Gerber Recon Review.
The Gerber Recon is a small lightweight LED torch powered by 1 AA battery. Its unusual in that it has a rotating bezel which allows the user to filter the light output to differing colours. The torch is primarily targeted at military users.
Firstly a disclaimer the Gerber Recon in this review is mine. I bought it from RV OPS where they were on sale and it was shipped to me here in NZ. Secondly Im not a torch guru just a regular user.
I was after a small LED hand held torch for a few differing reasons and after casting about via a bit of googling settled on the Gerber Recon. I dont need the torch for tactical reasons but the price and the positive reviews the Recon gets made my mind up. Also the filter options were potentially useful and the fact they were incorporated in the torch rather than being an add on kit was a positive... Im sure quite a few of us will have bought torches like the Mini Maglite combo set in the past and lost the filter holder and filters or screwed the red filter on permanently and been stuck when map reading at night ... I would say that if youre after a small torch with a blistering light output and computer designed reflector burning a branded LED then youll need to look elsewhere. There are better torches on the market with high output LEDs. If youre after a small torch with LED and the good battery life that gives for a bit of kit admin or some map reading at night then the Gerber Recon might be for you.
Overall length of the torch is approx 90mm and the head is approx 29-30mm in diameter.
Ok the body of the torch and the tail cap are made from Aluminum alloy which has a black anodized coating. The rotating filter bezel is made from plastic. The torch uses just a single LED I dont believe its a branded LED like a CREE or Luxeon it just looks like something I used in my GCSE electronics project back in the 80s however it works well enough.
The torch is actuated by turning the tail cap clockwise this closes the contacts with the battery and the torch switches on. Slackening the tail cap ½ a turn anticlockwise allows you to depress the tail cap against the contact spring and actuate the light, release pressure on the tail cap and the contact with the battery is broken and the torch switches off. A further ½ turn anticlockwise and the torch is off permanently.
The head of the torch is oversized to allow the LED and filter bezel room to do their thing. The LED is actually offset from centre the oversized head has 5 flat machined on it which provide good grip with cold or wet fingers and if youre wearing gloves when actuating the tail cap switch which has a band of straight knurling which is nicely executed.
A further small flat is machined onto the head and this aligns with a flat on the bezel which indicates the red filter is selected... Useful if youre in a tactical situation surrounded by the enemy but not so useful for bushcraft perhaps...
The filter settings have a positive de-dent and lock into position. You get Red, Blue, Green and white light. Red is of course aimed to help preserve night vision and is a bit more concealed at night. The problem is of course if you look at a map with red light then all of the contour lines disappear and the map shows no relief which is a pain ( unless youre somewhere flat like Lydd Ranges)...
The green filter has no such problems and allows you to keep your night vision intact and read the relief on the map with no problems....
Here is a view in daylight of the terrain looking from Yes Tor to High Willhays
The Blue filter is supposedly good for following up blood trails ( useful if youre on a follow up after ambushing the enemy in close country) or perhaps tracking a wounded animal if youre out hunting...
Construction wise the torch is solidly built. It comes supplied with an AA battery and a sprung clip that holds the torch securely and I find is really useful on a tarp ridge line it also clips well to a D ring on a rucksack shoulder strap.
The tail cap has a 5mm diameter hole for a lanyard so you could poke some 550 cord through if you wanted. The torch features a single O Ring seal which is enough to make it splash resistant but if you want something for diving or very wet environments then youll have to look elsewhere for a suitable bit of kit.
Im afraid I dont have LED output figures or battery life figures. But after a fair bit of use the battery is still going strong and I find the output is enough for most local tasks around camp and its low output is a boon especially if youre in a crowded hut as the low output doesnt disturb folk sleeping if youre fossicking for some bit of kit or other in your bergen or your Camelbak tube. It augments my Petzl E light nicely. The fact it uses an AA battery rather than a specific Lithium battery is a boon as AAs tend to be in my kit and its 1 less battery type to have to worry about.
I was impressed by the torch and its construction and its not overly expensive IMHO for what you get. If youre expecting exceptional CP output figures or heaps of modes or features then youll be well disappointed. After a simple useable light with built in coloured filters.. Youll be happy with the result...
A further detailed review can be found at
http://www.flashlightreviews.com/reviews/gerber_recon.htm
Kit maestros RV OPS stock the Gerber Recon and have a nifty You Tube review and are great to deal with.
http://www.rvops.co.uk/gerber-recon-led-torch-1315.html
Cheers
John
The Gerber Recon is a small lightweight LED torch powered by 1 AA battery. Its unusual in that it has a rotating bezel which allows the user to filter the light output to differing colours. The torch is primarily targeted at military users.
Firstly a disclaimer the Gerber Recon in this review is mine. I bought it from RV OPS where they were on sale and it was shipped to me here in NZ. Secondly Im not a torch guru just a regular user.
I was after a small LED hand held torch for a few differing reasons and after casting about via a bit of googling settled on the Gerber Recon. I dont need the torch for tactical reasons but the price and the positive reviews the Recon gets made my mind up. Also the filter options were potentially useful and the fact they were incorporated in the torch rather than being an add on kit was a positive... Im sure quite a few of us will have bought torches like the Mini Maglite combo set in the past and lost the filter holder and filters or screwed the red filter on permanently and been stuck when map reading at night ... I would say that if youre after a small torch with a blistering light output and computer designed reflector burning a branded LED then youll need to look elsewhere. There are better torches on the market with high output LEDs. If youre after a small torch with LED and the good battery life that gives for a bit of kit admin or some map reading at night then the Gerber Recon might be for you.
Overall length of the torch is approx 90mm and the head is approx 29-30mm in diameter.
Ok the body of the torch and the tail cap are made from Aluminum alloy which has a black anodized coating. The rotating filter bezel is made from plastic. The torch uses just a single LED I dont believe its a branded LED like a CREE or Luxeon it just looks like something I used in my GCSE electronics project back in the 80s however it works well enough.
The torch is actuated by turning the tail cap clockwise this closes the contacts with the battery and the torch switches on. Slackening the tail cap ½ a turn anticlockwise allows you to depress the tail cap against the contact spring and actuate the light, release pressure on the tail cap and the contact with the battery is broken and the torch switches off. A further ½ turn anticlockwise and the torch is off permanently.
The head of the torch is oversized to allow the LED and filter bezel room to do their thing. The LED is actually offset from centre the oversized head has 5 flat machined on it which provide good grip with cold or wet fingers and if youre wearing gloves when actuating the tail cap switch which has a band of straight knurling which is nicely executed.
A further small flat is machined onto the head and this aligns with a flat on the bezel which indicates the red filter is selected... Useful if youre in a tactical situation surrounded by the enemy but not so useful for bushcraft perhaps...
The filter settings have a positive de-dent and lock into position. You get Red, Blue, Green and white light. Red is of course aimed to help preserve night vision and is a bit more concealed at night. The problem is of course if you look at a map with red light then all of the contour lines disappear and the map shows no relief which is a pain ( unless youre somewhere flat like Lydd Ranges)...
The green filter has no such problems and allows you to keep your night vision intact and read the relief on the map with no problems....
Here is a view in daylight of the terrain looking from Yes Tor to High Willhays
The Blue filter is supposedly good for following up blood trails ( useful if youre on a follow up after ambushing the enemy in close country) or perhaps tracking a wounded animal if youre out hunting...
Construction wise the torch is solidly built. It comes supplied with an AA battery and a sprung clip that holds the torch securely and I find is really useful on a tarp ridge line it also clips well to a D ring on a rucksack shoulder strap.
The tail cap has a 5mm diameter hole for a lanyard so you could poke some 550 cord through if you wanted. The torch features a single O Ring seal which is enough to make it splash resistant but if you want something for diving or very wet environments then youll have to look elsewhere for a suitable bit of kit.
Im afraid I dont have LED output figures or battery life figures. But after a fair bit of use the battery is still going strong and I find the output is enough for most local tasks around camp and its low output is a boon especially if youre in a crowded hut as the low output doesnt disturb folk sleeping if youre fossicking for some bit of kit or other in your bergen or your Camelbak tube. It augments my Petzl E light nicely. The fact it uses an AA battery rather than a specific Lithium battery is a boon as AAs tend to be in my kit and its 1 less battery type to have to worry about.
I was impressed by the torch and its construction and its not overly expensive IMHO for what you get. If youre expecting exceptional CP output figures or heaps of modes or features then youll be well disappointed. After a simple useable light with built in coloured filters.. Youll be happy with the result...
A further detailed review can be found at
http://www.flashlightreviews.com/reviews/gerber_recon.htm
Kit maestros RV OPS stock the Gerber Recon and have a nifty You Tube review and are great to deal with.
http://www.rvops.co.uk/gerber-recon-led-torch-1315.html
Cheers
John
.
