Need a New Flashlight!

N

Nick15

Joined
Sep 9, 2010
Messages
240
I am in need of a new flashlight. I have been through two Fenix LD20's and let me tell you, those things are a pieces of crap! They both have had the same exact problem; that being the different modes stop working! I'm guessing that the circuit boards in this particular flashlight are just cheap and crap out after about 3 months or something similar to that....I don't know... I do know that when I tried to contact the Fenix customer support though e-mail, I got a reply filled with incorrect grammar that pretty much told me that I was screwed. I ended up taking it to a local gun show and got one of the Fenix vendors to swap it out for a new one. Same thing happened, so now here I am again. When the flashlight worked, I liked everything about the light. I liked the user interface and the flashlight itself felt very well made, but apparently it is just cheap, unreliable garbage. At the moment, I am looking at Surefire for my next flashlight purchase. To be more precise, I am looking at the Surefire 6PX Pro. I hear that Surefire is about the highest quality production flashlight manufacturer around and has excellent customer service to back their products up. That's exactly what I need-a flashlight that I can undoubtedly rely on. I am still open for recommendations though. The Fenix I had did everything I needed it to brightness wise so I really don't need anything brighter, but wouldn't mind having a few more lumens. Also, I want the price to stay under $100 dollars. I really don't need a bunch of useless modes like the Fenix had because I mostly use the lowest and highest settings. I would like to have a stobe mode thrown in, something the Surefire doesn't have, but it is not a necessity because I really never use it.

That's about it. If you have any questions about the thread don't hesitate to ask! All comments are welcome!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Take a look at the Maglite XL100 and XL200. I like the Surefire lights but they cost a fortune to operate when batteries cost a buck apiece and burntime is only 2 hours. The XL200 runs for 2.5 hours, the 100 runs for 5 hours on 3 AAA batteries. The cost is about 1/3 of the 6PX too. That difference in price can buy a lot of batteries.
 
I'll just stick with my minimag and 2 rechargeable AAs. Hasn't failed me yet
 
Interesting...I didn't even think to look at Maglites.....definitely some options that I will consider.
 
Nick15 said:
Interesting...I didn't even think to look at Maglites.....definitely some options that I will consider.
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Don't even consider the none led one- it's a waist of time

Forgot to mention LED minimag in my original post
 
surefire E2L-AA
uses 2xAA, high/low interface.
it costs more than what you want to spend, but surefires have a lifetime no-hassle warranty.

ive taken apart my E-series surefires and its design, and construction are top-notch.

since you mentioned the 6PX im assuming you dont mind using CR123 batteries.
with that, i would pass on the 6PX, or any of those models. they are very good for the price.
but if you want more durability, id suggest something like a 6P, Z2, C2 or even E2DL, LX2.

Malkoff MD2 with high/low ring and any malkoff drop-in would be the best option imho. total price for that set-up is under $150.
malkoffs are made in the USA, theyve been around for awhile and are a smaller company. and have a great lifetime warranty, as well as customer service.
imho, the malkoffs are even more durable than the 6P.

the MD2 can also use rechargeable 18650 li-ion. the surefires need to be bored out to fit those cells.
 
Flash Owl said:
surefire E2L-AA
uses 2xAA, high/low interface.
it costs more than what you want to spend, but surefires have a lifetime no-hassle warranty.

ive taken apart my E-series surefires and its design, and construction are top-notch.

since you mentioned the 6PX im assuming you dont mind using CR123 batteries.
with that, i would pass on the 6PX, or any of those models. they are very good for the price.
but if you want more durability, id suggest something like a 6P, Z2, C2 or even E2DL, LX2.

Malkoff MD2 with high/low ring and any malkoff drop-in would be the best option imho. total price for that set-up is under $150.
malkoffs are made in the USA, theyve been around for awhile and are a smaller company. and have a great lifetime warranty, as well as customer service.
imho, the malkoffs are even more durable than the 6P.

the MD2 can also use rechargeable 18650 li-ion. the surefires need to be bored out to fit those cells.
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I took a look at the Malkoff's and I like them, but your saying that I would have to buy Malkoff's drop-in parts to make it equivalent to say the 6PX? What would it be like w/o the drop-ins? Their site doesn't have much info, so I don't know much about them. I really would prefer to just buy a flashlight that's ready to go rather then have to buy things for it.

Also, when I said I want durable, I don't mean I need a bomb proof flashlight. I'm not a soldier deploying in Iraq or some place like that where my flashlight might go through extremely harsh conditions. I just want a flashlight that will serve me well and not crap out on me like my Fenix when I need it on a 4-wheeling trip or something. It just needs to stand up to everyday things like drops and the occasional ride in my ATV's cargo bag.

Anyways, back to the Surefire 6PX Pro, why would you pass on it? I don't see any reason why it would be any less durable then any of the other Surefires....and I really don'y want to go over the price of $100 bucks on a Surefire, Malkoff, or any other light....For what I do, I just don't see a need for a $150 flashlight when my Fenix (when it worked) did everything I needed it to do for 60 bucks.
 
Sorry to hear you had problems with Fenix.

I own several and have bought a few for gifts and not a single one has ever had a problem.

It's like anything else mass produced you are bound to get a lemon now and then , too bad for you that you got two. :)

Tostig
 
Tostig:

Which models do you own? My dad owns a TK-15 and hasn't had any issues, but even with that said, I don't think I could bring myself to buying another Fenix considering how their customer support (what customer support?) just blew me off and apparently since I got two lemons in a row their quality control sucks too.
 
My Surefire E1B has kicked all other lights from my pocket and I haven't had a thirst for a new light at all in the last 9 months since I've been carrying it. It's just plain outstanding and will easily outperform an LD20, and I am saying this out of personal experience with both and others. It's a perfect EDC light worth every penny. Love the 2 way clip too. I did end up accidentally bending the clip, though, but Surefire sent me a new one at their cost entirely and it came 4 days earlier than they said it would. Outstanding.

It's a pricey way to go, but worth it. Any SF with the TIR lens is an outstanding light that will out throw much brighter lights. Mine outperforms all the others I own. I also had a 6PX Pro and it was good but didn't have the TIR optic so didn't throw as far, still a tough light though.
 
I'll have to go look in my bag , gimme a sec...

allrighty. I have one PD20 which is neat little CR123 light , I've had it since early spring. I have one E05 ( i thought it was an E01 , gaahhh) and it's a cute little light , very rugged but not real bright. I have two L1S , this is the model that I have gifted , short story long - a store in my city had them on clearance earlier this year for $12 a pop so I bought as many as I could afford , kept two and gifted the rest.
All the one's I have bought have worked fine.

I've bought el cheapo chinese AAA lights that I've had for a few years that still work great , which makes me think you happened across some lemons and I know it can be a putoff , especially when the customer service in non-reponsive. On a funny note I bought a cheap Chinese AAA for a buck solely because of the text on the light , it is the Blake Cat ( with a pic of a cats head ) and it's Made in Gemeny ! M fiance and I laughed so much at that I just had to buy it :) It works great , sometimes you have to slap it on a solid surface but hey... it was a buck... :D

Tostig



r0sec0.jpg

Cool EDC , Fenix and Kershaw :) :)
 
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I think I may have decided on the Olight M20S-X Warrior. I looks great and is supposed to back a 500lm punch! I'll have to research it a little more, but feel free to look it up and tell me what you think!
 
I would get a regular M20S, not the XM-L one. The XM-L has a higher lumen rating, but it won't throw very far. More of an area light. Even though the regular one is much less bright, it throws the beam much farther. The XP-G LEDs lend themselves better to throwing than an XM-L any day of the week.
 
Just bite the bullet and get the M6LT 900 lumens. I ended selling off my other two because they ate batteries, but this one is LED.
 
IMightBeWrong said:
I would get a regular M20S, not the XM-L one. The XM-L has a higher lumen rating, but it won't throw very far. More of an area light. Even though the regular one is much less bright, it throws the beam much farther. The XP-G LEDs lend themselves better to throwing than an XM-L any day of the week.
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Thanks for the info! I really don't have a clue when it comes to flashlights, all I can do is go by reviews and recommendations. I think I'll shoot for the regualar M20S. Is this by any chance the one that your referring to?

http://www.amazon.com/Olight-M20S-R5-Warrior-Premium/dp/B003JPS4L0
 
Try cleaning the contacts on the Fenix. Scrub off the top threads (the ones the head screws onto,) with a stiff toothbrush, and maybe hit the exposed metal at the top with some fine sandpaper (400 grit or higher.) Inside the head, there are two metal contact points, one in the center, and one around the outer rim of the board. Hit those with a Q-Tip, and maybe a little buffing compound if you want to be really thorough. Repeat cleaning processes with any exposed metal on the tail end of the tube, and inside the switch cap.

That might help. Anytime I've had trouble with a Fenix (not often,) cleaning the contacts has brought it back to good. I hope it helps in your situation:)
 
proud2deviate said:
Try cleaning the contacts on the Fenix. Scrub off the top threads (the ones the head screws onto,) with a stiff toothbrush, and maybe hit the exposed metal at the top with some fine sandpaper (400 grit or higher.) Inside the head, there are two metal contact points, one in the center, and one around the outer rim of the board. Hit those with a Q-Tip, and maybe a little buffing compound if you want to be really thorough. Repeat cleaning processes with any exposed metal on the tail end of the tube, and inside the switch cap.

That might help. Anytime I've had trouble with a Fenix (not often,) cleaning the contacts has brought it back to good. I hope it helps in your situation:)
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Thanks! I'll give it a try tomorrow!!!
 
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