Helotex VG1 CREE LED Adjustable Focus AA Zoom Flashlight

I've owned a lot of flashlights over the years, for a lot of different purposes, but what I use the most and own the most of is single AA size lights. For many years that meant the standard krypton bulb Maglite, but in recent years the advent of LED lights has produced many more contenders in the market. I needed a new pocket tactical light, which means I need a strobe function to disorient assailants in a potential violent encounter. Powerful strobing flashlights in a dark room can be very effective for that purpose. I normally assume I need to spend more for the quality I demand, but I've been pleasantly surprised by some relatively inexpensive products before, and I found the reviews for the Helotex VG1 intriguing. So I ordered a VG1 as a backup light (I normally have two on hand so there's always a spare). For a $9.99 light I have to say that I'm quite impressed. It's quite bright. Nothing really astonishing, but almost as bright as any other light I have in this size range. It's solid and well built, so I assume it will be durable. The indented slots on the focusing ring are not sharp, so I didn't have to break out a file to smooth them down for pocket carry. It's surprising how many light makers, both cheap and expensive, leave sharp edges on their lights that make them unsuitable for pocket carry. The "keystone" pattern another reviewer complained about when the focusing ring is zoomed in is actually the shape of the LEDs inside. Seeing that shape clearly is a sign of a good optical zoom, not a flaw, so I find it a bit amusing that that's the "top critical review" right now. Any old light will do for seeing in the dark, but some features are more desirable in circumstances where you may be using a firearm in the dark. I already mentioned the strobe function disorienting an assailant. The belt clip on this light is also substantial and strong, which has tactical value. How that value is put to use depends on the individual owner. I use mine to clip the light to a bedside holster on my mattress, so I can retrieve the light and gun in the dark at the same time. I decided to do a little side by side comparison of this light to a couple of its peers. I have a UltraFire 7W 300LM Mini CREE LED Adjustable Focus Zoom Flashlight that I bought in 2014 for $6.99 (it sells for $4.97 now). It does not have a strobe feature. I also have a TotaLohan Mx13 High Powered Mini Cree LED Adjustable Focus Zoom Flashlight that I just bought for $13.99. It comes with two rechargeable lithium batteries and a charger, but it's essentially the same light as the other two. The performance isn't very different between these lights, but they can be graded against each other as you can see from the included pictures. This light (the VG1) is almost as bright as the Mx13, and is brighter than the 300LM. I did note though that the VG1 has a different color temperature than the other lights. It’s closer to a warm white, which is similar to a typical incandescent light bulb. The Mx13 and 300LM are more of a cool white color temperature, which is what you associate with most florescent light bulbs. So although the 300LM looks much dimmer than the VG1 on the brightness test, it didn’t really appear that way in actual use. When all three lights are zoomed, the Mx13 is the clear winner, with the 300LM coming in second, though the differences weren’t very obvious in real use. I continue to be impressed with how well some of these inexpensive flashlights perform. I certainly wouldn’t proclaim this to be the light to end all lights, but I have a hard time imagining a light that could beat it for under $10. Of course I've just received mine, so I can’t attest as to durability and longevity. I'll come back to edit this review if time reveals any flaws that I don't yet see.

Worked fine out of the box and it still functions well. Durable enough construction, zoom feature & the switch works efficiently. Very convenient in that it uses a single AA battery and the light output is very functional and adequate for its size. Note that the clip opens toward the rear switch end of the flashlight which makes it easy to attach it (forward facing) to your cap bill or accessorized hat/hard hat to use as a headlamp. Most flashlight clips are open towards the front of the flashlight which isn't as useful. A good value and buy.

As a cheap flashlight junkie, I've tried a lot of the <$10, single AA battery options out there. Until now, the best one seems to be the direct-from-China version that is ranked #1 in LED flashlights. You know which one I'm talking about ;) This one gives it a run for the money, as it should for about twice the price. But the extra cost is still less than the cost of a fast food meal, so we can cut it a little slack.Anyway, the things that make it worth the extra money to me are brightness, finish, and the clip. Tested with the same battery against a sample of different Chinese version, this one was consistently slightly--but noticeably--brighter. The LED itself is slightly bigger and differently shaped, so rest assured that this is not just a repackaged version of the base LED module used in all the Chinese ones. This has the same low-high-strobe type controls as the China version, but the switch itself feels slightly more solid than the China version. The finish is fine and gets the nod for the slightly less-sharp feel for the edges and corners compared to the China version. And finally, the clips on the China ones have always bugged me in that they are so dang tight I'm afraid I'm going to tear my pocket either clipping it in or taking it off. This clip has a much more useful tension, but the one down side is that it clips with lens up (poking out of the pocket) instead of down. Not that the lens feel fragile enough to get damaged by knocking it around, but still. I haven't been using it long enough to have a verdict on reliability, but I have high hopes based on the solid construction.Bottom line--I satisfied my curiosity and am pleased with the light. Spring the extra few bucks (if they stay at this price point) and get this one.

I ordered 2 of these and they both came today. Seem sturdy and well made but one of them is decently bright and the other isn’t bright at all. Both have a brand new battery in them

UPDATE: BOUGHT TWO.One died within a year, the other less than 2.You have been warned.Amazing little flashlight. The beam is very easily adjustable from a nice wide circle, perfect for walking around in dark area with lots of things that could trip you up, to a decent 'spot'. The spot is a little weird, as it is square, but this reflects the square LED in the flashlight. The beam becomes circular as you zoom it out.I also have one of the Helotex G2 fixed beam flashlight. That one, which is 2.5 times the price, does throw a little better spot, adn will use a different type of battery, but that is all it does better, for it is a fixed spotlight. After using these two different models for over a month now, I srongly prefer this, the less expensive focusing model.I plan on replacing the 3-cell Maglights that we keep in our cars with one of these, which will easily fit in the center console, where it won't get lost.A quick note to Helotex: This would be PERFECT for car use if you came out with a 6-7 inch traffic cone to help signal traffic-it should be reversible, so that the light can be stored inside the cone when not in use, so nothing gets lost. And if the cone would allow to store a second AA battery in it when reversed, just think about that-a compact little ultra-reliable package that could provide up to 14 hours of very useful light, and take up almost no room. Hint hint.