WUBEN G5 Rechargeable EDC Flashlight
WUBEN G5 Rechargeable EDC Flashlight
My wife tells me I own too many flashlights. Admittedly, I do own almost 2 dozen flashlights and I keep them everywhere in my home and in our cars. I especially love lots of lumens and compact portability. When the WUBEN G5 flashlight arrived to my house, I was intrigued by its size, its shape, its brightness, and its unique set of features.
Specifications:
- Ultra-Bright & Powerful – Up to a maximum 400 lumens with a beam distance of 82 meters
- Stepless Dimming – dial brightness from 2 lumens to 400 lumens
- Compact & Lightweight – 1.47 inches × 0.59 inches × 2.44 inches (LxDxH), weighing 1.84 ounces with the battery installed
- Flexible & Versatile – 180° rotatable head and adjustable integrated metal clip for hands-free convenience
- Multi-Mode Lighting – Switch between white light, RGB, and beacon mode for various needs
- Rugged & Reliable – Metal body with 1 meter impact resistance, IP68 waterproof rating, and pressure-proof for extreme conditions
- Locking Switch – Innovative sliding release switch and USB cover to ensure protection
- Fast Charging – USB-C cable included
- Colors – Green, black, and white (Anniversary Edition)
- Return Policy – 30-day hassle-free return policy
- Warranty – 5 years
- Purchase on the Wuben website for $19.99 (free shipping for orders over $59.00)
The WUBEN G5 is marketed as an Everyday Carry (EDC) light and I have been carrying it with me for 2 months. I have had numerous opportunities to put this unique flat flashlight into action. It has performed really well in all test situations, and even better than I expected in some cases. This is a feature-packed flashlight that will please flashlight fanatics everywhere, especially when you consider its low price.
What do I LOVE about the WUBEN G5:
The perfect size – WUBEN advertises the G5 as an everyday carry flashlight. I have to agree that this is the definition of an EDC flashlight. At only 1.47 inches in length, 0.59 inches in depth, and 2.44 inches in height, the G5 can fit almost anywhere. With a minimal weight of only 52 grams—as light as an egg–it is almost imperceptible in your jeans pocket. It is so small, it could fit in a walker’s waist pack with plenty of room to spare for keys, a water bottle, and a wallet. My wife appreciated how light it was when she carried it in her purse for several days—it was so compact, she actually didn’t remember it was in her purse. If you choose to keep the flashlight on your bedside table for late-night emergencies, it will take up almost no space at all. Whether you carry the G5 in your pocket, on your keychain, or in your pocketbook, this flashlight is designed to be carried comfortably.
Bright LED power – The G5 packs an intense 400 lumens into its compact package. The sliding switch on the side of the G5 must be in the second “on” position before depressing the recessed power button to power on the G5. At its brightest, the G5 will flood up to 82 meters of the darkest sidewalk, driveway, or campsite with a brilliant white light. The brilliant white light from the LED is what really shocked many of my friends because they underestimated its power based on its smaller size. A flashlight this bright provides the user with a great deal of safety and security when it’s needed most.
Dialed In Dimming – While it’s great having 400 lumens at your disposal, sometimes you don’t need that level of power. Instead of including only 2 or 3 built-in power levels, WUBEN incorporated stepless dimming accessible through a smooth dial that can be used on both sides of the flashlight’s body. You can max the G5 out at 400 lumens, and steadily step it down to as low as 2 lumens using your thumb on the dial. This level of light output customization is really a nice touch. WUBEN advertises the battery can last for close to 1 hour at 400 lumens, and for up to 65 hours at 2 lumens.
Pivoting Head – The illuminating head of the G5 pivots a full 180-degrees. Until you have a flashlight head capable of pivoting 180-degrees, you have no idea how valuable it can be. You can lay it flat, on its side, or stand it up and still direct the light where you need it. The head is incredibly secure, so it will remain in the position you choose. The pivoting head is also very durable and it showed no signs of wear and tear despite my constantly adjusting it.
Rechargeable Battery – I have grown to love rechargeable flashlights after disposing of so many older flashlights that used disposable alkaline AA and AAA batteries prone to leaking battery acid. The battery charges using the included 8-inch USB-C cord, which is very convenient given how popular the USB-C connection has become. You need to slide the quick release switch all the forward to access the protected USB-C port in the flashlight. After charging it, this battery lasts and lasts. I used the G5 sporadically for more than a month and never once needed to charge the battery. I finally charged the battery because I couldn’t believe how long it had persevered. The recharging speed is also notably fast. Notably, there is almost no risk of the G5 wasting battery life by turning on accidentally in your pocket or bag because of the sliding “off” switch and the recessed power button.
What do I LIKE about the WUBEN G5:
Magnetic Back – Hands-off convenience was achieved through incorporating a built-in magnet in the back-end of the G5. While it’s not a very large magnet, it is quite strong. I used it one night while filling the air in my son’s tires. This would be a nice flashlight to carry in your car since it strongly attaches to the car’s body and the pivoting head can direct the light in whatever direction you choose. If you also carry an EDC knife in your pocket, understand that the G5 will also attach to it, which it did for me many times.
Pivoting Clip – The WUBEN G5 has an incorporated metal clip that also pivots a full 180-degrees. The metal clip hugs the side of the body, but it can pull out and rotate 90-degrees in either direction. I can attest that this metal clip is very durable because I must have adjusted it more than 100 times over 2 months. The metal clip would allow you to attach it to a pocket on your flannel shirt or winter coat, or even on the straps of your backpack when walking through the forest. I found the metal clip to be especially handy when clipped onto the brim of my baseball hat when walking at night. With the clip attached to my hat, the G5 behaved like a headlamp, again with the pivoting head allowing me to light the area above me, in front of me, or even below me.
Lanyard Hole – WUBEN increased the G5’s use as an EDC flashlight by giving it a handy lanyard and key ring to carry it with. There is a small lanyard hole on the back-end of the G5 and a lanyard is included. A small ring is also included in case you wanted to attach the G5 to your car keys. I enjoyed having this lanyard since it gave me the opportunity to attach it to my pants or backpack using a carabiner. The lanyard was also large enough to slip onto my wrist, allowing the G5 to comfortably dangle below my hand when walking at night.
Durable, Waterproof Metal Body – The G5 features a durable metal build. It is advertised to offer a 1-meter drop impact resistant body. The G5 also offers IP68 dust and water resistance, indicating it is dust-tight and it can withstand prolonged submersion in water beyond 1-meter. WUBEN also advertises that the G5 is cold-resistant for extreme temperatures. The durable and IP68 resistant body of the G5 really makes it attractive for late night walks on rainy nights with your 4-legged loyal companion.
Multi-Mode Lighting – In addition to offering stepless dimming through the included smooth dial, the WUBEN G5 also offers a signaling RGB light next to the larger white LED. Double-pressing the power button allows you to cycle through the different signaling modes. The RBG light can flash red and blue, red and green, and red and yellow. These flashing modes can operate for 25 hours at a bright 10 lumens, perfect for late night bike rides on a busy road. There is also a beacon mode that can be initiated by holding down the power button when the larger LED was already on. This beacon mode turns off the bright white LED and gives you a bright, steady green light instead. Time and practice were definitely helpful as I tried to experiment with the flashing and beacon modes–reading the manual is advised.
Learning To Love It:
After I spent a great deal of time with the WUBEN G5, I have to admit that first impressions of the G5 can vary by user. My family knows that I often review flashlights, so when I presented the WUBEN G5 to them, some of my family members wondered what it was because of the G5’s flat footprint. The G5’s thin, rectangular shape initially confused some because it was not a long and cylindrical shape, like many “typical” flashlights. For some, there could be an adjustment to carrying a flashlight shaped more like a miniature deck of cards.
Finding the power button was also not easy for new users because of its placement and it was the same color as the flashlight. Additionally, some users had difficulties operating the sliding panel below the power button, especially when it was not pushed one position forward into the “on” position.
Once I explained how the WUBEN G5 operated, most of my friends were impressed by its unique set of features and bright light output. While I really liked the WUBEN a great deal, I have realized that it can take time to learn to appreciate it and to use it comfortably.
Final Thoughts:
Flashlight enthusiasts will love owning the WUBEN G5 Rechargeable EDC Flashlight because it checks so many boxes for those of us who crave lots of lumens. It is tremendously portable based on its size, weight, and carrying options. It uses rechargeable batteries and it is super easy to recharge. The 400 lumens are intensely bright and those lumens can be reduced when you need less power and want to conserve battery life. The long-life RGB flashing and beacon modes would please most hikers that want a flashlight for added safety if ever lost on a trail. The metal clip and pivoting head both allow you to direct the LED in almost any direction, even with hands-off convenience. At the bargain price of $19.99, purchasing and owning the WUBEN G5 is one of the easiest decisions you will make.
