The Nitecore EDC29 is what happens when a flashlight company decides an everyday light should hit 6500 lumens: a NiteLab UHi 20 MAX LED, a 437-yard throw, four levels plus spotlight, floodlight and strobe modes, and dual-stage buttons that get you to any of them in one press, in a 5.26-inch body that weighs 5.64 ounces. It is the sibling of the EDC37 we reviewed earlier and the one that fits a pocket. This review covers the output, the interface, and the sheath we make for it.
Specs
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Max output | 6500 lumens |
| Throw | 437 yards |
| LED | NiteLab UHi 20 MAX |
| Modes | Four brightness levels, spotlight, floodlight, strobe |
| Controls | Dual-stage power button, dual-stage mode button |
| Safety | Sensor Protection auto-dims accidental high activation |
| Lockout | Semi and full |
| Charging | USB-C, full in just over an hour |
| Runtime | 61 hours on lowest |
| Size | 5.26 in, 5.64 oz |
| Price | $109.99 |
Output
6500 lumens is a burst, and the EDC29 manages heat and battery to get you there and back down. In use, the useful levels are a fraction of that and still brighter than most lights' turbo. Spotlight mode reaches; floodlight covers a room.
Interface
Two buttons, each with a half press and a full press. Power button: on, off, brightness. Mode button: floodlight or strobe with one press. There is no menu to learn; the light does what the button says.
Sensor Protection
If the light comes on in a pocket on high, it senses it and dims itself. Semi lockout keeps spot, flood and strobe available; full lockout kills everything.
Carry
The flat body does not pocket like a round light, which is why we make a Nitecore EDC29 sheath: PETG molded to the light, in a belt-loop version or a Tek-Lok version that wears vertical or horizontal. $19.99. The EDC23 and EDC37 have their own.
Sustained output and known issues
The lumen number on the box is the burst. Every high-output flat light steps down as the head heats: the EDC29 and EDC37 hold turbo for seconds, then settle to a sustained level in the hundreds of lumens, which is still plenty and is the number to plan around. Two other things owners report: the dual-stage buttons have failed on some units (the usual fix is contact cleaner in the button seam; the EDC series is rated IP54, not IP68, so keep it out of the pool), and the cell is built in, so when it wears out in a few years the light is done. Nitecore's warranty is shorter than Fenix's. Buy it for the output and the interface, knowing that.
Frequently asked questions
How bright is the Nitecore EDC29?
6500 lumens on burst, 437 yards of throw.
How heavy is it?
5.64 ounces, 5.26 inches long.
How does it charge?
USB-C, full in just over an hour.
Does it have a lockout?
Semi and full.
Is there a holster for it?
Yes, a molded sheath with belt loop or Tek-Lok.
The bottom line
The Nitecore EDC29 is the brightest light most people will ever carry, and it is small enough to carry. Put it in a sheath.
Related reading
Nitecore EDC37 review
Best sheaths for Nitecore EDC flashlights
Nitecore vs Fenix vs Olight
