THE POWERFUL ARMYTEK VIKING PRO MAX MAGNET USB PCB WHITE “YOUR NUMBER ONE LEGAL SURVIVAL TOOL”.

By: Henk “The Knife” Kraaijvanger.

Some time ago, I introduced you to ARMYTEK, a flashlight brand that was relatively unknown here at the time. I tested its products over a long period and found them to be very good. Interested readers who missed those earlier reviews can use the search function on the homepage.

THE IMPORTANCE OF GOOD PERSONAL PROTECTION IN THE DARK:
The new ARMYTEK Viking Pro Max Magnet USB, which I introduce and test below, is a potentially life-saving and legal handheld light for situations involving self-defence and excessive self-defence, with its life-protecting and DNA-collecting “Striking Bezel”. It may be useful, for example, to women with large handbags who might encounter demonstrably malicious “two-legged scavenging rats”, such as around their homes near asylum reception centres. Pepper spray for women has once again been rejected by the woke politicians in The Hague, and in my opinion they have once again failed in their duty of care. Naturally, this light is also suitable for men as a tactical flashlight in a close-combat situation. In addition to that potentially life-saving “Striking Bezel”, the powerful white beam of the Viking Pro Max Magnet USB is also well suited to dazzling an attacker or attackers, allowing you, if possible, to run to safety and alert the neighbourhood, the police or the neighbourhood watch.

IT HAPPENED TO ME.
On a dark evening during surveillance in a port and nightlife district in a nearby country, I once came close to having to use the serrated rim of my trusty old tactical flashlight to “mark attackers and collect DNA”. This was to protect my back, life and limbs, and my car, against possible action by two dark-skinned male “potential muggers” who were there “by coincidence”. This time I kept my back better protected by my car. During the confrontation I was already in Fight Mode, and only a “split second” separated Real Fight Mode — actually striking their faces with the sturdy tactical flashlight — from a possible return to “Stand By Mode”. They instinctively sensed that I was ready to “give it everything”, sensed my stubborn, uncompromising character, and slowly but surely backed off. Needless to say, I kept a very close eye on them and was able to leave my other tactical equipment “on my person” untouched. My tactical light did have small but sturdy serrations, but frankly I wish I had had the much more effective Armytek Viking Pro Max in my hands at the time! This tactical flashlight could become my, and your, “YOUR NUMBER ONE LEGAL SURVIVAL TOOL”.

THE ARMYTEK VIKING PRO MAX MAGNET USB PCB WHITE.

THE ARMYTEK VIKING PRO MAX MAGNET USB PCB WHITE.

FEATURES/SPECIFICATIONS OF THE ARMYTEK VIKING PRO MAX MAGNET USB PCB WHITE.

• Lamp body made of lightweight 6061-T6 aircraft aluminium;

• “No-hassle” 10-year ARMYTEK warranty;

• Flashlight with a functional black steel Striking Bezel with DNA-collecting surfaces;

• New optical system with precisely calculated reflector;

• Has tempered glass with an anti-reflective coating for the lamp head;

• Rechargeable using the supplied magnetic USB battery charger;

• Preferably use an Armytek 21700 Li-Lon 5000 mAh battery.

• Also suitable for a 18650 Li-Lon battery and, using the supplied adapter, two rechargeable or non-rechargeable Lithium CR 123A batteries.

• Warning: NEVER charge the Lithium CR 123A batteries in the lamp body.

• Runtime with the standard Armytek 21700 Li-Lon 5000 mAh battery: up to 10 days;

• Has a low-battery LED indicator: when the battery level drops below 25 percent, the LED in the flashlight head flashes twice.

• Charging time for the Armytek 21700 Li-Lon 5000 mAh battery: 2 hours 45 minutes.

• Produces a white beam of 5300 lumens with a range of up to 355 metres;

• Large beam hotspot (13 degrees) with a wide spill beam (81 degrees);

• The hotspot/beam diameter at a distance of 100 metres is 23 metres.

• Impact- and recoil-resistant thanks to a special mechanism with two reinforced internal springs;

• Flashlight body diameter: 25,4 mm (one inch); suitable for mounting on a military long gun using a special adapter;

• Flashlight head diameter: 41 mm;

• Flashlight length: 165 mm;

• Weight with battery: 239 grams;

• Weight without battery: 166 grams;

• Has two push-button switches, one on the side and one at the rear;

• Has a temperature control system: when the flashlight reaches around 58 degrees Celsius, an LED indicates this and the light output is reduced, lowering the heat at the same time.

• Meets European safety requirements.

• Meets the IP68 standard: waterproof to 25 metres for 5 hours; impact-resistant to 25 metres; has a water-resistant magnetic connector.

• Supplied as standard with many useful accessories in a plastic case: flashlight; Armytek 21700 Li-Lon 5000 mAh battery; magnetic USB battery charger; battery adapter; black titanium-coated stainless steel body clip; nylon wrist strap; nylon holster; silicone rubber grip ring; two spare O-rings and the instruction manual.

• Specially shaped “anti-roll” flashlight head with cooling grooves.

• Many optional accessories for military use are available, including various weapon-mounting adapters and coloured flashlight filters.

• This Armytek flashlight also comes with the 10-year NO-HASSLE warranty!

WARNING.
Before using the flashlight, read the supplied instruction manual yourself, paying particular attention to battery safety, LED safety, and safety regarding the USB charging cable and the flashlight as a whole. Keep this powerful tactical flashlight away from small children; it is not a toy.

GETTING STARTED WITH AND USING THE ARMYTEK VIKING PRO MAX MAGNET USB PCB WHITE FLASHLIGHT.

I have translated the following instructions from the small instruction booklet as accurately as possible, as unfortunately it did not include a Dutch version!

1. PREPARING THE ARMYTEK VIKING PRO MAX MAGNET USB PCB WHITE FOR USE.

Turn/screw the rear section of the flashlight, marked with the battery symbol, “Magnetic USB Charger” and CE, clockwise towards the flashlight head until finger-tight. The tactical flashlight is then ready for use.

2. OPERATING/CONTROLLING THE SWITCHES.
The tactical flashlight has two switches:

A. The tactical magnetic switch is at the rear. Press it halfway for momentary light, or fully, with an audible click, for continuous light.

B. The Light Mode switch is on the side of the flashlight head and allows you to cycle through the different light modes.

Notes. * With the flashlight switched off, press the tactical magnetic rear switch twice quickly to activate Strobe Mode (for example, to dazzle a potential attacker).

* Mode memory is disabled/deactivated by default at the factory. Fully pressing the tactical switch turns the flashlight on at the Turbo light output.

* If you have enabled automatic memory for the last-used light mode, fully pressing the tactical switch turns the flashlight on in the Basic or Turbo light mode.

3. CYCLING THROUGH AND SELECTING THE LIGHT MODES.

The different light modes follow a repeating cycle.

- With the tactical flashlight switched on, press the Light Mode switch on the side. Each press changes the mode.

- With the tactical flashlight switched off, pressing the Light Mode switch on the side does not change the mode.

4. ACTIVATING FIREFLY (LOW LIGHT) MODE. - To select Firefly Mode, press and hold the Light Mode switch on the side, then press the tactical magnetic switch until you hear a click. Release the Light Mode switch on the side. Firefly Mode is NOW switched off.

- Pressing the Light Mode switch on the side again switches on Turbo Mode.

5. DISABLING AND ENABLING STROBE MODE.

Strobe Mode is enabled by default at the factory.

- DISABLING: To disable the factory-enabled Strobe Mode, first turn on the flashlight using the tactical magnetic switch (light on). Then press and hold the Light Mode switch on the side for 5 seconds until the flashlight gives a single flash lasting 1 second. Strobe Mode is NOW disabled.

- ENABLING:
To enable Strobe Mode again, with the flashlight switched on, once again press and hold the tactical magnetic switch for 5 seconds until the flashlight gives a single flash lasting 1 second. Strobe Mode is NOW enabled again.

6. ENABLING AND DISABLING AUTOMATIC MODE MEMORY.

Automatic Mode Memory is deactivated (disabled) by default at the factory.

- ENABLING: To enable the disabled Automatic Mode Memory, first turn the flashlight on using the tactical magnetic switch (light on). Then press and hold the Light Mode switch on the side for 10 seconds. The flashlight gives a single flash after 5 seconds. After a further 5 seconds, it flashes twice; then release the tactical magnetic switch. Automatic Mode Memory is NOW enabled.

- DISABLING:
To disable the enabled Automatic Mode Memory, first turn the flashlight on using the tactical magnetic switch (light on). Then press and hold the Light Mode switch on the side for 10 seconds. The flashlight gives a single flash after 5 seconds. After a further 5 seconds, it flashes twice; then release the tactical magnetic switch. Automatic Mode Memory is NOW disabled.

7. ENABLING AND DISABLING THE LOCKOUT FUNCTION.
This tactical flashlight has a lockout function to prevent it from switching on accidentally.

- ENABLING: Unscrew the rear section of the flashlight, marked with the battery symbol, “Magnetic USB Charger” and CE, anticlockwise towards the rear until it reaches its stop, leaving it finger-tight. This prevents the tactical flashlight from switching on accidentally.

- DISABLING:
To use the tactical flashlight again, turn/screw the rear section, marked with the battery symbol, “Magnetic USB Charger” and CE, clockwise towards the flashlight head until finger-tight. The tactical flashlight is then ready for use again.

8. CHARGING THE ARMYTEK VIKING PRO MAX MAGNET USB PCB WHITE FLASHLIGHT.

This tactical flashlight has a low-battery indicator: the LED in the flashlight head flashes 2 x when the battery level is below 25%.

WARNING BEFORE CHARGING.

- Turn the rear section of the flashlight, marked with the battery symbol, “Magnetic USB Charger” and CE, anticlockwise towards the rear until it reaches its stop and is finger-tight. The tactical flashlight must be switched off; otherwise it is “like mopping the floor with the taps running” (just like asylum policy).

- Then attach the magnetic charging cap of the USB charger to the end of the flashlight, around the tactical switch, and insert the USB plug into the USB port of a power source such as a battery pack or computer.

- Once the battery is full, first remove the USB plug from the USM port and then remove the tactical flashlight from the magnetic charging cap of the USB charger.

A. LED COLOURS AT THE REAR OF THE MAGNETIC CHARGER DURING CHARGING.

- Steady red light: charging.

- Steady green light: charging is complete.

B. USING CR 123A LITHIUM BATTERIES.

This tactical flashlight can also use CR 123A Lithium batteries. In my opinion, that is a major advantage, especially for tactical flashlights used by the military! My many years of military experience have certainly taught me that.

- Preferably use high-quality batteries from reputable brands.

- Do not use a mix of old and new batteries.

- THE CR 123A LITHIUM BATTERIES MENTIONED ABOVE MUST NEVER BE CHARGED INSIDE THE TACTICAL FLASHLIGHT!

WARNING!

HEAT BUILD-UP IN THE TACTICAL FLASHLIGHT DURING EXTENDED USE IN TURBO OR STROBE MODE.

This tactical flashlight has built-in temperature control for safe and comfortable use.

- This built-in temperature control activates when the tactical flashlight approaches 58 degrees Celsius.

- The light output is automatically reduced to prevent overheating.

- Do not put a hot or still-warm flashlight in your backpack or holster.

- When storing the flashlight in a backpack or bag, use the lockout function mentioned above to prevent accidental activation of the tactical flashlight and the resulting overheating.

- Do not charge the battery if the ambient temperature is below freezing.

- If you come into a heated room from the cold outdoors, wait until the tactical flashlight has reached the indoor ambient temperature before charging it.

- Do not charge the tactical flashlight in its holster.

- The available optional accessories for long guns!

PHOTOS OF THE ARMYTEK VIKING PRO MAX MAGNET USB PCB WHITE TACTICAL FLASHLIGHT IN USE.

FINAL ASSESSMENT AFTER THE E.D.C. USAGE TESTS OF THE ARMYTEK VIKING PRO MAX MAGNET USB PCB WHITE FLASHLIGHT.

SUMMARY.

The ARMYTEK VIKING PRO MAX MAGNET USB PCB WHITE is a robust, waterproof, rechargeable flashlight with a long-reaching white beam. With Armytek weapon-mounting accessories, it can also serve as a tactical light on a rifle. Armytek supplies one of the most comprehensive accessory packages I have seen with a modern flashlight. Armytek also offers very useful military and civilian accessories. Like most Armytek flashlights, the Armytek Viking Pro Max Magnet USB PCB White is easy to recharge thanks to its magnetic USB charger. This powerful flashlight is covered by a 10-year warranty should any problems arise. Its nearly silent, waterproof, two-position electronic tactical push-button switch allows it to be deployed suddenly in the dark with almost no audible sound. You can carry the flashlight on your belt in the very good holster, or in a roomy outdoor trouser pocket using the supplied clothing clip. I use both methods. I consider the Light Mode switch on the side a major improvement. In my view, this is the most pleasant to use and the best Armytek pocket/handheld flashlight I have tested.

TIP FROM THE WEBMASTER: Add the option to start the flashlight automatically in Firefly (low light) Mode by pressing the Light Mode switch on the side with one hand.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.

- Thanks to Ms Heleen at Armytek for supplying the Armytek Viking Pro Max Magnet USB PCB White flashlight for this review. Without this, the new flashlight review would not have been possible — Vielen Dank. - And thanks, also on behalf of Bushcraft.nl readers, for the 15% discount when ordering an Armytek flashlight using the code BUSHCRAFTNL (written as one word). See this and their other lighting products at www.armytek.com.

BUT THE FACT REMAINS: THIS TACTICAL ARMYTEK HANDHELD/POCKET FLASHLIGHT IS YOUR BEST NON-LETHAL SURVIVAL TOOL TO CARRY & USE LEGALLY!

NOT MILITARY INSTRUCTED BY ME, SO USE THE POUCH!