NITECORE EDC37 Flash Light

NITECORE is well known in the tactical light community, since 2007 the company has been producing robust and high‑quality lights. The broad portfolio is divided into several series: MH (Multi‑Task Hybrid), P (Precise), TM (Tiny Monster) and T (products like Tube, Tip, Tini and Tiki). We present the latest everyday flashlight from NITECORE: the EDC37. This compact flashlight offers numerous features and NITECORE promises “the most powerful and compact tactical EDC flashlight in the industry.” Can it live up to that promise?

Package Contents

The package includes the NITECORE EDC37 itself, a USB‑C charging cable, a paracord wrist strap with carabiner, a clip, a tool, eight screws and a multilingual manual. The battery is permanently installed and the clip is already attached. The manual explains how the flashlight works in detail and clearly, although much can be intuitively understood by simply exploring the light's buttons and features.

For its performance class, the EDC37 is unexpectedly compact at 108.0mm x 39.3mm x 31.0mm (4.25" x 1.55" x 1.22"). In length it is almost identical to the NITECORE EDC23 SABER, though slightly thicker. It weighs 199g (7.02 oz) and is thus light enough to comfortably carry in the pocket.

Features

Upon looking at the EDC37, numerous elements from previous EDC variants are recognizable. The flashlight has an octagonal shape and two emitters side by side. The housing is made from stamped, high‑strength stainless steel and features scales‑patterned polymer side panels for grip. The black finish is achieved through a PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) technique.

One of the coolest functions of the EDC37 is its OLED display. It is rotated 90° and is now readable from the side. It provides useful information about the current mode, brightness, battery level, and remaining runtime.

After switching the flashlight on, these details are displayed for a few seconds along with the battery level (e.g. “99 %”). Subsequently the remaining runtime is shown in HH:MM format. Afterwards the screen goes blank. A light tap reactivates the display.

In SEARCH and LUMIN‑SHIELD modes, the display shows a countdown bar indicating remaining output time—how long turbo modes can remain active before stepping down. Once the button is released, the display bar gradually refills—as if the turbo cooling internally resets. After heavy use of the 8,000 lumen mode, full recovery took at most 90 seconds.

Despite efficient LEDs, high heat is generated at 8,000 lumen. A sophisticated thermal management system dissipates heat: the heatsink is placed slightly behind a shielding plate to prevent burns. Airflow is enabled via ventilation holes.

At the end of the clip is an eyelet for attaching the wrist strap.

To thread the paracord lanyard through the eyelet, an extra threading cord is included. Neatly designed.

The flashlight protrudes approximately 30 mm, about one third of its overall length, from the pocket. A deep‑carry clip would have been appropriate here.

At the tail end are the two buttons, which we will describe in detail in the next section.

The four screws of the bezel integrate silicon‑nitride balls serving as glass‑breakers.

These can be removed if not needed. Flat‑head screws and the tool for replacement are included. When swapping, the bezel and glass come off sequentially. It’s recommended to replace screws one by one.

Profile difference: Flat screws on the left, glass‑breakers installed on the right.

The “UHi 20 MAX” LEDs are a **NITECORE in‑house development**. They are centered in a metallic orange‑peel reflector and are found only with this manufacturer. They consist of nine individual light zones, some of which can be driven independently.

Power Supply

Data printed on the rear of the EDC37 regarding power.

The NITECORE EDC37 features 8,000 mAh / 28.8 Wh. That is an enormous capacity for a flashlight of this size, achieved via two 4,000‑mAh 18650 cells inside.

The flashlight is charged via USB‑C and opens/closes easily. The external part is made of rigid plastic and the interior from silicone. The cap is small, stable, robust and unobtrusive in typical use cases.

The EDC37 supports charging up to 20 W / 9 V via a USB power adapter. Thus the 8,000 mAh battery can be fully charged in 2 hours. The current charge status is displayed on the screen. The lamp can be used during charging—except in SEARCH, LUMIN‑SHIELD and STROBE modes. A NITECORE Summit 20000 powerbank was used in testing.

Light Output and Runtime

An efficient and consistently functioning power driver ensures stable brightness from low to mid-level modes across nearly the full runtime. Compared to SEARCH, LUMIN SHIELD delivers lower range due to distributing current across all LEDs in that mode.

At higher levels, generated heat becomes significant. According to manufacturer information, NITECORE states that LUMIN SHIELD achieves up to 8000 lumen, although only briefly. While SEARCH and HIGH modes cause rapid heating, reducing brightness is unavoidable to prevent overheating.

In action: SEARCH mode at 3000 lumen and LUMIN SHIELD at 8000 lumen.

The STROBE READY mode with varying frequencies (16 Hz to 20 Hz) in use. Very effective.

From LOW to HIGH, i.e. 15 lumen to 1500 lumen. Impressive output.

Operation and Programming

The EDC37 is ergonomically designed and sits well in hand. It can be fully operated with the thumb, even when wearing gloves, without needing to reposition the grip. Concerns that the lockout switch might be hard to reach proved unfounded.

At the tail are two buttons: a round tail switch (Tail Button) and a rectangular, two‑stage customizable flat switch (Customizable Button) with tactile feedback on half and full press. With the round Tail Button, brightness levels from 15 to 1500 lumen can be cycled through via light taps without actually switching on the EDC37—only possible when RAPID LOCK is off.

Operation of the flat customizable switch resembles that of a traditional click switch. Half‑press and full‑press can each be set to activate SEARCH, LUMIN SHIELD or STROBE READY. To change the mode, hold the customizable button (half or full press as desired) and fully press the Tail Button. The display cycles through the options. Once the desired mode is shown, release the customizable switch.

The RAPID LOCK shown above locks all buttons in the upper position, preventing accidental activation. Unlike some previous NITECORE models (e.g. the EDC 23 SABER), this model lacks a SEMI LOCKOUT.

CONCLUSION

All in all, the NITECORE EDC37 created a strong impression and satisfied nearly all expectations. This powerful and compact tactical EDC flashlight stands out for its excellent build quality and practical features.

The 8,000 mAh dual battery setup delivers long runtime and high brightness. Unfortunately, the cells are fixed and non‑removable. High output cannot be sustained for long. Its heatsink guard protects against direct contact. One of the two switches is programmable, and the RAPID LOCK enables quick button lock‑out. The EDC37 is splash‑water resistant (IP54) and could be vulnerable under heavier water exposure—something to consider for tactical use.

Still, we gained a very positive impression of this flashlight. The NITECORE EDC37 packs extreme light output of 8,000 lumen in a compact stainless steel body with up to 190 hours runtime.

The flashlight NITECORE EDC37 can be purchased online directly from NITECORESTORE.COM or authorized dealers starting at $139.95 MSRP.

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