Nitecore MT2A Pro EDC Flashlight, 1000 Lumen, USB-C Rechargeable, 2X AA Battery Compatible Slim Penlight, Pocket Flashlight

Great small light weight torch, great beam

Pros: The size of an AA penlight with the power of a much larger flashlight that uses an 18650 battery. This flashlight is rated at 1,000 lumens max. I tested it against my other 1,000 lumen flashlights that use 18650 batteries and it was slightly brighter, It definitely puts out at least 1,000 actual lumens . The beam is perfect. The beam color and beam shape are also perfect. Not a square bluish light beam but a round natural white color light beam. The gripping etching is also perfect, not sharp as some others have criticized that it would cut their shirt pocket. The two way removable clip is also designed very well. With a flat end cap it can be stood on end and function as an area light. Also able to use regular or rechargeable AA batteries instead of the specialty battery supplied. Using regular AA batteries the flashlight is still very bright (500 lumens). Cons: None, as far as I am concerned. The perfectly designed EDC pocket flashlight.

I have a still working Coast HP8R which I like very much. It's probably 5 years old at least and still going strong. However it's large and I have to carry it in a belt sheath, and I wanted something I could fit in a shirt pocket instead. This Nitecore flashlight is much smaller and lighter than the Coast. It fits my shirt pocket fairly well, and while there are even smaller/lighter penlights available, brightness, beam quality and run time suffer. For me the Nitecore is an acceptable compromise between light output and size/weight. YMMV. Light output of the Nitecore is similar to the Coast (both are rated 1000 lumens on high), both have three brightness levels. I assume the Coast has a longer run time because its battery is physically larger but since it's a older design I'm not even sure of that - and the Nitecore should be more than sufficient for my needs. The Nitecore does come up short in a couple of areas. One is the non focusing beam. The Coast has a gorgeous floodlight beam with no hotspot, and can be focused to a much brighter narrow beam. The Nitecore can't be focused and has a narrow very bright hot spot with much dimmer surround. Still fine for my needs but the Coast is better IMHO (the larger size does provide some benefits). Another Coast advantage is it has an external recharge port while the Nitecore does not. Not that big a deal to me, I'm not a flashlight nerd so I don't get terribly upset (like some) that you have to remove the Nitecore battery to recharge it. I'm old enough to remember when you had to open a flashlight to replace its spent carbon zinc batteries - or replace its burned out incandescent bulb, which was barely bright enough even when it worked. The new rechargeable LED flashlights are so fantastic that a minor inconvenience to recharge the battery is a nothingburger. The Nitecore beats the Coast in its brightness control. The Coast always powers on in full-brightness mode, which is usually much too bright so the powerup ritual includes immediately dimming the output. The Nitecore remembers the previous brightness setting between power cycles, which simplifies using it. Not a huge deal but appreciated. Both the Nitecore and Coast can run on alkaline batteries in a pinch, but the Coast requires a separate battery holder. It's included with the flashlight but it'll end up in a drawer and guaranteed you won't have it with you when you need it. The Nitecore beats the Coast in this area, no battery holder required, just slip in two AA's (performance is reduced on alkalines for either flashlight). So far the Nitecore has met my expectations completely. I'll update this review if anything goes wrong.

Amazing EDC light with easy functionality and amazing brightness at its max. A friend recommended and it’s worth the price. I use it at my cabin to walk down to the gate to close at night. Lights up the whole forest.

The Nitecore MT2A Pro is an excellent option for an EDC flashlight in the 2x AA form factor category. The included rechargeable NL1416R battery lasts a very long time on the medium setting. I only have to charge the battery every couple of weeks with what I would consider to be "regular" daily use for an EDC flashlight (a minute or two here, a minute or two there, each day on average). The single guarded tail switch is easy to manipulate and has a very satisfying tactile feel and audible click. Changing brightness is as simple as a momentary half press of the tail switch, while the light is on, to step through the three brightness levels; the last used brightness level is stored so you don't have to step through brightness levels each time you turn the flashlight on. The pocket clip is sturdy and while I wouldn't consider it a "deep carry" pocket clip, it still allows the light to sit sufficiently low in your pocket; if it sat any deeper, it would probably bottom out in most pockets, since it is a 2x AA from factor light. The pocket clip also incorporates a secondary clip for mounting the flashlight to the brim of a hat for handsfree use. The rechargeable battery can be swapped for two AA size batteries, which is convenient in the event your NL1416R dies unexpectedly, since it takes about four hours to charge. Personally, I recommending picking up a spare NL1416R to swap with when the one in use runs low, but the ability to use non-rechargeable AA alkaline batteries instead is a welcomed feature (it's worth noting, however, that you do not get the maximum brightness from the MT2A Pro when using non-rechargeable alkaline batteries). The light does get quite warm after just a couple minutes of use on the medium and high settings, but I would consider this normal. Overall, I think the Nitecore MT2A Pro is a fantastic 2x AA sized EDC flashlight and I highly recommend it if you're in the market for an EDC light of this size.