Surefire Titan Plus Review
This light has been delayed time and again, but like Shigeru Miyamoto once said--a good game is delayed until it ships and a bad game is bad forever. All of the waiting resulted in a light that is at one in the same time the best EDC production light on the market and woefully behind the times. Its great and stupid all at the same time. And it is very difficult to evaluate. My opinion has changed since I recorded the overview. In fact, it has changed since I initially wrote this review.
I have owned two (it was a mistake, I bought one, never received the shipping confirmation, from Surefire, and then bought another one thinking the Surefire purchase had somehow aborted). Both have had the same issues, so I am fairly confident it is a matter of design and not that I got a lemon. But both also have some remarkable features. This isn't a case of good stuff and bad stuff evening out to a score halfway in between, in fact, during the three month review period I have gone back and forth between thinking this is the new standard to thinking this is a waste of money. After about 90 days of use I am fairly confident I have a bead on how good the light is.
Here is the product page. The Titan Plus costs $99.95 (and thanks to Surefire's pricing policies there is little variance, maybe $10 bucks here or a stash of free CR123as there). Here is a written review. Here is a video review. Here is a link to Blade HQ, where you can find the Surefire Titan Plus, and all proceeds benefit the site when you purchase things through this link:
Blade HQ
Here is my review sample:
Twitter Review Summary: 300 lumens from a 1xAAA covers up a lot of problems
Design: 2
The Titan and Titan Plus are the second generation of Surefire's first EDC-centric flashlight, the Titan T1A (well, third if you include the ultra limited edition T1, which ran on CR2 batteries). But this is not a case of clear progression. In many ways the Titan Plus, the upgraded version of the Titan, is a dramatic step backwards for Surefire. First, unlike the T1A, the UI here is strictly inferior--a twist, twist again UI, instead of a smooth twist selector ring type mechanism on the original T1A. That is a nod towards price. The Titan Plus is less than half the price of the T1A. But that's not the only thing that's strictly worse. The decision to make the body out of brass is inexplicable. Its heavier, softer, and offers no performance boost over aluminum.
The skeptic in me says that they chose brass because its easier to machine (making it cheaper) and it is heavier giving the light heft that stupid people equate with superior goods. There is a whole history of companies making things heavier because people think "heavier=better". The great Danish audio company Bang and Olufsen is pretty explicit about why they included a zinc weight in their remotes for ages. People picked up the remote and naturally thought it was better made and a better product because, again, for some reason people thing "heavier=better." In the EDC world, heavier is not better and this light is worse because of the choice to run a brass body tube, but its hard to break the habits of stupid people.
All of this said, the fundamentals of the design are solid. The form factor is great and the clip is the best on any Surefire or any 1xAAA light on the market. If it weren't for the greatness of the original T1A, the Titan Plus would seem like a big and genuine improvement over the flood of chintzy 1xAAA lights we have been seeing for two or three years now. But if your Surefire you are always fighting with your past--the history of Surefire lights is heavily populated by some of the best and most innovative lights ever made, production or custom. Topping that is hard for any company to do, even Surefire. I wrote this entire review and knocked the Titan Plus a point, but then, after thinking about it, its probably not fair to deduct a point here because it is not as slick as the original Titan when I don't do that for every other light. In the end, the overall solid, if simple, design is above average.
The performance ratios are decent, though not great. The lumens:weight is obviously poor coming in at 150 (300 lumens/2 ounces). If you choose to make a light out of brass you should expect it to do poorly here. By contrast the direct competitor light, the oLight S1 Baton, is cranking, scoring 303 on the lumens:weight comparison. The total lumens output is achieved on high with a rating of 18,000 (lumens x output in minutes). Again, it comes out behind the S1 28,800. The total lumens output is, however, the best of any 1xAAA light I have owned. More on this in a minute. Here is the Titan Plus on an Expedition Edition Field Note.
For all of the dings, the light is JUST the right size and shape.
Fit and Finish: 2
The light goes together well and all of the edges are decent. My first one was pretty roughly machined and others, including EDCish's Aaron, have noted the same issue. But the second one was fine.
The coating isn't super hardy, but everything screws together nicely and the overall feel of the light is one of solidity. There is no wiggle between the parts and no gaps. I miss the old uber thick Mil-Spec HA from the yesteryear Surefires, but other than that one thing, this is a well-made light.
Grip: 2
I loved the feel of the Titan Plus in hand. The hex barrel and the finishing (as flimsy as it is) just feel right. Add to that the magic length to diameter ratio, and the Titan Plus is a clear winner.
Carry: 2
Its heavy for its size, but the Titan Plus is still so small that it doesn't really matter all that much. Add to that an amazing clip and some pocket friendly surfaces and you have a super EDC light, probably one of the best on the market. Note to all of the other manufacturers--this is how you do a pocket clip. Drop those BS friction fit clips. They are terrible.
Output: 2
This thing is a flamethrower. Its high, 300 lumens, is more than double what you can find on many 1xAAA lights. On specialized lights, like the Peak Eiger and the MBI HF-R can go higher in this form factor and they do so at great cost. The runtimes on those lights are microscopic compared to the runtimes on the Titan Plus. And so, if you are looking for the brightest light in the most convenient form factor, the Titan Plus is it.
I'd like to see a true moonlight low from Surefire, but they seem unwilling to go down that route for some reason. But like the reigning supercar--when you can just outmuscle your opponents in an objective criteria like top speed (or lumens in this case) you are going to get noticed in a crowded market.
Runtime: 2
Again, a pure, incontestable win for Surefire--300 lumens for an hour on a 1xAAA is a feat of engineering we have not seen. You pull off a trick like that and a lot of stuff gets forgiven, including having a paltry 7 hour runtime on your low setting of 15 lumens.
Beam Type: 2
Beam Quality: 1
UI: 1
Hands Free: 2
I have owned two (it was a mistake, I bought one, never received the shipping confirmation, from Surefire, and then bought another one thinking the Surefire purchase had somehow aborted). Both have had the same issues, so I am fairly confident it is a matter of design and not that I got a lemon. But both also have some remarkable features. This isn't a case of good stuff and bad stuff evening out to a score halfway in between, in fact, during the three month review period I have gone back and forth between thinking this is the new standard to thinking this is a waste of money. After about 90 days of use I am fairly confident I have a bead on how good the light is.
Here is the product page. The Titan Plus costs $99.95 (and thanks to Surefire's pricing policies there is little variance, maybe $10 bucks here or a stash of free CR123as there). Here is a written review. Here is a video review. Here is a link to Blade HQ, where you can find the Surefire Titan Plus, and all proceeds benefit the site when you purchase things through this link:
Blade HQ
Here is my review sample:
Twitter Review Summary: 300 lumens from a 1xAAA covers up a lot of problems
Design: 2
The Titan and Titan Plus are the second generation of Surefire's first EDC-centric flashlight, the Titan T1A (well, third if you include the ultra limited edition T1, which ran on CR2 batteries). But this is not a case of clear progression. In many ways the Titan Plus, the upgraded version of the Titan, is a dramatic step backwards for Surefire. First, unlike the T1A, the UI here is strictly inferior--a twist, twist again UI, instead of a smooth twist selector ring type mechanism on the original T1A. That is a nod towards price. The Titan Plus is less than half the price of the T1A. But that's not the only thing that's strictly worse. The decision to make the body out of brass is inexplicable. Its heavier, softer, and offers no performance boost over aluminum.
The skeptic in me says that they chose brass because its easier to machine (making it cheaper) and it is heavier giving the light heft that stupid people equate with superior goods. There is a whole history of companies making things heavier because people think "heavier=better". The great Danish audio company Bang and Olufsen is pretty explicit about why they included a zinc weight in their remotes for ages. People picked up the remote and naturally thought it was better made and a better product because, again, for some reason people thing "heavier=better." In the EDC world, heavier is not better and this light is worse because of the choice to run a brass body tube, but its hard to break the habits of stupid people.
All of this said, the fundamentals of the design are solid. The form factor is great and the clip is the best on any Surefire or any 1xAAA light on the market. If it weren't for the greatness of the original T1A, the Titan Plus would seem like a big and genuine improvement over the flood of chintzy 1xAAA lights we have been seeing for two or three years now. But if your Surefire you are always fighting with your past--the history of Surefire lights is heavily populated by some of the best and most innovative lights ever made, production or custom. Topping that is hard for any company to do, even Surefire. I wrote this entire review and knocked the Titan Plus a point, but then, after thinking about it, its probably not fair to deduct a point here because it is not as slick as the original Titan when I don't do that for every other light. In the end, the overall solid, if simple, design is above average.
The performance ratios are decent, though not great. The lumens:weight is obviously poor coming in at 150 (300 lumens/2 ounces). If you choose to make a light out of brass you should expect it to do poorly here. By contrast the direct competitor light, the oLight S1 Baton, is cranking, scoring 303 on the lumens:weight comparison. The total lumens output is achieved on high with a rating of 18,000 (lumens x output in minutes). Again, it comes out behind the S1 28,800. The total lumens output is, however, the best of any 1xAAA light I have owned. More on this in a minute. Here is the Titan Plus on an Expedition Edition Field Note.
For all of the dings, the light is JUST the right size and shape.
Fit and Finish: 2
The light goes together well and all of the edges are decent. My first one was pretty roughly machined and others, including EDCish's Aaron, have noted the same issue. But the second one was fine.
The coating isn't super hardy, but everything screws together nicely and the overall feel of the light is one of solidity. There is no wiggle between the parts and no gaps. I miss the old uber thick Mil-Spec HA from the yesteryear Surefires, but other than that one thing, this is a well-made light.
Grip: 2
I loved the feel of the Titan Plus in hand. The hex barrel and the finishing (as flimsy as it is) just feel right. Add to that the magic length to diameter ratio, and the Titan Plus is a clear winner.
Carry: 2
Its heavy for its size, but the Titan Plus is still so small that it doesn't really matter all that much. Add to that an amazing clip and some pocket friendly surfaces and you have a super EDC light, probably one of the best on the market. Note to all of the other manufacturers--this is how you do a pocket clip. Drop those BS friction fit clips. They are terrible.
Output: 2
This thing is a flamethrower. Its high, 300 lumens, is more than double what you can find on many 1xAAA lights. On specialized lights, like the Peak Eiger and the MBI HF-R can go higher in this form factor and they do so at great cost. The runtimes on those lights are microscopic compared to the runtimes on the Titan Plus. And so, if you are looking for the brightest light in the most convenient form factor, the Titan Plus is it.
I'd like to see a true moonlight low from Surefire, but they seem unwilling to go down that route for some reason. But like the reigning supercar--when you can just outmuscle your opponents in an objective criteria like top speed (or lumens in this case) you are going to get noticed in a crowded market.
Runtime: 2
Again, a pure, incontestable win for Surefire--300 lumens for an hour on a 1xAAA is a feat of engineering we have not seen. You pull off a trick like that and a lot of stuff gets forgiven, including having a paltry 7 hour runtime on your low setting of 15 lumens.
Beam Type: 2
All flood baby. Even with the normal Surefire pattern (lots of hotspot very little spill), the uber small reflector (yep, still a reflector, no TIR optics) limits what you can do. In the role of pure EDC light, that's not a problem at all, but if you are a Surefire fanboy rounding out your collection, don't expect what you get from other Surefires, which is throw well beyond what they should be able to given their size.
Beam Quality: 1
For a $100 I want something a bit nicer. The artifact free pattern is nice, and Surefire has always been able to do that, but I want a higher CRI emitter here. I know it shaves off some lumens and that is this light's whole deal, but this yellowish green tint ain't my thing. The Mk. III Aeon which uses a Hi CRI emitter and hits 200 lumens isn't significantly dimmer but just looks nicer.
UI: 1
All right Surefire, what are you doing? The original Titan had one of the sweetest UIs on the planet and now we get a clunky, and I mean rusted Transformer clunky, UI. The twist, twist again UI is meh, but here it's weird, I can't, for the life of me, get it to run up to High without first going into medium twice. It was like that on both lights. I am not sure this is a "flaw" or a "feature" (some BS about protecting your eyes and your battery or something like that), but whatever it is, it is super annoying. That said the spacing is good and there is no flicker, so it's average. The biggest issue with that is that the original Titan was (and still is) state of the art. Sad face. I am sure it was a concession to hit the $100 price point, but man that potentiometer UI was sweet.
Hands Free: 2
Okay, so there is this plastic cap that goes on the top of the light that allows you to connect it to a keychain. I had hoped against hope that underneath the flashlight toupee there would be a flat surface to allow the light to tail stand. But no. There is another, identical, keychain attachment point. What a missed opportunity. That said, it would be sweet to see Surefire come out with accessory caps. That would open up a whole new space in flashlight design. Personally I'd love to see a tail standing cap and a glass breaker cap, but I am sure creative minds could think of other uses. So while I think the redundant connector points are stupid, I am not going to deduct points for it because there is a slim possibility that either Surefire or someone in the community will see the cap as opportunity to expand the functionality of the flashlight. Also, it doesn't roll and is fine between the teeth.
Overall Score: 18 out of 20
This is a light that won't age well. Once the rest of the market catches up and starts matching the Titan Plus's runtimes and output there will be literally nothing to distinguish this light from its competitors, except, the Surefire tax. But for now, this is one of the best EDC lights out there. I prefer the S1, as I like the clicky and the low and the high better, but if you are deciding between these two lights, you are already in a good place.
The thing that kills me the most about the Titan Plus is what it could have been. If it had the T1A's UI and kept the runtime, it would be an instant and all time classic. Maybe Surefire will release something like that in the future and when they do--watch out, I'll elbow you in the ribs to get to the front of the line to buy one.
Overall Score: 18 out of 20
This is a light that won't age well. Once the rest of the market catches up and starts matching the Titan Plus's runtimes and output there will be literally nothing to distinguish this light from its competitors, except, the Surefire tax. But for now, this is one of the best EDC lights out there. I prefer the S1, as I like the clicky and the low and the high better, but if you are deciding between these two lights, you are already in a good place.
The thing that kills me the most about the Titan Plus is what it could have been. If it had the T1A's UI and kept the runtime, it would be an instant and all time classic. Maybe Surefire will release something like that in the future and when they do--watch out, I'll elbow you in the ribs to get to the front of the line to buy one.
You might be wondering how a light that gets a score of 18/20 did so well in my GOTY ballot. Simple--there are sometimes when a piece of gear does something so outstandingly well that I give more weight to that positive than I do to the negatives. If the scale wouldn't be broken by doing so I would have given the Titan Plus something like a 4 in terms of output. It just broke the barrier of what we thought was possible in this battery format and that is a big, big deal.
The Competition
Really there are two competitors--the oLight S1 Baton and the Peak Eiger. I like the S1 a bit better and the Eiger a bit less. All three are great, but the S1's form factor is not much, if at all, worse. The upgrade in UI and better all around output levels makes it a favorite in my eyes. The Eiger suffers pretty badly because it is very limited runtime. Its still a great light, but its starting to show its age. In the end, I have to say for all its flaws and limitations I carried the Titan Plus a lot. Its a good light. A very good light. The S1 might be better, but the Titan is a real competitor.
There are two other factors that less flashoholics might want to consider--the format and country of origin. A Made in the USA light that has all of the features of the Titan Plus, runs a common cell, and hits at right under $100 is a VERY tempting package.
The Competition
Really there are two competitors--the oLight S1 Baton and the Peak Eiger. I like the S1 a bit better and the Eiger a bit less. All three are great, but the S1's form factor is not much, if at all, worse. The upgrade in UI and better all around output levels makes it a favorite in my eyes. The Eiger suffers pretty badly because it is very limited runtime. Its still a great light, but its starting to show its age. In the end, I have to say for all its flaws and limitations I carried the Titan Plus a lot. Its a good light. A very good light. The S1 might be better, but the Titan is a real competitor.
There are two other factors that less flashoholics might want to consider--the format and country of origin. A Made in the USA light that has all of the features of the Titan Plus, runs a common cell, and hits at right under $100 is a VERY tempting package.