JETBeam PC10 XML Cree LED Flashlight, Grey

I have several observations on the PC-10. I'm not entirely a flashlight snob, but I have to say that, like most guys, they're one of the coolest things to play with (along with pocket knives).* The PC10 is overpackaged. I don't need a huge plastic nuke-proof container with 300 pounds of foam lining. Please, Jetbeam, put it in a simple, cardboard box, and knock $10 off of the price.* The PC10 is smaller than I was expecting. It's a wonderful, palm-sized flashlight that's great to use and carry. Feels really good.* Light weight. Really light weight. Although it's rated for a 6 foot drop, I have a feeling that any crushing force would disable this flashlight entirely. Light is great for carrying, bad for ruggedness.* I absolutely love the programming that went into the light sequences. Being able to tighten the PC-10's lens for an "always full bright" is a fantastic idea. When you need all the light you can get, you don't have to cycle modes to get it.* JetBeam programmed the submodes backwards. Maybe, they thought putting the strobe first into the sub-modes was a better tactical option? However, the selection sequence of strobe>SOS>Med>Low>Minimal doesn't really bother me at all since the flashlight always goes to the setting you last used. Even if you tighten the crown to full-tactical-bright, and then un-tighten to the sub-modes, it returns to your last used setting, which is simply great design.* Switch is plastic. Open it up and look inside. Cheap. I'm thinking that the tail switch won't survive a long duration of on/offs.* There is NO way this light is ever going to hit 550 lumens. If you put a standard CR123 battery, you MAY be hitting 200 lumens. If you put in a rechargeable CR123, the claim is that you'll get 550 lumens. An UltraFire 3.6V rechargeable has given me the exact same lumens as a regular CR123. The only thing I can assume is that you need a very specific voltage in your rechargeable to hit such levels. Incidentally, some have claimed that if you use a Rechargeable CR123, you can't access the sub-modes. Well, mine accesses sub-modes just fine on a rechargable.* WARNING! FLASHLIGHT SNOB COMMENTARY: I took the PC10 and a SureFire LED into the woods at night to see what the 550 Lumen PC10 would do compared to the 200 Lumen SureFire. The SureFire absolutely BLEW the PC10 away. Apparently 200 SureFire lumens are twice as bright as JetBeam lumens. Ultimately, it comes down to the lens and glass. The SureFire throws precise, focused light, and the JetBeam just pukes light all over the place. You get what you pay for here, but let's be honest, at $69 you're still getting a great quality flashlight compared to the $150 you'll pay for the SureFire.In the end, the PC10 is a do-all, feature-rich flashlight that I'll have with me all the time. If I know I'm going to hell-and-back (which, to me would be something like a trip to the grocery store), I'd pack a SureFire.

I bought two Jet Beam flashlights the JETBeam PC10 and the JETBeam RRT01. I was going to decide which one I wanted to keep the cheaper one or the more expensive. Both lights are very good and I was impressed by the quality so I decided to keep them both. Even the packaging is professional with manuals everything you need and comes in a little space efficient box. Jet Beam lights are very good quality, there isn’t anything cheap or frustrating about them that I found. They are waterproof and submersible, for use in pools or diving. I found with the JETBeam PC10, all functions, the varying light modes, SOS, and Strobe modes work with both CR123 and RCR123. You do get more lumens out of the RCR123 batteries, but all functions with both batteries. The back “on” button controls all modes. If you press the on switch fully it will click and turn the light on. If you press it half way it will not click, but cycle through the low and bright light levels, and the SOS and Strobe modes. Whichever mode you left off on the light will turn on the next time you use it. I use the Nitecore RCR123 rechargeable batteries; they have 3.2 volts instead of the 3.0 volts like most RCR123 batteries.

I use these for EDC--I like to have a flashlight on me at all times. With an RCR123, it puts out a lot of light, and, as other people have mentioned, creates a bit of heat. I've never had it get so hot I couldn't hold onto it, though. As long as the head stays tight, the tail switch is a simple on/off switch, which is perfect for my intended use of the light--I don't want to have to cycle around through 15 modes just to see what I might be shooting at in a self-defense situation, I just want a damn bright light to come on when I push the button. The clip is a weakness because, being right-handed, I like to carry the light clipped in my left rear pocket where I can get it instantly if I need it, and the clip leaves a lot of the light sticking out ready to catch on things. The solution to that problem costs about $8 and a couple of minutes with a grinder and is well worth it. The clip for a Jetbeam RRT0 fits into the groove near the tailcap once it's ground down a bit, and puts the light significantly deeper in the pocket.

INITIAL EVAL: Easily pocket or purse-carried - very compact light. Much more illumination than my existing EDC light and exact size despite CR123 vs AA battery.REVISED EVAL AFTER 30 DAYS USE: Originally powered with Surefire CR123. Purchased Tenergy RCR123's suggested by bloggers and offered by Amazon. After about 20 sec's run-time light shuts off. Cycled 4 batt's thru and same result. Now unit won't stay lit at all - illuminates and immediately goes out. Not heat related as light body is only slightly warm and battery not hot. Battery supplier sent two replacement RCR123 but same problem. JetBeam claims light works with RCR123. Perhaps defective light?FINAL EVAL: Received replacement light from Amazon, but packaging didn't include the plastic case (silicone seal) or the belt carry pouch. Replacement came in small cardboard box. WTF? I only cared about the carry pouch. Called Amazon attempting to resolve and spent 10 minutes trying to hear the Philippino C/S rep over the 100 C/S reps in the background. What an image. After she told me there wasn't any background noise and she could help me I gave up/hung up. Eff this. My life is too short and I'll never get that time back. No wonder Ebay is taking Amazon's business. Amazon email that followed my CS experience offered discount or return. Chose return. Sad part is that light stopped working properly before the UPS truck showed up for return. SYMPTOMS IDENTICAL TO FIRST LIGHT FAILURE. HAVE ALREADY ELIMINATED BATTERY PROBLEM. Very disappointed as this light was small, brilliant and used 123 batteries.