4-25-2009

Wolf Eyes MC-Explorer

Build Quality
Pros:

The Wolf Eyes MC-Explorer is well made, with no flaws in the fit and finish, machining, or alignment. It feels solid and has a good grip.
The anodizing has no missing or discolored spots. It has a slight texture, which is actually pleasant and slightly improves grip.
Comes with a high quality lanyard

Cons:

The segment connecting the bezel to the body, and comprising the bulk of the head, is slightly too short. This means that at most one of its two joints can be tightened completely. The difference is small enough that I do not believe it affects the waterproofing, but it is visible.
There are two dark brown spots on the dome of the LED. They seem to be attached, as a tissue did not remove them. It is unclear whether the blemish was caused by Wolf Eyes or CREE, but nonetheless quality control should have caught this. They do not appear to have an effect on the beam.

User Interface
Pros:

Notes:

The switch has a long travel between activation and clicking on. For most users this presents difficulty in normal operation. However, for tactical users this helps when the light should not be locked on.

Cons:

Output
Pros:

Compared to the average flashlight using an XR-E emitter, the hotspot is much wider while maintaining the same intensity.
The MC-E emitter also results in noticeably brighter and slightly wider spill.
The clover-like beam deformation often seen in MC-E flashlights is only visible within 6" of the bezel - it is not an issue.
For all practical purposes the beam is perfect. When pointed at a white wall very minor deformations can be seen, including a slightly dimmer speck near the center of the hotspot. However, this may be a result of the aforementioned specs on the emitter's dome.

Cons:

While the MC-Explorer is bright, the MC-E LED, along with the manufacturer's 580 lumen claim, may lead you to expect more than you get. When compared to a similar XR-E flashlight, one will notice a much larger spot, and not much else.

Summary
Pros:

Cons: