Customer Reviews

Gerber 22-80012 Infinity Ultra Task LED Flashlight, Black

5 star:		(48)
4 star:		(25)
3 star:		(14)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

I own the original Infinity Ultra, but it hasn't changed too much since Gerber bought out CMG. The Infinity Ultra has the double bright LED (for the same power consumption), aircraft grade aluminum, waterproofed to 10', and runs for 100 hours on a single AA battery. Gerber has changed it to have a screw on butt style, which I actually don't like as much. The original solid tube style seems much sleeker, but you can still find them without this change by Gerber if this bothers you like it does me.

I run mine on a Lithium battery, which provides an exceptional run-time, storage life and better cold weather capability. I don't use it constantly, so I'm actually still on my first Li Battery which is now over 2 years old - but it has been on for hours at a time while working repairs for my machines or around the house. They aren't kidding about the 100 hours and that's with a standard AA!

The light is very bright, the machined case is well built, yet simple in design. My model has a lanyard hole in the back end and it came with a neck size lanyard - the newer Gerber model comes with a clip that friction mounts to the outside. I prefer the former, but would appreciate the hands-free capabilities of the latter as an option. It's useful as a signal light up to a mile, and has about a 30' throw. It weighs about 2oz. and is about 3.5" long. It has a "circuit boost" technology to make the LED run for a longer time on batteries with a steady output.

I carry this light all the time, but one thing it could use is a nylon belt pouch. It's not too bad in the pocket, but I like to keep it thin if possible. At any rate, I've NEVER had any problems with this light and as a flashlight geek, it stands ahead of most every other light I own. I fully recommend it and hope Gerber continues with the high quality (it appears they are doing just that!)

Don't get me wrong. I went through two other Gerber flashlights, which both failed very quickly. But that was an earlier version. When they sent the Infinity Ultra to satisfy my warranty claim, I was stunned. It's absolutely terrific. Other reviewers miss one very important fact. This flashlight uses only a single AA battery. Not crappy AAAs, not an expensive lithium. One cheap, small, common AA battery. It takes some smart electronics to pull this off, since AAs only generate 1.5 volts. Normally not enough, to power any LED, but Gerber makes it work. On top of that, the electronics are smart enough to squeeze light out of dead batteries. When my digital cameras have sucked all the life out of a set of AAs, I put them aside for my Gerber Infinity Ultra. What my camera calls a dead battery will power my Gerber flashlight for weeks with daily use. For me, that's an unlimited supply of free batteries. Another reviewer missed one point. If you want it on constantly, you just twist all the way. If you want it on for a second, just push in on the back end. The way it's built, it works like a momentary switch. On for just a second or two, and then off when you let go. This is a practically unbreakable flashlight. You could leave it out in the street for days and it would work weeks later. The dull green coating is durable. I've assumed it was some kind of hardened anodizing. It's excellent. Compare this to another flashlight with special expensive batteries, and maybe you can do better. But out of all the flashlights that take just one AA battery, this is easily the cream of the crop.

Not too powerful but powerful enough to be a good task light. I have smaller and brighter task lights but the construction of this unit (very solid) makes me favor this one over others that I have. This is not intended to be a general purpose flashlight, it works best for working in small confined areas.

This is a solid chunk of metal. I wanted a small unit that runs on a AA battery instead of a set of button batteries. It has a pocket clip which is actually usable. The clips on some lights are too loose, no grip. The clip on the Streamlite Keymate is so tight that you have to force it open. The light turns on by screwing down the end cap (not the head like other small flashlights). This is yet another light that has the direction wrong. It's on when screwed down tight. It's off when loosened. If you don't loosen it enough, it will turn on accidentally if pressed. Fortunately, the thread has a long travel, so you can safely loosen it a lot. It takes 10 and a half turns for the cap to screw off, so you don't need to worry about it accidentally falling off. You can signal by first screwing the cap all the way down and then loosening it until the light just goes out. The contacts are spring-loaded, so you can signal by repeatedly pushing and releasing the end cap (simulates a tail cap switch). The beam is diffuse and even, with a cold bluish hue.


The big neg? My small Streamlight Nano and Keymate, which both run on button batteries, are brighter. Unlike other reviews here, I find the light too dim.

Note added: I've now purchased other small LED flashlights. One of the reasons this unit is not as bright is because there is no reflector bowl or lens. The LED is exposed and recessed into a bowl which is painted all black. If you get dirt on the LED, it's hard to wipe off (and you may scratch it up). Because there is no reflector, lens, or on/off switch, it is more compact than other 1-AA flashlights.

It's bright and has a tightly focused beam (great for making shadow pictures
if you have children). It takes one AA battery (which you can easily find, not
some obscure $25 hearing aid battery). If you take off the clip it fits in your
pocket with your keys. Only downside is that the black coating does seem to
rub off. I don't know where it went -- I suppose the washing machine -- but
after a few years of carrying it around you'll end up with a dull metallic-finish
flashlight instead of a black one. Doesn't affect the function (I actually think
it looks better). Great light.

I purchased this product to keep in my car for emergencies (so I can take a look under the hood or into the tires and see what's going on). After looking at all the small LED flashlights that would take AA batteries (which are more easily available in unexpected situations), I settled on this Gerber light because it was waterproof and had good battery life.

***Why I Might Not Have Bought It:***
This light has no lens or reflector, so at a distance of more than 2 feet the light get's pretty seriously defused and washed out. Since its a "tasklight" that is sort of OK, but I found the one LED to be MUCH more "short range" than I expected. If you go within 6-12 inches of where you are trying to illuminate, it quite bright. The light is actually OK at longer distances if you are in complete darkness, but since car repair often takes place with ambient light, it makes the intensity of this light even less useful in relation to how your eye is adjusted.

***Why I Didn't Return It:***
I contemplated returning the light and trading in for the Inova of similar size and specs, which supposedly has a much brighter, focused beam. Ultimately I didn't because of the very sturdy build and the reviews that state one AA battery has lasted for years. I want the flashlight I'll use in emergencies to reliably have battery life when I need it.

What I would Change:
A twist lens to focus or spread the light would make this go from an OK, usable product to a 5-star product I would heartily recommend.

This light is one of the best that I have, it is brighter than some of the large flashlights that I have. I keep this in my pocket all the time, it has generated several comments from people that could not believe that all that light was coming from this little thing.
The only drawbacks are that there is no real switch, twist the end to turn it on. and Secondly they should have put a lense in front of the light, with this thing in my pocket it tends to gather quite a bit of dust near the led bulb

This product is a very nice task light. The beam throws about 20-30 feet and seems very bright. The color is very white. It has a great bright spot in the middle with a decent flood area.
Build quality seems excellent.
The size is perfect for every day carry without being known as the utility belt guy.
It will not replace your 4 D-Cell Maglite if you want to light up something a block away but for close tasks or finding your way in a dark area it is great.
Would buy again in a second.

07.12.08 - well, I lost it so I'm buying it again. In a second. :(

For a single LED flashlight this item is BRIGHT.
It is very well made and for its size is a substantial item.
The knurled tail cap is the twist on/off switch.
This item lacks a momentary switch but if the tail switch is set to a position where the light is just off then the tail cap can be pressed to act as a momentary switch.
It has a hole in the tail cap to attach a lanyard and the pocket clip will attach to the bill of a baseball cap for hands free operation.
At the center it will project a bright white (slightly bluish) beam of light for over 30 feet.
It also projects a softer circle of light (navigation beam) to illuminate the adjacent area.
The LED itself is not covered by a lens but recessed and somewhat protected.
The area around the LED is not polished but this does not appear to impede the performance.
Excellent quality, great performance, no need for a special battery (It operates on a single AA battery)

This is a great little flashlight. I bought it for travel but have ended it up using it around the house quite a bit. The light is brighter than my old, full-size Mag-Lite.