Posted: 4/20/2007 12:08:40 AM EDT
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I have been looking at flashlights for camping and SHTF uses. I am very carefully eyeing the Fenix L2D CE. Anyone have this light? What do you think of it? How does the anodisation hold up? FENIX L2D LINK The option of 135 lumens for 2 and a half hours or 9 lumens for 55 hours seems attractive considering its running off 2 AA batteries. |
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A little piece I wrote on another forum...you'll see my review of the Fenix lights and the L2D down a little further: Here's what I'm "playing" with (well, some for fun, some for work and some for actually running in the morning with so KBR contractors don't run over me at 0500 ): Surefire Aviator (great multipurpose light) Surefire L2 (I like the hi/low features, good, but I think Cree's are better) Surefire G2 (great price, but I like LED's better) Steamlight TL3 LED (stout light, good throw and long run time, just big) Blackhawk Gladius (excellent, all the features I like, but expensive) Inova 5X (good, stout, but short range only) Spartainian (Great EDC Light, I like the hi/low option) Fenix P1D CE (excellent, small EDC light and a lot of features) Fenix LOD CE (single AAA, but a great small light) Fenic L1D CE (probably the best AA utility light I've seen) Fenix L2D CE (large-long, and can compete with many 6V lights) AmiLite Neo T5 (single 3V LED...great light) ARC AAA LED (one of the top single AAA LED's out there...fits in my Leatherman pouch) LumaPower LumaHunter M1 LumaHunter M1 Probably the best bargain...2 light levels, two different tail options...better throw than the G2 by far...both with distance and spill!!!! I really like the Surefire L2 and the Gladius, but the LumaHunter is by far the best deal. The only incandescent bulb light I will continue to use regularly is my Aviator which I carry on my should holster...opposite side dual mag/light pouch. Several informal tests show that the newer Cree-based LED lights have excellent "throw" and very good "spill". With the facts of LEDs being inherently more robust, longer battery life, don't heat up, and never (pretty much) burn out...it just makes sense to go that route. I just saw that Fenix is putting out a 6V Cree LED, the P3D CE, http://www.brightguy.com/products/Fenix_P3D_CE.php...that may be a good option as well. Speaking of Fenix...I love their 3V (single 123 battery) P1D CE, which is one of my current EDC lights (replaced the Inova 5X); it's small, I like the different levels of brightness, simple operation and can really throw out a beam if necessary. The other Fenix, the L1D CE is just an outstanding single AA light. I now have two! For a "common" battery utility light, this is it. I have a lot of flashlights, but this would be in my top 10 as a keeper. The larger L2D is a good 2XAA light. It can really compete with the typical 6V spot-beams out there, but still has the variable level options to conserve battery juice and use the appropriate light for the job. It's pretty big, bigger than the standard Maglite 2xAA lights...and it's heavier than expected. Seems to be a robust design. The only thing I didn't like about it was it was a little "slick" feeling; maybe adding some skateboard tape in a few places might help. Now, I know a lot of the computer-chip lights may be overkill for most, but consider this: most of your chores don't require a naval search light, hence, you can use much less light for most tasks, and these lights are programmed for different light levels and other options (such as strobe and SOS). I really just like a higher 60+ lumen lights for searching or blinding, but I like a much smaller 15-30 lumen for about 90% of my other tasks. Also, some don't like the other SOS and strobe options. Personally, they reduce your load if you already carry a strobe light for signaling...just something to think about. As already stated, I'm not sure the lumen ratings are consistent either, as the small singe P1D CE states an output of 120 lumen...I can't really test it, but it's pretty similar to my Surefire L2 (100 lumen) light...that's pretty impressive for something smaller than your thumb!!!! Hope that helps a little. ROCK6 |
Well, the only ones I would think would be the several 4xAA lights (UE, Princeton Tec, etc.). I don't know of too many 2xAA that come close. For backpacking, I would really look at the Fenix P1 (single AA) light if you wanted a smaller package. DevL, shoot me your POC for the Seoul P4 upgrade and let me know how it comes out...I'm pretty interested in that. ROCK6 |
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I bought the L2d CE w/ a spare L1D body - swapping out the body allows the use of 1 or 2 AA batteries. On high, it's much brighter & whiter than my surefire E2e. I'd look at the P3D (2x cr123) version out now - lots of light, multiple levels, compact design, for less than $70. My current EDC is still the Fenix L1P - serves 99% of my needs , I'll probably switch it out w/ the L1D soon enough. |
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I also like the Huntlight series of lights. You can get them at www.jsburlysflashlights.com and Jon there is a great guy to deal with. I have an older FTO2XJ that I normally run on 2AA's and it is great as a casual use light for nighttime. It also can run on a 1xcr123 light for the same brightness. I also love my SF L2. And I edc an older Fenix L1P. It's just too handy not to have on a belt! |
+1 invest in a GOOD one like a black diamond(my favorite is the Spot) or something similar. LEDs last long can be dim or bright and pic up animal eyes from very far away(reflects very wierdly off of them) I have a surefire E2d when i need to blind something but otherwise my Spot headlamp does great. |
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I have the Fenix L2D-CE and it's a great light and a great replacement for the MiniMag AA light. Pros. 1. Small 2. AA Batteries 3. Uber-long battery life. 4. Multi modes (6) with a very dim and a very bright setting. Cons. 1. Batteries rattle a little bit. 2. No temp button. Click on and off. 3. The tail cap is recessed and slick. Sort of hard to find. I upgraded all my minimags with the LED kits (Nite Eyez), but they sometimes fail to turn on and they don't have a low/long setting. |
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Fenix has just come out with two new lights that are very cool. http://fenix-store.com/index.php?cPath=61 The P2D has a Cree led and uses one cr123 battery,the P3D has a cree led and uses two cr123 batteries. They both have a reverse clicky end switch,coated ar glass lens and excellent dc-dc reuglation. They are around $55.00 to $60.00 and will be in stock shortly at fenix-store.com I know people like having AA lights hoping the batteries will be easier to aquire in SHTF scenarios but the runtimes of these multilevel lights is a huge plus. These are about the shortest clicky lights we've senn to date that are fully regulated. tim |
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How could you get rid of battery rattle? On my Arc AAA there was a foam washer thingy that stopped battery rattle. Is the rattle from the tube being long, or is it from the tube being wide enough to accomidate rechargables that can be wider than normal? Is the rattle less with rechargables? Also you guys never responded to the anodisation question. I heard a rumor the anodisation is not real strong. True or no? |
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I have the L2D ce, and personally I think its the ultimate BoB flashlight. Pretty dang nice light overall, for alot of purposes. It has settings appropriate for nearly all lighting needs. Uses the most common battery around. And if you really need to light up a situation, the 135 lumen turbo mode is "holy shit" bright. I was up on top of our building, about 50+ feet up, shining into the parking lot and was spotlighting people, freaking them out. I work nights by the way. Just to test reliability and functionality, I used the it as my work light for a week. I am an industrial mechanic, and use flashlights on a daily basis. The L2D worked out pretty good as a work light, the different lighting modes came in handy. It survived several drops from ladders and work platforms. After the week was over, the batteries were still in great shape. My regular work light is also an LED light, but I have to change its batteries at least once a week, sometimes twice. So the L2D is definatly more power efficient. I was kinda sad to put it in my BoB and have to go back to my regular work light. If I had to choose only one of my hand held flashlights to keep if the SHTF, its my L2D ce. On a side note, I have several light sources in my BoB. Main handheld is the L2D obviously, but I also have keychain lights attached to most of the zipper pulls. I have a headlamp. I will also likely have my every day carry Fenix LOD ce (truly nice mini light, 1AAA battery), and another keychain light. Cheep but decent keychain lights, 10 lights for $5, free shipping! http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.1253 EDIT: Fenix lights come with type III hard anodization, which is pretty much the most durable finish for aluminum that I know of. It will eventually show wear and tear, but does take a bit of abuse. |
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Tagged... I am looking for a couple lites as well as my BOB bag I am trying to make a AA battery only system and my current lite is the MiniMag and I really want a good AA LED hand held as well as head band style LED. I just have not found what I want like so I deal with the AA Minimags in each of the BOB bags I have for each of us at home. |
Go with a Fenix single AA CREE LED (L1D), add an extra AA battery to your kit, and use a NiteIze Headband to turn your light into a headlight. Minimags (without the LED conversion) are better than no light, but not by much. |
+1 - I've been using 1 x CR-123 lights for EDC for a few years now. First and ARC EDC LSH-P, then an HDS EDC-60GT and now a Fenix P1D CE. They just keep getting brigher, smaller and cheaper. My P1D CE was about $60 shipped. |
Really? I looked at the prices as the L1D is only $1 less then the 2-AA L2D as in this thread. I agree the minimags are not great lights and I do have a Surefire Z2 I carry with me daily as well as a couple cheaper Sams Club copies that I keep in the trucks but I know that in a crisis that Lithium 123 batteries will not be easy to find so I am trying to go "AA". For aboyt $52.50 to $53.50 both of the lights here look great so I may get two (one for my bag and one for the wife's bag but I need to prioritize my spending as I need some other gear worse then quite that high tech of a light I think. I did not upgrade my Minimags to LED however as I do want to get some better lights so investing in those lights is not a good use of what money I can spend. |
FWIW, I tried the Nite Eyez LED upgrade for the 3 D-cell MagLite. It was terrible, putting out significantly less light than the ~8 year old OEM bulb. The AA-size LED upgrade is much better. I have it in two MiniMags and both perform well. |
Quarterbore, Keep an eye out for this comapny and their product. It sounds like it will be interesting. "Zebra Lighting will be releasing a Cree based headlamp next month. Initial spec: 1AA (alkaline, nimh, lithium, 14500), aluminum body, lightweight (less than 30g without headband and battery), waterproof, 3 stage twistie, flood beam, adjustable beam angle." They said it will be announced next month... we will see. Depending on the brightness, runtime, and form factor it may be the ideal headlamp for flood to compliment something like the Fenix for handheld throw. Also, another reason I dont want a 123 light is that if it is a 2X123 and you have two batteries with different amounts of discharge/use you cannot use them in a flashlight together like you can with AA. You can make the batteries and flashlight explode. Rechargable 123s are also much more likely to explode and can start off with too high a voltage, different charge levels, can explode on the charger etc. |
| I just got the new Pentagon Molle light. It is a 40 lumen LED light that runs on a AA battery for 180 hrs. Whats nice is that it is very similar to the old angled head army light only alot smaller. It has a red or blue filter that screws on the bottom when not in use and has a small compass in the base. |