I am always on the hunt for travel gear, things that can make me safer, improve the quality of my travel or just make things easier for me. Whilst attending a recent trade show, I bumped into Unity Distributions who were showcasing some of their clients, including Suprabeam. Unity kindly offered to send one of their latest torches, the Suprabeam M6r for me to test.
I have always thought a torch is something that everyone should have nearby. It doesn’t have to be big. But it should be reliable, powerful and with a decent battery life. You never know when you will need one, and it can be so useful as a traveller.
As always with gifted products, neither Suprabeam or Unity Distributions have contributed to the review beyond providing the M6r for me to test. Any and all opinions are my own.
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- Suprabeam M6r Technical Details
- First Impressions of the Suprabeam M6r
- Build Quality & Design
- What's included with the Suprabeam M6r?
- Lumens
- Suprabeam M6r Battery Life & Performance
- Charging
- Durability
- How easy is the Suprabeam M6r to use?
- Transport Lock
- Mount It Your Way
- Value for money
- Suprabeam M6r: Final Thoughts
Pros
Cons
Suprabeam M6r Technical Details
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Weight | 111g |
| Dimensions | 110 x 32 x 23mm |
| Max Lumens | 1100 |
| Max Distance | 105m |
First Impressions of the Suprabeam M6r
The M6r caught my eye at an expo, which can be difficult for a small item at a place where everything is demanding your attention. But I loved the small but solid build. Even in the bright lights of the NEC the torch was able to show it was powerful, so I was keen to test it.
Build Quality & Design
Holding the M6r it feels like solid metal, which is surprising giving its light weight. It feels tough and durable, so perfect for adventurous hikes. I usually keep my torch in the car for emergencies, like a flat when driving late. It’s rare but best to be prepared. With it’s all metal design I feel confident it wont break
What’s included with the Suprabeam M6r?
- M6r Torch
- USB C Rechargeable Battery
- USB C Cable
- Headband
- Adhesive Helmet Mount
- Wrist Strap
Lumens
At its most powerful the Suprabream M6r is capable of an output of 1100 Lumens. Its very powerful but the downside of this is that it drops down the maximum charge time. Rather than run itself to completely empty, max mode instead gradually dims back down to 350 over a couple of minutes, ensuring that you still have a light source that will last a few hours. The max mode is designed to be a temporary boost and not a full time option.
345 Lumens has been more than enough for me. It is more than bright enough for any situation I have put it in. As I mentioned I did get a second opinion from a member of the fire service, and they were impressed enough to consider using it for work.
Suprabeam M6r Battery Life & Performance
Batter always varies depending on how you use it, but the despite its very pocketable size, the M6r boasts some impressive stats.
On Max mode you can expect an average of 3h 30m, which is great for most short trips or to light up your path on sunrise hikes.
Change it to Dimming mode though, and you can stretch out the battery life up to 300h. That’s incredibly impressive. You will get diminishing results but 300h is more than enough time to find yourself a spot where you can recharge.
Charging
So rather surprisingly the M6r has a removable battery, which at first I thought was a little disappointing. But on further inspection realised its unique size and shape, and the USB C port.
Suprabeam have used their own battery, offering the convenience of a removable battery and the lifespan of a rechargeable one. When the battery is low you can remove it and recharge it anywhere. But if you know you’ll be away for a long period, you can buy multiple batteries and swap them within seconds.
It’s a solution that takes the benefits of allowing both speed and ease of use. Perfect for adventures.
Durability
The torch feels like a solid chunk of metal. There are no areas I’d be concerned about breaking or wearing down after a lot of usage. Even the clip, which I find a lot of brands cheap out on and often break, is made from solid metal.
Everything fits seamlessly, I have found on some brands that use removable batteries the torch will rattle a little as something is loose. That isn’t the case here.
How easy is the Suprabeam M6r to use?
The Suprabeam M6r has one button that is used for turning off and on, as well as managing all its settings. I found this to have pros and cons, but this is one of the sections that will come down to personal preference.
The benefits of having one button control is that you can easily use it with one hand. If you need to swap to a higher setting to illuminate something further away, you don’t need to readjust your grip to reach another button.
I do sometimes consult experts when it comes to reviews, I think it’s important to get a second opinion. I have family in the fire service, who said that with its solid build and brightness. They would confidently carry this at work. So I know whatever my travels throw at me, this torch will outlive them.
I did find it hard to remember the sequence of clicks that would do what I needed though. Dimming was easy to remember, and for a while I kept switching off instead of putting it into max mode like I intended. But eventually I started to remember.
I did have to revert to the manual when I accidentally put it into its travel mode and couldn’t remember how to get it back.
Transport Lock
High-output torches generate significant heat, especially at higher lumen levels, which can become dangerous if the light is accidentally activated against a flammable surface. To prevent this, Suprabeam includes a dedicated travel mode.
To activate it, press the button once, then hold it down for five seconds. This locks the torch so it can’t switch on if the button is pressed unintentionally.
I honestly didn’t think I would need a transport lock, however I got home the other night to find the M6r inexplicably dead. I thought nothing of it, maybe I hadn’t charged it like I thought. Then a few days later I noticed light pouring out of my backpack when I had left it open. So clearly the button is getting pressed and its switching on.
The small size of the M6r makes it easy enough to bring everywhere, even if you go without a bag this torch is small enough for your pockets. The rotatable clip lets you put it in your shirt pocket and keep your hands free.
At 111g you will hardly notice the weight of this torch. I almost always have EDC with me and this is on the lighter side. It has to be if it’s going to be into a shirt pocket too. The clip always helps with packability, it’s slim and doesn’t add much to its profile, but its strong enough to clip on the outside of pockets and bags and keep it secure.
Mount It Your Way
I chose the Suprabeam M6r for its versatility. A torch is great, but one that can be used multiple ways is even better. You can handhold it like most torches, but its got a secure mounting system as well.
The first is the clip, keeping it secure in your pocket, great if you want to go hands free in a pinch. It also comes with a helmet mount for climbers or splunkers. If you are a hiker then there’s a lightweight headband with silicon dots to stop it sliding.
My favourite mount is the magnets that are perfect for sticking to my car. I came home late the other night and I still had to check a few bits on my engine. I had an early and long drive in the morning for an expo and didn’t want to leave without doing so. The magnet made it so much easier to see what I was doing. I wish the light was adjustable so I could angle it straight down into the engine a little easier though.
Value for money
Torches come at all price points, but generally you’ll get what you pay for. The RRP of the M6r is currently £109. I think the power and versatility of this torch is reasonable. It all comes down to how you use it. If you are going to use a torch occasionally and your okay to just hold it, then you may want to look at something a bit cheaper, like this one from Nebo. But if you regularly use a torch, then it’s worth the investment.
Night hikers who want something they can hold as well as wear, Astro photographers who just need a little light whilst their tripods, or even van lifers who want something they can magnetise to their car whilst they work at night. This will be perfect.
Suprabeam M6r: Final Thoughts
I really loved the Suprabeam M6r, its low profile and light weight makes it an item I would not hesitate to bring with me on any adventure. You never know when you might take an impromptu hike or adventure. And the yet despite its small size it packs a lot of power, making it indispensable piece of EDC.