Nightcore P30i Review – an impressive wide-throw flashlight

Recently, Nightcore reached out and asked me to do a Nightcore P30i Review. The P30i is a wide-throw, long-range and rechargeable flashlight. The opportunity to do a review on a Nightcore product was exciting, because I’ve heard great things about the Nightcore NU25, a lightweight headlamp of just over an ounce that gained popularity in the lightweight hiking world. The P30i is a completely different beast and to let the cat out of the bag early, a flashlight that I’ve fallen in love with.

Reviewing the specs of the Nightcore P30i makes it seem like an impressive flashlight. At the strongest setting, it outputs 2,000 lumens and throws up to 1000 meters (0.6 mile). Combined with the wide throw head, it really lights up an area when at full power. Our front yard is a little over an acre large and when I turn the flashlight on, it lights up the entire yard to the tree line. Keep in mind that I live in one of the darkest parts of the country, in a remote and rural area, and we don’t use outdoor lighting. When the flashlight is on, it is the only item providing illumination and it does it well. When out in the field, it easily lights up distant lighthouses and harbor entrances. I’ve also used it for night photography to help see the composition I’m setting up and as a lighting effect. It’s excellent in all regards.

The P30i features a rechargeable battery and a built-in recharger that runs through USB-C (which all modern rechargeables should use). It comes with a remote switch that allows you to vary the light output and enter a strobe mode. This seems more geared towards the tactical crowd than paddlers. I didn’t find a use for the remote. The battery rates at 5,000mAh, which gives runtimes of about 30 minutes on the 2000 lumens setting, 1.5 hours on the 1,000 lumens setting, 4 hours at the 385 lumens setting, 18 hours at 85 lumens and finally 100 hours at the 6 lumens settings. For the most part, I found myself using the 385 lumens setting unless I needed to temporally light up a large area. At those points, I switched to the 1000 or 2000 lumens setting.

The light also offers beacon and SOS modes. The latter satisfies the Coast Guard nighttime signaling requirements, and because the Coast Guard requires you to carry a flashlight for signaling other craft with on the water, this light satisfies both requirements. With a IP68 waterproof rating, it’s submersible and waterproof to two meters.

The P30i uses a two button system. A tactical tail switch on the end next to the USB-C port turns that light on and off and a half-push turns on the light for as long as you maintain the light touch. This is useful when you don’t need a long constant light and just want a short burst, such as when signaling other watercraft. A mode button on the head changes the brightness and mode. To switch into the beacon mode, leave the flashlight off and rapidly press the mode button three times and wait. To activate the SOS signal, you switch on the beacon mode, confirm it is working and then hold the mode button down for one second. Then the flashlight will start flashing SOS.

The mode button also has a light that indicates the power level. When below 50% of the battery left, it starts flashing slowing. When under 10%, it flashes quickly. This is a useful feature that alleviates any guesswork about the remaining power and need for a recharge.

The flashlight does not feature a tether loop to attach it to your life vest, but it has several raised ridges that you can tie a length of cordage to. After tied, you can tether it to your vest. The large head requires a big pocket if you plan to store the flashlight in your vest, but I found it slides just fine between my body and vest. If you have a vest with a beverage pocket, such as many Stohlquist vests, it fits just fine. When kayaking, stashing it in an Under Deck Bag works great until needed.

I’m really happy that I was provided this flashlight in order to do a Nightcore P30i review. The flashlight has become my go-to flashlight for everything that a headlamp won’t cover. It replaced my old favorite. After my good experience with the flashlight, I hope to be able to try the NU25 in the future. Overall, if you need an extremely bright flashlight with a wide throw that satisfies Coast Guard nighttime requirements, then I’d highly recommend the P30i. I’m impressed. I can’t wait to try more of Nightcore’s products.

Get it here: https://amzn.to/34UPbaf [Amazon]