As Old Man Winter creeps in, the days are getting shorter and the nights longer. That means one thing for campers and hikers: more darkness to deal with. Chances are you already have a trusted light source in your pack, but it’s always a good idea to have a backup plan. Icon and Primus both make pocket-sized flashlights that are a far cry from the Mag lights of years past. Both lights are minimalist, sturdy and great in the field, and that got us thinking: which one deserves a spot in your kit? It’s time for a flashlight shootout!
Primus PrimeTorch 1010: You already know the name; Primus is a company trusted by outdoors-folks for their reliable gear, and their flashlight offering is no exception. The PrimeTorch 1010 is a palm-sized light that weighs in at just 1.6 ounces. Minimal, sure, but it’s also burly. The Primus is constructed of machined metal and offers up 140 lumens of lighting power. On trips to the Uintas the PrimeTorch lit up the tree line over 200 yards from camp and kept us feeling safe and secure. The light has just one power level, but the switch also has a tactical function that allows the light to come on when only partially pressed; a great option to have if you ever need to use the device as a signal. The Primetorch has an integrated clip and also comes with a small sheath to store it in. We also ran it through a drop test: repeated drops onto concrete from varying heights may have dinged up the metal, but the light functioned just fine. Likewise for the water test: we dropped it into a cup of water for a minute to see how it would react: no worse for wear!
Icon Link: Icon is a newcomer to the outdoor lighting world, and they showed off their new lineup at the 2011 Outdoor Retailers Summer Market. The booth was abuzz with cool looking lights, the best of which is the Link. At 4 inches and 3.1 ounces it’s noticeable bigger and heavier than the PrimeTorch, but Icon packed a lot of great stuff into the extra size. Constructed of machined aluminum the light also has an integrated carabiner clip…a standout feature among most lighting choices. The deep dark of Uinta forests were no match for the 50 lumen output on the high setting. Unlike the PrimeTorch the Link also has a low power setting of 6 lumens, ideal for when you don’t want to blind your fellow campers (and yes, there is also a tactical function for signaling). We ran the Link through all the same tests: when dropped onto unforgiving surfaces the Link came out just fine, hardly even a scratch on it! And like its opponent, water proved to be no problem for the Icon; after a long dunk in water the light functioned perfectly.
The Winner: Truth is, these are both great devices, but there can be only one winner in Flashlight Thunderdome. The Link takes the cake in this contest. Both lights were extremely durable and lived up to their waterproof claims, but the extra options built into the Link were too much to resist. Two output levels AND a carabiner? Sign us up! Oh, and let’s not overlook the price difference: you can find the Icon for around $20 while the Primus will run you double that. It won’t be doubling as a weapon any time soon, but with great style and function the Icon Link is our king of the night.