Inova (X1)

A.L.

A.L.

Joined
Jun 27, 2007
Messages
8,033
Since my maglite mini broke (wasn't that good, althought was cheap) I need myself a new compact flashlight. I have been checking out inova flashlights, and the X1 looks very good. But the thing is, that I would also like it to be good in performance.

Any experience?
 
I keep an X1 in my bag all the time. Takes a single AA and runs forever. Mine has a white LED and black body. The finish is a bit scratched up from keys/coins/etc but that's to be expected. I have an early model, the one with the *very* tight beam. Light output is clean, bright and focussed. It's pretty good for small detail-oriented tasks like map-reading, finding screws, network ports, serial numbers, keyholes, etc. (Try reading a hard disk's serial number with a 120 lumen Surefire and your eyes will bleed!). But use the (old) X1 to navigate through a strange dark room, and your shins will curse you. It's not impossible, but you need to continually keep the little spotlight moving/scanning in front of you.

From what I hear, newer X1s have a wider beam, and the newest ones are supposedly brighter with reduced runtime. Never handled these, so don't take my word for it. I remember searching CandlePowerForums when I was thinking of buying it, but found nothing. Try http://www.flashlightreviews.com/reviews/inova_x1.htm


Overall, I love my old X1 and if I ever stumble across a store that still has these in stock, you better believe my wallet is going to be in my hand.
 
I am an Inova flashlight fan and own several models. However, the latest version (3rd generation) Inova X1, labeled "2 watt" on the package, is a disappointment. I bought one, but returned it today.

I also own the 2nd generation X1 which uses a different LED and I plan to keep this older version due to its long battery life. (Tested at over 8 hours until 50% drop in output in this review.)

Externally, both versions look almost the same. You must look at the package or at the LED to see the difference.

The newer version casts a whiter light than the previous version which has a bluish tint. The new version is only slightly brighter, but it has a more narrow beam. The 2nd generation version has a much wider spill beam.

The reason I returned the newest, 2 watt X1 is short battery life. Current consumption is an indicator of battery life. It consumes about 3 times as much current from the battery as the prior version. I measured current consumption of the new X1 at about 670 milliamps versus only 212 milliamps for the previous version.

As discussed at length on CandlePowerForums.com, the battery life of the the newest version X1 is much, much shorter than prior versions.

You can find both versions mixed in with each other at various Target stores. To make matters more confusing, both versions have the same product numbers (SKU) and model nomenclature.
 
parnass, could you please post links to X1 reviews on CPF? Try as I might, I can't find threads for X1 or T5 using the search function. :o
 
I love my X1, use it all the time. I wouldn't want to use it as a trail light but for around the office and home it's a great little light. Long run time, good fit and finish, available locally for $20. What's not to like. I've been pretty impressed with Inova products.

Frank
 
I loves my X1. I carry it everywhere. It's lightweight, bright, and the perfect size to carry right next to my wallet. Seems pretty durable, too. Pretty much water proof, as far as I can tell. Just recently, I spent a couple of late-night hours tossing it into six feet of water and diving to retrieve it. Some water did get in, but the light never missed a beat. I've since wrapped the threads in about three feet of teflon tape, so it might be more water tight, now. It took care of the scritchiness in the threads, though.
 
DonTomas said:
parnass, could you please post links to X1 reviews on CPF? Try as I might, I can't find threads for X1 or T5 using the search function. :o
Click to expand...

This thread is the longest thread about the 3rd generation (latest) Inova X1. There are over 235 posts in this thread, though most of them are brief.

You can read a review of the 2nd generation X1 here.
 
I've had a second generation X1 for a while now. They cost next to nothing and are built like small tanks. I especially like that it runs on cheap, easy to find anywhere AA batteries.

It's not as bright as some of the Surefires, but it's a perfect light for its intended purposes (geting to the bathroom safely in the middle of the night, navigating the house when the power is out, etc).

I wish it had a click-on tailcap though.
 
Over at Candlepower Forums they seem to be justifying it as still a good deal for a US-made flashlight, filling market voids, etc, even though it seems to not be a great choice to replace the last version.

BUT...

Is nobody else mainly bothered that Inova is so proudly calling it a 2000mw flashlight, sure to be sitting on a shelf of other flashlights labeled as 1 watt, when they know damn well their flashlight is only HALF as bright as their competitors?
 
I do have several Innovas that I'm happy with, but I returned the X1. I was really disappointed with the output. Check out a Fenix- don't know the model but I believe they have several that run on 1 AA. If you splurge on the CREE you won't be disappointed. My little 1 AAA model is a mind blower, several modes for longer life, but when you need some LIGHT, you get it!
 
Fenix with Cree LEDs are not only the brightest and most compact lights for the money, but are the brightest compact flashlights period, at the moment. $70 buys you a flashlight that completely outperforms the top-line Surefire (not their ridiculous Dominator or Commander, of course).

Not that this is permanent, of course, Surefire will catch up with using the Crees, but it's undeniable that Fenix is a great buy. The only downside is if you have some moral obligation buy US-made.
 
i alsdo prefer the fenix P1D-CE to most of the inovas for most things, the fenix lights are not tac lites though.

but for utility the fenix is hard to beat.
 
Sorry guys, I feel a bit stupid now. I thought that why not to browse some sports/camping stores to save the painful mail delivery costs. So, I ran to led lenser flashlights and they felt so good in hands, and bright, so I bought one. They are like mini tanks.

Thanks a lot for the comments anyway. :/ Damn I feel a bit silly.. Well, I hope this thread helps someone who is looking for inovas.
 
znode said:
Fenix with Cree LEDs are not only the brightest and most compact lights for the money, but are the brightest compact flashlights period, at the moment. $70 buys you a flashlight that completely outperforms the top-line Surefire (not their ridiculous Dominator or Commander, of course).

Not that this is permanent, of course, Surefire will catch up with using the Crees, but it's undeniable that Fenix is a great buy. The only downside is if you have some moral obligation buy US-made.
Click to expand...

Wow, I had actually never really looked at the Fenix line until now, I mean before I saw them on flashlightreviews, but didnt think anything of it, maybe i should have bought a Fenix over the U2...hmmm
 
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