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Fenix LD01R2, 3 Level High Performance CREE LED Flashlight
List Price: $52.00Our Price: $36.95You Save: $15.05 (29%)Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Sports See more equipment details
Equipment DetailsManufacturer: Fenix Flashlights Brand: Fenix Flashlights Release Date: 2010-02-15 Model: LD01-LED Color: Black Product features: - 3 inch length, less than one ounce weight, AMAZING 3 output types : 28 Lumens (3.5hrs)
- Uses one 1.5V AAA ( Alkaline, Ni-MH, Lithium ) battery, inexpensive and widely available
- Unbelievable 1 ounce body design is made of durable aircraft-grade aluminum
- Waterproof to IPX-8 Standard
- Virtually indestructible Cree XP-E LED (R2) with lifespan of 50,000 hours
Sports reviews of Fenix LD01R2, 3 Level High Performance CREE LED FlashlightCustomer Review: 4 AAA EDC FLASHLIGHT COMPARISON Sport shop rating: 5 Stars
I wanted a tiny flashlight that I could carry with me at all times (What good is a bulky, expensive light if it's not with you when you need it?) and that uses AAA batteries (Didn't want to buy a fancy Li-ion battery and charger just to power a flashlight.).
So after doing some research, I narrowed my choices down to four flashlights, the Fenix LD01, Maratac AAA, Maratac AAA Extreme, and the 4Sevens Preon Revo. I couldn't decide which one to get since they all seemed like great choices, so...I got all four. I figured any that I didn't want to keep could be given as gifts, and these flashlights do make great gifts btw.
I've listed my pros and cons, and my conclusion for these lights, but you should make your decision based on your personal preferences and what features are most important to you. Also, I am not a professional flashlight reviewer, and although I have learned a few things while doing my research, I don't know all the terminology, haven't taken beamshots, or made bar graphs comparing different specs. There is plenty of that already out there on the forums if you want to spend the time reading about it. I'm just a regular guy who wanted a really small flashlight with a bright light, and felt that a direct comparison of four popular choices in this flashlight category might be useful to others.
I'd like to start off this comparison by saying that all four are great flashlights and would make a great addition to anyone's EDC. All are very bright for their size, good quality, and a good value considering their usefulness. They put those old Maglites and Brinkmans to shame.
Only the Fenix was purchased through Amazon. The Maratacs are only available through CountyComm, but are made by iTC which makes the similar A3 EOS. The Revo was purchased through Survival Pax for 41 (Stainless Steel for 51) who had really, really fast, free shipping.
Note: I use Sanyo Eneloop rechargeable NiMh 750Mah AAA batteries with all my flashlights.
Fenix LD01 (Price: 39.99, Emitter: XP-G R4)
Pros: Orange Peel reflector and R4 emitter produce a very bright cool white light; the beam's bigger hotspot tapers smoothly into the spill providing a nice even profile; very high quality construction; comes with a sturdy clip that I reverse and use as a headlamp on the end of the bill of my cap (great for freeing up your hands when working in the dark)
Cons: the "twisty" configuration + lack of rear knurling + high resistance switch make it difficult to activate and switch between modes with one hand; some may not be able to justify paying 40 dollars for such a small flashlight
Maratac AAA (Price: 23.75, Emitter: XP-E Q5):
Pros: best value of the bunch; small, light, and comes with a clip; has a warm white tone and OP reflector provides an even light pattern; innovative keychain loop on the edge of the end allows it to tail stand and reduces overall length
Cons: twisty is easy to activate one-handed, but I worry that it might turn on while in my pocket; quality is not on par with the LD01 or Revo (for example, emitter is slightly off center on both of the Maratacs); though it has a clip, it's not as sturdy and doesn't fit as securely on my cap as the Fenix clip; documentation is next to non-existent, so I don't know if any of the Maratac's have current regulation or meet IP-X waterproof standards
Maratac AAA Extreme (Price: 25.95, Emitter: XP-E Q5)
Pros: Tail cap piston button for those who like having a button at the end for easy one hand operation; comes with a diffuser head for use as a lantern (a nice tip I read about is that a Chapstick cap can be used for the same purpose on the Fenix.)
Cons: longer and more bulky than the others due to its flared head; smooth reflector produces a choppy light pattern with lots of artifacts; no clip; good quality but not as good as other brands; only has two modes (low and high) which can either be a good or bad thing depending on your preference
4Sevens Preon Revo (Price: 41, Emitter: XP-E R2)
Pros: Secret Modes (S.O.S./Strobe/Beacon) are a potential life-saving feature; only slightly less bright than the Fenix but it's shorter, thinner, and weighs considerably less (you will definitely forget it's in your pocket).
Cons: not great at tail standing, expensive, no clip
Conclusion: For me, the higher quality and features of the Fenix LD01 and Preon Revo made them the best choices in this group, and ultimately, I couldn't decide on just one of these as my personal clear-cut winner. I have the Revo on my keychain, due to its small size and "light as a feather" weight, and keep the Fenix in my toolbox, since it has a sturdy clip and can hold up to a beating.
Even though I ended up giving both Maratacs as gifts, I would highly recommend the smaller Maratac AAA for those not seriously into flashlights. For less than 24 bucks, it's almost half the price of the LD01 and Revo. It's sturdy and bright enough for most people's needs. You can put it on a keychain or keep it in your pocket or purse without even noticing it. I would only recommend the Maratac AAA Extreme for those that must have a small flashlight with a tail cap button. It's larger, heavier, and not as bright as the other brands.
Initially, I had planned on getting a larger, brighter, and more expensive tactical flashlight for emergencies, power outages, etc. only after I found the perfect EDC flashlight. But now, having witnessed the incredible performance of these tiny flashlights, I'm feeling more and more that it may be totally unnecessary.
Description of Fenix LD01R2, 3 Level High Performance CREE LED FlashlightThe Fenix LD01 is extremely small, not much bigger than the AAA cell it uses. It has 3 modes: primary, low, and maximum. These modes not only allow the user to select the best compromise between brightness and runtime for any given task, but they also help to aid in an emergency. The Fenix LD01 uses just one common AAA battery and produces light compared to many other flashlights 10 times it's size. It's compact size and lightweight build, it is perfect for Every Day Carry (EDC). Moreover, its solid reliability has been strictly tested and proven. ? Cree XP-E LED (R2) with lifespan of 50,000 hours ? Three output types : 28 Lumens (3.5hrs) ->9 Lumens (11hrs) ->85 Lumens (1hrs) ? Uses one 1.5V AAA (Ni-MH, Alkaline) batteries, inexpensive and widely available ? Working voltage:0.9~1.7V ? 75mm (Length) x 14mm (Diameter) ? Made of durable aircraft-grade aluminum ? Premium Type III hard-anodized anti-abrasive finish ? 14-gram weight (excluding batteries) ? Waterproof to IPX-8 Standard ? Toughened ultra-clear glass lens with anti-reflective coating ? Reliable twist switch ? Accessories: Pocket clip, key ring and a spare o-ring ? Capable of standing up securely on a flat surface to serve as a candle ? Included accessories: clip, key ring, and a spare O-ring Small but mighty, the Fenix LD01 illuminates with up to 85 lumens with a virtually indestructible Cree XP-E LED bulb in a package not much bigger than the AAA battery it runs on. Ideal for Every Day Carry (EDC) and survival uses, the LD01 has three modes, primary, low, and maximum, allowing the user to select the best choice between brightness and runtime for any given task. In maximum mode the light delivers a whopping 85 lumens and runs for approximately 1 hour of continuous use. In primary mode the light delivers 28 lumens and runs for up to 3.5 hours of continuous use. In low mode the light provides 9 lumens for up to 11 hours of continuous use, and can be used for 2 hours a day for up to four days, making it a great survival light. The Fenix LD01 runs on just one common and inexpensive AAA battery. Compact and lightweight, the LD01 is built of durable aircraft-grade aluminum with a type III hard-anodized anti-abrasive finish and a toughened ultra-clear glass lens with anti-reflective (AR) coating. The light is easy to operate with a reliable, use-in-the-dark twist switch. Waterproof to IPX-8 Standard and backed by a 2-year warranty, the Fenix LD01 is a light you don't want to leave home without. Features: - 3 modes: maximum, primary, and low
- Ultra compact and lightweight
- Four days of survival use (two continuous hours per day on the lowest setting)
- Toughened ultra-clear glass lens with anti-reflective (AR) coating
- Durable aircraft-grade aluminum construction
- Type III hard-anodized anti-abrasive finish
- Waterproof to IPX-8 Standard
- Reliable twist switch
- Capable of standing up securely on a flat surface to serve as a candle
Specifications: - Lumens: 85 (maximum), 28 (primary), 9 (low)
- Battery runtimes: 1 hour (high), 3.5 hours (medium), 11 hours (low)
- Bulb: Cree XP-E LED (R2)
- Bulb lifespan: 50,000 hours
- Batteries: 1.5V AAA (Ni-MH, Alkaline) battery
- Size: 2.9 inches long x 0.6 inches in diameter
- Weight: 14.8 grams without battery
- Working voltage: 0.9~1.7V
What's in the Box? Fenix LD01 flashlight, spare o-ring, split ring, pocket clip Manufacturer Warranty 2 years
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