Maxtoch Review - Impressed

For the past few years I've been watching the Maxtoch thread on both this and the other forum where I've been a little skeptical on what these torches can do but time and time again people who have no affiliation with the brand have spoken in aw of the torches and been converted.

I'm now one of those!

So the other week after hearing a bit about the M1 Archer I contacted Mike who was prompt in his communication, we chatted over the phone to decide what was best for my purpose as I was keen to start with another headlamp H101R and an M1 Archer.

So the other night I paid the money and as quick as that a parcel was dropped off by the mail woman while I was heading out the door to work so I only got to have a quick look as I did not expect it so soon.

You know how it is when a new toy arrives as your only too keen to have a play with it but it was the wrong time of the day to have a thorough look and test.

When I got home this evening I got to have a better look and play in the dark which is where these torches truly shine... forgive the pun!

No fancy packaging which I don't mind as that gets discarded right away and what really counts is the product and service.

https://i.ibb.co/zmt5Bjk/IMG-0799.jpg

Recharging gear

https://i.ibb.co/Dbgn1mT/IMG-0800.jpg

M1 Archer

https://i.ibb.co/Rc0rTg8/IMG-0803.jpg

Dam that M1 is small!

https://i.ibb.co/VNnqcHw/IMG-0802.jpg

H1O1R

https://i.ibb.co/THZSQ9S/IMG-0804.jpg

First Impressions are the M1 is small so I had to wonder does it deliver, it's a solid yet lightweight but well made torch so I put in a battery, took it outside and Fark me senseless does it shine bright so I was one happy little camper!

I wasn't in a proper environment to truly test it but I took it out on the street and lite up a building 200-225 metres away with ease which is more than enough for bunnies and being only a small torch that fits in my hand does it pack a punch!

This torch now makes my Lightforce spotlight redundant!

H101R, again this unit with battery is light, the harness strap system is robust, adjustable and lightweight so it's sits there on your head quite comfortably I might add. Maxtoch even build in a little reflective tab on the back of the strap which I thought was a nifty idea.

Once I fired up the torch I took it outside and again I was impressed by the light it emitted as my other headlamp I use is a LED Lenser but the problem with those is the battery clips keep breaking where as with the H101R its a screw seal.

At the moment the batteries are recharging and next week I'll get both torches out for a play at night. Mike will send me a scope mount for the M1 Archer when more stock becomes available but to say I'm very, VERY HAPPY with the purchase is an understatement. :thumbsup:

In the famous words of Tim the "Tool Man" Taylor from Home Improvement.... "More Power!" I'm thinking I might need the X2 :D

Thanks for the review and vote of confidence. I’m pulling the trigger on an M1 next week.
Cheers Cliff

I am in the same boat, having just got my Archer today.
Unlike you, I was already a convert, having had a H101r as well as a Sniper m24 for a while.
I charged the new batteries up and did a quick comparison test just a few minutes ago.
The Archer is very impressive for its size, although it seems about on a par with the m24 when tested at around 250 mtrs, which is as far as I can get line of sight here. Too many bloody trees around ;)
I think it will more than live up to the hype as my go to possum light, when I get a scope mount.
The scope mount I have been using on the M24 does not fit the Archer, as it has a thicker tube.

Great review - thanks 7. Really looking forward to taking my M1 out after late lambing finished here in Cantab.

The Maxtochs have been designed or field developed by kiwi hunters - by guys from this and the other site. That's why they're relevant and work for our conditions. They come from our conditions. And once there's a prototype it gets field tested by more boys here - Colin (Rugerman) did some testing on an M1 prototype recently and came back with suggestions re modes etc. These get done.

The Maxtoch techs are brilliant too - very willing to listen and ready to innovate. We tell them exactly what we want but they really do get reflector geometry and circuit (driver) board design right for top performance. We also use absolute cutting edge 2020 tech - eg the Luminus SST40 LED in the wee Archer - brilliant new LED for that torch.

Brian (gadgetman) and I have alot of fun - as do other boys involved. Bear in mind no Maxtoch is ever a finished product. If anyone has a flash idea - it'll get put into a model and make it even better for guys up in the Wairarapa, over in Gisborne, down in Waimate, over on the Coast or wherever the hell they're used. :)

Hey Pengy - M24 and M1 Archer both have standard ring 25mm sized tubes - take same mounts..

The beauty of these torches is that they have been designed to meet Kiwis' requirements, with a company that was keen to adapt their techniques and processes to make a better product. How many kiwi companies do that ?
Since Muddy and the other gadget junkies have tweaked the torches into near perfection, it's getting very hard to suggest any changes other than cosmetic.
Although of course there may always be a new super uber led or fairy dust that make these chips seem like the outdated lenser ones.

Just talking to Brian about the wee HO1R headlamps 7/10 mentions above - very popular little all-purpose lamp. We hear all the time of people's led lenser head lamps breaking - wires/connects etc.

A check over 5 years shows only one HO1R fail. I like that. Very sturdy reliable wee unit.

@mudgripz.
Yeah, my generic torch mount works fine on the M24, but wont quite work on the archer.
I use the thinner part of the tube on M24 for torch mount.
Not a biggy. One can live on the 308 and one on the 22 ( when you get them in stock)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mudgripz

Bear in mind no Maxtoch is ever a finished product. If anyone has a flash idea - it'll get put into a model and make it even better for guys up in the Wairarapa, over in Gisborne, down in Waimate, over on the Coast or wherever the hell they're used. :)

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I've seen a feature on other lights that I quite like. A mode selection button on the head, with very dim led's shining through the switch boot indicating the remaining battery charge.

I have a real cheapy led torch that has the sliding head style zoom on it. I really like the feature as you can search on broad beam then simply zoom to target .

My HO1R's turned up today. Thanks @mudgripz. Really well made little units. Waiting for bats to charge and then I'll give them a go.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bobba

My HO1R's turned up today. Thanks @mudgripz. Really well made little units. Waiting for bats to charge and then I'll give them a go.

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Dont put it on high in an enclosed area. It will blind you with the rebound :thumbsup:

Pengy - thanks for thought but actually we don't use zoomie tech anymore.

We use high performance LEDs in very carefully designed reflectors which give both long centre throw plus spill at every distance. Zoomie (aspheric lens or collimator head) torches have much less efficient light capture, and when you zoom them out they are useless for scanning paddocks. We design the Maxtochs for beam balance - long throw plus good spill at all ranges.

Quentin - I like the idea. We're also pondering little fluoroscent rings to put round tube so you can find torch in the truck, and maybe some cool colours.

Received my M1 Archer kit from @mudgripz on Wednesday,very prompt delivery and great to deal with.Had a quick play that evening and was quite impressed.Lit up deer fence 230 m away and would probably have shown animals if they had been handy, lit up some trees at 430 meters. overall this light shows some promise. Hope to try it out properly this weekend.

re fluoro....trademe ....wee bag of fluro powder and some clear nail varnish from $2 shop....or pink if you prefer....my GPS has pink and blue with the powder spinkled trough it...works a treat.

Finally got out for a tinker with these torches and found both torches awesome!!!!

M1 Archer - that thing is awesome and perfect for what I want to do with it which is bunnies and possums on the .17 HMR. The scope mounts for it turned up but as yet I haven't put them on but will shortly and then put up a photo to show. The Archer throws out a tremendous amount of light from such a small torch and will light up anything out to 200 no problem. We picked up deer the other night out at 370 mtrs but had to be alot closer to make proper identification but these were only farmed deer so they were safe.

H01R headlight is great, I took it out along with my LED Lenser for comparison. the LED Lenser has served me well over the years and it's always been my go to headlamp even though we own a few but now the H01R supersedes it and is my new headlamp where I'll need to order another because when my youngest sees it... he's gonna want it.

I like the way the headlamp puts the light out, no focus ring, simple on/off with different power settings where it's a solid unit. My only criticism would be the function to hold the "on" button down long enough that the headlamp is locked in the "off" mode from accidentally turning itself "on" while in your pack/bag.

Anyway... I'm really stoked with the purchase.

Im loving the wee archer..took my thick ol brain a bit to work out the modes on switch,now its sunk in its awesome to use,point at ground lightly push switch till power level I want comes then click...so simple.

Seventenths - when headlamp or torch is in your bag, take a few seconds to loosen tailcap couple of turns until it can no longer switch on. That way it can't turn on from a bump.

370m is a bloody long way to be picking up a deer with a tiny light - even if it wasn't a full body ID!! :)

Used my HO1R tonight. When busy the switch set up took a bit to get used to. Useful throw of light in all the modes. Not really a light for spotting just more for walking I feel. Compact, no wires that’s a bonus. Even though it’s adjustable (sort of) for direction ie up or down it’s not the easiest to use. Possibly that’s just a hang over from using the Led Lenser. My thoughts only.


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Finally got the M1 Archer out last night bunny shooting where I started off just after 9:30 pm where the battery for the Archer wasn't 100% full.

I used it scan an area and once bunnies were sighted it was turned on and depending on range depended on how bright I needed it, bunnies lined up and then shot and then moved repeating as a went. The battery lasted me until just after midnight where I had a spare battery and kept going.

The combination of the Archer on the .17 HMR was just lethal and gave me more than enough light and didn't even make the rifle feel heavy or cumbersome.

The H01R headlight was awesome and it never went flat for the whole night and I know that battery wasn't fully charged either but put out a tonne of light to spot bunnies out in the paddock and is my new favorite headlight.

Looking forward to shooting more bunnies again with this awesome wee combination of Maxtoch lights.

Just some of the haul of 60+ bunnies, 1 hare, 6 possums.

https://i.ibb.co/1GWSwQ0/IMG-1316.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/jbgDB2Y/IMG-1299.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/FhDQ8Jj/IMG-1304.jpg