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You are here: Home / Gear Reviews / Flash Gear Reviews / ThruNite Ti3 Flashlight Review

ThruNite Ti3 Flashlight Review

by Roger Caffin on August 10, 2018 Flash Gear Reviews, New Features

Introduction

The ThruNite Ti3 is a diminutive but rugged little flashlight that can produce as much as 120 Lumens of brightness on a single AAA battery. It is worth noting that the Ti3 at 18 g (.63 oz) with battery is somewhat lighter than any headlight I have, even my UL MYOG models which start at 52 g (1.8 oz). This weight difference alone makes it worthy of consideration as a piece of ultralight gear. The Ti3 arrived with an explanation that ThruNite has a newer production version coming out shortly.

Thrunite 1

Photo: ThruNite

The Ti3 arrived in a small tin box with all the accessories stored away inside under the foam. There’s a clip as shown here and a little clip on some chain, all of which I quickly discarded.

Thrunite 2 1

Instead, I made a loop of fluoro nylon string ( I used 330 mm), large enough to easily slip over my hand but small enough that it would not fall off.

The genius of the Ti3 rests in its size to brightness ratio. A single AAA Lithium battery powers it. The flashlight is only slightly larger than the battery itself. That is TINY! The marginally larger head contains the electronics that handle the modes.

Thrunite 3

Features and Specifications

Price 16 USD
LED Cree XP-G2 R5
LED life 20+ years
Length 70 mm (2.75 in)
Diameter 14 mm (.55 in)
IPX-8 waterproof to 2 m (6.56 ft)
Made in China
Weight without battery 12 g (.42 oz)
Weight with AAA lithium battery & string 17.7 g (.62 oz)
Firefly mode 0.04 Lm, 115 hr life
Low mode 12 Lm, 6.3 hr life
High mode 120 Lm, 0.5 hr life

The flashlight first activates in Firefly mode, the lowest power setting with the most extended battery life (115 hours). You can bump it up to a higher power by turning it off and on again quickly. Do that three times, and you get a high power strobe operation. You get back to Firefly mode by leaving the light off for >10 seconds.

You activate the light by screwing the head of the flashlight down onto the body a bit. In effect, you are screwing the contact in the head of the flashlight down onto the battery. This action can be achieved with the thumb and forefinger while the rest of the fingers hold the body of the light. No actual switch or button is required!

Thrunite 4

The head of the flashlight is not loose on the body: there is a replaceable O-ring between the two parts which makes the twisting operation smooth and keeps the light waterproof. ThruNite provides a replacement O-ring. It was hard to measure, but my best guess is 9 x 1 mm. ThruNite recommends a minimal amount of silicone grease when replacing the O-ring.

You could compare the Ti3 with any of the button flashlights on the market – the ones generally based on a CR2032 coin cell battery. Button flashlights are smaller and lighter, but we would be talking about just a few grams difference here –  in one case 16.5 g (.58 oz) vs. 17.7 g (.62 oz). The big difference to my mind is the expected life of the battery. The button cells, typically CR2032, are rated at 250 mA.hr at a trickle discharge rate, significantly less at a flashlight discharge rate. Those button batteries are designed for low-power uses. The AAA Lithium battery, on the other hand, is rated at 1250 mA.hr at a significant discharge. The official specifications don’t go as low as the Firefly mode. The AAA battery has much more guts.

Field Testing

I found the Ti3 extremely simple to use in practical situations.  I was able to quickly orient it in the dark and activate it with one hand. Firefly mode is all one would need in a tent –  it is quite bright. Outside the tent, the Firefly mode is still bright enough for casual excursions, while the battery life is long enough that I didn’t feel the need to keep turning it off and on. I just let it dangle from my wrist on the string loop.

Commentary

The Ti3 is a featherweight flashlight that punches far above its class.  The ease of use, powerful AAA battery, and rugged construction are all attractive features. The holding loop was easy to modify and the Lumens provided in the low power Firefly mode are more than adequate for interior tent use and casual after dark wanderings. On top of all that, my wife said it best.

“It’s cute!”

Where To Buy

  • Buy the ThruNite Ti3 Flashlight at thrunite.com

Disclosure

The manufacturer provided complimentary samples of the products in this review with no obligation required to publish a review. Some links in this review may be affiliate links: if you click on a link and place an order with one of our affiliate merchant partners, Backpacking Light receives a small commission on the sale, at no extra cost to you. These commissions help support our website and create new content – and we’re grateful for your support.

headlamp, lighting, thrunite

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Comments

Home › Forums › ThruNite Ti3 Flashlight Review

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    Posts
  • Aug 10, 2018 at 11:55 pm #3550855
    Roger Caffin
    Moderator

    @rcaffin

    Locale: Wollemi & Kosciusko NPs, Europe

    Companion forum thread to: ThruNite Ti3 Flashlight Review

    The ThruNite Ti3 is a diminutive but rugged little flashlight that can produce as much as 120 Lumens of brightness on a single AAA battery.

    Aug 11, 2018 at 12:37 am #3550863
    Roger Caffin
    Moderator

    @rcaffin

    Locale: Wollemi & Kosciusko NPs, Europe

    These days it lives on the table beside the bed (when I am home).
    Cheers

    Aug 11, 2018 at 9:03 am #3550898
    Adam Kilpatrick
    BPL Member

    @oysters

    Locale: South Australia

    miniscule!

    Aug 11, 2018 at 11:58 am #3550903
    Roger Caffin
    Moderator

    @rcaffin

    Locale: Wollemi & Kosciusko NPs, Europe

    It’s even lighter than one of my MYOG headlights, and that is saying something.

    Cheers

    Aug 11, 2018 at 2:54 pm #3550924
    Casey Bowden
    BPL Member

    @clbowden

    Locale: Berkeley Hills

    Does it work with a standard AAA battery (non-lithium)?

    Aug 11, 2018 at 3:07 pm #3550925
    matthew k
    Moderator

    @matthewkphx

    This looks similar to my beloved Ti Maratac AAA flashlight except the low setting is lower (yay), the moder order is low to high rather than medium, low, high (yay) and it’s much less expensive (yay).

    That is three yays and no boos.

    Roger, I get that you aren’t interested in using the clip but I’d be interested in knowing how well the clip works for attaching to the brim of a hat. Did you try that? I find that hand from time to time.

    Aug 11, 2018 at 3:14 pm #3550926
    matthew k
    Moderator

    @matthewkphx

    Super-nerdy review here indicates it does not use pulse width modulation for dimming which is wonderful.

    I also see there is a neutral white version available.

    Aug 11, 2018 at 5:31 pm #3550947
    James Marco
    BPL Member

    @jamesdmarco

    Locale: Finger Lakes

    I believe the pocket clip can be reversed and attached to a hat brim. Remove the front and slip the clip down to the first bezel. One of the few I have seen that can do this…

    Aug 11, 2018 at 6:36 pm #3550953
    matthew k
    Moderator

    @matthewkphx

    It sure looks like the clip is reversible. The Maratac and Olight AAA do that too. It’s a handy option to have. I’ve cooked and hiked at night with it on my hat before.

    Aug 11, 2018 at 8:29 pm #3550965
    Ken Thompson
    BPL Member

    @here

    Locale: Right there

    Matt, Candlepower forum is an awesome source of information. Excellent reviews.

    Aug 11, 2018 at 10:14 pm #3550982
    Roger Caffin
    Moderator

    @rcaffin

    Locale: Wollemi & Kosciusko NPs, Europe

    Does it work with a standard AAA battery (non-lithium)?
    I would expect that it would, but I don’t carry any non-lithium batteries these days. How well – don’t know.
    Alkalines are feeble things, don’t work in the cold, and actually work out more expensive in the long run than lithiums.

    Cheers

    Aug 11, 2018 at 10:16 pm #3550983
    Roger Caffin
    Moderator

    @rcaffin

    Locale: Wollemi & Kosciusko NPs, Europe

    how well the clip works for attaching to the brim of a hat.
    Sorry – I did not test that. My (Oz) bush hat brim would not support it. So – can someone test the clip with a baseball hat?

    Cheers

    Aug 12, 2018 at 4:30 am #3551031
    Link .
    BPL Member

    @annapurna

    . HERE is a link I posted last year to a video review by Lint that might answer some of your questions. I bought this flashlight last year and really like it, and yes you can reverse the clip to go on a cap.

    Aug 14, 2018 at 3:39 am #3551305
    matthew k
    Moderator

    @matthewkphx

    I broke down and ordered one on Saturday, Amazon delivered on Sunday. I got the NW (Neutral White) version.

    The clip is far superior to the one on my Maratac AAA light.

    I’m not a flashlight expert but I do teach graphic design and color correction so I’d like to think I have some kind of eye for color. The color rendition is excellent on the NW version. It’s lovely.

    I miss the cool glow in the dark O-ring on the Maratac.

    It gets hot with a disposable lithium battery running on high for more than a couple minutes. I’m not shocked.

    I’m sold. It’s a hell of a light for $14.

    Aug 14, 2018 at 4:29 am #3551309
    Roger Caffin
    Moderator

    @rcaffin

    Locale: Wollemi & Kosciusko NPs, Europe

    ‘gets hot’ – yeah, that is heat dissipation in the LED itself. But then, the heat from an incandescent would be ‘somewhat larger’.

    In the field, I rarely have it on more than the lowest setting.

    Cheers

    Aug 14, 2018 at 12:50 pm #3551321
    matthew k
    Moderator

    @matthewkphx

    I should have been more specific about why I like the clip: the connection between the clip and the light seems very secure. Also, the clip clears the back of the light allowing you to stand it up on the end of the light (occasionally useful). The clip works nicely on my OR Sunrunner or SA Adventure Hat.

    Good stuff.

    Aug 25, 2018 at 3:19 pm #3552984
    Matt Swider
    BPL Member

    @sbslider

    Locale: Santa Barbara

    I used this light last year for my JMT hike.  I loved it.  I will say I did loose the clip about a week into the hike,which was a bit inconvenient.  It popped off one night, and even though I looked in that are for awhile the next morning it was done.  It was certainly less convenient without the hat clip, but I would do it all over again.  I used one lithium cell for 20 nights of backpacking in September.  I still have the same battery in it.  Like Roger mentioned, I rarely used it on anything but the lowest setting, but the next higher setting came in handy occasionally.  No night hiking on that trip.

    Aug 26, 2018 at 10:37 pm #3553209
    Brett T
    BPL Member

    @bretttayl78

    TL,DR: ThruNite Ti3 is awesome, but I’ll likely go back to the Lumintop AAA tool when I inevitably loose my Ti3

    I picked up one of these little lights a few months ago. I had been carrying a Lumintop AAA flashlight, which I misplaced somewhere along the way. I decided to try something new as a replacement for my EDC pocket flashlight, and ordered the Ti3. I tend to loose tiny flashlights, so I really dig the low cost of these. The two lights are, in my mind, very comparable in nearly every way. I will say though, I have a slight preference to the Lumintop over the Thru Nite.

    The Lumintop gives you the option of twisting the head for powering on/off (like the ThruNite operates,) or, if you prefer, you have the option of adding a “click base” for controls. I never used the click base, but it’s something to consider if you prefer a button control. I prefer the flat base, as it rides a little lower in the pocket and is able to stand on end like a candle. The biggest difference between these two lights is that the Lumintop’s base is magnetic. While I grant you that this has limited utility while hiking, it comes in awful handy on an everyday carry basis. I like having a single light that is as good on the trail as it is in the office, while not sacrificing in either application. It is entirely possible (even likely) that the Lumintop is a few grams heavier, I no longer have one to weigh. The difference would be slight though, and the added utility is worth a few grams, in my opinion.

     

    Aug 28, 2018 at 11:08 pm #3553577
    Roger Caffin
    Moderator

    @rcaffin

    Locale: Wollemi & Kosciusko NPs, Europe

    I tend to loose tiny flashlights,
    It’s a worry, BUT
    I threaded a short length of fluoro brickies string thru the hole at the end, and tied a short loop. See the pink string in photo 3. I can get my hand through the loop OK, but if I ‘drop’ the torch the loop is too small to slip off my wrist: it stays with me. If it gets in the way I tuck it up inside my sleeve. It’s there, and it does not get lost.

    Cheers

    Aug 29, 2018 at 8:42 pm #3553684
    James Marco
    BPL Member

    @jamesdmarco

    Locale: Finger Lakes

    Yeah, I just use a wrist sized hair tie. I push it up my arm when I don’t need it. When I drop it, it hangs on. A lot like Rogers loop of string.

    I got one and tried it last week. One thing I did not like was the lack of an auto-off feature.

    Aug 30, 2018 at 1:54 am #3553756
    Roger Caffin
    Moderator

    @rcaffin

    Locale: Wollemi & Kosciusko NPs, Europe

    Hi James

    Can you explain what you mean by an ‘an auto-off feature’? I don’t understand.

    Cheers

    Aug 30, 2018 at 10:45 am #3553800
    James Marco
    BPL Member

    @jamesdmarco

    Locale: Finger Lakes

    Sure, Roger. The Princeton Tec Impulse was always my backpacking light. I got 4 of the older models about 17 years ago. It had 5 modes: High, Medium, Low, Slow Blink and Fast Blink. It also had an shutoff after 5 minutes on the chip. Hmmm…I just looked up the new ones and they no longer have these functions and only have three modes. The weight is slightly less at .6oz, also. These were changed about 7-8 years ago, I believe.

    I have a couple others I picked up for my kids at one time or another that do not have the auto-off. But, I really miss it with the Ti3. I would loop the Impulse over my cloths line loop in my tarp and various tents, turn it on and arrange my bedding. Then get in bed and not worry about the light…it would turn off by itself. Including batteries I think it weighed about .75-1.0oz…haven’t weighed it in a while so I am unsure of that. It might be about the same since there is no metal on it.

    But it only produced about 10lumens. I did get stuck night hiking with it several times and it is certainly possible if a little dim for that chore. It is also waterproof/submersible to about 3meters (~10feet.) Again, with a hair tie, it looped over one of my shoulder strap drinking hose keepers. Never lost one there. It would also get soaked in rains and ran wet or even under water. I destroyed one when I stepped on it on a rock at camp. I cracked the casing (shroud) and I was worried it would get wet and fail. I have it as spare parts, since it still works. but no longer take it out hiking. On high, it would last about 12 hours, low was about 30 hours, and slow blink mode about 36hours. Fast Blink doesn’t save anything over low because it blinks on high mode. It actually cost a little less than the Ti3. LED’s are getting really cheap now. (I am still waiting for a good UV-C Steripen.) I think a new one costs around 10USD.

    Anyway, I really missed the auto-off last week. I had to slip out of bed a couple times to turn it off before I remembered it. I’ll probably go back to the Impulse but can replace the MiniMag LED I had on my car key.

    Aug 30, 2018 at 9:37 pm #3553925
    Roger Caffin
    Moderator

    @rcaffin

    Locale: Wollemi & Kosciusko NPs, Europe

    I think I see. No, many modern lights don’t have an auto-off any more.

    If you are cooking dinner at night, you don’t want the torch going off just as the stew comes to the boil. If you are going to the loo in the middle of the night, ditto. So, that’s their design. It works for me.

    Cheers

    Aug 31, 2018 at 5:23 pm #3554029
    James Marco
    BPL Member

    @jamesdmarco

    Locale: Finger Lakes

    Well, I use it only to see where I am walking when I head out in the middle of the night. I really don’t need to see where I am peeing. I only check my pot after I can see the steam. It is rare to have a boil without producing visible steam at night. And this is a real rarity for me. I don’t camp in the winter anymore and usually get up around 0500 or so. So, it is light enough to see by the time stuff is mostly packed up and I make breakfast. After about 10 hours on the trail, I am tired, so I set up camp and make supper before dark. The auto-off really doesn’t ever bother me.

    Aug 31, 2018 at 5:59 pm #3554032
    Rob
    BPL Member

    @grubbster

    I ALWAYS use a light when moving around at night.  I have come too close to stepping on things that do not take kindly to being stepped on.

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