RODMAN ED08

Most everyday-carry lights are tubes. The RODMAN ED08 is a flat, square slab, and the maker says that small footprint hides dozens of components: 14 LEDs, a circuit board, a controller, a charging port, a strong magnet and an angle-adjustable stand. The body is GR5 titanium, a material the maker notes is also used in aircraft and medical equipment, and the unit carries an IP68 dust and water rating.

Four colors of LED, each with a job

According to the maker, 13 LEDs on the base produce four distinct colors. Warm light (4500K, CRI 90) comes from four 1W LEDs and is intended for reading and close work. Three 1W red LEDs (625nm) are meant to preserve night vision, for example at a campsite or during stargazing. Three 1W blue LEDs (455nm) excite fluorescence in certain materials, which the maker suggests for checking disc surfaces for scratches or verifying certain paints. Three 1W UV LEDs (365nm) are pitched for sterilization and checking fluorescent ink such as anti-counterfeiting marks on credit cards.

Modes and output

With the white light on, short presses cycle through High, Medium, Low, Eco and Strobe. The maker quotes a maximum of 300 lumens with a reach of about 55 meters. Strobe flashes 100 lumens at 9Hz as a location signal, and separate SOS and Warning modes are listed for emergencies. A "frog-eye" convex lens is said to spread the beam evenly and reduce glare. Everything runs from a single button: short press to turn on, repeated short presses to change modes, long press to turn off.

Magnets, stand and charging

• Magnet built into the stand for attaching to metal surfaces such as toolboxes, car bodies or tent poles
• Stand adjustable from 0 to 105 degrees, locked by a screw mechanism
• Lanyard hole for keyrings or hanging inside a tent
• USB Type-C charging from power banks, computers or phone chargers
• 150mAh battery: about 45 minutes at 300 lumens, up to 26 hours on low, per the maker
• Can run while being charged from a smartphone, according to the maker

The maker also says the GR5 titanium shell is designed to withstand being run over by a vehicle, drops from height and high temperatures, and that the titanium develops a patina with use. Those durability claims are the maker's own and have not been independently verified by Modern-G.