ThruNite TN12 Brings 1100 Lumens of Greatness

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My wife always jokes that anytime someone wants to get me something, they cannot go wrong with either a flashlight or pocket knife. This is true; I absolutely love really bright, tactical flashlights. The ThruNite TN12 ($49.95) brings a strong, tactical design along with a super bright 1100 lumen Cree LED light. Let’s take a closer look!

In the past, I have bought several well-known brands of tactical lights that cost hundreds of dollars. How can a light stack up that costs only a fraction of that? After putting the ThruNite TN12 through its paces, I can say this review is worth reading.

The ThruNite TN12 is made from aircraft-grade aluminum and is anodized in black. The material is light as well as extremely rugged. Some diamond cuts and ridges make the light easy to grip, and it fits well in my hand. It measures 5 1/2 inches long and 1 inch in diameter. I have no problem carrying the light in my front pocket using the included clip. The light also comes with a lanyard and a well-made holster, but I always choose to carry tactical lights in my front right pocket. The ThruNite TN12 is powered by one 18650 battery which is rechargeable. The battery is sold separately, so do not forget to purchase one with the light.

To turn the light on and off, simply click the tail switch. With the light on, the side switch toggles through each mode. The last mode used will be utilized when the light is turned on, so if you have a mode you like, it will remain set. Each press of the toggle will make the light brighter, then it will start over. To access the strobe light, hold the toggle switch for one second. Another tap of the switch will return to regular mode. The strobe mode is effective on the ThruNite TN12 and better than my other tactical lights.

-Turbo (1100 lumens /95 minutes)
-Strobe (1100 lumens /3.8 hours)
-High (435 lumens /4.2 hours)
-Medium (175 lumens /11.8 hours)
-Low (18 lumens /5.5 days)
-Firefly (0.4 lumens /74 days)

While I do not have a method to test the lumens’ claim scientifically, I can attest that the turbo mode is brilliant. Usually, brighter is often better, but I like the Firefly mode when I am hunting and need a small amount of light without bringing attention to myself. This mode can also be useful while reading a map while preventing your eyes being blinded by the bright light.

As a collector of tactical lights, I can confidently recommend the ThruNite TN12. The light is well-built and should survive lots of abuse and is easy to carry and use. The addition of the side switch to toggle the modes is a very good idea. It is super simple to change between the six options. Many lights use the on/off switch to do this and are not exactly user-friendly. Having the option of 11o0 lumens all the way down to 0.4 means the light is usable in just about any circumstance, and the strobe is one of the best I have seen.

The ThruNite TN12 retails for $49.95, and it is available directly from the manufacturer and from other retailers including Amazon [affiliate link]. The version which includes a rechargeable battery is $65.99.

Enter the coupon code THRUNITE to get a 5% discount from the official website.

Source: Manufacturer supplied review sample

What I like: Super bright and rugged; I like the different modes and ease of switching

What can be improved: The light gets warm quickly when in turbo mode

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About the Author

Travis Ehrlich
Travis is a high school teacher and coach in a small South Texas town. His love for gadgets began at a very early age, and he has been a cross between a jock and a geek for most of his life. He has two boys and a wonderful wife who lets him be a gadget freak. He is a Mac convert and has drank the whole pitcher of Kool-Aid! He is also an avid guitar player and loves the outdoors, especially hunting with both a bow and rifle.