Two Year EDC Light Review

outdoorsfan

outdoorsfan

Joined
Sep 30, 2009
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A little over two years ago I decided to upgrade my pocket flashlight from the sub $20 Lifegear single AA I had been carrying for about 6 months. The Lifegear produces around 60 lumens from that AA, had only one mode and seemed to need to have its contacts cleaned with an alcohol soaked Q-tip about once a month to ensure proper function. It “worked” and still does, but I knew there were much better options and decided to do some research.
After watching many reviews I decided to give the Fenix LD12 a try. On my way to St. Louis for H2O polo, I stopped in at GP Knives and bought it. Out of the box, I was shocked at how bright it was on Turbo mode (115 lumens) as well as how easy the user interface was to use. While waiting for my son to finish his Saturday night practice session, I walked up to the fence surrounding the football field and pulled my new light out. Powered by a fresh lithium AA, I lit up the goalpost at the opposite end of the field and was hooked.

This light has been in my pocket on a daily basis since I bought it with very few exceptions. It has never failed me and the finish has held up remarkably well. I will say that I was a bit concerned initially that time might get the best of the Fenix but it just keeps chugging along. The beam is pretty much perfect for me, I like the color as well as the mix of spot and flood. There are no artifacts or dark spots.
It has become a must have daily carry item for me and I use it so frequently that I carry it at home as well. Mr. Fenix goes to bed on my nightstand and gets up when I do. I have also found that I can carry it into secured areas due to my job function (I am an Engineer and we do work for a variety of private and governmental clients that have fairly tight security) so it really does ride along every day.
I like the LD12 so much that I recently purchased a Fenix PD35 2014 edition (along with a Nitecore charger and 18650 batteries). Based on my positive experiences with the LD12 and the similar function and build quality of the PD35, it made the purchase a much easier decision. The PD35 is like a light sabre, cranking out a blinding 960 lumens on Turbo. When I take my pup for our night time trail walks, it is a welcome companion. Based on the performance of the LD12, the PD35 should be with me for many years to come.

I would highly recommend both of these lights if any of you guys are in the market. I actually prefer the color and beam of both of these to my Surefire G2X Pro and durability of these Fenix lights is not an issue.
Anyone else EDC a pocket light?

Here's the LD12 in a recent pocket dump shot...

LD12_zpsd928068b.jpg


And the PD35 upon arrival...

PD35_zpsef7366d9.jpg
 
they are very cool lights, i experimented for a while with some higher priced lights and might pick another ld12 up on your recommendation for my pack but for now I' still chuggin' along with the streamlight Microstream (aaa) for edc

 
I've heard good things about those Streamlights. One of the things I like best about the LD12 is it gives me 4 brightness levels. I use the lower settings the most but the Turbo cranks out a nice amount of light for such a small package.

I've seen the LD12 going for under $50 which I think is a super value.
 
I agree with you ld12 is greta bang for the buck (but the streamlight is cheaper :))

for me, for edc, i found having different settings and such was more of a hindrance then a hell, them one mode setting of the streamlight was one of the reason I came back to it, I'm just all thumbs sometimes I guess and with only one setting I don't have to think about it.

speaking of which is it possible to set which brightness level it comes on at? I had one in that range once and it only would come on at it's highest setting (can't remember what it was now though)
 
One of the best features is how you cycle the modes via the button near the top (it also has two additional modes strobe and SOS). There is nothing to remember, no twisting or series of taps on the switch required. When you power it up, either full on or momentary, it returns to the setting you last used (except for the strobe or SOS modes). That feature is also a good one.
 
Thanks Sean -

I carry an Eagletac D25 Clicky Ti - I do have to lube it occasionally, and a couple of times it has been turned on in my pocket - I notice because it gets HOT!

Other than that, I agree with you on carrying a light - I use it a lot, a lot more than you would think, and I have been able to carry it into everywhere, including on airplanes - they don't even look at it twice.

Thanks for the review.

As an aside, I still have the light that Uncle Bill gave us at a Michigan Gathering a couple of years ago, and it is still going strong -it lives in the console tray of my pickup, and it seems to like it there.

best

mqqn
 
I`ve been using either a AA Inova, or AA Energizer, both were on clearance at Target, the Inova for $12 and the Energizer for $9.
 
I got a new flashlight from Connie for my birthday, so thought I would post it here. It`s a Fenix E25 with three light settings. It`s shown with my old Energizer flashlight, not fancy, but at $15 - 15% at Target, I like it.

 
How many lumens John? I have a couple small ones from Gander Mt. they put on sale every year at Christmas. I can't remember how many lumens but they're bright.
 
BTW said:
How many lumens John? I have a couple small ones from Gander Mt. they put on sale every year at Christmas. I can't remember how many lumens but they're bright.
Click to expand...

130/55/8. There is also a 260 lumen burst mode.

Jeff
 
Nice review outdoorsfan.


This Olight IS3 has been my favorite EDC light for a couple of years now. I think I gave about twenty bucks for it and I don't even notice it in my pocket. It uses a single aaa and has three brightness settings (moonlight 0.5 lumens - 60 hours, low 20 lumens - 8 hours and high 80 lumens - 0.6 hours) as well as strobe. I haven't really needed the strobe and have found that most of the time that low is plenty enough light. It also has a reversible pocket clip which works great to clip on your hat brim. It did come with a key chain which is about the only negative thing I remember reading about it at the time I ordered. I read reviews that said the key chain breaks easy but I didn't buy it for the key chain and removed it from my light as soon as I got it.

Shown next to my mini copperlock.
k1845f.jpg
 
Last edited:
BTW said:
How many lumens John? I have a couple small ones from Gander Mt. they put on sale every year at Christmas. I can't remember how many lumens but they're bright.
Click to expand...
Found the paperwork!
27 on low, 90 on medium, and 187 on high.
 
I hope you like the Fenix John. I do like the longer penlight profile lights as well. I recently picked up a Streamlight Stylus Pro that rides in an outside pocket of my Maxpedition bag. It's a handy light in a handy spot and the 60ish lumens it puts out is plenty bright.

Being a gear whore I am always looking at new stuff and the Olights are pretty sweet too. I am just so partial to the Fenix user interface that it sometimes prevents me from trying other lights.

I also carry a Surefire (G2X Pro IIRC) in one side of my dual mag pouch. I'd like to use the higher lumen Fenix in the same role but it's too long for the mag pouch.
 
Here is my long searched for Perfect EDC. I have had 3 or 4 small lights (in the 5" to 6" range with 3/4" to 1-1/4" dia.) some that I sold after trying them. Mostly run on 18650 Li-ion rechargeable cells. Once I bought the charger and started using these batteries for bigger lights it was a natural to try EDC lights that would use the same cell.

Recently though I discovered this one - THE NITECORE EC11



You can see it is a little thing - along with my newly acquired and very little BEAR lock back pajama pants knife - doesn't every one carry a knife in their PJs? (yeah, yeah, among other things) :rolleyes:

Less than 3" long with a 1" dia. with 5 output levels - 900 lumen Turbo, 300 L high, 160 L medium, 70 L low beam, and a 1L moonlight (very dim but surprisingly useful) + Strobe, SOS, Beacon, and a Red light too! Run times are from 5 minutes on Turbo (though that generates lots of heat) down to 2.5 hours on low and 12hrs on ML.

Works with a very nice white CREE XM-L2 U2 emitter.

This is an unbelievably bright and totally awesome little light. Carries in the sheath or even in my jeans watch pocket without any discomfort.

At first I was frustrated by the fact that the 2 button UI (very smart and easy to use) was too easily turned on. I was always finding the light glaring from the sheath or warming up my pocket. Finally I read the instructions and learned how to do an easy lock out. Just as easy to unlock too and that saved the battery and needless turn ons.

2 downsides

1) Uses 1 x CR123A cell. I had no charger for that. I could get an extender to use the 18650s but then I would have a big light again. Fortunately at the time I bought this from Battery Junction they were having a NiteCore sale and I bought the light, 1 battery and the charger in the photo for less than $66.00 delivered. Well spent money for me who uses this light every day.

2) The sheath is so small that the velcro belt loop barely has enough velcro after reaching over my 1-1/2" work belt to stay secure. I will soon stitch the loop securely closed but will miss that I can remove the sheath without removing the belt. Rather lose that flexibility than lose the light and sheath.

Sorry for the long post - but if you guys are looking for an incredible little light this one is amazing. It makes all my other bigger "EDC"s look timid in brightness and overkill in terms of size. I smile every time I use this one. :thumbup: Worth sharing.
 
About 3 years ago I got a Fenix PD32 (dual CR123A). It is a great light but a little big for me for EDC in a pocket, I carry it in my briefcase. Then a couple of years ago I bought a PD22 (single CR123A) for EDC and I think it is great.

I have an LD01 that I used to carry. It is very small but I decided I could manage the slightly larger PD22 and it has much more output. For a small economical EDC the E05 that I bought for my daughter is a good choice.
 
:Like to try some fo these lights getting emntioned sometime, thanks for the sugestions guys :)
 
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