Review:Slughaus vs HUNT22 bull3t lights

L-R; HUNT22, Mr .45, Bullet02

I do not like being in the dark. I like to see where I am going, and what is around me. To that end I collect lights and like blades, I tend to have two or three on me at all times. But flashlights can be bulky so it's handy to have a pocket sized one that you mostly don't realize are there. Dollar store or service station LED lights are cheap and handy, but hardly rugged or reliable.I am also an avid Kickstarter backer. Two such projects came up at similar times that piqued my interest. 

L-R; HUNT22, Mr .45, Bull3t02

These were the  SeptemStudio HUNT22 and Slughaus BULL3T02 light projects. These projects for finger digit sized, high-powered, tough lights. As a bonus the HUNT22  project offered lights in both UV and white light wavelengths. i'm also a fan of alternate wavelengths, IR is synonymous with night vision but UV has its own magic. UV flashlights are benefiting from the LED revolution that has also put sun-bright lights in our back pockets, sidearms and helmets. 

HUNT22 white from the doorway

Traditional UV torches are bulky to carry around and, most keyring UV torches are low quality with weak beam.by taking advantage of LED technology the designers of the HUNT22 light used a100,000 hour lifespan UV LED in the 385–395 nm wavelength with a UV power output of 1–3w . The white light version has a CREE LED bulb which has up to 50,000 hours lifetime for 20 lumens of keychain light. Powered by three  AG3 ( LR41 ) batteries(which i found really hard to source).  

HUNT22 UV from the doorway

T-B; HUNT22, Mr .45, Bull3t02

The HUNT22 is billed as the toughest and smallest UV flashlight you'd ever seen; finger-sized yet with maximum durability and the strongest light beam in any product this size. Here's why they can make that claim: The light body is milled from grade 5 titanium and sitting at a  mere 1.1 x 2.6 cm in size for a hardly whopping 0.21 oz (5.95 g) this 1 inch light has a simple twist-on action. As well as the inherent strength of titanium, just its small dimensions lends strength. Precision engineering and a well fitted o-ring couple to give the light its Waterproof IPX6 rating.

I can't say i've done much to put it to the toughness test other than slinging it on my keychain for weeks and months to no ill effect, even the anodizing has remained unscathed. I don't see myself setting it on fire or using it as a deep sea fishing lure or as the end of a weighted chain  weapon but i suspect it would survive such mistreatment.
Lightly milled rings on the body of the light improves grip for the twist-on action of the light, without increasing snagging. The tail cap features a protruding wedge with a lanyard hole cut into it. This wedge also facilitates the twist on action. The LED is protected behind  a domed  lens and is recessed a little bit in the end, both protecting the lens but also restricting and focusing the spread of light.

HUNT22 light pattern on a tabletop

The UV light is bright enough for close in tasks like watermark assessment ,reading hidden text or spotting if  a scorpion is in a particular hole but is hardly a room-filling tool, nor is it intended to be. 

The white light version isn't a room filler either but is plenty bright enough to light up a room if the power goes out, or finding something dropped in the foot-well of a car. These are just in case, always have with you options, rather than spotlights or searchbeams. The wedge on the tail cap is flat allowing it to be stood upright in "candle mode" to light up a room. 

The second light, the Slughaus BULL3T02 is the second generation light Slughaus have put out.  I had one of the Bullet 01 models but, full disclosure I lost it. (i loose a lot of lights). A little bigger than the Hunt22 light but hardly bulky at only 14mm x 30mm and weighing only  13g in  (6Al-4V)  titanium and 11g in the (T6061) aerospace aluminum option,

Bullet02 light pattern on a tabletop

the BULL3T02 is powered by three  LR44H Button Cell batteries powering a 2mm Nano SMD LE, the LED is behind a flat lens which is recessed only about a mm in the body, but sufficiently to protect the lens from incidental pocket keychain scratches. 

The body lacks the milled ring grip assists the BULL3T22 has but the slightly wider body allows for a better grip inherently.  The cast of the light is quite wide which is good for room filling light without being a lighthouse signal. The base has a pin type post extending to allow the fitting of a simple lanyard loop split ring. This makes it difficult to balance on its tail cap to use in "candle mode."

Both lights function well, though there is a knack to getting them on or off such that they don't accidentally turn on or off in your hand or pocket. The form factor is pretty cool and I liked that whilst close in size and shape neither was close enough that you might inadvertently thumb one into a magazine and have a brown-trouser click moment. Over all I prefer the HUNT22  light, especially for the UV option, though I would like some kind of distinguishing tactile feature on its case to tell them apart in the dark (or in the light for that matter).