The KC HiLiTES Flex Era 3
Story By: Kyle Callen
Photos by: Brandon Bunch
Any UTV owner will inevitably be caught in the dark. Even if it’s not intentional, rides sometimes take longer than we think, machines break down, or you are just having a blast and don’t want to come back to the trailer. For some, night rides are more fun than running during the daylight. No matter the preference, the clever-minded are those that have the right lighting on their UTV. No offense to the manufacturers, but the stock headlights on most UTVs could use some attention. But that definitely leaves the door open for companies like KC HiLiTES to continue building and improving on the great lighting products that they offer.
KC HiLiTES recently released the all new Flex Era 3. On paper, this is a stout light for how small the package is: 3,672 raw lumens that shoot 607 meters while only drawing 3.4 amps. However, we’ve learned that specs don’t necessarily relate to performance in the real world with a plethora of variables once you hit the dirt. Weather, dust, and obviously, properly aiming your lights plays a role in how well these little lights work. And when I say little, the Flex Era 3 is just 3.6 inches wide, 3.5 inches high, and only 2.6 inches deep. Compact.
Given its size, my initial reaction is that they would probably be a great light to support a bigger light bar… But after running them on the A-pillars of our Polaris RZR PRO XP, I genuinely feel that they could be used as a primary light. The spread was plenty wide to see off the trail and through the corners. They didn’t quite have the reach I was planning on, but still plenty good enough to run through the desert at 85-90% pace.
Overall, The Flex Era 3 is a great little light for the price tag. It is more than capable as a primary light and the small packaging makes it easy to place just about anywhere, opening the door as a great supplementary light. Personally, I think the styling looks great, a fresh look for the legacy brand. The amber backlight, a first for KC, is a nice touch that adds some plentiful ambient light while stopped on the side of the trail enjoying a nice beverage gazing at the stars.
