Fenix TK11 vs. Surefire W2D LED..

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Dr Heelhook

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Jul 24, 2007
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I'm planning on purchasing a tactical flashlight.

I had my mind set on a Surefire E2D LED, but then I saw the Fenix TK11 with seemingly equal or even better features, yet sporting nearly half the price of the Surefire.

What exactly are you paying extra for with the Surefire? Is it simply better built and longer lasting than the Fenix or are there any other features that makes it worth the money? Or is it just the name you're paying for?

I'd like someone who has tried and used both lights extensively to answer.
 
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I've used a good deal of Fenix's... I no longer own any. I own a lot of Surefires.

Fenix's are cutting edge, but theyre construction is not what a Surefire is.

You get what you pay for. Surefires are bomb proof and enginnered to be utterly reliable no matter the situation. Fenixs are made to be cutting edge and more value oriented.

Also SF under rates their lum's so given an equal brightness its gonna be brighter and probably throw further.

I suggest searching to find alternate takes. A lot of people like Fenix... for good reason.

You cant really go wrong with either, unless dependability in any environment is your only concern, then go SF.
 
I haven't used a Fenix yet, but that's mostly because I find no need to. That, and I like to buy Made in the USA gear. If you'll allow, I'd like to give my opinion.

SureFire has a very very good reputation for building "tactical flashlights." Their bright, they work, their indestructible. They build the flashlights to an exacting standard that never deviates. Any problems, they will fix. Bulbs, batteries. Those are the only things they don't cover.

They are also incredibly honest. If they say (E2DL Defender, which I own) is going to give 120 Lumens for 1.9 hrs, then it's going to give you 120 Lumens for 1.9 hours, and the it will gradually decrease. I left my E2DL on over night, on high, just for kicks once. I woke up in the morning to a very usable light. It near matched the brightness of my E1B. A bit dimmer, I'd put it at 60 Lumens. That's after 8 hours.

Most manufactures (Fenix, Inova, Streamlight, etc) use confusing terms such as candle power, distance, and LED ratings. I recently got a Streamlight at a local REI type store just for comparison, and it's "36 hour" rating was total crap. Sure the light was on after 36 hours, but I couldn't see a damn thing.

Go with the SureFire, and you won't be disappointing.
 
i think for utility lites fenix is great and lots cheaper than SF, and have heard the fenix tactical lite is good too, but SF lites are built better, and imho are a little better for a tactical lite ( tac lite to me is a lite used in conjunction with a pistol, to illuminate a target).

i wouldnt get a E2D though because its an incandescent bulb which can break/blow out, i dont buy anything anymore which isnt LED, and IIRC all fenix's are LED, but the best surefire LED lites are for a taclite the L4 and for a utility lite a L2 which can almost possibly be used in both roles, but i really prefer the L4.
 
SIFU1A said:
i think for utility lites fenix is great and lots cheaper than SF, and have heard the fenix tactical lite is good too, but SF lites are built better, and imho are a little better for a tactical lite ( tac lite to me is a lite used in conjunction with a pistol, to illuminate a target).

i wouldnt get a E2D though because its an incandescent bulb which can break/blow out, i dont buy anything anymore which isnt LED, and IIRC all fenix's are LED, but the best surefire LED lites are for a taclite the L4 and for a utility lite a L2 which can almost possibly be used in both roles, but i really prefer the L4.
Click to expand...

I was planning on getting the LED version of the E2D :).

Yeah, I suspected the Surefire would be a little better built. Thanks for the replies y'all.
 
Yeah. The L series it a bit pricey, in my opinion, and a little outdated. Not enought output or runtime. Let us know how you like it. :)
 
I have a older fenix T1 and a new E2DL, the fenix is built real well but it has a slight switch problem and the way you change from high to low mode IMO sucks. The E2DL is much smaller and lighter and has a brighter hot spot that throws further than the Fenix, The switch is also much better. You get what you pay for is very true when talking about surefires.

If you get the E2DL you can use rechargable batteries found here
http://www.all-battery.com/6rcr123a...eablebatterieswithasmartcharger-specials.aspx
 
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