Everyday Carry

Manker U12 Rechargeable Flashlight

Authored by:
Mikey Bautista
Manker U12 Rechargeable Flashlight

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While plenty of flashlights are built with toughness in mind, few of them look the part of being built like a tank, much less perform like one. Manker's U12 clearly doesn't have that problem. Thanks to both its construction and use of cutting-edge tech, it pushes the limits of the strength and performance you can get from an EDC light. Whether you're looking for awesome output, charging convenience, or simply a bombproof light, the U12's ready to roll out.

The U12's solid stature comes from its two piece construction: its tail is its only detaching piece, which means its head and optics are protected within a single unibody aluminum frame. This gives the light IPX8 resistance with up to 2 meters of impact protection, ensuring it can take a hit and keep on going. And keep on going it can, thanks to its use of a 20700 battery, whose larger size affords it 4250 mAh of power for a near-ridiculous runtime of 70 days on its Moonlight output. Paired with its Cree XHP50 II LED, the U12's also got power on the top end, able to maintain a 2000-lumen Turbo for 3 minutes before dropping down to a 870-lumen High for almost 3 hours.

The U12's rechargeable 20700 battery is rather uncommon compared to the more popular 18650 or CR123A cells, but you won't have to worry about buying a separate charger just to keep it topped up. A USB Type-C port is built into the U12's body, one of the very few lights making use of the latest hardware standard. Its direct benefit to the light is a much higher input voltage, allowing for faster charging from more powerful sources. This port sits opposite the U12's side switch which operates the light's 6 modes while doubling as a locator/battery indicator as well.

With its toughness and tech, the U12 breaks through every expectation you'd have from an EDC light. Pick one up from the Amazon link below.

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Mikey Bautista

Director of Everyday Carry Operations


About the Author
Mikey Bautista is an everyday carry (EDC) expert who has been working with the EverydayCarry.com team for nearly a decade, starting with an interest in EDC as a hobby and ending up as a writer for the site in 2014. Through the years, he’s led the site in editorial content and writing about products across every category, from knives to bags to flashlights and everything in between, as well as discovering, bringing exposure, and building bridges with many brands in the industry. Today, he is the site's Director of Everyday Carry Operations, leading the editorial team and managing day-to-day operations.

He has lived through many personal and professional lives, spending nearly a decade in the workforce management industry, a minor career in gaming, and has lent a hand with entrepreneurial efforts back home in the Philippines. He has also been an active participant and helped build a number of significant social communities online, both for EDC and his other hobbies.

Mikey has been at the cusp of gaming, technology, and the internet since the ‘90s and continues to lend his experience, expertise, and authority to all his pursuits. When not online, in a game, or watching movies, you'll find him in the gym, speedrunning his next hobby, or talking at length about EDC with anyone willing to listen.

Discussion (2 total)

Eugene Lempert ·
Not available for purchase
david issacson ·
Manker is truly disappointing from a service perspective. I purchased an E14 2 Nichia that did not operate. I had to pay to ship the unit back to Manker. They sent the damaged unit back to me claiming that there was no issue with the light. I purchased a new battery for the unit, which also did not work. They have refused to replace the light. They have said that if I want to pay to ship it back to them, they will inspect it again. The light cost $69.00 , the first return cost me $17.00. It would be at least that to return it again. Never again will I purchase a Manker.