I was dieing to get a decent led flashlight for general use and even EDC. Like many here I too once considered MagLite to be THE flashlight, and in fact, was using a MiniMag as my "portable" flashlight. I knew that there was better stuff out there but I thought the MiniMag was good enough 
. I even upgraded it with a Nite-Ize tail switch and led, which did improve it a LOT, but I was aware that it was a dinosaur.
When I started to get back to knives and tools and wilderness/survival/EDC gear I knew that one of the first equipments I needed to upgrade was my light. After reading a lot of reviews and decided to get a Fenix PD30+.
. I even upgraded it with a Nite-Ize tail switch and led, which did improve it a LOT, but I was aware that it was a dinosaur.When I started to get back to knives and tools and wilderness/survival/EDC gear I knew that one of the first equipments I needed to upgrade was my light. After reading a lot of reviews and decided to get a Fenix PD30+.
Oh boy, was I impressed when I turned the thing on 
! Just unfriggin' believable how a small flashlight in this size can generate so much light! It's powered by two CR123A batteries and is pretty small, being 12 cm long and with a diameter of 2.3 cm. With batteries and lanyard it ways only 97 g, so for EDC it works very well. It uses a Cree XR-E led, that according to the instruction manual is good for 50.000 hours.
I was going to make some night shots of what it's capable of, but either my Sony TX1 or either me sucked at the attempt
, so I'm limited to just describing how it performs. It has two power modes, "general" and "turbo" mode. You twist the bezel clockwise and you're in general mode. In that mode, when you click the tail switch the light comes on in low setting. Gently press the switch again and it goes to medium setting, press again and you have high setting and once more to get in to SOS setting (flashes SOS in high setting).
These are the specs:
. Here are the specs:
. And the strobe is disconcerting to say the least. I've heard about using a flashlight's beam to disorient an opponent, but I though that was more wishful thinking then anything else. After the PD30, I reconsidered this - if done long enough (and if the person has the tendency, of course) I think it might even induce a seizure!
As awesome as turbo mode is, I really think it's for emergency use or to show off your new piece of gear. Using the flashlight at night in the house I only used it in the low setting, that made enough light. Outdoors I kept it in low, flicking it up a few times to high when wanted to see further ahead, but it was plain to see that it will be used in low setting 90% of the time.
As a bonus the seller sent me a red lens which I like to use when I'm reading at night and don't want to bother my wife. And the PD30+ is because this model comes with a pocket clip, while the regular PD30 does not, but both come with the lanyard and spare o-rings and end (button) cap.
What did I not like? Almost nothing, I have to say. The only problem that I can see are the batteries, since it uses CR123A, which aren't exactly common. Because of that, with the flashlight I also ordered four rechargeable batteries and a charger, but without a doubt it would be better if it used something more mundane like AAs.
Next week I should receive a Quark AA² Tactical (R5 Edition), so it will be interesting to compare the two of them. The main advantage of the Quark is that it uses two AA batteries, and it's even lighter then the PD30. One will be my EDC and the other will go into my grab bag. Which one?
Tell you next week...
! Just unfriggin' believable how a small flashlight in this size can generate so much light! It's powered by two CR123A batteries and is pretty small, being 12 cm long and with a diameter of 2.3 cm. With batteries and lanyard it ways only 97 g, so for EDC it works very well. It uses a Cree XR-E led, that according to the instruction manual is good for 50.000 hours.I was going to make some night shots of what it's capable of, but either my Sony TX1 or either me sucked at the attempt
These are the specs:
- Low: 10 lumens - battery lasts 65 hours
- Medium: 70 lumens - battery lasts 9 hours
- High: 125 lumens - battery lasts 4 hours
- SOS: 125 lumens - battery lasts 4 hours
. Here are the specs:- Turbo: 225 lumens - battery lasts 1.5 hours
- Strobe: 225 lumens - battery lasts 1.5 hours
. And the strobe is disconcerting to say the least. I've heard about using a flashlight's beam to disorient an opponent, but I though that was more wishful thinking then anything else. After the PD30, I reconsidered this - if done long enough (and if the person has the tendency, of course) I think it might even induce a seizure!As awesome as turbo mode is, I really think it's for emergency use or to show off your new piece of gear. Using the flashlight at night in the house I only used it in the low setting, that made enough light. Outdoors I kept it in low, flicking it up a few times to high when wanted to see further ahead, but it was plain to see that it will be used in low setting 90% of the time.
As a bonus the seller sent me a red lens which I like to use when I'm reading at night and don't want to bother my wife. And the PD30+ is because this model comes with a pocket clip, while the regular PD30 does not, but both come with the lanyard and spare o-rings and end (button) cap.
What did I not like? Almost nothing, I have to say. The only problem that I can see are the batteries, since it uses CR123A, which aren't exactly common. Because of that, with the flashlight I also ordered four rechargeable batteries and a charger, but without a doubt it would be better if it used something more mundane like AAs.
Next week I should receive a Quark AA² Tactical (R5 Edition), so it will be interesting to compare the two of them. The main advantage of the Quark is that it uses two AA batteries, and it's even lighter then the PD30. One will be my EDC and the other will go into my grab bag. Which one?
Tell you next week...
