EDC29 by NITECORE

The days are getting shorter, and darkness falls earlier. Having the right equipment is important to be seen, recognize obstacles, and avoid them. A flashlight serves for personal safety and self-defense through blinding effects. It can temporarily blind and disorient attackers or aggressive animals in the dark. Most tactical flashlights now have a serrated bezel at the lamp head. In an absolute emergency, this can be used as a tool to break glass or for self-defense.  An EDC flashlight (Every Day Carry) offers significant advantages in everyday life and exceptional situations that far exceed the flashlight function of a smartphone. There is now a very large range of flashlights in the tactical and EDC sector. NITECORE has revamped its model EDC29 and created a real bestseller.

Hardware

The delivery includes a hand strap made of paracord with a carabiner, a USB-C charging cable, and a multilingual instruction manual. The battery is fixed, and the clip is already mounted. The operation of the lamp is described in detail and understandably in the instructions, although much can also be discovered by trying it out.

Flat flashlights primarily offer the advantage of extremely high everyday usability and convenience for transportation, making them an ideal choice for daily use. Due to their slim and flat design, they fit effortlessly into any pocket, shirt pocket, or backpack without appearing bulky or uncomfortable. Unlike classic round flashlights, flat models stay in place when placed on a flat surface. 

The EDC29 almost reaches its limits in terms of length, and whether it still fits comfortably in the pocket depends on the build of the wearer. The dimensions of the flashlight are 133.5 mm in length, 19.2 mm in height, and 34.6 mm in width.  The weight is 161 g. The flashlight is waterproof and dustproof (according to IP54 standards) and is shock-resistant up to one meter.

Here is a comparison of the EDC29 with the smaller variants, (l. to r.) the EDC23 and the EDC37, as well as the round P27iX.

Upon seeing the EDC29, many elements from earlier EDC versions can be recognized. The lamp presents itself in an octagonal shape and is equipped with two side-by-side emitters. The housing is made of stamped, high-strength stainless steel and has grippy side panels made of polymer designed in a checkered pattern. The green coloring is achieved through a technique called PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition).

The EDC29 has a multilayer structure: The electronics are housed in a plastic frame surrounded by molded metal casings, with the metal casings protecting the electronics from external influences. Heat is dissipated to the back of the flashlight through a heat pipe and is removed there via a heat sink to cool the LEDs. Normally, this is not directly accessible as it is covered by the clip.

A large clip adorns the back of the EDC29. This clip is not reversible.

The lanyard threading occurs at the clip. The delivery also includes a Kevlar thread that serves as a threading aid.

The EDC29 protrudes about 35 mm out of the pocket due to the shape of the clip. Due to its overall length, the flashlight is not particularly suitable for deep carry. 

The operation buttons are also made of plastic and feature a diamond pattern knurling. Their rough surface can be easily felt.

Power Button (On/Off & Brightness): Full press (second stage): Turns the flashlight on or off.  A short tap (first stage when the lamp is on) cycles through the standard brightness levels (ULTRA LOW, LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH). A tap when the lamp is off shows the brightness level beforehand.

Mode Button (Tactical Modes): Half press: Activates the search mode (SEARCH at about 3,000 lumens). Full press: Activates the floodlight mode (LUMIN SHIELD at 6,500 lumens). To achieve these maximum outputs, the button generally needs to be held down.

The multifunctional OLED real-time display shows the brightness level, battery voltage, operating time, lock mode, and remaining power. After turning on the flashlight, this information is displayed along with the battery status for a few seconds. 

The battery level is displayed in this representation. 

Afterward, the remaining runtime is displayed for a few seconds. This is shown in HH:MM format. After that, the screen goes blank. A light tap can reactivate the main switch power.

Finally, there is the button lock referred to as RAPID LOCK: A side-mounted sliding switch locks all buttons in the upper position. 

This state is referred to as "Full Lockout (Lockout 2)". Both buttons are completely disabled.

If the mode button is held while activating the button lock, only the power button is locked, which is referred to as "Semi Lockout (Lockout 1)". The power button is locked, but the tactical mode button remains active for immediate access to the SEARCH and the LUMIN SHIELD modes.

Power Supply

On the back of the EDC29, information about the power supply can be found. It is equipped with a fixed 2,500 mAh lithium-ion battery.

The flashlight is charged via a USB-C connection. 

A protective cap protects it from dirt and water. Its outer side is made of sturdy plastic, while the inner side is made of silicone. This makes it excellently sealed while still being easy to open and close.

The OLED display shows the charging progress. Instead of a percentage display for the battery voltage, the voltage is represented as a numerical value. The display is active both during the charging process and afterward, as long as the USB cable is still connected, showing the charge level. The flashlight can be used normally during charging; however, the SEARCH, LUMIN SHIELD, and STROBO modes are not available.

Light and Runtime

The EDC29 is equipped with two UHi 20 MAX LEDs that have a maximum output of 6,500 lumens. The NITECORE LEDs are centered in a metallic orange peel reflector and are only found with this manufacturer. They consist of eight individual light surfaces that can be controlled partially independently.

In the center is a chip with a small, round light surface that is well focusable and excellent for long-range use. It is surrounded by eight additional chips, which increases the LED's light surface. A slightly textured reflector ("Orange Peel") smooths the light beam. The glass in front of the emitters is coated with a magenta anti-reflective coating.

In the ULTRA LOW, LOW, and SEARCH modes, only the middle chip is used; in MID, HIGH, and LUMIN SHIELD, the outer chips are additionally activated. This explains the name LUMIN SHIELD: a wall of bright light meant to blind and distract an attacker.

Mode	Brightness (Lumens)	Runtime	Range (Meters)
LUMIN SHIELD	6500 lm	7 seconds	370
SEARCH	3000 lm	7 seconds	400
HIGH	1200 lm	2 hours	190
MID	400 lm	3 hours	100
LOW	100 lm	13 hours	68
ULTRA LOW	15 lm	61 hours	30

An efficient and continuously operating power driver ensures consistent brightness at low to medium illumination levels throughout nearly the entire operational duration. Compared to SEARCH, LUMIN SHIELD has a shorter range, as the current is distributed to all LEDs in this mode. 

In LOW mode with 100 lumens, maximum range 68 meters

In MID mode with 400 lumens, the white light offers significantly more, maximum range 100 meters.

In HIGH mode with 1200 lumens, maximum range 190 meters.

In SEARCH mode with 3000 lumens, maximum range 400 meters.

Here in LUMIN SHIELD mode, the EDC29 delivers 6,500 lumens according to NITECORE – but only for a few seconds. You’re really facing a wall of white light here. 

In SEARCH and HIGH modes, the flashlight heats up relatively quickly, which is why the brightness must be reduced to avoid overheating. In the other modes, the brightness remains constant.

Lumen vs. Candela – What actually determines the range of light?

The NITECORE EDC23 has a maximum peak luminous intensity of 40,230 candela (cd) and a maximum throwing distance of 400 meters. A flashlight can have a very high lumen output, but that doesn’t automatically mean it shines far. Lumens measure the total amount of light produced. Candela, on the other hand, measure the intensity of that light in a specific direction and play a crucial role in how far a flashlight can project its beam.

A floodlight can generate thousands of lumens while spreading the light over a wide area. A beam flashlight, however, concentrates the light into a narrower beam to achieve higher intensity and greater range. Brightness is about how much light is available. Range is about how that light is used. 

CONCLUSION

The small NITECORE EDC23 has been my EDC flashlight through everyday life for a long time. When more light is needed, the NITECORE EDC29 is the perfect alternative. The two UHi-20-MAX-LEDs not only provide 6,500 lumens, making them quite bright, but also create a wide illumination in LUMIN SHIELD mode. I also like the button lock mechanism known as "Rapid Lock" with the sliding switch. 

For me, the semi-lock function, which allows me to immediately access LUMIN SHIELD/STROBE and SEARCH, is very decisive in choosing the EDC23 and EDC29. Given the compact design, it's not surprising that the flashlight heats up quickly and cannot maintain the high brightness for long. However, the constant current driver ensures a pleasantly constant brightness at lower settings.

The NITECORE EDC29 is resistant to light raindrops, but it can be damaged by larger amounts of water. Its protection rating is IP54, which means "protection against splashing water from all directions." A tactical flashlight should be suitable for use under adverse conditions. Nevertheless, I have gained a very positive impression of this flashlight. 

The flashlight EDC29 from NITECORE can be purchased directly from NITCORE.DE or from retailers that carry products of this brand for 125 euros.

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