Reddit mentions of WOWTAC A3S LED Flashlight Max 1000 Lumen with Zoomable Adjustable Focus, 5 Modes with Hidden Strobe, Outdoor Water Resistant Torch Powered Tactical Flashlight (A3S CW)

Wowtac A3S. We don't usually recommend zoomies, but there are a few situations where they make sense due to their lack of spill. This is one of those situations.

You've correctly identified it as junk. Good.

If you really want a zoomie, check out the Wowtac A3S, but we tend to recommend fixed-focus lights for most applications. They're more durable, more waterproof, and have more efficient optics. The duty lights section of the arbitrary list of popular lights has some options that may work well for security work.

You are basically in for the entire forum to show up and try to talk you out of the zoom lens. They really don't get much in the way of love around here. Most of the lights you'll see recommended (and the A6 in particular, which is a really incredible light) have a balanced mixture of flood and throw. There is a central hot spot that throws a significant distance, surrounded by a spill of light that neatly floods out, it basically encompasses the whole range of zoom. If you need a dedicated thrower, get one of those, or a dedicated flooder, get one of those. A zoomie basically tries to do both, and sucks at everything. Additionally, there really isn't a good way to waterproof one, so they tend to be far less robust than most of the other lights on the market, as well as being far less efficient in the amount of light that they actually put out. The BLF A6 would be a great option, as would a Wowtac A1s, which comes with a battery so it's ready to go. Spending a bit more a Thrunite Neutron 2C is another great choice.

If you absolutely, positively, no buts about it think that all of these nerds who spend an utterly absurd amount of time on the subject of flashlights couldn't possibly be right, and you, come hell or high water, are going to be ordering a zoomie no matter what we tell you, the Wowtac A3s sucks considerably less than the one you have.

Welcome to our sub! The first problem is wanting a light with variable focus. There won't be one that meets your requirements. A quick search on parametrek.com shows that all of the options with 1000 lumens and adjustable focus are much too large to fit in a pocket. That isn't surprising - zoomable lights tend to be much bulkier and heavier than standard lights. The one exception is the Fenix FD30, which goes for about $80.

I'd suggest instead trying a simple 1x18650 tube light. In my experience, changing brightness modes can get help you see about as far as zooming in would, and you don't get any added weight.

• The Armytek Prime C2 is on sale for $55 right now. This is a popular EDC option that comes with a battery, built in charging, and has a magnetic tail-cap which I think is handy as all hell.
  
  
• Wowtac A1S comes with a light and a battery with built in charging and can be ordered off Amazon for $30.
  
  
• Wowtac A3S for $30 you get a zoom light and a cell that can do about 1000 lumens, like you wanted, but you can see the added bulk this has.
  
  Woops, I linked the neutral tints of the A1S and C2 - cool options are also available for both of those. Sorry.

There are quite a few other flashlight in the Black Friday Deal, including Wowtac and Lumintop. May need to be a prime member to get these saving.

A few examples:
Wowtac A5 – https://www.amazon.com/WOWTAC-Rechargeable-Flashlight-Included-Emergency...
Wowtac A3S – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074V88YD2
Lumintop Tool AA v2 – https://www.amazon.com/LUMINTOP-AA-2-0-Flashlight-Pocket-sized/dp/B07BLT...

You can just do a search on these manufacture names, and in the resulting product list, all that are included in the Black Friday Deal will have that label and how much the savings are.

Happy Thanksgiving.

If you specifically need the ability to focus the light down to a small spot, with little or no spill light around said spot, you're going to have a hard time reaching 1,000 lumens. The optics used in that type of focusing mechanism are only about 20% efficient at full zoom, which makes 1,000 lumens of output almost impossible in that configuration.

The Wowtac A3S and the more expensive but better-built Brinyte B158 are the only lights I know of that come anywhere close to your requirements, but both will only produce anything like 1,000 lumens on the full wide-angle setting. Once you focus it down to a spot you'll be working with more like 250-300 lumens. Physics is a harsh mistress sometimes. If you need the output for maximum long-range performance, you'll be much better served by something with a reflector (which is about 80% efficient instead of 20%).

Most everyone here is going to advise against getting a focusable beam - unless you think its really necessary to have, a flashlight with a decent spill and a good hotspot is likely to serve you better. Again I would like to put forward the WOWTAC A1S for your consideration. It outputs over 1000 lumens in the "Cool White" tint, which is absolutely blinding and will easily light up just about anything you need it to on turbo. It has a simple two-switch UI that is very intuitive to master, and it comes with a USB rechargable 18650 cell so you don't have to worry about grabbing one separately with a charger. The A1S is not a thoroughly compact light, but it is small enough to slip into a pocket comfortably (I EDC mine happily) and I think will satisfy everything you need it to do.

If you are dead set on having a 'zoomie', there is the WOWTAC A3S. Like the A1S it comes with a battery, but it does not have the two-switch interface and is much, much wider. This is a backpack or jacket pocket light, not something you can slip into the pocket of your jeans.

Both of these lights are a good place to start, and at $30 either will blow away most any other budget light. They are also "technically supported by ThruNite", which is a fantastic manufacturer and well respected on this sub. If these are somehow not enough for you, you can look into higher output flashlights like Emisar makes - but these lights are not for beginners. Using one wrong means you can detonate a cell or set yourself on fire. Be patient and think about what you really need out of your lights before jumping into the deep end.

Thanks for the give away!

http://www.amazon.com/Wowtac-A3S/dp/B074V88YD2/?tag=parametrek-20

I want to see if this is a non-trash zoomie.

Thanks for the chance!
https://smile.amazon.com/Wowtac-A3S/dp/B074V88YD2/?tag=parametrek-20&sa-no-redirect=1

https://www.amazon.com/Wowtac-A3S/dp/B074V88YD2/?tag=parametrek-20

Thanks for all the awesome giveaways!

I’d have to say this one! Battery life and size both look great!

In for a Wowtac A3S, thanks!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074V88YD2/

https://www.amazon.com/Wowtac-A3S/dp/B074V88YD2/

used your site to narrow it down to this one sorted by battery type, then longest throw and under the price limit. Your site works great!

Thanks for this! Wowtac

Thanks for this! https://www.amazon.com/Wowtac-A3S/dp/B074V88YD2/?tag=parametrek-20

Thanks so much!

I would like to try this one:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074V88YD2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_rtZ8BbSGZK56A

It seems to tick most of my boxes. Thank you for the opportunity!

Oh shiny! Thanks for the giveaway...here’s my pick.

something similar would be the WOWTAC A3S https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074V88YD2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_1UlUBb519R6C3

An A3S would be perfect to lend out or give to co-worker that likes zoomies.



Wowtech A3S Amazon link