| Astrolux WP4 / Mateminco FW2 | |
|---|---|
| LEP class | ? |
| Distance/intensity | 1303 meters / 425,000 cd |
| Lumens | 310 lumens |
| Modes | 2+ strobe |
| Avg. Price | $129 |
Tactical LEP flashlight with only 2 modes and strobe
If you look at the previous Astrolux WP flashlights, they looked different from the other Astrolux lights, and the reason is likely that they used an OEM service. Not with the WP4. It looks totally different from the WP1, WP2, and even the WP3, and a little more in line with their other offerings.
Oh, and if you didn’t know, the Astrolux WP4 can also be found as the Mateminco FW2 (which I personally own).
In terms of handling, the WP4 feels a bit too smooth maybe, because it lacks any traditional knurling. And the use of a 18650 battery makes the battery tube a bit slimmer and easier to carry than a 21700 light.
Oh, and if you want to make it look even fancier, you can stick 16 glow tubes (or tritium vials if you have enough cash) to make this light even more futuristic.
The only problem with the WP4 / FW2 is the UI. It’s a blessing to only have 2 modes, but it’s a bit too easy to activate strobe accidentally. If you just turn it on and switch to the other mode (it only has 2) you don’t need to be worried. But if you are switching between the modes multiple times, you are likely activating strobe by accident.
Batteries and Charging
If you don’t like the 18650 form factor, you can still get the optional 18350 battery tube. That will make it one of the smallest LEPs in the world! But that comes at a cost. The largest capacity 18350 is only good for about 1200mAh, while the highest capacity 18650 is 3500mAh or almost 3 times the capacity.
To keep the cost down, the WP4 (and Mateminco FW2) don’t have a built-in charge feature. You have to buy a separate battery charger or a battery with built-in charging… That’s becoming very popular as well.
Performance
For this performance section, I will be using my own measurements, which are from the FW2.
Keep in mind, that LEPs are not meant to produce a lot of lumens. Throw, candelas, are more important.
These were tested with a Samsung INR18650 30Q.
| Mode | Amp at start | Specs | @ start | @ 30 sec | @ 10min |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | 0.89 | – | 124 | 122 | 114 |
| High | 2.82 | 350 lm | 345 | 328 lumens | 228 |
This time, the measurements were actually pretty close to spec.
I then also tested High mode with a Keeppower IMR18350, with 1200mAh.
| Mode | Amp at start | Specs | @ start | @ 30 sec | @ 10min |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High | 2.88 | – | 334 | 316 lumens | 215 |
Here’s its performance in a runtime graph. Keep in mind, these numbers are in lumens, and not in beam distance.
Measurements were taken outdoors at 20 meters, with a professional Hagner E4-X Lux Meter. Measurements were taken 30 seconds after turn on. My measurements of the FW2 are close to the measurements of the WP4 from Dave’s review at 1Lumen.
| Mode | Specs | Cd measured | Throw in Meters | Throw in Yards | Throw in Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | – | 192,000 cd | 876 | 958 | 0.54 |
| High | – | 440,000 cd | 1,327 meters | 1,451 yards | 0.82 miles |
All in all, this is a pretty nice flashlight with pretty good performance. I recommend it.
