Nitecore MH25GTS

Nitecore MH25GTS – 4 1/2 stars

Summary

I very highly recommend this heavily updated Nitecore MH25GTS. It’s 2-button operation puts a lot of features in a usable format and it’s 1800 lumens turbo mode (albeit with thermal cut-out) adds a level of usefulness to it’s sustainable brightness of 950 lumens for 2 hours. Micro USB charging socket build-in to torch.

It’s fixed spot beam with just a little, useful flood keeps the periphery visible enough in the dark and is nicely packaged in the fairly slim chassis of the MH25GTS.

This new design has a nicely evolved, slightly shrunken form, compared to the MH25GT, making the MH25GTS a physically more attractive proposition. And lighter. But it retains its industrial look and tough spec. IPX8 water resistance.

Brightness

The maximum sustainable brightness of the MH25GTS is 950 lumens. The first photo below, taken on Datchworth Green, is at 950 lumens, the second in 1800 lumens turbo mode. The village sign 10 metres away on the right is still visible due to the slight flood of this predominantly spot, fixed beam in both photos. And the white building (The Plough pub) about 100 metres away is visible in both, though only slightly more in turbo mode.

This torch is bright enough for most applications, the 1800 lumens turbo mode adding useful utility where it is needed for short periods at a time.

Useful for

Well suited to professional and law enforcement applications that would take advantage of its durability and IPX8 water resistance rating, the MH25 GTS is also light & unobtrusive enough to be considered a great general purpose torch. I would happily carry this in my commuting laptop backpack.

Not a search torch due to it’s limited battery life, but possibly a 2nd torch for camping, helped by it’s low brightness levels and durability. A good working torch for professional & farming environments, it’s also available as a kit for mounting on a rifle with remote switch, filters and 25mm mounts.

Notable features

The fixed beam of the Nitecore MH25GTS is mostly spot with just a little flood, great for range, especially in it’s turbo mode.

The 1800 lumens turbo mode is a useful feature. It does warm the torch noticably, but not so much to worry you, before the thermal cut out brings it down to 950 lumens.

The Nitecore MH25GTS also as an aggressive bezel at the front for use as a self devence weapon or to break glass.

There’s a micro USB charging socket built in to the tail of the torch under a rubber cover. It’s easily missed. An LED in the tail flashes blue when charging, then steady when charged.

You can check the battery power indicator by clicking the front ‘mode’ button while the torch is off. You’ll get 1, 2 or 3 flashes, the higher the remaining battery power.

The MH25GTS has a generous 8 functions: 5 brightness levels:

• Turbo: 1,800 lumens for 30 minutes
• High: 950 lumens for 2 hours
• Mid: 240 lumens for 5 hours 45m
• High: 70 lumens for 19 hours
• Ultralow: 1 lumen for 250 hours

Turn the torch on and off with a firm click of the tail switch. When on, use the front ‘mode’ button to cycle through ultralow, low, med, high & turbo.

With the torch on, double click to access strobe. You are now in ‘special’ modes. Hold the front button down to cycle through Beacon, SOS and Strobe. To exit special modes, just click the front button once or turn off with the tail cap button.

Access momentary mode from off, by half pressing the tail cap button.

Design

There are a lot of features in this compact, attractive package. Like many newer Nitecore MH series torches, it looks like Nitecore has softened their industrial looks, as well as shrinking the MH25GTS (compared to the MH25), making it lighter and adding more features. Nitecore has kept their focus on function though, as can be seen by the increased size of the anti-roll, 4-sided nut near the tail of the torch, even though it looks a bit knarly.

In terms of usability, the new Nitecore 2-button setup works well. The tail cap is on/off or momentary, the front ‘mode’ button for changing the brightness with a regular single click.

No button lock on this new model. Presumably it’s not needed, as the more exposed, front ‘mode’ switch doesn’t do anything without the more protected rear button first switching the torch on. All good.