Does the Blukar Torch Really Hit 2000 Lumens? What the Tape-Measure Reviewers Found

The lumen argument that splits the reviews

The listing calls this a 2000-lumen torch. A handful of recent reviewers decided to put that to the test, and they are the most useful voices in the whole review pile.

One buyer, Scott L, compared it directly against a four-year-old 1000-lumen Ledlenser and reported the Blukar came out 'around half as bright' than a torch that, by his own admission, has probably faded with age. Another, Rob, who says he uses a torch daily for work, put it plainly: 'this is not 2000 lumens, probably more like 200.' A third buyer simply said the light 'isn't even 50 percent as bright as I expected.'

So is it dim? Not at all, and that is the nuance. The large majority of reviewers describe it as 'very bright' or 'super bright', and one called the depth of the beam 'astonishing'. The fair read is that the 2000-lumen number is optimistic marketing, the kind you should mentally discount on almost any budget torch. What you are actually buying is a properly usable, bright pocket light, just not a spec-sheet flood-lamp. For walking the dog, finding the fuse box, or lighting a pitch, that is plenty. If you need to throw a beam across a field and read a signpost 80 metres away, manage your expectations.

What the zoom and the four modes actually do

The single feature reviewers mention most fondly is the zoomable lens. A sliding collar shifts the beam from a wide floodlight to a tight spot, and people clearly love it. 'Adjustable beam so you can fill a room with light or pinpoint something,' wrote one. Another preferred the slide action to the twist-focus collars you find on rival torches, calling it 'quicker than a rotation focus.' One reviewer summed up the appeal: 'super long range in spot mode, but lower lumen at wider range, so depending on application, it's good.'

That last point matters for campers. Zoom wide for setting up the tent or finding something in the porch, then narrow the beam to spot a path or a tent peg at distance. It is a feature you would expect to pay more for.

The four lighting modes are where opinion divides. You cycle High, Low, Strobe and SOS with one button. Plenty of people never think about it, but a couple of reviewers find the cycling irritating: one noted you have to press the button four times to get back to off, and pointed out, fairly, that the strobe and SOS flashing modes are a known trigger for photosensitive epilepsy. If you just want press-on, press-off simplicity, this is not that torch. If you value an SOS Morse mode for real emergencies out in the hills, it is a thoughtful inclusion.

The reliability lottery you should know about

This is the part that needs straight talk. Of the 100 most-recent reviews, 78 are five-star and the torch sits at a strong average. But there are 11 one-star reviews in that same recent batch, and they cluster around one theme: units that simply stop working.

The pattern repeats. One buyer's torch 'lasted less than 2 months and stopped working,' despite the charging cable and socket testing fine. Another bought theirs in January and it had stopped working by the time they reviewed it, used 'almost on a daily basis for work.' A few report a green full-charge light showing while the LED refuses to come on, and several say theirs no longer holds a charge at all. One buyer working in a loft found it got 'too hot to handle after using it for about 10-15 minutes' and returned it. One more noted the rubber seal over the charging port fell off.

A recurring frustration is the warranty: one reviewer pointed out it runs only 30 days, so a failure six months in leaves you with no recourse beyond a fresh purchase. None of this means your unit will fail. The clear majority work fine, and several long-term owners report a year or more of daily use with no issues, including one who says they have 'never charged it' in six months and are still on the original charge. But at this price, with this failure rate, the smart play is the two-pack: buyers who lose one to a fault still have a spare, and that redundancy is exactly why so many reviewers say they keep one by the bed and one in a bag.

Build, battery and charging in everyday use

The shell is aluminium alloy, and it earns consistent praise for feeling solid. 'Dropped it on hard wood floors loads and durable,' one reviewer reported. Others call it sturdy, well made, and reassuringly weighty for its size, with a removable hand-strap and the usual CE and UKCA markings on the barrel.

Inside is a built-in 1800mAh battery that the listing rates at up to 16 hours of normal use, charged over the included USB cable rather than fiddly removable cells. For most owners the runtime holds up well: 'lasts a long time on one charge,' 'lasts well between charges,' and 'no batteries to replace' come up again and again. One caveat is worth flagging: a reviewer who bought the two-pack noted one torch took noticeably longer to charge than the other. As covered above, a minority report the battery failing entirely, which is the main risk to weigh.

On waterproofing, the listing markets it for outdoor use, but treat that as splash and rain resistance rather than submersion. One buyer titled their review bluntly: 'Not waterproof as stated.' Another, more measured, said it kept working out in the rain but admitted they had not dunked it in a pond to find out. For UK camping that means it will shrug off a drizzle on the walk back from the toilet block, but do not leave it sitting in a puddle in the porch overnight.

Where it fits in your camping kit

Strip away the lumen debate and you are left with a cheap, pocketable, rechargeable backup light, and that is precisely how the happiest reviewers use it. The standout uses that come up repeatedly:

• Power-cut and bedside standby. Easily the most common reason people buy two: one by the bed, one in a handbag or jacket. 'Piece of mind to have them for power cuts,' as one put it.
• Dog walks and night walks. Several owners keep one in a pocket for late-evening walks where there is no street lighting. The zoom spot is handy for picking out a path.
• Camping and fishing backup. Light enough to forget you are carrying it, bright enough for around the pitch, and one angler called it 'very handy for night fishing.' Best treated as a secondary light rather than your main lantern.
• Glovebox, work bag and survival kit. Tradespeople use it for inspection work, and its size suits a car or a small grab bag.

Who should look elsewhere? If you need a true high-output torch for serious distance, a single rugged main light with a long warranty, or one-press simplicity without mode-cycling, the Blukar is not it. For a knockabout spare that costs less than a round of drinks, it is hard to do better.

The verdict at £8.99

The Blukar is an easy torch to recommend with eyes open. You are paying £8.99 for a compact, metal-bodied, USB-rechargeable light with a clever zoom and a beam that most buyers find more than bright enough for everyday and camping use. The catch is worth acknowledging up front: the 2000-lumen claim is generous, the warranty is short, and a real minority of units fail early. Buying the two-pack neatly hedges both of those risks, which is why repeat buyers keep coming back for more.

Rated for what it is, a budget backup torch rather than a premium main light, it does the job and does it cheaply. Set your expectations at 'reliable little standby' rather than 'searchlight', and you will be one of the many happy owners.