Last Updated on November, 2024
In this article, I review the Maratac Defender P16 and cover everything you need to know.
And when I say everything, I mean EVERYTHING. From specs to build quality to performance, this is your one-stop destination to discover all the secrets of the Maratac Defender P16.
Let’s get started!
Table of Contents
The Acebeam Maratac Defender P16
The Maratac Defender P16 is a flashlight produced by Acebeam in collaboration with CountyComm to celebrate its 33rd anniversary.
The Acebeam Maratac Defender P16 is a custom OD Green Splash version of the Acebeam Defender P16. This tactical flashlight is a limited edition with just 1,000 flashlights available. The Maratac Defender P16 is powered by an 18650 battery and utilizes dual tail switches for control.
Acebeam Maratac Defender P16 Specifications
Here are the primary specs of the Maratac Defender P16:
Flashlight Type | EDC, Tactical |
LED | Luminus SFT40 |
Maximum Light Output | 1,800 lumens |
Maximum Beam Distance | 484 meters |
Maximum Beam Intensity | 58,564 cd |
Lighting Modes | 4 |
Blinkies | SOS, Strobe |
Battery Configuration | 1x 18650 or 2x CR123 |
Onboard Charging | No |
Waterproof Rating | IP68 |
What Comes in the Package?
In my experience, the packaging of Maratac flashlights takes a little time to get used to. Their flashlights come tightly packed in a small, clear plastic tube, and the Maratac Defender P16 is no different.
Here is what you can expect to find in your package:
Acebeam Maratac Defender P16 Build
Let’s dive into the details of the Maratac Defender P16’s build!
Build Quality
The Maratac Defender P16 utilizes an 18650 battery, making it a relatively compact flashlight. It fits well in your hand and your jacket pocket.
The dual switches of this light are on its tailcap, as is the case with most tactical lights. The more prominent button is used to switch the light on and off. The second switch, located towards the edge of the tailcap, is for shortcuts and to switch between the four lighting modes of the light.
The Maratac Defender P16 flashlight has a big 2-way clip preinstalled. To ensure that the pocket clip is secure, it is attached to the battery tube under its connection to the head. You can remove the clip by unfastening the top.
The pocket clip also provides you with anti-roll protection. However, the tail switches prevent tail-standing because of the way they jut out. Additionally, the only hole available for the lanyard is on the rear end of the pocket clip. This is effective but not the most ideal.
When considering the build quality of the light, the Maratac Defender P16 does not disappoint. This amazing flashlight is made of “aircraft-grade” aluminum with Type III hard anodizing. The flashlight has a matte finish and is very nicely done.
LED, Bezel, Lens, Beam, and Reflector
The Maratac Defender P16 features a blacked-out stainless steel strike bezel ring that can also be used as a glass breaker in an emergency. The strike bezel is crenulated, but it’s not too sharp. Underneath the strike bezel is a customized TIR optic lens safeguarded by a sheet of anti-reflective glass.
The customized TIR optic lens rests on a Luminous SFT40 LED module, a domeless, high-output emitter. Combining the SFT40 LED module and the customized TIR optic lens brings a concentrated light beam with a small hotspot and a wide spill.
Dimensions
Here are the dimensions and the weight of the Defender P16:
Millimeters | Inches | |
Length | 131 mm | 5.2 in |
Head Diameter | 32 mm | 1.3 in |
Body Diameter | 23 mm | 0.9 in |
Grams | Ounces | |
Without Battery | 110 g | 3.9 oz |
With Battery | 155 g | 5.5 oz |
Maratac Defender P16 in Use
User Interface and Driver
The Maratac Defender P16 has two UIs: tactical mode and daily mode. You can pick whichever best suits your needs. If you want to use the Defender P16 as a tactical flashlight, tactical mode is the obvious pick. The tactical mode gives you access to a one-touch strobe, handy for dealing with an attacker.
Daily mode gives you access to one-touch Low mode, which is excellent for use around the house. This compact flashlight is also perfect for outdoor activities like camping and hiking.
The four lighting modes available with this tactical flashlight are as follows:
The Blink modes available are:
To access the Tactical mode of the flashlight when it is initially switched off, follow these steps:
To access Tactical mode when the Defender P16 is turned on:
To access Daily mode when the Defender P16 is turned off:
To access Daily mode when the Defender P16 is switched on:
Here’s how to access the Strobe and Blink modes:
The following are the shortcuts you can use with the Maratac Defender P16:
During low voltage, you can expect the following warnings and signs:
When considering the mode memory of the Maratac Defender P16, the manual states that Daily mode uses mode memory for the four lighting modes, and indeed, it does.
The manual does not explicitly state that Tactical mode comes with mode memory, but it does. However, I found an issue with the CountyComm and Acebeam websites, stating that the Maratac Defender P16 has a “one-touch strobe, turbo, and low activation.”
This leads to the conclusion that you should be able to activate Turbo mode through Tactical mode, as there is no other way to access a one-touch Turbo.
But the thing is, you can’t access Turbo mode through the Tactical setting! This feels like a substantial UI oversight by Acebeam and CountyComm. In my personal opinion, I also think it lessens the P16’s usability as a tactical flashlight.
There is mention of a lockout mode but info on how to activate it is missing. I couldn’t personally figure out a way to electronically lockout the P16.
However, you could slightly unfasten the tailcap to put the flashlight in a physical lockout state. The manual makes no mention of a lockout mode either.
Additionally, this compact flashlight does not have PWM (Pulse Width Modulation).
Charging and Batteries
If you purchase this compact flashlight from Acebeam, you will receive a USB-C rechargeable 18650 battery, which is included with the flashlight.
However, buying the P16 from CountyComm means purchasing a battery separately. There are springs on both ends, so battery length won’t trouble you. A Samsung 30Q works like a charm.
Maratac Defender P16 Performance
Modes and Lumen Measurements
The measurements below were obtained through a measurement process involving a homemade lumen tube using a VEML7700 sensor. The battery used for testing was an 18650.
Mode | Specified | At Start | 30 sec. | 10 min. |
Low | 50 lm | 41 lm | 38 lm | |
Med | 260 lm | 253 lm | 247 lm | 243 lm |
High | 900 lm | 875 lm | 861 lm | 652 lm |
Turbo | 1800 lm | 1,6341 lm | 1,534 lm | 672 lm |
Turbo at 3.6V | 1,236 lm | 1,161 lm | 239 lm |
As you can see, I found that this tactical flashlight falls short of its claimed lumen measurement. However, this could be because I didn’t use the same battery as Acebeam when they tested the flashlight. The output on Turbo, for example, is greatly dependent on your choice of batteries.
On the other hand, I expected a better performance because this is basically an Acebeam P16 (just with a unique external finish).
Battery Life
Mode | Specified Runtime | Measured Runtime (according to ANSI FL1 Standards) | Time Till Shut Off |
Low | 22 hrs | – | – |
Med | 5 hrs 8 mins | 5 hrs 21 mins | 6 hrs 1 mins |
High | 2 hrs | 1 hr 48 mins | 2 hrs 45 mins |
Turbo | 1 hr 36 mins | 1 hr 33 mins | 2 hrs 31 mins |
Even though I recorded lower lumen output values, the runtimes were within the intended specified values. When the switch to Low mode occurs when battery power is nearly depleted, the output blinks every 30 seconds.
This happens for almost an hour, which is more than enough warning to know your flashlight is running out of juice.
Beam Intensity and Distance Measurements
Mode | Specification | Candela Measured | Meters | Yards |
Low | 2,756 cd | 1,304 | 74 m | 81 yd |
Med | 8,464 cd | 7,277 | 173 m | 189 yd |
High | 25,760 cd | 25,551 | 324 m | 354 yd |
Turbo | 58,564 cd | 46,962 | 434 m | 474 yd |
Like with the measurement of lumens, beam intensity results are also lower than what is claimed; they’re within the ballpark of the specifications but are off by quite a margin. This difference could be attributed to the change in batteries used.
Maratac Defender P16 Price and Warranty
The Maratac Defender P16 has a full 365-day warranty on items sold with defects or failures.
It is priced at $79.95, and you can purchase it here through the CountyComm website!
Maratac Defender P16 Pros and Cons
Pros
Cons
Final Thoughts
The Maratac Defender P16 is an excellent, compact, practical tactical/EDC flashlight I recommend.
It has an excellent build quality with a unique finish, and the UI is uncomplicated for the most part. The TIR lens and the SFT40 LED module lend to a clean beam with excellent coverage.
However, that’s not to say that the P16 is entirely flawless.
The missing one-touch Turbo activation and the marked difference between the specifications and the lumens I measured are some of the main issues with this flashlight.
I would also have liked built-in charging and a Low mode with an even lower brightness.
At the end of the day, whether the Acebeam Maratac Defender P16 suits you depends on your preferences.
If you’re looking for a flashlight that will get the job done and are alright with a few cons, this is an excellent choice of flashlight for you!
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