Review: Wuben X1 Falcon 12000 lumens tactical flashlight
The Wuben Falcon X1 flashlight is my new flashlight for exploring lost places. While exploring abandoned places since the end of the pandemic, I realized that I needed a flashlight that offers more than just 1000 lumens like the one I already owned. So I bought this flashlight that has a whooping 12000 lumens.
In this Wuben X1 review, you'll read about my requirements for a new flashlight for urban exploration, if and how well the Wuben X1 Falcon fulfills these requirements, and how it performed during my recent investigation of lost places.
Table of Contents
- Why I bought the Wuben X1 tactical flashlight
- Features of the Wuben Falcon X1 tactical flashlight
- Differences between the Wuben X1 and the Wuben X2
- Summary: Would I buy it again?
Why I bought the Wuben X1 tactical flashlight
My primary use for a flashlight using it for exploring abandoned places and that's where the following list of requirements comes from. This list is, of course, very personal. But I share it with you to provide a context for this review and to help you decide if the Wuben X1 is right for you.
- A brightness of around 10000 lumens
- Multiple brightness levels
- Portability, because I travel with carry-on luggage
- Compliant with airline carry-on luggage requirements
- USB-C Charging
- Rugged
Because of these requirements I'm looking for a tactical flashlight. But what is a tactical flashlight? It's a flashlight for one or more specific tasks (like exploring abandoned places) as opposed to an everyday carry flashlight that you carry with you all the time.
Photos where I used the Wuben X1 to illuminate the subject
Before I start the Wuben X1 review, here are some photos taken in lost places while using the 12000 lumen tactical flashlight.
An abandoned harbor in Lisbon illuminated with the Wuben X1.
The Wuben X1 illuminating an abandoned air raid shelter in Vienna.
Abandoned hairdressers room illuminated using the Wuben X1
As demonstrated by the photos above, the 12000 lumens of the Wuben X1 illuminate even the darkest corners in lost places.
Features of the Wuben Falcon X1 flashlight
Peak brightness of 12000 lumens
The Wubenlight X1 offers a peak brightness of 12000 lumens, which is more than I looked for. But hey, I'll happily take the additional brightness, which is useful when exploring the vast halls you'll find in abandoned airports or factories. Wuben claims that the X1 has a maximum beam distance of 900 feet. I didn't measure it, but it sounds reasonable due to the 12000 lumens brightness and what I experienced.
Multiple brightness levels
The 12000 lumens of the Wuben X1 is the peak performance level. In total, the Wuben X1 supports 5 brightness levels:
- 12000 lumens peak performance, named turbo
- 2000 - 3000 lumens in high mode
- 1000 - 2000 lumens in medium mode
- 400 - 1000 lumens in low mode
- 20 - 400 lumens, called economy or candle mode
In case you wonder why I provide ranges for the brightness, the answer is: You can adjust the brightness levels for each of the modes. For example, if you'd want the high mode to emit 3000 lumens, you switch to high mode and then long press the main (and only) button to slowly cycle through the range of brightness levels for this mode. Once you reach the desired brightness, release the button, and the new brightness level is saved. I've set my Wuben X1 to 3000 lumens for high mode, 2000 for medium mode, and 1000 for low mode.
What's worth noting is that the X1 has an active cooling system built in that'll keep the flashlight cool during more extended explorations. During my first tests, I couldn't hear if the cooling system turned on, but I can confirm that it stays conveniently cool even if I run it in turbo or high mode.
To switch through the brightness levels, turn the X1 on and click the button briefly again. This will cycle between the different modes. To enable turbo mode, double-click the button.
Wuben X1 Falcon button
Additionally, it offers a strobe mode and a SOS mode. In strobe mode, the Wuben X1 emits a rapidly flashing light, while in SOS mode, it will emit the well-known three short, three long, and three short flashing sequences. I've never used these two modes with any other flashlight, and I hope I'll never need to use them with the Wuben X1, so I can't write much about them.
If you flashlight offers either or both modes, make sure to know how to enable them.
Portability of the Wubenlight X1 flashlight
This was one of the most essential requirements when researching for a new flashlight. Many bright flashlights are rather long and have a conical head to emit the light. I do not consider this form factor to be portable. I wanted something more compact.
The Wuben X1 has a cube- or brick-like shape, making it more portable. Its dimensions are 5,06 inches x 2,2 inches x 1,1 zoll (length x width x height). Compare that to other flashlights that can emit 3000 lumens constantly and offer 12000 lumens peak performance. Let me know if you find one that's smaller while providing the same features.
To give you a size comparison: The length is roughly the same as an iPhone 15 Pro, while the width is about 80% the width of an iPhone 15 Pro. The height is nearly the same as two regular-sized power banks placed on top of each other.
Talking about weight: The Wubenlight X1 Flacon weighs 0.85 pounds. That's roughly the same weight as a 12-ounce can of your favorite soda or soft drink.
I don't know about you, but that sounds portable to me.
Airline compliance for carry-on luggage
Airlines in Europe and the US may have different requirements for carrying flashlights with non-removable batteries in carry-on luggage. In this review of the Wuben X1, I'm talking about the conditions of European airlines, which are:
- Flashlight must be protected against accidentally turning it on
- Battery capacity must not exceed 100 Wh
Long story short: The Wuben X1 flashlight can be carried in carry-on luggage.
To lock the Wuben X1, turn the flashlight off and press the button rapidly four times. The flashlight will flash three times to indicate it is now locked. To unlock it, press the button once, wait for a second, and then press it four times again.
To determine if the X1 batteries do not exceed the allowed 100 Wh, we'll need the mAh and the volts. The flashlight uses two 21700-type batteries with a capacity of 4800 mAh. Such batteries typically have either 3.6 or 3.8 volts. To be safe, we'll calculate using the 3.8 volts.
To calculate the Wh from the maH, we'll multiply the 4800 mAh with 3.8 volts and divide the results by 1000. This results in 4800 x 3.8 = 18240 / 1000 = 18.24 Wh for one battery. The Wuben X1. has two of them, so we'll multiply the result by 2 and get 36.48 Wh, which is way lower than the maximum allowed 100 Wh for many European airlines. So I can carry the Wuben X1 in my carry-on luggage.
USB-C charging
I've already switched entirely to USB-C charging, and I'm pretty happy that the iPhone 15 also supports USB-C. So I can charge all my devices using USB-C while on the road - and the Wuben X1 is no exception. It supports fast charging using a 27W charger (not included) via USB-C. The USB-C port is hidden behind a rubber latch.
The USB-C port of the Wuben X1 is hidden behind a rubber latch
I didn't measure the exact charging time, but it's fast! Wubenlight claims you can charge it in two hours using a 27W charger.
Ruggedness of the Wuben X1
Of course, I'll never test the ruggedness of any device on purpose, but the Wuben X1 looks and feels sturdy. It's made from durable aluminum alloy and built to withstand harsh conditions. It has an IP55 rating, which means it's dust- and water-resistant as well as shockproof.
What's in the box when you buy the Wuben X1 flashlight?
The Wuben X1 arrived in a conveniently small, high-quality package that I could open easily without any tools. It contains:
- The X1 flashlight
- A wriststrap
- A holster that you can mount to your belt
- a short USB-C charging cable
Just a little note: The included USB-C cable was too short for my taste. But I usually carry three different USB-C cables with me on a trip (a 12-inch cable, a 39-inch cable and a 78-inch cable), so that's not a problem for me.
Differences between the Wuben X1 and the Wuben X2
If you look at Wuben's website, you'll also find a flashlight named Wuben X2. It looks quite similar to the X1, but there are some notable differences:
The main difference is the brightness. While the Wuben X1 as a peak brightness of 12000 lumens, the X2 only emits 2500 lumens.
The second major difference are the dimensions. If you compare the photos of the two on Wubenlight's website, they look like they are of similar dimensions. But they aren't. With a length of around 3 inches, the Wuben X2 is 40% shorter. The same applies to width and height. So in my opinion, the Wuben X2 is more an edc flashlight.
Summary: Would I buy the Wuben X1 flashlight again?
Yes, I'd definitely repurchase the Wuben Lightok X1. The compact form makes it easy to carry in my luggage and on-site. With the included holster, I have conveniently located ut within reach on my belt. The immense brightness of 12000 lumens makes exploring a lost place much more enjoyable and safer because I can see much further and better in dark areas. To give you an impression of the brightness, I took two photos of an abandoned place in Portugal with the brightness set to 12000 lumens.
Wuben X1 illuminating a dark corridor in a lost place
Wuben X1 brightness illuminating an overgrown corridor
In these two photos you can see, that the Wuben X1 Falcon not only is really bright, but the beam illuminates everything in the two corridors: From the wall in the distance (first photo) to the floor, the walls on each side and the ceiling. I like that!
So, what's the price of the Wuben X1 12000 lumens flashlight? It's available for USD 179.99 from from Amazon or directly from Wubenlight (Note: when I bought it from Wubenlight directly, it was shipped to me via Amazon, but that my be different depending on your location).
