SkyWolfEye TLY-320 Mini AA Torch
Price: 85p free shipping
Manufacturer: SkyWolfEye
Model: TLY-320
Power: 1x Cree XP-E Q3? hard to tell
Run By: 1x AA
Focus Type: Fixed
Modes: 1
Vendor: seller onfireshop ebay
Shipped From: Hong Kong
What's in the Packet?: Torch and Lanyard
It's not much bigger than the battery
It seems that little torches sell well on ebay. The smaller the better too. Some micro torches sell for silly money and all because they are small enough to keep up your nostrils.
OK this isn't quite a micro torch but it's certainly small.
Small enough for buyers to take notice and bid high for them.
Fortunately I managed to bag two of these for 85p each including postage which seemed a really good deal at the time.
Waiting for the Kowloon air mail was only around 11 days so I didnt have to wait long for them.
Arriving in the usual white nondescript box each torch had an inner bubble wrap sleeve which help to ensure they got to me in one piece.
The TLY-320 is a single AA powered fixed focus torch consisting of a two piece aluminium body.
The aluminium used here is good quality with a reasonable scratch resistant anodised finish. Around the circumference of the torch is a rather interesting nano style grip which feels silky to touch and offers a subtle level of grip when holding.
Hundreds of tiny rings are very closely marked around the torch. These rings are so small that it's quite hard to see them. I have seen this style of grip before but it was on the barrels of Darts.
Nano grip offers something a little different than the standard knurling or in a lot of cases, nothing at all. I like the feel of it.
The tail cap is the only place to find a screw thread on this torch as the LED Head is incorporated into the main body. The threads themselves are alright, they don't squeak or grind when screwing the cap on or off.
Orange peel mini diffuser sits above the LED
At the business end of the torch we have what looks to be a Cree Q3 diode hiding behind a rather clever little micro diffuser lens.
The reflector used here seems to be shallow and designed to be a flood beam.
Unfortunately it seems impossible to investigate further due to everything being sealed inside the main body. No screw off lens or anything like that. To remove any of the optics would involve you fishing out the LED pill module from inside the battery/torch tube which seems like a pain in the arse so I won't bother
Low-tech but effective performance
The battery contact spring found fixed to the tail cap is familiar. It's the exact same one used in the Camouflage versions of the Ultrafire mini Cree. Its the cheaper push in type that utilises two copper contact strips to make the circuit and hold the button in the tail cap. unfortunately this isn't the best design. These push in types have a tendency to push out again if you press the clicky switch a little too hard. It can be a pain in the arse but not a deal breaker.
Testing
I'm mightily impressed with what this little thing can do.
It manages to throw out a bright but subtle diffused beam. No spill or hot spots just a nice diffusing being offered up.
The little micro diffuser is ideal for torches of this form factor. Other comparable torches tend to have hot spot beams which I'm not a fan of really.
In terms of versatility the TLY-320 is better than you might think. For close work like map reading this torch gives out a beam which doesn't reflect straight back in your eye. Many high output and spot beam torches are crap when it comes to reading or looking at something close to your face. The glare can sometimes dazzle you and it ruins your night vision .
The TLY-320 can throw a beam a modest distance too. Definitely a good 60 yards or so.
So for every day carrying this torch is up there with the likes of the mini Cree and the Sipik.
Rating: ✅✅✅✅✅ 5 out of 5
For a sub-£1 torch this little pocket rocket is surprisingly good. Its small and bright and not likely cause any problems. It's light enough for every day carry situations and won't eat through your AA's.
I'm finding it really hard to pick holes in this torch...
it's a bona fide bargain!