Nathan Zephyr Fire 300 Hand Torch Review

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Zephyr Fire 300 Hand Torch

Nathan Sports Visibility division has the aphorism, “See. Be Seen. Run longer.” And their Zephyr Fire 300 Hand Torch fits perfectly into this motto.

First Look

The Zephyr Fire 300 is a compact lightweight 359-lumen handsfree flashlight that has a engineered downward angle of 24° to allow full illumination of the path ahead.

Zephyr Fire 300 Hand Torch Engineered Downward at 24 Degrees

It comes with an adjustable moisture-wicking hand strap (identical to the one on the Exoshot), that lets your hand stay relaxed on the run.

Moisture Wicking Handstrap on the Zephyr Fire 300

The rear of the torch is equipped with a high-intensity red LED strobe to help you be seen by others.

Red Strobe LED at the Rear of the Zephyr Fire 300

Should the need arise there is a built-in warning siren with the activation button on the grip.

Warning Siren Sound Hole, Power Button (Light Mode Button), Siren Activation Button

The Zephyr Fire 300 recharges via a micro USB port, that is protected by a rubber cover.

Charging Port – Red Light = Charging; Green=Charged

The flashlight is classified as IPX4 weather-resistant for use in any weather, in other words don’t submerge it in water and everything will be fine.

Testing the Zephyr Fire 300

With the hand torch fully charged, it is time to test it out. Sliding the Zephyr Fire 300 on is basically like slipping on a bracelet or a watch with a snap closure, easily done. Once the hands free strap is over your wrist, a simple pull of the elastic band snugs it down comfortably around your wrist. Your fingers will fall right in line with the finger grooves that are engineered into the rubber grip on the underside of the flashlight. Here is where I question the layout of the power and warning siren buttons. Your index finger naturally falls into the first rubber groove, which is the warning siren button, for some reason my brain is programmed to think that this should be the on/off button, you will (should) quickly learn that it is Not. Even after using this more than two dozen times, I still head out the door in an early morning sleepy haze, put this thing on, hit the “power” button and let the entire neighborhood know that I am going for a run by blasting a lovely ear crushing siren. Maybe it is just me, but I would have switched those two buttons. I do see the point of not wanting to fumble around for a warning siren button if you need it. While I have not “needed” it yet, I did manage to use it and send a roaming dog the opposite direction with the alarm. Once you figure out where the power button is, holding it down for 2-3 seconds turns it on to front light mode, pushing it again adds the red rear strobe, pushing again brightens the front LED, again brightens it once more and a last push will put the front and rear lights into strobe mode. Holding the power button down for 2-3 seconds will power it down. The slight downward angle of the flashlight is perfect, it helps bring the light down towards your feet, yet the dispersion is wide and bright enough that it allows you to see 20-30 yards in front of you. The red strobe at the rear blinks bright enough for you to be seen from quite a distance away. I have used the flashlight thru rain and snow and it has shown no ill effects to the elements. The Zephyr Fire 300 rides so comfortably on your wrist and is so light, that if it wasn’t for it’s bright illumination you just might forget that it is in your hand.

Running with the Zephyr Fire 300 Hand Torch – Front LED and Rear Red Strobe

Charging and Battery

The Zephyr Fire 300 Hand Torch is rechargeable (yeah no more money spent on batteries!) with a micro usb cord, plugged into a computer or wall charger. The minimum amperage that Nathan recommends is 500mA charger, which is your common cell phone wall chargers or usb computer ports. I would personally recommend using a higher amp charger, iPad or Kindle wall charger, these usually range from 1.1A to 2.1A, and will give a more reliable and quicker charge to the flashlight. The charging port is located on the top of the unit, under a rubber cover. When the micro USB cord is plugged in, a red LED will light up to indicate charging is occurring and a green light indicates when the Zephyr Fire is fully charged. A fully depleted battery will need a charge time of about five hours using a 500mA charger. With a fully charged battery I was able to get about three morning runs out of one charge, which equates to 3 to 3 1/2 hours on max lighten.

Charging Port – Red Light=Charging Green Light=Fully Charged

Features

• Rechargeable flashlight designed for runners
• 359 lumens with 4 lighting modes
• Integrated hand strap for grip-free running
• Engineered 24-downward beam angle
• Built-in warning siren in grip
• IPX4 weather-resistant for use in any weather

Final Thoughts

The Nathan Zephyr Fire 300 Hand Torch is a powerful flashlight that not only allows you to see, but also allows you to be seen. With it’s integrated hand strap it offers up a totally grip-free and effortless carry. Throw in the rechargeability and what is not to like?  If you are looking for a high intensity flashlight to help increase your presence and safety on the dark roads or trails, look no further than the Zephyr Fire 300 Hand Torch.

For more information on the Zephyr Fire 300 and other Nathan Sports products visit www.nathansports.com or www.amazon.com/nathan.

Edge to Edge Road Reach and Radius of the Zephyr Fire 300 Hand Torch