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 Body: The entire LF2 XT is coated in Type 3 anodizing which provides good cosmetic wear resistance, and is available in both black and natural colors. The natural color is well match throughout from head to batter tube. The Exterior of the battery tube has a bold ribbed design, and each of the raised ribs have textured knurling which provides sufficient grip. Threads towards the front end of the battery tube mate well with those on the head with no cross-threading or grinding encountered during tests. Below the threads is a rather thin rubber o-ring which provides water resistance. Inside the battery tube is a metal sleeve which provides an electrical signaling path between the switch at the tail end to the electronics in the head. This sleeve will not fall out during battery changes as it sits secure by the fastened tail cap. I found that an Eneloop AAA cell is a snug fit for the LF2 XT. If you have any AAA cells which are slightly wider than average, they might not fit. The tail cap on the LF2 XT has a very low profile and not only houses the toggle switch mechanism, but also holds the clip in place. By unscrewing the tail cap you can swap out this clip with a lanyard attachment ring instead. Which ever you choose to install, both work as an anti-roll feature. Do take note that due to the low profile and smooth finish of the switch cap, unscrewing it by simply trying to get a grip on it can be difficult. Instead try to use either the clip or lanyard attachment ring as leverage. Reattaching the tail cap can also be tricky due to the tension applied by the "-" contact spring, which also prevents battery rattle as well. Though once the threads are lined up it should be alright. The switching mechanism works as a toggle switch and can be programmed to work in momentary activation or the regular click on/off. There is almost no travel when engaging the switch and tension is minimal. There is also no audible clicking sound when the switch is depressed. The metal switch button sits slightly recessed within the tail cap and allows the LF2 XT to tail stand without problems.
 Bezel/Head: The LF2 XT is a small AAA powered light which features a CUI/FUI programmable interface similar to that of the LF3 XT, with some additional features as well. Up the front, the head has a smooth bezel with no crenellations. Behind the bezel sits an AR coated glass lens which provides optimum light transmission from the LED. The aluminum reflector used in the LF2 XT has a fine textured surface. The reflector cup isn't as deep as the earlier LF5 XT, this could be due to the use of the newer XP-E LED as opposed to an XR-E, this helps keep the overall form factor compact. The LED sits aligned at the bottom of the reflector cup, perhaps just a hair off-center by visual inspection. The exterior of the head has a clean, cylindrical design with three raised bands machined on. These don't really help with grip when screwing on the head and are more of an aesthetic touch. Looking from the rear, the "+" contact on the electronics PCB can be seen. Like the earlier LiteFlux XT series, there is a raised outer ring surrounding the actual "+" battery contact point. This outer ring serves as an electrical signal path to the sleeve in the battery tube, and also works as a reverse polarity protection feature.
Output: The LF2 XT uses a Q4 binned XP-E LED with neutral tint which produces a slightly warm and pleasant beam color as opposed to the more common cool tinted LED's. The beam profile is clean with no noticeable artifact at all. It produces a beam profile with a medium sized hotspot which tapers off smoothly towards the spill beam area.
Like the LF3 XT, the LF2 XT comes with both CUI (Compact User Interface) and FUI (Full-functioned User Interface). CUI is activated by default from the factory. This CUI addresses issues which some users had with the somewhat complicated FUI. So if you were one of those who were taken aback by the FUI, the CUI will surely come as a welcomed addition. Switching between the CUI and FUI is done by a 5x C + PH command, that is, clicking 5 times and holding down the switch on the 6th press.
I will leave the detailed explanation of the FUI to the official instruction manual which is included with the LF3 XT. Here I would like to run down the basic functions and general usage of the CUI. One a side note, I found that ramping down brightness all the way resulted in the light producing a "short-short" "short-short" flash sequence which translates to 00% brightness level, but there was still some output at shows in the specification rundown column to the right. There is no sign of PWN flickering at any level, though there is a slight high frequency whining sound at lower brightness levels.
1x C: Switch on/off at user mode, defaults at 50% brightness level.
2x C: Toggles between 0.2% and user-defined level.
1x C + PH: Momentarily activates 100% level.
1x PH: Ramps brightness up/down, direction alternates with each press.
4x C: Enable/disable momentary switch activation.
5x C: Indicates the battery's voltage level by a series of blinks and flashes.
User-defined brightness level is memorized even after the light is switched off. It quite amazing that so much functionality was squeezed into a light this size. This versatility does come at a cost though, as with other fully-programmable LiteFlux products, runtime is average. The output from the LF2 XT is slightly lower than than that of the LF2 X, though this in turn results in slightly longer runtime. Regulation is maintained well when running on regular a regular AAA cell, but seems to fluctuate somewhat on a 3.7V 10440 cell.
Runtime Plot: Runtime with an alkaline AA cell
is shown below. The literature with the lights state
around 3 hours of regulated output with NiMH rechargeable
cells.
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Batteries
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Level
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Runtime
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Percentage
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1x 10440 340mAh
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100 %
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22 mins
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50 %
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1x AAA 800mAh
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100 %
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48 mins
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50 %
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1x 10440 340mAh
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50 %
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1 hrs 21 mins
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50 %
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1x AAA 800mAh
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50 %
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1 hrs 40 mins
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50 %
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Switch: The switch is a rubber covered textured
clickie and is fully recessed in the tailcap which allows
the light to stand on end and be used as an electric
candle. Despite the fact that the switch is recessed,
it is very easy to use. Click on, click off, press for
momentary, twist to change output from bright to dim,
and back again. The dimming system is very unique, using
a piston-like ring inside the tailcap to change output.
Photo Gallery
Batteries: For batteries, this light is approved
by the manufacturer for use with AAA alkaline or a single
rechargeable Li-Ion 10440 cell. All others are at your own
risk.
To change out the batteries: unscrew the tailcap, drop
out the old cells, place in new cells observing proper
polarity. Reattach the tailcap and you're ready to go.
Accessories: Several accessories are included
with the light. Inside the package you will find 4x Spare rubber o-rings, 1x Container of silicone lubricant, 1x Pocket clip and 1x Lanyard attachment ring so that it works with both the 1 and 2 cell configurations
of the light..
What I Liked: Waterproof, Tough/impact
resistant, Bright, Easy battery change, Lightweight,
Stands up
What I Didn't Like: Nothing, really.
Picky Little Things: Nothing
Conclusions: The Good - Well-built with all parts fitting nicely together. Smooth and consistent anodizing throughout the exterior. Extensive number of functions for almost any requirement. Good value considering all its features and included accessories. The Bad - User interface for programming functions can be more complicated than what most users are familiar to. Slight delay when clicking on. The Relative - Beam has a warm color temperature, with a smooth gradual profile from the hot spot to the spill beam. Is able to tail stand. Includes a simpler compact interface in addition to the fully programmable interface.
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Republic of China (Taiwan)