NiteCore EA8 Caveman Flashlight Review

June 22, 2016October 30, 2022 Rusty Collins EDC, Flashlight, Gear, Gear Review, Light

Well, this review has some age on it at this point, and we’ve looked at some fantastic flashlights since then. For a more up-to-date take, check out The Best Prepper Flashlight for Emergencies and Survival.

NiteCore Flashlight Technical Info

Max Output: 900 Lumens
Max Distance: 490m
Max Intensity: 60,000 cd
Runtime: 75 minutes
Battery Type: AA (8)
Bezel: Coated Mineral Glass
Material: Aircraft Grade Aluminum Alloy
Length: 7.2″
Weight: 18.14 oz
Made In: China

What they got right with the NiteCore EA8 Caveman Flashlight

Power and battery life. The best of both worlds, right? The lumens and distance this bad boy throws on Turbo mode is ridiculous at 900 Lumens. When you do not have as much power, you press the one button on the entire flashlight to toggle to a lower setting for longer battery life- lasting a whopping 800 hours at the lowest setting! That is a month of juice from a flashlight on 8 AAs! The aluminum uni-body housing makes it lightweight and pretty tough for its weight. It tests a 1.5-meter impact and 2-meter water resistance. The sheath has a D-ring and molle velcro attachment for many ways to carry it, not just on your belt. The flashlight has a hole on the end cap for a wrist lanyard but you can still stand it on the end cap and it is very stable.

Caveman Micro Setting — Micro Setting- 2 Lumens (800 hours)

Caveman Flashlight Setting 2 — Low Setting- 50 Lumens (60 hours)

Caveman Flashlight Setting 3 — Mid Setting- 180 Lumens (14 hours)

Caveman Flashlight Setting 4 — High Setting – 590 Lumens (4 hours)

Not pictured in the settings above include the Turbo Setting (900 Lumens for 2 hours), Strobe Mode, SOS Mode, and Location Beacon. A blue light in the button on the flashlight acts as the location beacon, and the remaining charge left in the batteries. It also illuminates to show a low voltage warning. The two-stage button also lets you operate the flashlight without fully pressing the button down, allowing quick operation.

What they got wrong with the NiteCore EA8 Caveman Flashlight

Have you ever had to work on a European car? Those things can be a huge pain to do even the simplest maintenance on. Over-engineered with little regard for the mechanic. That is how this flashlight feels for the basic user. While the flashlight has a steep initial learning curve, it does come through with the functionality once you learn how it works. Another downside to the Caveman is that apparently, a few people have problems with overheating and battery leakage. I did not personally see this during my testing and can not confirm any of this, but it does give me pause if this was the flashlight I needed to use in an emergency. A few others have complained about button failure, but NiteCore has a good warranty policy.

The Verdict on the Caveman Flashlight

The Caveman is a versatile, powerful, and long-lasting flashlight that is built tough with only a few flaws. The CREE XM-L U2 LED is a powerhouse of an illuminator and, combined with the precision reflective cone, it has reach too. At TruePrepper we recommend the NiteCore Caveman flashlight as a great addition to a Bug Out Bag or Disaster Kit. Its versatility makes it useful for a variety of situations and a great everyday flashlight.