Been gone a LONG time. Need help replacing Fenix

[Abouna]

Well it's been 6+ months since my last visit here. Just too busy with work.

After all this time I'm wondering if there are any viable replacements for my trusty Fenix P1. I love this light, the beam is perfect for me and very bright. However I wouldn't mind a AA version to cut down on pocket weight and size. Are there any newer lights with at least as many lumens and a similar spill? I also wouldn't mind a clicky.

It's goinng to be hard to beat the P1 though, it looks practically brand new after years of pocket time.

 

[Outdoors Fanatic]

Well it's been 6+ months since my last visit here. Just too busy with work.

After all this time I'm wondering if there are any viable replacements for my trusty Fenix P1. I love this light, the beam is perfect for me and very bright. However I wouldn't mind a AA version to cut down on pocket weight and size. Are there any newer lights with at least as many lumens and a similar spill? I also wouldn't mind a clicky.

It's goinng to be hard to beat the P1 though, it looks practically brand new after years of pocket time.

An AA light will be way bigger than the classic P1...

I'd recommend you having a look at Amilite or JETBeam offerings.

 

[fareast]

hmmm, sounds a lot like myself a few months back... I have had a Fenix P1 (D-CE) for a few years now and it also needed replacement. After spending a lot of time here I decided upon a Nitecore Extreme (Q5). At first I wanted a similar light, perhaps even smaller but after getting it, I have not looked back at the P1D at all. I cannot stand the ringy beam at all anymore. I have been trying diffusors ever since... Sure, it is bigger and heavier but it's beam it oh so nice and bright. Brighter than the fenix for sure. I might say a p1d on steroids! It's user interface is so much useable. I never used the strobe nor the sos feature on the fenix and since I was using rechargables, I had no levels either. On the extreme, the strobe is so well hidden, yet easy to acces, I usually forget it is ever there. Now I have (I think) a really beautifull EDC with a nice high and low low. I did put the lobsterclaw of the fenic on the clip which makes it very handy. And of course a GITD clicky cover on it. It also comes with spare clickies and o-rings. check out the review:
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=198804
This is where I started. And I think this light made me into a flasha... , well getting there...:shakehead

I fact, I love it so much, I am planning on getting the Golden Dragon Plus version and they now even have the Cree R2 versions!

have fun choosing Abouna!

 

[bullfrog]

How about:

NiteCore Smart PD D10

I don't own one (or a fenix for that matter), but, it seems that everyone loves the light and they are reasonably well made...

 

[TONY M]

An AA light will be way bigger than the classic P1...

The P1 is a pretty small light especially considering the amount of light it puts out.

 

[Daekar]

Well it's been 6+ months since my last visit here. Just too busy with work.

After all this time I'm wondering if there are any viable replacements for my trusty Fenix P1. I love this light, the beam is perfect for me and very bright. However I wouldn't mind a AA version to cut down on pocket weight and size. Are there any newer lights with at least as many lumens and a similar spill? I also wouldn't mind a clicky.

It's goinng to be hard to beat the P1 though, it looks practically brand new after years of pocket time.

Well you have lots of choices. Depending on your price range and battery preference:

123 Lithium
Fenix P1D-CE Q5
5 Output Levels: 96 lumens (2.8hrs) -> 180 lumens (1hrs) -> 16 lumens (21hrs) -> Strobe -> SOS

Fenix PD20 Q5
Two modes of output, selected by turning the bezel
General Mode: 9 lumens (35hrs) -> 47 lumens (6.5hrs) -> 94 lumens (2.6hrs) -> SOS
Turbo Mode: 180 lumens (1hrs) -> Strobe

NiteCore SmartPD EX10 R2
Runtimes on CR123A (until 50%)
Max: 145 lumens, 110 minutes
Min: 3 lumens, 65 hours or 2.7 days

Surefire E1B
Max Output: 5/80 lumens
Runtime: 37/1.3 hours

Surefire E1L
Max Output: 3/45 lumens
Runtime: 48/8.5 hours

Surefire L1
Max Output: 10/65 lumens
Runtime: 16/1.5 hours

AA Alk/NiMH
Fenix LD10 Q5
Two modes of output, selected by turning the bezel:
General Mode: 9 lumens (34hrs) -> 47 lumens (6hrs) -> 94 lumens (2.2hrs) -> SOS
Turbo Mode: 120 lumens (1.5hrs) -> Strobe

NiteCore SmartPD D10
Runtimes on one AA
Max: 145 lumens, 50 minutes
Min: 3 lumens, 45 hours or 1.9 days!

NiteCore Defender Infinity R2
Output & Runtime AA battery
Maximum output 145 lumens, for about 50 minutes (with brightness declines to 50%)
Minimum output 3 lumens, for about 45 hours (with brightness declines to 50%)

If you're intrigued by the Surefires and aren't just itching to ditch your existing P1, you may want to look at the new Surefire catalogue since they're revamping their whole lineup a bit. I don't think any of the lights anybody has recommended would be a bad choice, really, but the ones above are my picks for right now...

 

[Abouna]

Thanks for all the suggestions, especially Daekar, excellent rundown.

Unfortunately what I feared seems to be true; none of the newer lights are smaller than the P1 (the original 55 lumen model is only 65mm x 20mm). Even the AA lights are bigger in diam.

Too bad, those NiteCores were looking really attractive.

 

[Strauss]

I bought a good friend of mine an original Fenix P1 almost 3 years ago for Christmas. He is not a flashoholic, so this one light served him well over the years. He kept it on his keychain so it was always with him. He often commented on how the P1 would wow people when he would use it for cetain tasks.

Well, just before Christmas this year I was trying to convince him to upgrade his light I explained to him how recent LED's were much brighter, and he eventually caved in to my demands :devil: All he wanted was a light like his P1, just with a new emitter. I ordered a P1D-CE premium from 4sevens for him, and he absolutely loves it. It's only a little bigger than the P1, but MUCH brighter on high and has other levels to back down to. I was also very impressed with the smooth beam and warm tint his particular light produced.

Matter of fact, this reminds me that I still need to pick myself up a P1D-CE premium :nana:

 

[Abouna]

I bought a good friend of mine an original Fenix P1 almost 3 years ago for Christmas. He is not a flashoholic, so this one light served him well over the years. He kept it on his keychain so it was always with him. He often commented on how the P1 would wow people when he would use it for cetain tasks.

Well, just before Christmas this year I was trying to convince him to upgrade his light I explained to him how recent LED's were much brighter, and he eventually caved in to my demands :devil: All he wanted was a light like his P1, just with a new emitter. I ordered a P1D-CE premium from 4sevens for him, and he absolutely loves it. It's only a little bigger than the P1, but MUCH brighter on high and has other levels to back down to. I was also very impressed with the smooth beam and warm tint his particular light produced.

Matter of fact, this reminds me that I still need to pick myself up a P1D-CE premium :nana:

I've considered that light several times. However it doesn;t offer me anything I need/want. I'm not a fan of the multi mode lights, I really only need off on (low and high would be OK). It's still a twisty so I don't gain anything there as I'd rather have a clicky. So in all it'd be a downgrade of sorts for me as all I'm after is brighter and smaller. This would be brighter, bigger and more twisting invloved.

 

[StandardBattery]

Sounds like you might like the Surefire E1B 2 mode clicky (1xCR123A).

Of you could get the P1D-Q5 and add a Leef Body with clicky to it and you have a very nice light. The extra modes should not get in the way very much, just click on and click off.

You could get a Light Flux LF3 (1xCRT123A) and program it once to just have 1 or 2 modes. Or you could do the same with the LF5 (AA)

You might also like the Proton Pro, dead simple intuitive UI makes the extra modes a non issue. (1xAA).

Just ideas, not sure what you're looking for as an AA light is not going to be any smaller or lighter weight than the P1 with 1xCR123A.

 

[ZMZ67]

There are not many lights as compact and bright as the P1 and none of them are in the same price range.Since the P1 uses the old LUX III some of the better AAA lights now available might work.My Fenix LD01(Energizer lithium battery) is a brighter on high than my P1.The LD01 is 1 centimeter longer than the P1 but is considerably smaller in diameter.My LD01 is stainless so it is heavy but the standard aluminum LD01 will be lighter than the P1.BTW the LD01 has three levels,med-low-high.
If you can stand the larger size the Nitecore EX-10 is substantially brighter than the LUX III P1 and works fine as a single stage light.

 

[CdBoy]

try the Fenix LD10 (1xAA NiMH/Alkaline) with 120 lumens on Turbo mode.

 

[Zeruel]

:twothumbs
Liteflux LF3XT
Nitecore D10 R2
Nitecore EX10 R2
Nitecore Defender Infinity R2

 

[deusexaethera]

If you like the P1 so much, just get a P1D while they're still available. It'll output 180 lumens in high mode, which will blow away the 55 lumens your old light could do.

Keep the P1 in the glovebox in your car or something, just in case.

 

[carrot]

It is completely do-able to mod the P1 to use a Cree. Why waste a good thing? My friend had his P1 modded and it is *great.*

If you cannot find someone to mod it yourself I might be able to come up with a few names for you.