Fenix LED flashlight recommendation

[alicefred]

I am new to this forum so if this is not the right place for my question please let me know. Well, I was looking at buying my very first LED flashlight and after searching a lot I have narrowed down to Fenix TK11. I found this flashlight at Buy.com with the good discount available at http://www.dealrocker.com. I read many positive reviews on this flashlight, but I was told by a friend about Fenix TK40. Can anyone point me in the right direction and assist me to choose the best one.?

Thanks..

 

[yellow]

TK11 is a Li-Ion 18650 light of the tactical class, with a single-die led,
TK40 is a multi-AA light with a quad-die emitter.
Sure the latter is brighter, but it is also much bigger and needs much more power (thus the added size)
They are a complete other class of lights. Its like You search for a pickup and some friend offers a Porsche, which You like because it can go faster --> is the speed what You want?

I have very often typed my - very personal - thoughs on both lights, and dislike both.
The TK11 is of the useless tactical offering from Fenix. Added edges and teeth and "blings", that only do one thing: make it more difficult to pocket the light.
While this maker once was good, now offers no good 18650 model (and keeps to not offer something for normal users).
TK40 is the same ballpark - strange cell format, strange number of cells, strange inserting (thats what I dislike most)

If You want a light of the power class of TK40, the Jetbeam M1X (and its followers) is WAY better: better batteries, better number of cells, smaller, overall cheaper system cost, more useful technique (f.e. You dont have to recharge 8 cells to run the light, as with the TK40)

if it should be SMALL & still useful runtime, then its single 18650 with single die led.
There are quite some offerings like Jetbeam, Olight w. 18650 body, several others You will read from in here.


one point: 18650 Li-Ion is only available in rechargeable, there is no primary cell to be purchased. When You plan to use a light that could also run with cells You can get in Shop, stay with AA.
PS: when You do not have a charger for AA, and are not forced to use them (for Your GPS f.e.), 18650 Li-Ion is better and cheaper

 

[carrot]

Both are fine lights, but I would rather have the MC-E light. The obvious limitation is that all MC-E lights are fairly large and not at all very easy to carry.

One exception is the Olight M30 which comes with a pocket clip and holster, relatively easier to carry than most and only slightly bigger than some of the larger 18650 or 2x123 based lights.

If you want something on the smaller side, I'd recommend considering the Olight M20, 4sevens Turbo 123, and Malkoff MD2 instead of the Fenix TK11. They each offer their own unique features, and all have merits.

 

[Blk02]

I spent a considerable amount of time deciding which LED flashlight to purchase. I originally considered all brands until I dug around a little with the forum search feature and I finally settled on Fenix. I settled on Fenix because they seemed to be well regarded and they had the least amount of major/minor issues. After deciding on the brand I started going through all the models that Fenix offers. I seriously considered the TK40, but the size and battery type limited its usefulness for me. I needed something I could grab quickly and clip to my pocket or belt easily. I also did not want to use primaries because it just seemed wasteful and too much of a hassle to keep a constant stock of batteries. I decided that 18650 was the ticket, so I narrowed down the Fenix models to 18650 compatible lights only (from what I found in my research Fenix is leading the way in constant 18650 regulation). After doing this I was primarly left with the TK11 and TK12. I researched these lights extensively and found that neither light offered the features and constant regulation I was looking for in a 18650 light.

I waited about 2 or 3 months and Fenix now has the TK11.R5 and TK12.R5. I was less interested in the TK11.R5 because it did not come with a removable belt clip, it only has two modes, and it is more expensive than the TK12.R5:thinking:. I settled on the TK12.R5 because this light now has the capability to use 18650 batteries out of the box without an additional battery tube. In addition, it has six different light outputs and it has constant regulation with 18650 batteries. According to an email from Fenix the TK11.R5 and TK12.R5 have the same regulation on 18650, which is great because the TK11.R5 discharge graph on the Fenix website is as flat as I have ever seen.

So I reccomend the TK12.R5

 

[Jash]

Firstly, you are not going to buy just one light. Let's get that straight.

Secondly, the fact you are going to have more than one light enables you to relax and enjoy your purchase.

So, in my limited experience I have come to this conclusion:

You need a quality EDC to stick in your pocket, man-bag, hang on a chain, whatever. I've got a Nitecore EX10 R2 version. I use rcr123's but it will perform quite nicely on primaries, which you should always have a spare of. There's heaps of single 123 lights to choose from and they are easier to hold (fatter) than single AA's let alone AAA's. Far brighter too.

You need a quality bigger light like the TK40 (which simply rocks) or something similar. With modes from low (massive run-time) and the more used medium and then "Let there be light" high/turbo which never fail to impress.

Once these two items have been sought and enjoyed for a length of time. You may wish to consider those lights in between the two, which you won't actually need because you already have the best lighting solutions on hand.

This path to enlightenment will save you much money and heartache.

 

[skyfire]

i think the first thing to consider would be the type/size batteries you will be using. also, how will you be using the light, are you using it often?, or will it be more of an emergency light?

tk40 uses 4 or 8x AA cells. (alkalines not recommended) best would be to use rechargeable eneloop or duraloops. the tk40 is a big light, (think D cell maglite) but a whole lot brighter. price is around $140

tk11 is a very nice light which can use either 2x cr123a lithiums or 1x 18650 li-ion rechargeable. the 18650 will give you better runtime. its not big, but i dont see it as a comfortable pocket light either. price is about $70

like carrot mention for something in the class of the tk11, you should definitely check out the entire quark line-up and quark turbos. the olight M series, jetbeam has some very nice lights as well.

also i would also suggest buying from one of our dealers from cpf, they know their lights! offer cpf members good discounts! usually have free shipping, most importantly have great customer service. just go to the dealer's corner thread and click on cpf specials for a list of dealers and the discount that is offered.

 

[Locoboy5150]

You're tying to directly compare two totally different types/class of lights. Based on that it sounds like you haven't really decided on which light criteria are important to you. I think that the very first thing that you should decide is what type of battery do you want to use. You mentioned the TK40 as a possibility and, in my opinion as a *very* happy TK40 owner, it's main claim to fame is its AA power soucre. If you like AA batteries and need a light with that much power, like myself, then you really don't have any other options on the current market besides the TK40. Congratulations because you're done shopping...for now.

If you want to use other batteries besides AAs but you still like the massive light output of the TK40 and you want to stick to Fenix products then you might want to consider the Fenix TK30. It has the exact same light output, reflector, and Cree MC-E LED as the TK40 but is powered by 18650 or CR123A batteries.

 

[alicefred]

I am getting confused now

 

[hyperloop]

hi and :welcome:

to understand your needs and wants a bit better, perhaps you could fill in the Flashlight Recommendation Checklist, cut your answers and edit post #1 to reflect your answers. That would make it a lot easier for CPF members to give you choices to choose from.

There are so many choices out there, to give you an example, my younger brother wanted a "not too big" (he said) light that had a few output levels that could throw reasonably far, preferably neutral to warm white as this would be used outdoors.

I managed to get one of the few remaining MG RX-1 neutral whites from Shiningbeam (its out of stock now though he still has the normal LED ones), got him 2x18650s and a charger and he couldn't be happier. He is now officially The Man among his group of geocachers as having the smallest, baddest light out there (at least till i go with him with my M1X, lol). review of MG RX-1 here.

But that being said, fill in that checklist, edit post #1 and prepare to be deluged with recommendations and hang on to your wallet.

Oh and for Fenix (depending on where on this planet you live), i'd give 4sevens a try, use "CPF8" for a discount and they have free international shipping too.

 

[thedeske]

I am getting confused now

Welcome to the forum. Not a thing wrong with your first choice. Perhaps you'll stick around and gather more info in time. You'll learn there is no best, but many choices and opinions.

I agree with the others - battery type is something to consider.

Best

 

[headophile]

tk40 or tk30 if you're willing to spend that much. or wait for the upcoming tk45