Torch Review - The Klarus XT11

I received my Klarus XT11 a few months ago and am now getting my first chance to sit, relax and provide some feedback on this exceptional tactical torch. 

Having been active in the Police service for over 20 years I am by no means new to stress testing equipment. I've served as a patrol officer, on a tactical team and as an instructor. I have also participated in a number of tests of tactical products for specialised team use.

On receiving my Klarus XT11 the first thing that struck me was the minute attention to detail in everything down to the packaging. Everything I needed was there, torch, batteries, charger, lanyard, pouch the whole lot. Just looking at the torch I could tell that it is of extremely high quality manufacturing. No rough edges, no machining burs, no jiggles or rattles. Nice, robust and clean. Controls of the torch were easy to find as they're naturally located when using it tactically. My first tactical vehicle stop for the night sold me and made me a Klarus user for life.

Stopping a suspected stolen vehicle with multiple occupants is never easy or simple. Using the strobe function I was able to literally incapacitate the occupants as my partner approached the vehicle and I provided cover. It was amazing - no matter how the exiting driver tried, he couldn't look directly in the direction of the strobe. It caused immediate disorientation and his hands went straight up to cover his eyes as our verbal commands rained down on him. His companions in the car were as dazzled and confused - and weren't able to look back at us either. What a superb tool! Just a simple flashlight deployed in a tactical manner was able to give me a life saving advantage in a volatile situation.

Later on the shift, we were first respondents to an accident scene involving multiple vehicles. I was able to use the XT11 in 50% brightness mode to cast light over the entire scene without dazzling the EMS personnel working to rescue a trapped driver. The shift and testing didn't stop there though. All through my shift I was using it like a boy with a new toy. The brightness of the beam was unbelievable and yet when searching a house that may have been broken into, there was no splash back of the light when shining it against full length windows - the beam simply traveled internally as if by magic. 

Believe it or not, all of this testing in and around my shift wasn't even the jaw dropping part. Yes, I got it a little wet over the next few shifts and yes, I did indeed drop it a couple of times and it survived - I would expect nothing less with such precision engineering.

The jaw dropping part is that when I went on leave it lay with my kit bag for 4 weeks unused. Straight out of the bag I pressed the switch and there it was - bright and ready and thirsty for work - no noticeable battery drain!I was amazed that the battery hadn't drained noticeably after being unused for so long

Overall I can categorically say that I will never go on duty again without a Klarus torch by my side. As a Police Officer it's one of the best tactical tools I've encountered. Clearly designed by professionals for hard wearing use, it even slipped into a mount on my R5 without question. A figure 8 mount placed it squarely on a normal SAPS issue shotgun - and I can tell you that once you've mounted a XT11 on a shottie you will NEVER use a shotgun in the same way - it changes the tactical application completely and you'll wonder how you ever worked without one.

If you're one of those policemen who is after the best tactical tools available - you have to get an XT11.


Written By: Craig P.
Cape Town

Review - Klarus XT30R

Every so often I’m asked to evaluate a working tool that just jumps out from the rest and says “Take my money!”

The Klarus XT30R definitively fits within this category. When I received this well packaged torch, I immediately dove into the packaging to see what there was to fiddle with. Out came a slim, comfortable and well balanced torch that’s apparently suitable for hunting and tactical applications. Personally – I’ve found it to have many more applications than that.

Now it’s no secret I’m a Klarus fan through and through. The packaging is always attractive and well thought out. The contents of the goodie box is logical and practical at the same time. This was no exception. The first thing I noted was the magnetic charging port. With a lifestyle that means I often have to literally grab equipment and run, getting stuck to charging points isn’t one of my favourite passtimes. Much like the legendary Mac chargers, you push the magnetic contact to the torch and that’s it. No need to take batteries in and out at all.

I was patient and gave the batteries a full charge before putting this beast to the test. First off was the garden test. I like to wait till well after dark, then take a wander around the house and see what the usability would be at night in a home environment. To say that this beast and it’s 1800 lumen abilities lit up the garden is an understatement. Bearing in mind that my property is a good 600sq meters it literally lit up the entire side of the house. Dark little corners behind shrubs, the works. I even went as far as to challenge my son to hide in the garden and see if I could spot him – no problem there at all.

The box claimed to deliver 800m plus illumination – being the doubting Thomas that I am, I needed to see this for myself. I set off to the beachfront to get a nice cast of the beam straight down the beach which was in total darkness. Not only was I impressed by the very obvious 800m reach – I was amazed by the depth of illumination and the overall comfort. 

For a torch with a relatively large bulberous shape I was expecting a little clumsiness. Not so, it was well balanced, gripped well and worked exactly as promised. The programmable buttons are typically Klarus quality, 50%, 20%, 10% by my estimation in terms of power output.

I headed home quite impressed with the overall functionality and promptly left it on overnight in the study to drain the battery. Firstly the study was lit up like a beacon, secondly the battery was still holding 6 hours later.

This is definitively my new favourite torch for tactical applications, home use, camping and all manner of applications. A solidly built robust design that delivers on every promise it makes one by one.

Klarus creates some of the most sought after torches on the planet - Visit the Klarus Light website for a range of innovative tactical torches and accessories!