and an O-ring seal. The body is rather thick and it seems fairly durable. This particular light is a little different from other similar 29 LED lights on the market in that it also has 3 modes of output that are user selectable via the switch.

Inside the bezel of this torch is a module that contains twenty-nine 5mm LEDs. They all sit in a silvered reflector area behind a polycarbonate lens. It's really quite pretty to look at when viewed at an angle to the lens.

Output is in the form of a wide smooth spot of light. Fantastic for evenly illuminating a fairly large area in front of the operator. Since it has 29 separate point light sources, it cannot concentrate all of its light into a tight beam. It's not designed for distance spotting, but boy can it light up a room! The color of the beam is slightly bluish which is normal for 5mm LED lights. By clicking the switch in series you can select the level of output desired. First click gives you the center 3 LEDs. Second click adds the 10 LEDs surrounding the center 3. Third click lights all of the LEDs. Fourth click is off.

Beam at one meter at target center

Runtime Plot: This runtime was completed on "High" mode with all LEDs lit. The light dropped to 50% in just about an hour. Using the lower output modes will result in longer runtimes. It does not appear that there is a regulator in there, but something is going on for the output to take that shelf-like drop at the very tail end. That's probably the result of the electronic output selection circuitry finally giving up.

Runtime completed with included Duracell Procell batteries. More information on runtime plots is available HERE.

The switch is a simple rubber covered click switch in a slight dimple. The switch is a reverse clickie; it actually turns the light on during the upstroke. One quirk of the switch I did notice is that rapid clicking does not work for switching it on and moving between modes. Press-hold-release is the technique needed. Otherwise you'll find yourself double-clicking to get it to turn on and switch modes.

This torch should be considered "water resistant" and can handle a splashing without too much trouble. O-ring seals protect the lens, bezel, head and tailcap connection points. Submersion is not recommended. If it gets wet inside, disassemble as far as you can without tools and let it dry out before using again.

Ergonomics: This light is just the right size for my hand. Comfortable and easy to hold and the switch is easy to operate.

Size compared to a common 2AA aluminum light

Use 3 AAA cell alkaline batteries for powering this light. Duracell Procell alkalines are included and are pre-loaded for you. Batteries need to be inserted into the special carrier inside the body tube. Simply remove the tailcap, drop out the carrier, put in 3 AAA cells with the negative (flat) side against the springs (2 point up, one points down) and drop the whole carrier in spring first. Reattach the tailcap and you're ready to go.

Accessories: Included with this light is a VERY nice belt sheath. The front has a velcro closure flap and the back has a belt loop with both Velcro and snap fasteners. You don't need to take your belt off to attach or remove this sheath - very nice touch! As a bonus, this sheath also fits most larger 2-cell 123A high intensity lights such as Surefire, Streamlight and Brinkmann.

What I Liked: Water resistant, Generally tough/impact resistant, Good battery life, Bright output, Fairly easy battery change, Lightweight, Stands up, 3 output modes

What I Didn't Like: I really don't like the use of battery carriers - one more thing to lose or break.

Other Things I Noticed:

Conclusions: Considering the effort the seller goes through to bring you a "better" quality inexpensive LED light, and the fact that it really does seem to be higher quality than many other inexpensive LED lights out there, I'd say this light is well worth consideration. Kudos to In2theLight.com for searching out a good supplier, backing their product with a 30 day refund guarantee and including high quality batteries as well. Sometimes it's the little things that make all the difference.

Quick Facts Table: