Maxtoch Xsword L2KS

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Maxtoch Xsword L2K specifications

Brand/model	Maxtoch Xsword L2Ks
LED	LEP
Lumens	600 lm
Beam intensity/distance	1,960,000 cd / 2800 meter
Battery config.	21700
Material	Aluminum
Modes	3
Blinkies	N/A
Reflector	N/A
Waterproof	IPX8
Review date	November 2021

Maxtoch has been around for quite some time but mainly focused on building flashlights for hunting, and therefore a little unknown to the general public. 9 out of 10 of their products are in the category “long-range flashlights’. And many of them are available in different kinds of LED colors or even UV, IR etc. On their website are also a couple of non-hunting flashlights like the F1 Bomb and LR550 headlamp, but most of them are just throwers. The one I am reviewing is the L2Ks version powered by a single 21700. Mine didn’t include the optional kit with holster and charger. There used to be another version that worked on 2*20350 batteries and was called the L2K slim, which is missing on the website. The larger Maxtoch L2K uses 2*21700 batteries, and is much longer.

Package quality.

I received a brown carton box wrapped with bubble wrap and plastic. Upon opening the cartong box I found a nice soft carry case. Inside the carry case were the following things:

• The flashlight: Maxtoch XSword L2KS
• Lanyard
• Green, red, and yellow filter
• Tactical rubber ring (for cigar grip)
• Spare o-ring
• Warranty card/manual

Unlike the longer L2K, the L2Ks is easier to handle single-handed. The tailcap has 2 cutouts so you can rest your thumb right onto the switch. It’s easier to activate the switch with the tip of your thumb.

For hunters, there is also an optional remote switch if you attach the L2KS to your rifle/gun.

I have to say that the body is a little bit on the slippery side for everyday carry, but that’s not what this flashlight was built for. It’s a real hunting light, so the slipperiness needs to be taken with a grain of salt. There is some reeding on the body, but that’s nothing like the aggressive knurling you can find on some tactical flashlights.

My package included 3 colored filters (green, red, and yellow) and a glass lens on top of the convex lens. So you don’t need to be afraid to damage the convex lens. These are lenses you have to put between the bezel and the front glass. They don’t have a threaded bezel around the filter, as you see with some other flashlights. Replacing these filters in the dark can be tricky because, and they are easier to drop or get some fingerprints on. I’m curious why they chose to do this. They probably have thought this through, but I can see the benefits of using filters with a bezel already attached.

Another thing I noticed is the watery grease Maxtoch is using on the threads. When I unscrew the tailcap, there is some light grease (lube) on the switch retaining ring. It looks like they are using very thin lube, which becomes a bit too thin after using.

When reviewing flashlights, it is important to keep the intended application in mind. The lack of knurling on the body isn’t always bad. The L2Ks is mainly used in combination with a rifle/gun mount. The build quality seems just fine. A little more attention to detail would have been appreciated, or using a stainless steel bezel. But again, this flashlight is likely getting beat up, so it doesn’t need to be designed extremely nice like your average EDC.

The bezel and tailcap can be removed without too much trouble. However, I noticed that the battery tube is glued, unlike the L2K. The threads near the tailcap have 1 o-ring but with a slot for an extra one. Maxtoch also included a spare o-ring, so you can install it right away.

Maxtoch offers 1-year warranty if the problem is caused by normal usage. But there is a lifetime warranty for repairs with no labor charges as long as parts are available. You will only be charged for the parts needed to repair the light. Accessories like lanyards, holsters, etc are not covered by this warranty. More info can be found here: https://maxtoch.com/pages/–14

From the outside, it looks like an average LED flashlight, but the inside is not. Instead of using an LED on top of an MCPCB, this is using an LEP module (Laser Phosphor) that includes a blue laser, pointing its beam onto phosphor to turn the beam color from blue to white/yellow.

If you have OCD for color shifts in beams or if you are a tint snob, you better stay away from LEP flashlights.

Not all LEP lights have a protective lens in front of their convex lens. This means that your most important piece of glass is damaged when you accidentally hit the front glass. Fortunately, the L2Ks is using a protective glass. And if you ever damage it, it’s much easier and cheaper to replace.

The bezel is red and has a zigzag pattern. Removing the bezel itself is no problem because it doesn’t have any glue. The colored filters fit right behind the bezel, in front of the glass protective lens. I would still advise Maxtoch to make that bezel wider because it’s pretty thin.

• Length: 179 mm / 17”
• Head diameter:  59.7 mm / 2.35 ”
• Body diameter: 25.45 mm / 1 ”
• Colored filter diameter: 55.9 mm / 2.20″
• Colored filter thickness: 1.88 mm/ 0.073″

Weight: 

• Empty: 292.8 g / 10.33 oz
• With batteries: 363.8 g / 12.83 oz

LEP Flashlight comparison

Size compared to other LEP laser flashlights.

Single-cell, large head LEP flashlights: 26650 LEP flashlight, Lumintop Thor 3, Maxtoch L2KS, Nextorch T20L, Jetbeam M1X WP-RX, Jetbeam RRT M1X Raptor, Astrolux WP2, Astrolux WP3, Weltool W4.

The 26650 LEP fits right in between the smaller head LEPs and large head LEPs.

The next group is a comparison with its bigger brother, the Maxtoch L2K.

And the last pictures shows 4 Maxtoch LEPs, namely: L2Ks, LA60, L2K, and L3K

The L2KS has 3 modes, just like the L2K: High, Medium, and Low. But because the hotspot is so intense, it is a little difficult to see the difference in output sometimes.

Available modes:

• Low, Medium, High (in that order)

From OFF:

• Half-press: momentary-on (keep tapping to change modes from Low to High)
• Single-click: to last used mode, mode memory

From ON:

• Half-press: doesn’t work
• Single-click: the flashlight turns off

Mode memory:

• Yes

Blinky modes menu:

• None

Low battery warning:

• No, but the output will decrease, which is a clear indicator that you need to replace the batteries.

Lock-out mode:

• Not necessary with just 1 mechanical switch

PWM:

• If there is any, it’s not visible by normal use.

Mine didn’t include the charger kit.

But when you order the kit, you get a Maxtoch charger with 1 lithium-ion battery.

The battery Maxtoch includes is a 21700 type with 5000mAh and no product code. It’s a button top and has a protection board, but there is no explanation of what kind of protection it is. And because of the protection board, they are a little longer than flat tops.

You can also use flat-tops because there are springs on both ends. Below you can see some batteries that I got earlier with the L2K. These should be the same type of batteries.

Lumen measurements:

All output numbers are relative to my homemade Integrating Sphere. It is set up with an Extech SDL400 Lux Meter for measurements including a Kenko PRO1D ND-16 filter. The base measurement is done with a Convoy S2+ that has been tested at 255 lumens.

All of my readings were taken from a fully-charged Maxtoch 21700 5000mAh battery.

Amps were measured with a Fluke 77III, at the tailcap.

Mode	Amps start	Specs	start	30sec	10 min
Low	0.72	100	118	116	111
Med	1.46	300	270	263	252
High	2.72	600 lm	455 lm	442 lm	416 lm

Most LEP flashlights are over-specced, including this one. But because lumens aren’t as important as throw, I don’t care too much about it, unless they are performing at 50%. It didn’t achieve anywhere close to 600 lumens.

Parasitic drain:

• There is no parasitic drain.

Runtime:

The runtime test was done with the 50cm integrating sphere, including the Kenko Pro1D ND-16 filter and Extech SDL400 data logging Lux Meter. Keep in mind that if you compare the output with high-power flashlights, it’s very disappointing. But that’s not the way you should look at these numbers. Please look at the runtime farther down, which is not calculated for lumens, but candelas.

And then here is a comparison with all the other big boys, including the 2*21700 ones

It’s one of the best single-cell LEP flashlights on the market. Only the Astrolux WP3 beats it at the start, but from 30 minutes onward the L2KS outperforms the WP3 and runs for much longer, so yes, the L2Ks is a winner.

Throw Measurement

Measurements were taken outdoors at 20 meters using a professional Hagner E4-X Lux Meter.

Mode	Specs	Candela measured	Meters	Yards
Low	–	656,000	1620	1772
Med	–	1,428,000	2390	2614
High	1,960,000 cd	2,308,000 cd	3038	3323

Yups, these numbers are pretty impressive. It performs better than specs. But I was already expecting this, after reviewing its bigger brother, the Maxtoch L2K.

Candela comparison: best single-cell large head LEP flashlights

A list of the best single-cell LEP flashlights with large heads we reviewed: These numbers are NOT from the specifications but are measured by our reviewers. They include all single-cell LEP flashlights with large heard (+-60mm and above). The numbers include the measurement in lumens (lm), measure candela (cd), and calculated distance in meters, and yards. These numbers are all measured 30 seconds after turning on.

Flashlight (click for review)	@30sec (lm)	Candela (cd)	Meters	Yards
Acebeam W30	498	1,312,000	2291	2505
Acebeam W35	733	1,892,000	2751	3009
Amutorch BT60	316	1,644,000	2564	2804
Astrolux WP2	303	1,248,000	2234	2443
Astrolux WP3	445	2,412,000	3106	3397
FireFlyLite LEP01	391	816,000	1807	1976
Jetbeam M1X WP-RX	491	2,280,000	3020	3302
Lumintop Thor 3	311	1,728,000	2629	2875
Maxtoch L2KS	442	2,308,000	3038	3323
Nextorch T20L	975	1,284,000	2266	2478
NlightD L1	513	1,940,000	2786	3046
Weltool W4	450	2,184,000	2956	3232
Weltool W4 PRO	550	2,808,000	3351	3665

And below is an interactive throw comparison graph (candela), between the best single-cell LEP flashlights with large heads. Hover your mouse over the interactive graph below to see the details of each specific light.

(tip: hold your mobile phone horizontally to see the full graph). Or visit the full interactive graph here.

The next graph shows the same graph, but then focusing on the first 60 minutes of their runtimes. Or view the full 60min interactive graph here.

For the following beamshots I used a Canon EOS 5D Mk2 and a 100mm lens. manual settings: ISO1600, .5sec , F4, 5000K

The tower is about 450 meters / 492 yards away.

Disclaimer: I bought this flashlight with my own money with a small reviewer’s discount. Nobody paid me to review this flashlight, nor have I been holding back on problems or defects.