New Flashlight (Fenix LD01 replacement)

lutejones

lutejones

Joined
Mar 15, 2007
Messages
728
Hey guys,
my poor fenix ld01 is getting old and beat up, here it is with pocket companions, besides, a battery leaked and ruined the electric contact on the head.
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I bought a fenix ld02 for my father and also to test it, but is more or less the same light.
Anyway I've been "studying flashlights 101" on the internet this past weekend (edcforum, candlepower, ggear, etc) but there are too many features for a newbie to understand right away, just as if a guy comes to bladeforums to find a new knife, his head could explode with lock types, steel types, manufacturers, etc. and I don't need another collection or hobby, only a pocket tool.

-What I like about fenix ld01:
size, weight, easy access to medium mode, easy one hand operation, low mode brightness
-What i don't like about ld01:
medium too low, max brightness low runtime, greenish tint.

So here we are:
budget up to $100
lenght 4" max
width <1" (slimmer better)
primaries(alkalines, lithium or NimH),
modes: medium ~75 lumens/3-4h runtime, low <10lumens, bright mode >170 lumens
wide or narrow flood
neutral white (nice option but not super important)
durability very important
It doesn't matter clicky or twisty, but I like the idea of been able to enter the different modes directly, without cycling through.

final thoughts:
so far I've seen a ton of lights and my head is a mess, but I think anyone in this picture could fit

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But I don't know if there are other options with slimmer batteries AA or AAA that would fit.
I don't want to get a super pocket rocket, but seeing specialised forums guide you to forget that sometimes simpler is better and I've seen Olight s10 or Zebralight that are nice too.
nitecore sens seems interesting...
Help me please
 
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I like my foursevens quark pro w/ burst qp2l-x but if you want less than 4 inches and the ability to get to a setting without cycling the quark tactical QTL may be right for you.
 
Check out the Fenix e12. I just got one and love it. Very small and runs on a single AA. The low I think could be a bit lower so that might be just right for you since yours was too low. Its a simple 3 mode light... Low, Med, and High and puts out 130 Lumens on high which I find more then enough for all my needs. Looks very similar to your current light. Click to turn on (comes on in low which is actually just about all I use) and just tap once for med and tap again for high. Best thing about it... it was only around $27 on Amazon.
You can never go wrong with a Fenix! I've been taking this thing everywhere with me.

the low I believe is 8 lumens, don't remember med but high is 130 and I
s pretty damn bright
 
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2uxxojd.jpg

here it is next to my bk14 (only pic I have) I can take more if you are interested in buying one
 
Check out the EagleTac D25C XML2. My current favorite EDC. One CR123 battery, tiny and light and does over 400 lumens. Lots of levels for different situations and strobes. Around 55$ on Amazon. You will not be disappointed, in fact you will most likely be amazed.
 
Have had a Zebralight SC52W for a while and love it. Use it every morning and night in the winter walking to and from the train. Great output, useful beam shape, good color rendition.
 
I have a Fenix L1D that I have had for years with no problems and plenty of light to look around outside at night with = but it is "old"..!! lol
The Fenix E11 is on my night stand just for the heck of it and my Fenix LD20 is under my Pillow with one of my "Toys"..!
I like the Fenix line as they have never let me down.!
Think I will try the e12 - BRIKK = and see how I like it and will let you know { lutejones } what I think.!****
 
Its an amazing little light! Especially for the price. Really surprised me! Its my new edc light.
 
Hey guys, thanks for the suggestions so far,
I've been looking at the fenix line, and another 2 great options could be the PD22 (89x21,5mm, great mode separation) and the new LD09 (92x19mm, basically a AA version of the LD02, same size as E12)
eagletac d25 is a great option in AA and CR123a and zebralight too.
The more I look at it the more I'm leaning towards giving less importance to max output (don't need 400 lumens for EDC, even though it's cool) to favour various medium modes with better runtimes.
keep it coming guys

Mateo
 
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I've had a 4Sevens Mini ML on my keychain for about 2 years now. It's gone through quite a bit in that time, but it's still going strong, and I love that it has both a high max output and a high max runtime, depending on the setting.
 
Just got a D25C last week and love it. I'm sure the D25A is great as well.

Actually went from the LD01 to this. Still carry the LD01 in slacks. Yours looks well loved.
 
...and if you rather not have a clicky, but a twisty, then the L10 has the same specs as its clicky brother...

 
If you don't mind twisty on/off the new E05 is another option to look into. Just got one, and its an interesting light. Not as floody as the old E05, the color is good, the low is very low and the bright is quite decent.
I think it will get lots of pocket time on a day to day basis for me.
 
Hey guys, sorry for being so long and thanks for all the advice.
I ended up buying two lights :D
first:
I bought a Pd22 because I needed a backpacking light and this way I tried some things to help in the EDC decision: the bulk of a 22mm diameter light, amount of lumens, etc. The light is amazing but is kind of an outdoors light, the smooth reflector gives too much of a throw for urban indoors use, in fact the 25-30 lumens in medium of the ld01 lit things up better(more area less glaring) than the 45 medium of the pd22 (always for close-up work). The only moment that It is better than the ld01 is while walking the dog, where the light can throw the beam well beyond 300 feet. For my concept of EDC is too bulky.

second:
After trying the pd22 for some time and realizing that it was too much for my pocket, the contenders were reduced to:
- fenix ld15 and e12
- eagletac d25a clicky and twisty
- l3 l10 clicky and twisty
- zebralight sc52w

The zebralight got out first due to the 25 mm head, l3 l10 clicky afterwards because it was too long for my needs. ld15 and eagletac twisty went out next, and we were down to 3:
Here it got difficult:
eagletac d25a clicky (It fullfilled all my needs)
fenix e12 (It fullfilled all my needs)
l3 l10 twisty nichia (beautiful nichia and so small...)

In the end It was the EAGLETAC D25A XM-L2 CLICKY CW because:
1. it is slim 17mm
2. I already own several fenix
3. It can start in turbo or in low very easily (L3 with 4 modes in twisty UI is hard to get on high mode, you need on-off-on(low)-off-on(medium)-off-on(high))
4. ordering from Spain sometimes means waiting 3-4 weeks, but the "big southamerican river" site ships in less than a week. This is one of the mayor reasons I didn't order the L3
5. It alouds a little extra fidgeting with modes etc.

For the same reasons exposed on 4 I couldn't find the NW version.

I'll post a mini review when It arrives.
thanks again

Mateo
 
yes,
actually I cleaned it thoroughly with alcohol and lubed the threads and now It's working perfectly again. besides the lens were also full of gunk so its a bit brighter than before ;);)
It's an amazing little light for sure.

mateo
 
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