The OZtrail Lumos F300 is the small one of our two OZtrail torches. It runs on three AAA batteries, which come in the pack, gives 300 lumens and focuses from a wide flood to a long spot. We paid $35 for it. For the car we prefer its rechargeable big brother, the OZtrail Lumos FR800, but the F300 makes a handy backup.
What’s in the box
The F300 is a compact black aluminium torch with a gold bezel, a rubber Duragrip handle and a push button on the tail. It gives up to 300 lumens with a push/pull focus head, runs on three AAA batteries (included) and is rated IPX4 against splashes.
What we like
- Runs on 3 AAA, included
- 27 hours on low
- Push/pull focus: flood to spot
- Rubber grip sits nicely in hand
- Compact, 132 g
What we don’t
- Spare batteries to carry
- 300 lumens, only two modes
- IPX4: splashes only
Quick Specs
| Spec | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | OZtrail |
| Material | Aluminium bodyRubber grip |
| Weight | 132 g |
| Size | 11.6 × 3.5 cm |
| Brightness | 300 lumens (high)30low |
| Modes | High and low |
| Run time | 5 h high27 h low |
| Battery | 3 × AAAincluded |
| Water rating | IPX4 |
AAA batteries
The three AAA batteries sit in a holder inside the handle: unscrew the tail cap, slide the holder out and swap the batteries. That’s the F300’s strength and its catch. When it goes flat, fresh batteries have it working straight away, with no waiting for a charge, and it lasts 27 hours on low. But you do need to keep spare batteries around.
That’s why the rechargeable FR800 is the one we keep in the car: with our solar setup we can always recharge it. The F300 is the one to throw in the glovebox or an emergency kit with a few spare AAAs.
Cycling the modes
The one push button on the tail cap does everything. Before the first use, check the Power Lock: the tail cap has to be twisted fully tight, or the torch won’t come on. Loosen it a little and the circuit is open, so it can’t switch on in your bag.
Two modes, on the included AAA batteries:
How to get there:
- Switch
- The push button on the tail cap
- Twist the tail cap fully tight to unlock the Power Lock.
- Click the button once: the torch comes on high.
- Click again and it switches off.
- Click a third time within a few seconds: it comes back on low.
- Half-press the button while it’s off to preview the modes.
- Twist the tail cap back to lock it before it goes in a bag.
With only high and low, it’s simple: high for seeing where you’re going, low for around camp, where the batteries last up to 27 hours.
Focusing the beam
It’s handy that you can focus the beam. Push the head in towards the handle for a wide flood, or pull it straight out for a tight spot that reaches further. OZtrail rates it at 99 m on high, and for a small torch it has a good throw.
Build and grip
The build quality feels really good for a $35 torch. The body is aluminium, OZtrail rates it to survive a 1 m drop, and the rubber Duragrip handle sits nicely in your hand. It weighed 132 g on our scale with the batteries in, and it’s rated IPX4: fine in the rain, but not for a swim.
F300, FR800 or FR1200
The F300 is the smallest of OZtrail’s three Lumos torches, and the only one on batteries. The FR800 and FR1200 are rechargeable by USB-C and much brighter, with a third mode; the FR1200 is basically the FR800, just brighter, and longer and heavier with it. It was $45 at Anaconda when we checked.
| Tested Lumos F300 | Tested Lumos FR800 | Brighter Lumos FR1200 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rechargeable | No | Yes | Yes |
| Power | 3 × AAA | USB-C, ≈3.5 h charge | USB-C, ≈4.5 h charge |
| Beam distance | 99 m | 165 m | 170 m |
| Modes | High & low | High, medium & low | High, medium & low |
| Brightness | 300 lm | 800 lm | 1,200 lm |
| Run time on high | 5 h | 3 h | 3 h |
| Run time on low | 27 h | 12 h | 13 h |
| Length | 11.6 cm | 14.7 cm | 22.2 cm |
| Weight | 132 g | 219 g | 301 g |
| Shop | Amazon | Amazon | Anaconda |
Read our Lumos FR800 review for the rechargeable version.
Conclusion: OZtrail Lumos F300Conclusion
The OZtrail Lumos F300 is a compact, well-built torch that runs on AAA batteries. It gives 300 lumens with a good throw for its size, focuses from flood to spot by pulling the head out, and the rubber grip sits nicely in your hand. It lasts 27 hours on low, and fresh batteries have it working straight away. You need to carry spares and it only has two modes, which is why we keep the rechargeable FR800 in the car, but as a $35 backup for the glovebox or an emergency kit, the F300 does the job. It’s the best AAA torch in our best torches guide.
A compact, well-built torch that runs on AAA batteries.
The OZtrail Lumos F300 gives 300 lumens with a good throw, focuses from flood to spot by pulling the head out, and lasts 27 hours on low. We prefer the rechargeable FR800 for the car, but the F300 is a handy backup: swap in fresh batteries and it’s ready.
- Car campers
- Emergency kits
- Day trips
Yes, as a backup or for the glovebox. $35 with batteries included gets you a well-built torch that's ready the moment you swap in fresh AAAs.
