Which light to pick from this shortlist?

[gregch]

Looking for a small (around 12cm length), durable, reasonably bright LED flashlight. We live out in the country and sometimes it's got dark and I need to walk back across fields etc - 45 minutes to an hour walk I guess. Don't care which batteries as they all have their pros and cons. Ideally want to spend around £35/$55.

Here's the shortlist I've come up with:

Maglite XL50
Clulite ML7
LED Lenser T7
Fenix E35

In an ideal world, I'd prefer to avoid Chinese made (Fenix, LED lenser). Not that there's anything wrong with Chinese products (far from it) but just because I think it's better if some manufacturing survives in other countries. That said, the Clulite is UK-made but does look a bit off the pace in some respects. I've never seen one in the flesh so don't know if that's fair - would be great to hear from anyone with experience of them. Maglite obv USA-made and the build is always great but don't seem well regarded on here for some reason?

Thanks in advance for any advice pointers - which to go for...

 

[Brave Little Toaster]

I got my brother an E35 because he is a mechanic and he loves it. He got a dimmer light to use when he's working under a car but he keeps the E35 as either an EDC or a light in his car when he needs to exit. It's still going strong. I don't think there's anything wrong with Fenix even if it is Chinese made. They certainly offer good customer service too.

 

[StarHalo]

If we're talking about walking around for a while outdoors, I'd prefer the Maglite 2D PRO - it's not as compact as the models on your list, but big D cells would provide much more runtime, and much more output at 270+ lumens, in a big reflector that's better suited for the outdoors. All for ~$30.

If you must have compactness, the current MiniMag PRO is very impressive at 225 lumens for ~$20, but with only 2 AA cells, your walk had better not take more than a couple of hours.

 

[samgab]

Of the four choices given, I'd personally go with the Fenix E35.

Hard ano, IPX8 waterproof, excellent build quality and circuit efficiency, excellent current output regulation at all levels. Simple, functional UI.
I had a couple of Led lensers and Maglites before I really got into flashlights and then went on to Fenix, Zebralight, 4Sevens, etc; and they are much better, in the above-listed areas anyway. I've not heard of Clulite previously, but I wasn't overly impressed by the look/specs of it on their website.

 

[gregch]

Thanks everyone, much appreciated. Looks like the Fenix E35 is the winner.

Out of interest, is the Maglite really bad (I can get the XL200 for the same price, although not crazy about all the functions), or just not as good as the Fenix for the money?

 

[TEEJ]

The use you describe, ~ 45 minute walks through fields, etc, is best served by a floody beam, and not by a tightly focused beam. All of the lights you are considering are low output/tight beam pattern lights, and NONE are ideal for your described use.

Essentially, a tight beam pattern puts a small spot of light onto the ground in front of you. This is what most people are used to, poorly chosen lights used "as normal", and, are sometimes they are not even aware of the short comings....as to them, that's what a beam looks like.


In practice, this means that there is a small bright spot on the ground in front of you, and, there is a glare at that spot its aimed at. That glare makes your pupils stop down, reducing your night vision. This results in essentially needing to sweep that spot to and fro to try to cover the area you will be walking through.

If you need to navigate your way over uneven ground, roots, snakes or whatever...you can't see the entire route at once, due to the need to sweep the light around to stitch together a picture of what's out there.

With a floody beam, you can see the entire trail in front of you at the same time, and, do not need to sweep the light around to see it all. You have time as you are walking to walk more as if it were daylight, and you can pick your route through what evers out there more naturally....and actually see more of the scenery on the way.

The tightly focused beams, for the same output, will project the small amount of light they do make, farther...but, this is not useful in practice in of itself for the intended purpose. It can be useful in hunting to aim with, as all you need to see is the target. But even when hunting, you generally use a floody beam to FIND the game, and then the tight beam to aim at it. (Its harder to FIND the game if you are only looking at what's out there as if through a paper towel tube, etc...)


I would reconsider your list of lights, and see if there's something available to you with a more floody beam, so that it would fulfill the described role better.

 

[mcnair55]

Looking for a small (around 12cm length), durable, reasonably bright LED flashlight. We live out in the country and sometimes it's got dark and I need to walk back across fields etc - 45 minutes to an hour walk I guess. Don't care which batteries as they all have their pros and cons. Ideally want to spend around £35/$55.

Here's the shortlist I've come up with:

Maglite XL50
Clulite ML7
LED Lenser T7
Fenix E35

In an ideal world, I'd prefer to avoid Chinese made (Fenix, LED lenser). Not that there's anything wrong with Chinese products (far from it) but just because I think it's better if some manufacturing survives in other countries. That said, the Clulite is UK-made but does look a bit off the pace in some respects. I've never seen one in the flesh so don't know if that's fair - would be great to hear from anyone with experience of them. Maglite obv USA-made and the build is always great but don't seem well regarded on here for some reason?

Thanks in advance for any advice pointers - which to go for...

Trying to avoid Chinese will render you well and truly scuppered with life in general,nearly anything you come into contact with on a daily basis is made in China,nothing wring with your trying to help local manufacturing but we live in a global village these days.

Personally your choice of a Fenix is a good idea but you should consider something a little better in say a wider beam due to the nature of walking in dark fields.

 

[Jash]

If you can stretch your budget to a PD32, it's a much nicer beam for walking with at night, while still providing decent throw if you need to see something 50-60 metres away. Plus the XP-G2 version is over 100lms brighter at 340lms than the E35's 225lms, while also providing a stobe and SOS modes in case you get lost in those fields.

I have the original PD32 and it's one of my favourite lights. The high mode (around 130ish lumens) is more than enough for safely navigating off road obstacles in the dark.

 

[Poppy]

I'm with TEEJ, in that I agree, more flood than throw.

I like 18650 lights with in the size of the E35, but with an XML or better yet, and XM-L2 emitter.

The head of a P60 host is a little larger than the head of the E35.
Any P60 host with just about any XML drop-in (which essentially is the LED and the driver which determines how hard/how many mA, and how many levels you can choose from) will suit your needs.
The light I would probably carry is my Niteye MSC20 which is out of your price range, I could recommend the EagleTac D25LC2 but that is also out of your range. If you need to include batteries and charger.
The Thrunite Tn12 might work well for you.

Also I just bought a Convoy S2 driven at 1400 ma for $14 at FastTech.com and am pleased at the quality and price. It should work nicely for you.

 

[gregch]

Thanks again everyone, incredible amount of helpful info. Completely understand TEEJ regarding flood, but (and I'm a total novice, so) wasn't sure I could get more flood from something that needs to be really compact. This light is really something to have on me all the time, just for the rare occasion I unexpectedly don't get back before dark. Will take a look at the PD32.

Sorry to keep banging on about it, but can someone clue me in on the deal with the maglites - seem very unpopular on here, but I personally really liked the look and build of them (except the plastic lens) and was set to pick one up until I thought to ask for help on here!

 

[mcnair55]

Thanks again everyone, incredible amount of helpful info. Completely understand TEEJ regarding flood, but (and I'm a total novice, so) wasn't sure I could get more flood from something that needs to be really compact. This light is really something to have on me all the time, just for the rare occasion I unexpectedly don't get back before dark. Will take a look at the PD32.

Sorry to keep banging on about it, but can someone clue me in on the deal with the maglites - seem very unpopular on here, but I personally really liked the look and build of them (except the plastic lens) and was set to pick one up until I thought to ask for help on here!

Its very simple Maglite lived on the tradition of there huge selling power and made in the US loyalty ticket,remember Maglite gave us what we thought at the time was a revoulition in our first decent light compared to the tin Ever Ready type.

But being stubborn producing the same old stuff the rest of the world makers caught up and passed them by.You would have to pay me to buy a Maglite at present as they are way behind.

 

[StarHalo]

You would have to pay me to buy a Maglite at present as they are way behind.

An absolutely correct statement for the past several years, but not this year. No one else makes a 225 lumen 2xAA light that you can just pick up at your local box store for twenty bucks, choose your color. Or a 270 lumen 2D model with 12 hours of runtime, about the same price. Mag is starting to figure it out..

 

[mcnair55]

An absolutely correct statement for the past several years, but not this year. No one else makes a 225 lumen 2xAA light that you can just pick up at your local box store for twenty bucks, choose your color. Or a 270 lumen 2D model with 12 hours of runtime, about the same price. Mag is starting to figure it out..

Plenty in the UK like that and non branded sold in trade stores but i get your point but still way off the rest.

 

[dc38]

Plenty in the UK like that and non branded sold in trade stores but i get your point but still way off the rest.

It's not so far off the rest...they are, at the very least, ahead of ledlenser IMO...

 

[mcnair55]

It's not so far off the rest...they are, at the very least, ahead of ledlenser IMO...

Led Lenser are market leaders in many countries and in my book ahead of Maglite in innovation alone.

 

[geoffpalmeruk]

If it were me i would take the e35. I was much in the same boat but spent a bit more and went for a sunwayman d40a as i wanted more throw :-)

 

[Mike 208]

The Maglite XL50 is (IMO) a very good, multi-level light that should fit your needs (104 lumens on high). I have the XL100 (which is similar to the XL50, but more complicated) and have considered getting the XL50, but I bought the Maglite "Mag-Tac" instead (beautiful light). I may still get a XL50 (in silver or blue). The Mini-Mag Pro is also a good choice, but doesn't have a pushbutton tail cap. I don't think you would go wrong in buying either one. FYI, the Mini-Mag anti-roll device/lens holder also works on the XL50.

 

[gregch]

Well in the end I got the Maglite XL200 which I managed to get for the same price as an XL50. I'm sure the Chinese stuff is great (more durable, waterproof, etc) but I'm very happy with my purchase - it's bright enough, and seems to me to have a usefully wide (I guess "floody") beam. Build is probably as solid as I need it and I guess there are pros and cons to glass vs plastic lens. Also knowing you'll be able to get AAAs wherever you are is reassuring.

In fact I liked it so much I went back and got an XL50 (gray) to have around the house (it does indeed have a tighter more focused beam so not as useful for walking around outdoors) and that also seems pretty good to me (it's the 139 lumens one).

Anyway, thanks for all the help and advice! Really appreciate it.

 

[reppans]

Maglite obv USA-made and the build is always great but don't seem well regarded on here for some reason?
...

I do have to admit that the XL50 has the "best" ANSI NEMA FL-1 output/runtime graph I've ever seen ;-)

CLICKY

 

[dml24]

The Fenix E35 is a great light at this price point. Three levels of light, 5, 50 and 225 lumens. Good run times on a single 18650.
I have the Fenix TK21, another single 18650 light. More expensive, but offers a turbo of 400 lumens. The E35 is similar to the E25 that both share a side button the moves the user through the light modes. One has to get use to holding that button for half a second to turn the light on or off. I know this drives some users away from these lights.

I had no problem with the interface. Go with the E35