Description:

The Teknolite is a waterproof 4 white LED flashlight that has little Gaseous Tritium Light Sources embedded in the bezel for easy location in the dark. It is available in orange, blue, yellow, black or OD green. The unit reviewed was orange. It is intended for general and outdoor/sportsman use. Manufactured by Litepro, it is available for purchase from PocketLights.com.

The Teknolite body is made from ABS plastic with a clear polycarbonate bezel. The body is fluted and tapered in the center for better grip and ergonomics. The bezel has raised tapers for grip and is sealed with an O-ring for water resistance. Inside the top of the bezel is a smooth silvered reflector in which the 4 LEDs are mounted. From the inside, the 4 LED module can be snapped in and out for access to the platinum catalyst pellet. The platinum catalyst pellet is designed to break down any hydrogen gas from the batteries that might build up inside the watertight casing and should be replaced in the unlikely event that it gets wet. Replacements are available for free from the manufacturer. At the base of the light is a lanyard attachment point which is surrounded by a raised ring. The raised ring has 2 cutouts for the lanyard to thread through, allowing the light to stand on end with a lanyard attached.

Inside the light, a copper strip runs from the inside base of the light to the top of the light to serve as the electrical pathway. The top of the strip is folded where is touches the LED module contact in order to minimize wear.

What makes this light unique is that it contains 3 Gaseous Tritium Light Sources (GTLS) embedded around the base of the bezel. The GTLS are tiny glass capsules coated on the inside with a green phosphorescent compound and filled with a tiny amount of tritium gas. The gas makes the phosphor glow without the need for exposure to light or an external power source. They are guaranteed to last 10 years. The glow spreads through the entire clear bezel and is enough to easily locate the light in a dark environment. This is the same technology as used in some watches and compasses used by the military.

The 4 white LED lights produce a pretty standard LED beam and rely only on the LEDs' domes to focus the light. The silver reflector catches some of the side-spill light and helps direct it forward. The beam is a smooth directional flood.

To turn the light on an off, twist the bezel. The O-ring on the sample tested was very dry and resisted turning. Lubricating the O-ring with a silicone grease helps the turning action a great deal. The light is advertised as waterproof to 500 ft.

The unit takes 3-AA cell alkaline batteries inserted from the top of the light negative first. The instructions include the suggestion to use lithium AA 1.5 Volt batteries when placing the light in extended storage due to the 10 year shelf life of lithium AA batteries. Alkaline batteries are included and a wrist lanyard comes with the light as well.

Reviewer's Impressions:

At last! A light you can find in the dark that doesn't wear down the batteries with "beacons", "locator LEDs", "low power modes", etc. The GTLS in the Teknolite are guaranteed for 10 years and will be about 1/2 as bright as they are when new after that time. Since the bezel is clear polycarbonate, the glow is transmitted through the entire bezel making the light very easy to find in the dark.

Try as I may, I could not successfully take a picture of the GTLS in action. They are very dim and in the daylight the glow is invisible. In the dark, your eyes see them very easily, but the camera doesn't.

Fit and finish is quite good. No sharp edges or burrs. The bezel fits tightly on the light. The batteries rattle a little inside the case, but not excessively.

Quality of the product seems good, as does the construction. The plastic is thick and tough. The molding is clean and well done. The durability is also very good. Underneath the bottom strip contact inside the light there is a rubber cushion to help prevent the batteries from flattening the contact.

Output is very nice and is adequate for close to medium range tasks depending on background light and night adaptation of the user's vision.

Beam quality is exactly what you would expect from 4 bare white LEDs. At 70 Lux at 1 meter, it's around the same as the other 3-AA, 4 white LED lights I've tested.

Water resistance is exceptional, advertised as being able to withstand 500 ft. of depth in water. Dunk tests confirmed no leakage. The O-ring was dry on the unit received and was lubricated with silicone grease per the instructions prior to testing. Even with lubrication, the bezel can be difficult to turn and may require 2 hands for many people to operate the light. Unfortunately this is the price you pay for waterproofing. It does not float, so be careful if you take it on a boat.

Improvements: None that I can think of. A regulation circuit would be nice, but it has a long battery life as-is.

The unit tested was orange, and to me it looks almost like a flare just sitting on my desk. It's very bright fluorescent to my eyes and I would have no problem finding this light if it were in with emergency or camping gear. The orange is a great color for quick identification and location in daylight or twilight. Add to this the semi-permanent glow of the GTLS and the ability to use lithium AA batteries and you've got a nearly perfect emergency flashlight.

+ + + Pluses: Waterproof, Tough/impact resistant, Long battery life, Good output, Easy battery change, Lightweight, Stands up

- - - Minuses: 2 hands required to operate light, sinks like a rock

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