COLEMAN ENDURANCE
6-LED LIGHT

Coleman Endurance 6-LED Light, retail $16 (www.coleman.com...)
Manufactured by Coleman (www.coleman.com)
Last updated 03-05-07




The Coleman Endurance 6-LED Light (hereinafter, called the Endurance) is a fairly sturdy feeling plastic LED flashlight that uses six white LEDs (user selectable to allow 1, 3, or all 6 to operate) to produce its light, powered by 4 AA cells. A smaller 3mm amber LED is mounted in the bezel (head) to function as a nightlight when needed.

The Endurance has a grippy, rubber-like barrel with an easy-to-hold oval shape, and a wrist lanyard you can affix to a tail ring if you wish.


SIZE



To use your new Coleman Endurance, get the flashlight, its lanyard, and its included batteries out of the package first. Although the package seams appear to have been thermally welded, I could remove the goodies in there without knives, razors, or other sharp instruments. Install the four batteries (see below), and then you'll be ready to go camping.

Once you have your Endurance out of its package and fed, press the button on the bezel (head) firmly until it clicks and then release it to turn one LED on. Press and release again to turn three LEDs on. Press and release again to turn all six LEDs on. Press and release again to turn the main LEDs off and turn on the amber LED above the switch for nightlight mode. Finally, press and release again to turn the Endurance all the way off.
Lather, rinse, repeat. Just like it says on the back of the shampoo bottle.

The clicking sound is clearly audible, but it is not loud.

There is no lock-out function that I know of, so it is possible for your Endurance to turn itself on when something squishes into it just so in your camping gear, a box in the car trunk, or in a box in storage. To totally eliminate this possibility, remove one or more batteries from the Endurance when storing or transporting it in this manner.



To change the batteries in your Endurance, unscrew and remove the bezel (head) and throw it away...O WAIT, YOU'LL NEED THAT!!! So just set it aside instead. ;-)
Tip the barrel into your hand, and dispose of or recycle the 4 used AA cells as you see fit. Insert four new cells into the barrel, two in each chamber. The polarity is silkscreened next to each chamber; two cells go in button (+) positive end first, and two cells go in the other chamber flat (-) negative end first. Screw the bezel back on, and that's it.
Aren't you glad you didn't discard that bezel now? ;-)

Advertised battery life is stated at 230 hours for 1 LED, 120 hours for 3 LEDs, and 80 hours for all 6 LEDs. There is no battery life figure given for nightlight mode; presumably it is the same 230 hours as the 1 LED setting.

Due to the way the flashlight is constructed, I can not obtain current usage readings.



The Endurance appears to be reasonably durable, as plastic flashlights go. I whapped it against a steel rod 10 times (5 on the barrel, and 5 on the head), and did not damage it in any fashion. I also dropped it on the floor, and again, no damage. I don't think I'll run it over with a 400lb electric wheelchair, but falls to the ground in campgrounds, wilderness, etc. should not do it in because these areas are typically not paved or concreted. Falls onto dirt, piles of leaves, or whatever should not be nearly enough to break the Endurance.

This flashlight is advertised as being weather resistant. There is an O-ring sealing the bezel to the barrel, and I believe it will do a good job if you take care of it. That usually means cleaning and re-lubricating the O-ring and threads on the bezel and barrel about every six months.
I don't believe you'll have any problems using the Endurance in the rain or snow; and falls into very shallow water (like mud puddles) should not cause it to flood.

The Endurance has an oval-shaped, rubber covered (or covered in a rubber-like material) barrel that is comfortable and easy to hold. The bezel is also surrounded by this material, helping to prevent breakage if the product is dropped. The underside of the barrel has several ribs moulded into it; these help to aid retention (the ability to hold the flashlight when your hands are cold, wet, or oily). They do not protrude very much, so they have no impact on your comfort level when holding the flashlight with warm, dry, non-oily hands.

There is a shiny "jewel" on the barrel below the switch; I later discovered that this is the Coleman logo (a picture of a Coleman lantern under a transparent plastic dome), and this should not cause the Endurance to malfunction or quit if it becomes broken.

The LEDs and reflector are behind a transparent, domed window; protecting them from dirt and scratches. This window appears to be made of plastic, so you'll want to be reasonably careful so you don't heavily scratch it up. A few dings and scratches in it won't harm the light though.

The amber nightlight LED is mounted in the bezel, just above the switch. So you can stand the light up on its head, and the amber LED will aim out to the side, where it can be adjusted just by turning the flashlight. You can also lay the flashlight down on its side, and the amber LED will aim up at the tent ceiling.

The Endurance comes with a wrist lanyard, which you can affix to a metal loop in the flashlight's tailcap if you wish. The lanyard does not go around the flashlight, so hanging the Endurance from pipes in the ceiling, long tree branches, and similar articles that don't have a convenient "end" could be a bit tricky unless there's already a hook or other projection where you want to hang it.



Beam photo at ~12", one LED lit.
Measures 13,400mcd.



Beam photo at ~12", three LEDs lit.
Measures 40,600mcd.



Beam photo at ~12", all six LEDs lit.
Measures 63,200mcd.



Beam photo at ~12", amber LED nightlight lit only.
Measures 2,400mcd.
The light is dimmer and a little less "orangey" than this picture makes it appear.

All measurements were taken on a Meterman LM631 light meter.


Spectrographic plot
Spectrometer plot of the white LEDs in this flashlight.



Spectrographic plot
Spectrometer plot of the amber nightlight LED in this flashlight.
Ocean Optics USB2000 Spectrometer on loan from TWO-CUBED.


ProMetric analysis
Beam cross-sectional analysis (all white LEDs on).
Image made using the ProMetric System by Radiant Imaging.



TEST NOTES:
Test units of this flashlight and a pair of marker lights were sent by A.W. of Coleman, and were received on 04-08-04.

She also had the following to say:

Coleman offers a full line of flashlights in various types and styles. Some are more suitable for camping, while others - such as the rechargeable styles - are more suitable for household use.


UPDATE: 07-20-04
I have decided to give the Endurance a 4 Star rating. Although it is constructed of plastic, and therefore, breakable, the multiple LED levels and the built-in nightlight do help make up for this.


PROS:
Multiple light levels available with a single button
Handy night light built in
Reasonably water- and weather-resistance
Good battery life, especially at lower settings
Uses batteries that are inexpensive and easy to find


CONS:
Could become broken if thrown or stepped on (characteristic of many plastic flashlights, not just the Endurance)


    MANUFACTURER: Coleman
    PRODUCT TYPE: Handheld flashlight
    LAMP TYPE: 5mm white LED, 3mm amber LED
    No. OF LAMPS: 6 white LEDs in bezel, 1 amber LED on side of bezel
    BEAM TYPE: Narrow flood with dimmer corona
    SWITCH TYPE: Pushbutton on/off/mode change on side of bezel
    BEZEL: LEDs & reflector protected by domed plastic window
    BATTERY: 4x AA cells
    CURRENT CONSUMPTION: Unknown/unable to measure
    WATER RESISTANT: Yes
    SUBMERSIBLE: No
    ACCESSORIES: 4x AA cells, wrist lanyard
    WARRANTY: 5 years

    PRODUCT RATING:

    Star Rating





Coleman Endurance 6-LED Light * www.coleman.com...






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