I thought I had a favorite everyday carry flashlight until I started using the Powertac M5 Gen 2 high lumen bright flashlight. I first got my hands on the M5 back in February 2023, and while this review is on the Gen 2, which is no longer available, I can only hope the improvements made on the Gen 3 don’t take away from my assertions on this unit.
Rechargeable 18650 series high lumen light
The M5 is one of Powertac’s 18650 series flashlights. An 18650 battery is a now popular rechargeable lithium ion battery for use in such lights. The compact design of lamps that use a singular 18650 battery makes carrying and handling such lights easy. Generally – as is the case with the M5 – two CR123A batteries can be used if a user does not have an 18650 battery charged on hand.
A great everyday carry
I had the chance to put the M5 through the paces and it quickly became my favorite all around EDC light. The 2000+ max lumen output makes this bright flashlight next level. Previous to this light, my preferred lamp was in theory a 18650 series light. However, it was advertised to use CR123A’s, which would run out after a fair amount of use. That, and the 1000 lumen output was sufficient, but the M5 has double that and only leans on CR123A’s as a backup. Even the current day version of my former favorite, which is rechargeable, does not have close to the output of the M5.
Whatever special sauce that Powertac has, they have made a special product. The M5 Gen 2 and Gen 3 both have an external magnetic charging port. This is pivotal to keeping the light watertight and making it easy to charge without the need to remove the battery. The improvements on the Gen 3 have been advertised to be an improved charging port. The only unfortunate thing about this is that light requires a proprietary charger to charge the battery – unless you want to remove the battery and use an external charger.
Solid construction
As an EDC, the M5 has great features. The body of this bright flashlight is well constructed aircraft aluminum, with semi aggressive stippling. The texture of the stippling makes getting and maintaining a grip on the light easy. The gentle semi-castellated bezel makes for a decent striking surface if used for self-defense. The included pocket clip is ultra aggressive spring steel and the light will not slide easily if clipped inside a pocket.
Brightness levels
To power on the light, there’s a tail switch. After turning the light on, users can cycle through the different modes via the softkey button on the head of the lamp. There are six different modes and they are as follows:
Firefly at .51 lumen
Low at 65 lumen
Medium at 260 lumen
High at 850 lumen
Turbo at 2,030 lumen
Strobe at 2,030 lumen
Battery life obviously depends on use amount but ranges from 25 days to just over 2 ½ hours on turbo mode.
A highly rated option
Hearing “the perfect” anything on any product is always greeted with skepticism – and that’s healthy. I’ve used and test drove several different flashlights in both my career and leisure life. The M5 is an affordable option that handedly fills the needs of different activities and jobs. Whether keeping in the toolbox for work related use, or having it in the pocket as an EDC, the M5 is a serious contender.
If clipping the light into your pocket is not your cup of tea, that’s okay. Powertac has a nylon holster designed for the M5 which you can attach to your belt. I ended up getting one of these holsters for use when camping.
The price point for the M5 in comparison to others in this class, is consistent with what you’ll find with other lights. What you’re not going to find with other lights is the 2,030 max lumen in such a compact design. As of this review rolling out, the M5 Gen 3 is for sale on the Powertac website for $69.95.
Waterproof up to 2 meters and tested
The M5 is advertised to be waterproof up to 2 meters. I tested this out by putting the light in a 2 meter high water column for 2 ¼ hours. Prior to setting the light at a 2 meter submerged level, it was fully charged, and I turned it on “turbo” mode. After the time passed, the light was still shining bright. Once the light was extracted from the water column, the exterior was dried off and void of water. The internals were inspected and the unit was dry.
The quick and dirty
Pluses: Lifetime warranty. Ultra bright flashlight with decent battery life. Rechargeable and allows use of disposable CR1213A batteries if needed. Robust construction with a solid finish and good grip texture. Affordable
Minuses: Proprietary charger needed to charge the battery. The light will heat up, as is the case with many high lumen LED flashlights of this class. Clip might be too aggressive for some people’s taste. I would say this is not a suitable flashlight for children.
Is the M5 line of lights something that I’d buy? Yes. All day, everyday. It’s rare that I’m this impressed with a new to me flashlight, because something has to be extra special and not gimmicky to shine in the flashlight market. In fact, it’s the simplicity and no extraneous bells and whistles of the M5 that makes it standout. The light gets the job done and then some.
If someone asks for a flashlight recommendation, the M5 is at the top of my list. Obviously, this light might go over the needs of many users, but what’s wrong with shooting for the moon and actually making it to the stars? I would also feel very comfortable giving out an M5 as a gift to a friend, coworker, or family member.
If you use the code THESQUAREREVIEWS at checkout, you’ll receive 15% off your order and we’ll get a commission! If you prefer, this product is also offered on Amazon.
Be sure to check out our booth side interview with Powertac at the 2024 Great American Outdoors Show HERE.
