Going camping - Princeton Tec Apex or Fenix 2LD-CE

[etc]

Both are my favorite lights, and I have been trying to decide.

The headlamp is more practical, easier to use and to carry, especially during outdoor activities. Has more capacity. The 5mm LED more is great for reading. It's a good light, but I wouldn't say "great", maybe 4 stars.

The Fenix 2AA Cree light is cool, definitely brighter. Don't care for all these funky modes, I only run it on Turbo and it does get a bit warm. Not sure what the run time is, but probably similar to the PT Apex headlamp, which is impressive given 2AA vs. 4AA.

It's also more compact, but probably more difficult to use in the field. If you fall down and cut yourself, a headlight is more useful, much more. OTOH, the multi-mode might come in handy if you want something long running.

Also, Fenix is slippery as h3ll... I cannot believe they didn't design it differently, like MiniMag for example. But - fine light, no doubt and the Turbo mode has about as many lumens as a full size MagLED. The flood/hotspot balance is perfect. I would rate it as 4 stars also, if they made more switching less complicated and it less slippery, it would warrant 5 stars.

Tough choice, no doubt. And no, I don't care to take both.

 

[MicroE]

Apex.
I love mine when we go camping.

 

[TigerhawkT3]

No contest here: take the headlight. When I go camping, even the "cool" people in the group give in and ask for one.

Have you considered Seouling your Apex? That would provide a really nice increase in output.

Are you only bringing one flashlight? You'll invariably find yourself in a situation where you need to lend one out, or one breaks, or one turned on in your pack several hours ago, or something. "Two is one and one is none."

 

[Curious_character]

For backpacking, I haven't found anything to beat the Petzl Tikka+ I've been using for years, although I'm sure there are several others as good. It'll run for hours at a light level high enough for hiking at night, even cross country. On medium or low, it's enough for reading and will run for many, many hours. I wouldn't think of going without it.

I like to have a bright light to supplement it with, on those rare occasions when I want to see what's across the lake or meadow. Run time isn't much of an issue because of only very occasional use, so I take a D-Mini or P1D CE. A P2D CE would be a great choice, although it's a bit bigger and heavier. Of course, size and weight aren't much of an issue when you're not carrying everything on your back.

So my recommendation, in true CPF spirit, is: Get both!

c_c

 

[KingGlamis]

And no, I don't care to take both.

:thinking: Why? I have about 15-20 lights in my truck when we go camping and if I go on a hike I have 3-5 on me at all times. I may be doing overkill, but only one light is not enough. ANY light or battery can fail.

 

[nmanchin]

take BOTH! no question.

 

[Lux Luthor]

...Are you only bringing one flashlight? You'll invariably find yourself in a situation where you need to lend one out, or one breaks, or one turned on in your pack several hours ago, or something. "Two is one and one is none."

Good advice!!!

I always pack two headlamps. In the outdoors, a headlamp is the most fundamental lighting tool, not a flashlight. You can also have one headlamp that has more throw than the other, rather than have an extra for use only as a spare. You can also use a headlamp (that doesn't have a rear battery pack) as a flashlight. You can wrap the strap around your arm a bit for use as a sort of lanyard, and just press the switch on and off. PT EOS works well for this, as do others.

 

[Gunner12]

Why not bring both? That's usually the bright thing to do.
"It's better to have and not need then need and not have"

You can also put grip-tape/appropriate size bicycle inner tube(ask you local bicycle shop for their broken innertubes)/O rings to increase grip on you Fenix.

 

[etc]

About taking both:

Weight is an issue. Instead of getting two items that do the same thing, you can take something else you don't have, something useful.

How much does an empty Fenix 2LD-CE weight anyway?
2oz according to fenix-store.

OTOH, a failure with your only light means a catastrophic failure, potentially.

Let me pose this question, how often do these lights fail, and exactly in what way? Or is the biggest danger loosing your only light?
If these lights are very reliable, then one light, probably the headlight sounds more appealing.

Actually, I do plan on taking a backup light, one of these keychain leds from Deal-Extreme.

Not a very serious backup, I know.


BTW, I plan to use Energizer Lithium AA as well as in other devices. Will probably take 20 cells with me. Maybe 30.
According to http://data.energizer.com/PDFs/l91.pdf each L91 cell weights 0.5 oz. Could someone confirm this, as it seems to be too high? They are very light cells.

 

[Gunner12]

How long will you be gone, do you need 30 batteries(I know you have other devices that also need AA batteries, some people have said that their L2D-CE lasted a whole trip on one set of battery)?

My guess is that you will be running the L2D-CE mainly on low around the campsite and medium-turbo when hiking. Bring a back up light (at least a cheap 3AAA light) with just one set of batteries to save on weight.

These lights don't fail often but there is always a chance. They usually fail when the batteries are placed backwards or when they experience enough shock to break the switch, pop a solder joint or damage the emitter.

I do not know how much a Lithium AA battery weighs. Sorry, can't help with that.

 

[LukeA]

the L2D-CE is most efficient on High, so use that.

 

[etc]

RE: Fenix L2D-CE

Unfortunately, due to the not so friendly user-interface, you have to hit the power button 3 (three) times to get to the "High" mode.

Assuming the head is slightly loose, first click gets you low mode, 2nd click gets your medium and 3rd gets you high.

If you have to constantly turn it off and on (to preserve the cells), this gets very annoying, cycling through modes. It's just simpler to leave it in a mode you can access on and off with 1 "click" like most other lights and there are only 2 - Turbo and the low mode. Since I don't care for the low mode, this leaves me one option, the Turbo mode. I turn it on with one click, and turn it off by a long hold-down click as to bypass that super annoying blink-blink-blink mode.

Princeton Tec is less advanced, less bright but has an easier to use and more logical user interface.

 

[peteybaby]

I don't own an L2D but my friend does, and my gf owns an L1D and I own an L0D so I think I know what an L2D would be like to use.

I think the Apex+ (Seouled Apex) wins easily. The only reason I can think of to use a handheld light instead of a headlamp is if you plan to get into a fight.

EDC'ing a handheld light is great, but if you know you're going to be needing a light for camping, the headlamp has got to be 10x more useful.

 

[Curious_character]

EDC'ing a handheld light is great, but if you know you're going to be needing a light for camping, the headlamp has got to be 10x more useful.

Amen! If I had to choose only one, there's absolutely no doubt it would be a headlamp.

c_c

 

[ltiu]

Tough choice, no doubt. And no, I don't care to take both.

Take both. Buy more and take them all with you. Bring lot's of extra batteries and a car charger too. Have a flashlight party at the campsite.

 

[scottaw]

I always camp with 3 lights minimum. My PT apex is the one i wouldn't think of leaving at home. I use that for everything. I carry a 6P with cree, or my P2D to get some throw, you know in case things go bump in the night. I've recently started carrying a red light camping so i don't ruin my night vision just to go take a leak. Trust me, after a few hours of just firelight, a P2D on low is WAAAAY too bright. Turbo, forget about it.

 

[Khaytsus]

Both are my favorite lights, and I have been trying to decide.

The headlamp is more practical, easier to use and to carry, especially during outdoor activities. Has more capacity. The 5mm LED more is great for reading. It's a good light, but I wouldn't say "great", maybe 4 stars.

The Fenix 2AA Cree light is cool, definitely brighter. Don't care for all these funky modes, I only run it on Turbo and it does get a bit warm. Not sure what the run time is, but probably similar to the PT Apex headlamp, which is impressive given 2AA vs. 4AA.

It's also more compact, but probably more difficult to use in the field. If you fall down and cut yourself, a headlight is more useful, much more. OTOH, the multi-mode might come in handy if you want something long running.

Also, Fenix is slippery as h3ll... I cannot believe they didn't design it differently, like MiniMag for example. But - fine light, no doubt and the Turbo mode has about as many lumens as a full size MagLED. The flood/hotspot balance is perfect. I would rate it as 4 stars also, if they made more switching less complicated and it less slippery, it would warrant 5 stars.

Tough choice, no doubt. And no, I don't care to take both.

I wouldn't care if you care to take both; if you need light, carry both. You don't want one to die and not have any light.

BTW, you'll get a LOT more runtime if you use low/med/high than Turbo. And most often you don't need Turbo, especially in the dark unless you need to light things far away.

I'd use the headlamp and keep the L2D in a backpack with an extra set of batteries for each.

BTW, my MiniMag is slippery, and no more grippy than the Fenix IMO. And you can put tape on the Fenix to improve its grip.. Gaff tape or the stretchy rubbery tape that's use for covering bandages. I had a roll of it here but I can't find it or I'd tell you what it's called. Sticks to itself, but nothing else. But it's tacky enough to stay in place.

 

[fleegs]

If weight is a concern I would not take the apex. I would take the EOS or similar. I would also recommend a Pak-lite (with lithium 9V) and a plastic bag (waterproof). I personally would take both. I don't like the 2XAA format so I don't own any lights like that. You could also take take a Fenix E0, ten hours on a AAA is pretty cool. Or the Gerber 1 X AA light would work great, 25 hours on alkaline I think.


But if your only concern is Apex or L2D-CE. I would go with Apex because it was designed for what you want.


rob

 

[Gaffle]

take BOTH! no question.

Another vote for both.

 

[half-watt]

background: L/UL backpacking.

exception: lighting - did a lot of nighttime navigation, so use a non-UL heavier, longer burning, more powerful lighting device.



perhaps i missed it, but what were the intended uses of your light while you are out on a trek? proximity/task lighting for use in setting up camp and in-camp activities? nighttime trekking and/or orienteering looking for blazes and landmarks, etc?

for some, a Photon Freedom Microlight is sufficient. others, two powerful lights is the minimum? spare batts? common batt form factor (i.e. AA) necessary for many Thru-Hikers. so many questions that makes backcountry lighting somewhat individual.


my favorite headlamp has been a PT Apex (i've owned way over 50 different make/model headlamps over the years). however, last year after learning of Fenix, i stopped using the Apex in favor of two Fenix CE lights. i use them with a JakStrap headband or a clip from a $4.95 MiniMagAccessory kit to facilitate hands-free operation.

i still collect headlamps, but just don't use them as much any longer.


so, how's a flashlight (or two) suffice to replace a headlamp in the backcountry? to my way of thinking, here's how...


two Fenix lights+Jakstrap-headband+clip+spare-batts can weigh a smidge less than an Apex (without spare batts; weigh oz. less if spare batts carried for the Apex), can burn for as long as the Apex (longer if more spare batts are carried), has better throw, and lower low lighting levels (for me, Apex is WAY TOO BRIGHT to use for reading).

so, now i prefer my Fenix "headlamps" to my much beloved Apex. just a bit different take on what constitutes a "headlamp". for me, hands-free flashlight use via headband or ballcap brim/visor clip suffices. YMMV. HYOH (hike your own hike).

IMO, if you still choose the Apex, you have NOT made a bad choice.

check out www.backpackinglight.com for a good reference for L/UL backpacking and some of the advantages of L/UL backpacking versus carrying the more commonplace heavier gear.

search for "Backpacking 101" as a primer to the philosophy of L/UL backpacking and some of the gear and techniques (necessary for safety) involved.

hope this perspective helps.