By: Greg Chabot
Photos Sasha Steadman
Note: Nitecore provided the test sample prior to release.
Nitecore was established in 2007 with the goal of bringing innovative and industry-leading products to the market. It has been a rising force in the industry for the past 16 years. Recently I was contacted and asked if I had interest in testing their recently released EDC25 flashlight. Always looking for new products to test, I said yes and have been eagerly awaiting their arrival by snail mail. If you have been following me, you know I tend to run gear into the dirt, lights included. My current EDC light is a Nitecore EDC33 that I had tested last year and wrote about.
The EDC25 offers a flat design which has been catching on in the market. The design is more comfortable for EDC in one’s pocket over the traditional round design. My focus was power and beam distance for the size, ease of use and battery life from extended use and in adverse conditions. And overall quality and value for one’s money.
I’ll cover some of the features, full specs are available on Nitecore’s website.
- Built-in 1,700mAh Li-ion battery.
- Dual tail buttons enable intuitive operations.
- Two lockout modes available (Half Lockout Mode and Full Lockout Mode) which I’ll cover.
- Constructed from aluminum alloy with HA III military grade hard-anodized finish.
- Waterproof and dustproof rating in accordance with IP54.
- Impact resistance up to 1 meter.
- 3,000 max lumens output and 300 meters long throw, via 2x UHI LEDs.
- Weighs only 3.7 ounces.
The light will arrive with a USB charging cable and a lanyard. The instructions are in multiple languages and easy to understand. The clip provides excellent retention in the pocket and is long enough to provide good concealability. There are knurled sections of polymer along the sides to keep a firm grip on the light.
The EDC25 comes with four power levels and the option for a blinding Turbo or strobe mode. There are two buttons on the end, the power and the customizable button. The power button is the smaller of the two and is used to turn the light on and select the desired power level. To select power level, turn the light on and half press to desired level. If you half press and hold the power button it will activate in ultra-low. The custom button is larger and is used to activate turbo or strobe mode. To choose mode press and hold custom button then hit the power button to cycle between those modes.
The light also features two lockout modes to prevent accidental activation. When the light is in half lockout only the custom button will work for turbo or strobe. The regular light cannot be activated, full lockout deactivates both buttons. Lockout is done using the power button and there is an indicator on the side of the light. Play around with it and find what works for you, I kept the sample unlocked and had no issues in my pockets or in a backpack.
Battery level is on the side of the light and is self-explanatory as is the output setting. Nitecore states a fully charged battery depending on level can last up to 55 hours. Battery charging time is one hour and fifteen minutes. The EDC25 features an intelligent charging function to prevent overcharging and will shut off when the battery is at full charge. There is also a sensor protection function that automatically decreases output to 500 lumens if there is an obstruction in front of the lens to prevent damage. Yes, this function does work when activated in a pocket or near a wall, etc.
Testing
Testing was done inside and outside in various weather conditions. The first thing I tested was the impact rating of 1 meter/ 3 feet. I threw the EDC25 as high as I could, letting it hit the ground with no damage. I dropped it down a flight of stairs onto concrete with the same results.
The EDC25 has an IP54 dust/water rating meaning it can be exposed to splashes from all directions. I put the light in a five-gallon bucket full of water and left it for five minutes to exceed the rating. The light worked afterwards without issues. If you fall into a pool or stream with your light, you should be good to go. The light worked fine after being left in the freezer with minimal charge loss. The clip kept the EDC25 in place regardless of what activities I was doing. Running, jumping, or riding mountain bikes the light stayed in my pocket and didn’t bounce around.
I picked a clear night to test distance and brightness of the four modes and the turbo and strobe functions. Everything worked as advertised and I could see out to the maximum throw distance. The turbo was blinding as was the strobe function. The EDC25 got warm but not uncomfortable to hold with extended use. It is wise to let it cool before putting it in one’s pocket after continuous use.
Overall, it was a good experience testing the EDC25. It was lightweight, ergonomic, and comfortable to carry in a trouser pocket all day. It held up to rough handling and wet/cold conditions. At an MSRP of $74.95 it is a good bang for your buck for what you get. I had full confidence with it on outdoor adventures and daily activities. If you are in the market for a slim EDC light head over to Nitecore and check out the EDC25.