Ok. Here's my poor man's review of the Fenix PD32R.
Pretty good length, nothing too long or short. I would not say this was a trouser pocket carry so much as a jacket pocket carry, bug out bag etc. I have had it in a trouser pocket and was ok but I think if your moving a lot and sitting, the size may be a bit too much. I do like the semi protected tail switch. The button can be accessed with the pointy end of the thumb or you can operate the light by resting the middle part of the thumb right over the button, which is the way I use it. You could also activate with the finger. With the tailcap design, giving that semi button protection, the raised side section on the tailcap can be a bit of a barrier to light activation unless you definitively use the tip of the thumb. I own a TK05R which has both main and secondary buttons protruding and I would take a guess they would be prone to potentially be damaged if the light was dropped and hard contact was made on the buttons. This semi protected button also adds as a minor layer to prevent accidental activation. Lockout is by means of rotating the tailcap back. The finish is typical of Fenix but I am not so much of a fan for the semi fine single knurl pattern. I think for a tactical light it should have a bit more of an aggressive pattern. An aggressive knurl would prevent minor slipping of the light, which happens for me as my main grip finger is weak. The button activation is firm and positive. I do like the fact that this light is a single handed operated light meaning there is no need to use the other hand or make movement of the user hand to change modes. All operations are made on the single button for either momentary or constant on or strobe. While I am a fan of Fenix the low profile round side switches that are on some lights prevent rapid selection of modes and this I feel is counter productive as a tactical light. If the recharge band on these low profile button lights illuminated permanently at least in part that would allow for better identification of where the switch is. Beam pattern on the PD32 is spot and spill but mainly spot. If you're looking for flood then this light is not for you. It does offer some spill but that is normal with any light but the light has not been designed to offer spill IMHO. The LED is reasonably well seated down inside the reflector. The reflector gives it the throw vs a plastic lens type head. Nice to see a nearly reasonably sized hole for lanyard but in my opinion any real lanyard hole has to be at least 3mm or 1/8th to allow for small paracord to be threaded through. I don't have enough lights or have not seen enough to say, but my guess is there would be few with a 3mm lanyard hole. I am a huge fan of the charging system with the USB slot being hidden under the front section of the body, recharging done by screwing that section back to reveal the port. And another big plus for this light is that it allows for use with 2 x 123A 3 volt lithium batteries, great in an emergency, if you have some. All in all a great smallish tactical light. Doesn't boast the big lumen ratings of other lights but at the end of the day your general tactical duties aren't as far as the light beam can reach anyway. No good looking at this light for search and rescue unless you have additional batteries. Like most lights, unless it is a beast, the trade off for more power, likely needed in search and rescue, will be a very short run time.
I would recommend this light as a good tactical light in particular due to its fully operational mechanics via one switch button. It has enough lumens to get the job done, a great strobe and sort of reasonable run times.
Cons. Knurl pattern not aggressive enough for me. The light level indicator is hidden under the front screw down section at the front body of the light where you charge, so it will take multiple viewings too ascertain how much power the light has, no lockout feature (which for me isn't a big deal, just wind back the tailcap).
Pros. Fully closed charging port to prevent debris and moisture getting in, ability for the light to use lithium batteries, good throw with a little spill, slim, one button does it all, semi protected button from the design of the tailcap. Good variable strobe. To add since the original post ….. having used this light a bit more I am liking it more, not that I didn’t originally. It’s a very nice light.
Pretty good length, nothing too long or short. I would not say this was a trouser pocket carry so much as a jacket pocket carry, bug out bag etc. I have had it in a trouser pocket and was ok but I think if your moving a lot and sitting, the size may be a bit too much. I do like the semi protected tail switch. The button can be accessed with the pointy end of the thumb or you can operate the light by resting the middle part of the thumb right over the button, which is the way I use it. You could also activate with the finger. With the tailcap design, giving that semi button protection, the raised side section on the tailcap can be a bit of a barrier to light activation unless you definitively use the tip of the thumb. I own a TK05R which has both main and secondary buttons protruding and I would take a guess they would be prone to potentially be damaged if the light was dropped and hard contact was made on the buttons. This semi protected button also adds as a minor layer to prevent accidental activation. Lockout is by means of rotating the tailcap back. The finish is typical of Fenix but I am not so much of a fan for the semi fine single knurl pattern. I think for a tactical light it should have a bit more of an aggressive pattern. An aggressive knurl would prevent minor slipping of the light, which happens for me as my main grip finger is weak. The button activation is firm and positive. I do like the fact that this light is a single handed operated light meaning there is no need to use the other hand or make movement of the user hand to change modes. All operations are made on the single button for either momentary or constant on or strobe. While I am a fan of Fenix the low profile round side switches that are on some lights prevent rapid selection of modes and this I feel is counter productive as a tactical light. If the recharge band on these low profile button lights illuminated permanently at least in part that would allow for better identification of where the switch is. Beam pattern on the PD32 is spot and spill but mainly spot. If you're looking for flood then this light is not for you. It does offer some spill but that is normal with any light but the light has not been designed to offer spill IMHO. The LED is reasonably well seated down inside the reflector. The reflector gives it the throw vs a plastic lens type head. Nice to see a nearly reasonably sized hole for lanyard but in my opinion any real lanyard hole has to be at least 3mm or 1/8th to allow for small paracord to be threaded through. I don't have enough lights or have not seen enough to say, but my guess is there would be few with a 3mm lanyard hole. I am a huge fan of the charging system with the USB slot being hidden under the front section of the body, recharging done by screwing that section back to reveal the port. And another big plus for this light is that it allows for use with 2 x 123A 3 volt lithium batteries, great in an emergency, if you have some. All in all a great smallish tactical light. Doesn't boast the big lumen ratings of other lights but at the end of the day your general tactical duties aren't as far as the light beam can reach anyway. No good looking at this light for search and rescue unless you have additional batteries. Like most lights, unless it is a beast, the trade off for more power, likely needed in search and rescue, will be a very short run time.
I would recommend this light as a good tactical light in particular due to its fully operational mechanics via one switch button. It has enough lumens to get the job done, a great strobe and sort of reasonable run times.
Cons. Knurl pattern not aggressive enough for me. The light level indicator is hidden under the front screw down section at the front body of the light where you charge, so it will take multiple viewings too ascertain how much power the light has, no lockout feature (which for me isn't a big deal, just wind back the tailcap).
Pros. Fully closed charging port to prevent debris and moisture getting in, ability for the light to use lithium batteries, good throw with a little spill, slim, one button does it all, semi protected button from the design of the tailcap. Good variable strobe. To add since the original post ….. having used this light a bit more I am liking it more, not that I didn’t originally. It’s a very nice light.
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