Top Rated Adventures - Product Review - SureFire U2 Ultra Variable LED Flashlight

We admit it: we adore flashlights. In the word of a friend we are "flash-o-holics". And that is why the brand new U2 Ultra from the world Surefire has caught our eye. It is an attractive, compact, long lasting, variable and powerful LED. It truly has a lot going for it. But let's go in order.

Packaging
The U2 Ultra comes in a cardboard box 3.75" x 1.1/2" x 8.5". A vinyl window allows you to see the product easily. Some information is printed on the package. It comes with two 123A- 3 volt batteries. The Operator's Manual is a simple trifold with basic instructions and Warranty information.

One small inconsistency - The packaging and the Owner's Manual indicate a "2 to 100 Variable Lumen Output" while the comparison charts on Surefire website claims a 2-80 Lumen. It is still a lot of light, but one of these should be corrected.

Ergonomics & Design
The aerospace-grade aluminum case is checkered in 2 sections of the tube to obtain a good grip. A heavy duty belt clip is standard on this unit. The design is the classic tube and bezel with the addition of the six-levels rotating switch. The U2 Ultra is made of a CNC machined aerospace-grade aluminum. It has a hard anodized finish for extreme corrosion and wear-resistance. O-ring sealed for waterproof, , Pyrex® lens to obtain a flawless beam, with no dark spots or rings, and stainless steel pocket clip.

SIZE
1" (tube diameter) x 6.13" length with the bezel measuring 1.47". The weight is a 5.7 oz (with batteries)

Functionalities & Features
The ON/OFF switch is positioned on the tailcap and it is made of soft textured rubber. By partially pressing and holding the tailcap switch you obtain a momentary activation. By fully depressing the pushbutton you bring the flashlight to the "click-on" position. Rotating the six level switch position immediately south of the bezel, allows the user to choose among the six power settings.

Please note that the U2 Ultra is fitted with a five-watt LED (Light Emitting Diode) and a digital regulation circuitry that matches the LED current requirements to the batteries' output to achieve a consistent level of light. Thus, while any LED -- including those produced by SureFire -- can continue to produce negligible light output for over 100 hours, the amount of useful light produced is of a shorter duration. Many manufacturers inflate the duration of their LED lights. Surefire does not.

How did it work for us
When we first received the U2 Ultra we had a hard time convincing the pushbutton to remain in the click-on position. We read the instruction few times, to make sure we were doing things correctly, but we realized that it was probably the fault of a defective switch. Thus we placed a phone call to the Warranty Claim 800 # indicated on the Owner's Manual and after a simple navigation on the company's menu, we were connected with a kind gentleman who collected our shipping information. Three days later, the new switch was in the mail - when they write "No Hassle Lifetime Guarantee: If it breaks, we fix it!" they mean it. Nicely done Surefire Customer Service!

Aside from this little, informative incident, our U2 Ultra worked like an angel. It goes from a long lasting (40 hours) LED light like many others (at its lowest setting) all the way up to a 80 lumens powerhouse capable of illuminating the bright and far. We mean 80 lumens! That's a lot of light in a small package.

We plan to take this jewel to camp with us for 5 days in the wilderness and we will follow up with an additional report.

Final Comments
When LED first hit the market few years ago, the major complaint was - not enough power. No longer. The U2 Ultra is 6-in-1 allowing the user to have a continuous 40 hours of light be as aggressive security or defense beam of light that will turn on the sun in your darkest night.

PRODUCT REVIEW - October 05
*SureFire*	*Surefire U2 Ultra Variable LED Flashlight* Six levels of output in a five-watt LED with an extended runtime. Ideal for selecting just the right amount of light and saving battery life. Hard Anodized 2-80 Lumnes 2400 minutes of run time (at lowest setting) (2) 123A 3 volt Length / Weight: 6.13" / 5.7oz. Bezel Diameter: 1.47"
We admit it: we adore flashlights. In the word of a friend we are "flash-o-holics". And that is why the brand new U2 Ultra from the world Surefire has caught our eye. It is an attractive, compact, long lasting, variable and powerful LED. It truly has a lot going for it. But let's go in order. Packaging The U2 Ultra comes in a cardboard box 3.75" x 1.1/2" x 8.5". A vinyl window allows you to see the product easily. Some information is printed on the package. It comes with two 123A- 3 volt batteries. The Operator's Manual is a simple trifold with basic instructions and Warranty information. One small inconsistency - The packaging and the Owner's Manual indicate a "2 to 100 Variable Lumen Output" while the comparison charts on Surefire website claims a 2-80 Lumen. It is still a lot of light, but one of these should be corrected. Ergonomics & Design The aerospace-grade aluminum case is checkered in 2 sections of the tube to obtain a good grip. A heavy duty belt clip is standard on this unit. The design is the classic tube and bezel with the addition of the six-levels rotating switch. The U2 Ultra is made of a CNC machined aerospace-grade aluminum. It has a hard anodized finish for extreme corrosion and wear-resistance. O-ring sealed for waterproof, , Pyrex® lens to obtain a flawless beam, with no dark spots or rings, and stainless steel pocket clip. SIZE 1" (tube diameter) x 6.13" length with the bezel measuring 1.47". The weight is a 5.7 oz (with batteries) Functionalities & Features The ON/OFF switch is positioned on the tailcap and it is made of soft textured rubber. By partially pressing and holding the tailcap switch you obtain a momentary activation. By fully depressing the pushbutton you bring the flashlight to the "click-on" position. Rotating the six level switch position immediately south of the bezel, allows the user to choose among the six power settings. Please note that the U2 Ultra is fitted with a five-watt LED (Light Emitting Diode) and a digital regulation circuitry that matches the LED current requirements to the batteries' output to achieve a consistent level of light. Thus, while any LED -- including those produced by SureFire -- can continue to produce negligible light output for over 100 hours, the amount of useful light produced is of a shorter duration. Many manufacturers inflate the duration of their LED lights. Surefire does not. How did it work for us When we first received the U2 Ultra we had a hard time convincing the pushbutton to remain in the click-on position. We read the instruction few times, to make sure we were doing things correctly, but we realized that it was probably the fault of a defective switch. Thus we placed a phone call to the Warranty Claim 800 # indicated on the Owner's Manual and after a simple navigation on the company's menu, we were connected with a kind gentleman who collected our shipping information. Three days later, the new switch was in the mail - when they write "No Hassle Lifetime Guarantee: If it breaks, we fix it!" they mean it. Nicely done Surefire Customer Service! Aside from this little, informative incident, our U2 Ultra worked like an angel. It goes from a long lasting (40 hours) LED light like many others (at its lowest setting) all the way up to a 80 lumens powerhouse capable of illuminating the bright and far. We mean 80 lumens! That's a lot of light in a small package. We plan to take this jewel to camp with us for 5 days in the wilderness and we will follow up with an additional report. Final Comments When LED first hit the market few years ago, the major complaint was - not enough power. No longer. The U2 Ultra is 6-in-1 allowing the user to have a continuous 40 hours of light be as aggressive security or defense beam of light that will turn on the sun in your darkest night. Great product, good market niche, and great Customer Service. Surefire did not get to be who they are by mistake. They are as solid as the products they made. Have fun in our wonderful outdoors Maurizio (Maurice) Valerio, President and Founder Top Rated Adventures SureFire, LLC, 18300 Mount Baldy Circle, Fountain Valley, CA 92708 Toll Free: 800-828-8809, Email: helpyou@surefire.com or visit their website: www.surefire.com.