Fenix Flashlights

I have L2T for about over an year now, gifted several (close to a dozen) E01s' to family and friends, and EDC'ed an E01 for about 6 months. For the price-point, they offer the best advantage of durability, robustness, and output. But Fenix is not the only one...

...you also have EagleTac, Olight, 4Sevens, and Nitecore who offer similar priced flashlights. I have personally found EagleTac's build quality to be the strongest, while 4Sevens is the most advanced light at the best price point (mini-AA @ ~36 USD, throwing 90 OTF lumens).

Bottomline, is Fenix does offer good quality lights, but there are other options to consider too.

-Amarendra
 
Durability? I bought my first Fenix, and L1P, used, several years ago. My kids kept stealing it from me (all 3 under 9yrs old NOW), until I finally gifted it to my oldest when she was about 6 yrs old. That light is STILL going strong. It even survived a leaky Duracell AA.

After gifting it off to her, I got another Fenix, also used, an L1DCE. Much brighter, and just as durable. They've been dropped, thrown, batteries reversed, etc--all manner of abuse by kidlets, plus my own uses. Both lights are great.
 
between the Q5 and R4 - I honestly do not have a preference. They just happen to be the LED when I buy them. Both put out the amount of light I need in emergency lights, in all modes (I'm not sure I can even tell the difference between the the 2 in turbo). Having lost the original L10D was the perfect reason to pick up another. The Q5 L20D has not left my truck, so I haven't had the opportunity to test it against the new R4.

I know there are plenty of other lights out there, but I preferred the simple UI of the Fenix (same as the non-tactical 4Sevens), because the whole family can easily figure it out. Even my 3 year old.
 
I have the LD10 Q5 and it's a great high quality light. I may be parting with it soon though because it doesn't have a low enough low. If I want to check on the baby at night or preserve my night vision, 9 lumens is just a bit to much. For most activities its just right as the first mode though.
I've replaced it with a Nitecore D10 and love most things about it better. Mainly the size (smaller), low (roughly 3 lumens), longer run time, and way better user interface. Mine is the variable output R2 led model which can only be found through a Hong Kong ebay vendor although the models with low, med, high, sos and strobe would also be more desirable than the Fenix to me.

Another light I prefer slightly over the Fenix LD10 is the Quark AA. It's slightly shorter and has a great moonbeam mode. The low is also lower than the Fenix. The Nitecore D10 still wins out for me though.
 
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MVB said:
Isn't this the same question as "why all the knives?" :);):)
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Indeed.

As for the OP, I have seen many Fenix lights up close, used them, stressed them out. I just don't buy them. Not because they aren't good, they are, but I'm pretty much buying American when I can, like my knife purchases.

I'm a Surefire guy:

sf_collection_001.sized.jpg


(Not Pictured: Z2, C3, M6, M951, and 2 more 6Ps)
 
Ever since I saw a review of the LD20 (by that one Youtube reviewer everybody seems to hate :rolleyes:), I've been hooked by the flashlight bug. I need one! :D I never understood people's fascination with them until I went "camping" in friend's woods a few times. It's a handy tool when you're not in the comfort of your own home.

But, the LD20's price runs a bit steep for my liking. I've been looking at a Streamlight Stylus Pro... Anybody have opinions/reviews/stories about it to push me over into the flashlight addiction too? :p
 
RustyFenrir said:
Ever since I saw a review of the LD20 (by that one Youtube reviewer everybody seems to hate :rolleyes:), I've been hooked by the flashlight bug. I need one! :D I never understood people's fascination with them until I went "camping" in friend's woods a few times. It's a handy tool when you're not in the comfort of your own home.

But, the LD20's price runs a bit steep for my liking. I've been looking at a Streamlight Stylus Pro... Anybody have opinions/reviews/stories about it to push me over into the flashlight addiction too? :p
Click to expand...

i bought a flashlight to keep with the following

truck
wifes car
our keys
2 for the home
4 wheeler
hunting pack
camping pack
 
Rockspyder, they're made in China (unfortunate, but they are very good quality, extremely bright, and very affordable)

Rusty- I know what you mean. once you see that there are flashlights that are better than a standard mag-lite, a whole new definition of cool sets in.
 
Jake Bauer said:
Rockspyder, they're made in China (unfortunate, but they are very good quality, extremely bright, and very affordable)

Rusty- I know what you mean. once you see that there are flashlights that are better than a standard mag-lite, a whole new definition of cool sets in.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's what i figured.

oh well, saves me from running out and blowing more money. I haven't found myself wanting for a flashlight anytime lately, so I can do without.

Too bad... the Cree LED's are definitely USA made... uh... well... I think. :rolleyes:
 
I like Fenix - my first 'good' flashlight was an L2D, which I still have and still use.
Also good are:
Quark
Jetbeam
Olight
Nightcore
Zebralight
Liteflux
Surefire

I pretty much have enough different lights to give me the right tool for any job:
IMG_8386.JPG

The Fenix in the 2nd from the right in the front row. None of the Maglites in the back row are standard, some are more non-standard than others. The one on the left in the back row runs at 20.2V ~212W regulated from a 12V 90W bulb.

I do like the 1 x AA format - good size and very versatile on what it can run from. I generally use an Eneloop or an AW Li-ion because I like rechargeable power, much cheaper in the long run.

My main EDC is a Nitecore D10 R2 light - plenty bright enough, amazing UI and fits nicely in my jeans pocket. I have a couple of backup EDCs, just in case the battery runs out: Olight Ti Infinitum in the jacket pocket and a Liteflux LF2XT on the keyring.

I kinda like gadgets - including flashlights.
 
I EDC a Fenix PD20. By far, the most efficient one cell light I have ever owned. For a brighter, longer throw I carry the Olight M21. At its highest output setting, 500 lumens, throwing 200 meters. Between those two light, I have damm near all contingencies covered.
 
My P2D gets used every day. I leave it in my tool box at work. It's fallen off of lifts and out of cars. It gets oil and grease and whatnot all over it on a regular basis, and I just clean it off with some Brake Flush/ Brake Clean. Good on batteries, nice multiple modes, great output, very durable. I will certainly recommend one to anyone looking for a good light, and I'd definitely buy another in the future.
 
I meant to post this a couple of days ago, but since the thread is still active...

The best source I have found for flashlight information (at least for true flashaholics) is CandlePowerForums:
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/
The look and feel of the CP forums should be very familiar to BF members as it is the same software.

I've been a member there for years (though not as active lately). I got my first Fenix light there as a group buy organized by 4Sevens when he was just a forum member. He has since started an online business under that name (as mentioned farther up in this thread) and it is a fantastic company to do business with.

Mike
 
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