Preface
Although not officially announced, the Nitecore MT42 is most likely the successor to the discontinued Nitecore MT40 model.
Let’s check out the merits and demerits of this upgraded model.
Packaging & First Impressions
This is what the light will come with as shown below.
- The threads and o-rings were well lubricated. Threads were rather smooth and clean (no gritty feeling at all).
- The side electronic and tail mechanical switches require a rather firm and deliberate press to activate and helps in preventing any unwanted activation of the light.
- Anodizing of the light is uniform without any missing specs.
- The provided clip is not reversible.
- The clip has sufficient tension to ensure that the light will stay clipped to any material to prevent the light from falling out.
- The provided lanyard is able to support the full weight of the light and should hold up to the test of time.
- The lanyard can be attached to either the tactical ring or either sides of the tail cap.
- Holster provided is of decent quality and should withstand day-to-day abuse without issue.
- The “half” holster protects the head and part of the body (including the side electronic switches) only.
- Battery compartment is able to take a KeepPower 18650 3400mAh battery with barely much room to take a slightly thicker battery width. Fatter protected 18650 3500mAh batteries should be able to fit without issue as well.
- Only button top 18650 batteries can be used.
- Due diligence must be made when inserting the batteries into the battery tube – the batteries with its positive ends must be placed into the battery tube first (when loading the batteries from the tail cap area).
- Scanning the QR code with your phone/tablet on the box’s back would bring up the Nitecore MT42’s product page.
Note:
- Before using the flashlight for the first time, remove the desiccant from the battery tube.
Front:
Back:
Sides:
Top:
Bottom:
Contents:
Removing Desiccant from Battery Tube:
Quick Overview (Manufacturer Specifications)
- Body Material: Black HAIII Aluminium
- LED: XHP35 HD
- Battery Format: 2 x 18650 ONLY
- Output & Runtime (with 2 x 18650 3.6V 3500mAh battery):
- Ultra-Low (1 lumen / 530h)
- Low (68 lumens / 45h)
- Mid (280 lumens / 12h)
- High (800 lumens / 3h 30min)
- Turbo (1800 lumens / 1h) – there is a temperature-based output step down.
- Strobe (1800 lumens)
- Beacon (1800 lumens)
- SOS (1800 lumens)
- Max Beam Distance: 470m
- Beam intensity: 55,400cd
- Waterproofness: IPX-8 (2m)
- Impact Resistance: 1m
- Dimension: 228mm (length) x 50mm (head diameter) x 25.4mm (body/tail diameter)
- Weight: 231.5g (excluding batteries)
- Battery reverse polarity protection
- Accessories Included:
- 1*Clip
- 1*Tactical Ring
- 1*Lanyard
- 1*Holster
- 1*Spare Rubber Switch Cover
- 2*Spare O-ring
- MSRP: ~$90
UI (User Interface)
UI for this light is suitable for a Bug-Out Bag (BOB) or walking/hiking light/search & rescue light as it is relatively straightforward to use.
Switching ON and OFF is done by the mechanical switch on the TAIL of the flashlight, so momentary activation is possible.
There is a total of 2 switches on the flashlight – TAIL mechanical switch & SIDE electronic switch.
Normal Operation
From OFF:
- 1/2 Press (TAIL) – Light will switch ON to MOMENTARY last used mode (last mode memory) – any of the brightness levels or STROBE only.
- 1 Click (TAIL) – Light will switch ON to last used mode (last mode memory) – any of the brightness levels or STROBE only.
From ON:
- 1 Click (TAIL) – Light will switch OFF.
- HOLD (SIDE) – Direct access to MOMENTARY TURBO.
- 1 Click (SIDE) – Mode change (light cycles through ULTRA-LOW, LOW, MID, HIGH & TURBO -> ULTRA-LOW, LOW, MID, HIGH & TURBO).
- 2 Click (SIDE) – Direct access to STROBE; HOLD (SIDE) to activate BEACON, release & HOLD (SIDE) again to activate SOS (cycles STROBE-BEACON-SOS -> STROBE-BEACON-SOS), 1 Click (SIDE) again to switch to last used mode.
Note: If the Modes are cycled through too quickly and STROBE might be activated accidentally instead.
Power Indicator
There is only 1 type of Power Indicator for this flashlight.
- From OFF: HOLD (SIDE) and then 1 Click (TAIL) – Battery Capacity Indicator is activated (SIDE Switch LED will flash BLUE in the following sequence). Light will switch ON to last used mode.
- 3 Flashes – Power is >50%.
- 2 Flashes – Power is <50%.
- 1 Flash – Power is <10%.
Form Factor
For flashlights that are intended to use for a BOB or walking/hiking/search & rescue light usages and for possibly an extended period of time, form factor is extremely important.
This light is relatively hefty in weight and size, but still feels relatively well balanced in a medium sized hand (not head/tail-heavy). Switching between overhand and underhand holding method is still easy with its form factor. The knurling and Tactical Ring on the light enables the light to be sufficiently “grippy”, even with wet hands/gloves.
The Tactical Ring is removable where needed but removing it will expose the threaded area where it usually fits/sits. Hence, we recommend leaving the Tactical Ring on for this flashlight. After all, this is marketed as a tactical-style flashlight and the Tactical Ring affords it additional ways to carry it like the Rogers/SureFire hold. However, with the Tactical Ring attached, removing and replacing the light from the holster will be slightly hindered due to the size of the holster’s bottom cut-out.
It is able to tail-stand perfectly, even with the lanyard attached (either on the Tactical Ring or tailcap).
For hands-free usage, it fits perfectly under the arms when required.
With Tactical Ring:
Without Tactical Ring:
Without Tactical Ring but with Clip installed:
With Tactical Ring and Clip installed:
More pics of the MT42:
Beam Style/Beamshots
For this light, the spill, corona and hotspot is predictable due to the deep Smooth Reflector. With the LED used, the beam is “throwy” for recognising items up to mid-range distances, as a predominantly “thrower” flashlight would be.
The above beam profile is a rough interpretation of what is seen when white wall hunting.
The beam has a distinct hotspot with some slight corona and a fairly wide usable (circular) spill. It also helps that the XHP35 HD LED is perfectly centred in this sample. There are some rings in the beam when white wall hunting but not visible in real world usage.
All of the beamshots taken below are done so with the following camera settings (ULTRA-LOW: 2 sec, F3.5, ISO100, 5000K WB, LOW: 0.8 sec, F3.5, ISO100, 5000K WB, MID: 1/2 sec, F3.5, ISO100, 5000K WB, HIGH: 1/4 sec, F3.5, ISO100, 5000K WB, and TURBO: 1/6 sec, F3.5, ISO100, 5000K WB).
Some pictures have been adjusted slightly to depict as close as to what is seen in real life. The distance of the light from the door is 4.6m.
Control shot:
ULTRA-LOW (1 lumen):
LOW (68 lumens):
MID (280 lumens):
HIGH (800 lumens):
TURBO (1800 lumens):
Mode (Output) Spacing
Mode spacing appears to be progressively brighter to the eye and the modes are well spaced enough to be able to know which mode one is currently in. With that in mind, TLR tend to view mode spacing as battery life indicators (amount of runtime left) rather than the specific output (lumens).
The ULTRA-LOW mode of 1 lumen which is what most would call a moonlight mode and is perfect for night-adjusted eyes and midnight snack runs.
As with the other recently released Nitecore EC4GTS, it is great seeing that Nitecore had chosen a lower HIGH mode of 800 lumens. This provides for a fairly similar output to 1000 lumens (unless compared side-by-side) – to help increase runtimes and have a much cooler running flashlight.
Tint & CRI
Nitecore did not disclose the tint (color temperature) and/or the CRI (Color Rendering Index) for the LEDs used in their light. For this light, a guesstimate would be in the 6500K and 70CRI ballpark.
There are tint shifts throughout the beam profile. The hotspot is cool white whilst the corona possess a slight yellow-green tint; and the spill having a slight purple tint.
This is however, not as noticeable in real life.
This could have been avoided if a “throwier” LED like the XHP35 HI was used instead and would have made full use of the current smooth reflector. Perhaps this might be the LED used, if there is a MT42GT model.
Waterproofness
The light was subjected to warm water submersion, followed by cold water submersion and left under room temperature running water tap whilst running on TURBO.
No signs of water intrusion in the head, switch or body was seen.
Lockout Capability
No electronic lockout but mechanical lockout is possible when needed, like during transportation in a bag.
A quarter turn (anti-clockwise) of the tailcap or a quarter turn (clockwise) of the head will enable mechanical LOCKOUT.
Quick Comparison to Previous Generation
| Description | Nitecore MT42 | Nitecore MT40 |
|---|---|---|
| LED Used | XHP35 HD | XM-L2 |
| TURBO Mode Output | 1800 Lumens | 960 Lumens |
| Max Beam Distance | 470m | 430m |
| Beam Intensity | 55,400cd | 46,000cd |
| No. of Modes | 5 Modes + STROBE, BEACON & SOS | 4 Modes + STROBE & SOS |
| Mode Changing (UI) | SIDE & TAIL switches | TAIL switch and Head Tighten/Loosen |
| Battery Format | 2 x 18650 ONLY | 2 x 18650 or 4 x CR123A ONLY |
Scale Comparison (Ruler)
Summary
To sum up, we believe that the most important part of any review is if given the chance to purchase the same light for our own usage or to gift to our loved ones out from one’s pocket (wallet), would we still do it?
For this light, it is a YES, especially if a slim profile but longer runtime search/hunting flashlight is needed.
The simple UI, direct access to MOMENTARY TURBO from ON and Tactical Ring to allow additional ways to hold the flashlight are all plus points for this flashlight.
As mentioned earlier, we look forward to the day that Nitecore uses a “throwier” LED instead to make full use of the smooth reflector and would help get rid of most of the tint shifts – perhaps in a new Nitecore MT42GT model to replace the MT40GT?
Here is a bonus size comparison picture with other Nitecore flashlights we reviewed recently.
From Left to Right: Nitecore 18650 battery, Nitecore EC4GTS, Nitecore MT42, Nitecore P12GTS, Nitecore MT21C, Nitecore LR12, Nitecore TM10K & Nitecore Concept 2.
As with all gears, two is one and one is none.
Stay safe,
The Lite Review
Disclaimer: Light was provided for by Nitecore (manufacturer) for this review. No other compensation was provided.
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Nitecore MT42
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