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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
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inova vs surefire
- Thread starter Fred
- Start date
I own a X5 and I currently have an E2 and E2e for evaluation.
The MAJOR difference (regarding the lamp assemblies) is that the X5 is a LED product and the Surefires are incandescent.
They are very similar in size with the X5 slightly smaller. The E2 and E2e each have pocket clips that, IMO, are both too short. Along with a machinist friend, I am currently developing a clip much like the Al Mar 2000's. The Surefire outside surface along the battery compartment has knurling for better grip. The X5 contains parallel, machined 'flutes' that, although adequate, does not allow for as good a grip.
All three use the Lithium, 3-volt CR123 battery - two each. The "nipples" of the CR123s in the X5 point to the rear of the light whereas they are towards the lamp assembly on the Surefires. The X5 requires ~1 1/3 counter clockwise rotation of the LED bezel to activate it. The Surefires use a rear momentary switch that, when rotated clockwise, the unit remains in the ON state.
The run time on the two Surefires is ~ 70-75 minutes. The X5 will stay ON for ~4 hours (the OEM claims a longer period but it becomes VERY dim after 4 hours).
The X5 is made of anodized aluminum in either silver or black. The E2 and E2e are aluminum as well and are available in Gun Metal color in Type II anodizing or that slight olive green patina in Type III (military) Hard-anodizing.
The X5 contains five either white or blue LEDs arranged in a pentagon cluster to produce a very smooth, diffused beam best suited for close-up work to about 12 feet. The two Surefires are 'bred' from a stable of tactical products. These two are considered more personal vice tactical lights. They are the smallest, 2-CR123-powered incandescent lights currently available. The throw of these products, while not as long as others, is well beyond 12 feet.
Inova plans to market a switch for the X5 similar in function to the Surefires. I have also heard of a lightweight version in polymer (or possibly carbon fiber) might be available in the future. There has been talk at the Surefire Discussion Board of a 100-Lumen, High Output Lamp Assembly (HOLA) possibly for the E2 line. There is also "hints" of a longer-range, turbo head for the E2 series. IMO, this larger 'head' would make the E2 line more difficult to EDC.
I EDC the X5. I have another Surefire model as EDC Tactical Backup, but I would not hesitate to recommend the E2 Series.
I am not employed by Surefire or Inova and DO NOT receive compensation of ANY kind for this endorsement.
The MAJOR difference (regarding the lamp assemblies) is that the X5 is a LED product and the Surefires are incandescent.
They are very similar in size with the X5 slightly smaller. The E2 and E2e each have pocket clips that, IMO, are both too short. Along with a machinist friend, I am currently developing a clip much like the Al Mar 2000's. The Surefire outside surface along the battery compartment has knurling for better grip. The X5 contains parallel, machined 'flutes' that, although adequate, does not allow for as good a grip.
All three use the Lithium, 3-volt CR123 battery - two each. The "nipples" of the CR123s in the X5 point to the rear of the light whereas they are towards the lamp assembly on the Surefires. The X5 requires ~1 1/3 counter clockwise rotation of the LED bezel to activate it. The Surefires use a rear momentary switch that, when rotated clockwise, the unit remains in the ON state.
The run time on the two Surefires is ~ 70-75 minutes. The X5 will stay ON for ~4 hours (the OEM claims a longer period but it becomes VERY dim after 4 hours).
The X5 is made of anodized aluminum in either silver or black. The E2 and E2e are aluminum as well and are available in Gun Metal color in Type II anodizing or that slight olive green patina in Type III (military) Hard-anodizing.
The X5 contains five either white or blue LEDs arranged in a pentagon cluster to produce a very smooth, diffused beam best suited for close-up work to about 12 feet. The two Surefires are 'bred' from a stable of tactical products. These two are considered more personal vice tactical lights. They are the smallest, 2-CR123-powered incandescent lights currently available. The throw of these products, while not as long as others, is well beyond 12 feet.
Inova plans to market a switch for the X5 similar in function to the Surefires. I have also heard of a lightweight version in polymer (or possibly carbon fiber) might be available in the future. There has been talk at the Surefire Discussion Board of a 100-Lumen, High Output Lamp Assembly (HOLA) possibly for the E2 line. There is also "hints" of a longer-range, turbo head for the E2 series. IMO, this larger 'head' would make the E2 line more difficult to EDC.
I EDC the X5. I have another Surefire model as EDC Tactical Backup, but I would not hesitate to recommend the E2 Series.
I am not employed by Surefire or Inova and DO NOT receive compensation of ANY kind for this endorsement.
- Joined
- Sep 30, 2001
- Messages
- 932
I have all three. The E2 is about .25" shorter than the X5 but slightly thicker in the body and about .5" greater in circumfrance at the bezel. The E1 is about 2/3 the size of the X5. Both the E1 and E2 are considerably brighter than the X5. The advantage to the X5 is the 15+ hours of burn time. The E1 and E2 last about 45 minutes to an hour. There doesn't seem to be much difference in weight between the E2 and the X5. The E2 and E1 have pcoket clips which come in handy. Also, I have the hard anodized finish on the E2 and it does hold up better. The lights are really for different purposes. If you need a relatively bright close range light with a long burn time the X5 is for you. If you need a bright light but aren't as worried about burn time or cost of batteries then the E2 is good. The E1 is better if you want a small pocket light. If you can, carry the X5 and the E2. But if you want to carry flashlights in your pants pocket, try an E1 and maybe a Photon II or Photon III.
Hope this helps.
Hope this helps.
- Joined
- Jun 23, 1999
- Messages
- 1,209
I got a pair of Inova X5 lights on the strength of this thread over here http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=192019
I also own an original Surefire 6P which is very similar to the E2 (65 vs 60 lumen rating according to Surefire's web site), and that has identical light output to a Streamlight Scorpion which I also own when they both have fresh batteries.
I have to agree with everyone else here, the two types of lights have very different purposes. The newer Inova X5 are basically the next generation in low-medium output lights, what Mini-Mags with Krypton bulbs were they came out. The Inova will, more or less, replace everything else I have for 90% of the use I have for flashlights. No they don't have nearly the light output of either the Streamlight, or the Surefire, but they put out more than a Mini Mag, and their batteries last even longer than the AA cells in the Mini!
More over, they are lighter (in weight) than the Surfire, Streamlight, or Mini Mag. Yes the batteries are a bit more expensive, but not on a per-minute of burn time basis. On top of that the Inovas are WATER PROOF (though I don't know what kind of depth they would take), and the LEDs never - to all practical intents and purposes - burn out!
I'd say the X5 represents a clean leap in flashlight technology. The Streamlight/Surefire do to, to some extent, but from an engineering perspective, they are just trading higher current for more light, something they can do only because the Lithium cells let them do it. The X5 takes advantage of some much more interesting characteristics of modern LEDs.
Back to applications, there are times when one wants to throw a lot of intense light. Those applications do exist for me too, but much more often, I have need of a flashlight to illuminate the area immediately in front of me, or in a room. Not only is the X5 illumination level more appropriate (less painful to your own eyes), but the greatly extended battery life bulb toughness makes them much more reliable, and therefore a much better choice for, for example, a jump kit.
I also own an original Surefire 6P which is very similar to the E2 (65 vs 60 lumen rating according to Surefire's web site), and that has identical light output to a Streamlight Scorpion which I also own when they both have fresh batteries.
I have to agree with everyone else here, the two types of lights have very different purposes. The newer Inova X5 are basically the next generation in low-medium output lights, what Mini-Mags with Krypton bulbs were they came out. The Inova will, more or less, replace everything else I have for 90% of the use I have for flashlights. No they don't have nearly the light output of either the Streamlight, or the Surefire, but they put out more than a Mini Mag, and their batteries last even longer than the AA cells in the Mini!
More over, they are lighter (in weight) than the Surfire, Streamlight, or Mini Mag. Yes the batteries are a bit more expensive, but not on a per-minute of burn time basis. On top of that the Inovas are WATER PROOF (though I don't know what kind of depth they would take), and the LEDs never - to all practical intents and purposes - burn out!
I'd say the X5 represents a clean leap in flashlight technology. The Streamlight/Surefire do to, to some extent, but from an engineering perspective, they are just trading higher current for more light, something they can do only because the Lithium cells let them do it. The X5 takes advantage of some much more interesting characteristics of modern LEDs.
Back to applications, there are times when one wants to throw a lot of intense light. Those applications do exist for me too, but much more often, I have need of a flashlight to illuminate the area immediately in front of me, or in a room. Not only is the X5 illumination level more appropriate (less painful to your own eyes), but the greatly extended battery life bulb toughness makes them much more reliable, and therefore a much better choice for, for example, a jump kit.