Jetbeam C-LE vs Fenix L1D

[Gaffle]

I can only afford flashlight purchases around Christmas time. I had a few last year, and I plan a few this year. I really had my mind set on the Jetbeam C-LE v2.0, but then I go and look over Selfbuilts freakin AA roundup. The L1D with the L2D RB100 head just owns the pack. Lux of the L1D with the RB100 is double the C-LE, and it has a bit more runtime. Holy freakin moly Batman...

I am looking for a build comparison of the two. Jetbeam looks a bit smaller, which I like. I also like the knurling of the Jetbeam compared to the smooth L1D texture. I mean, if you drop the L1D are you sad? C-LE looks like it could take a lickin.

The two factors I can add in the mix is the UI of both. Jetbeam has the same UI (except turbo) with a memory feature. I think I can handle that. L1D I would have to tighten the bezel for turbo/strobe. Sometimes I am a sissy ***, I don't know if I would like the tightening/loosening part of the Fenix UI.

See, now here I go thinking about the Fenix lego option. I must buy the L2D RB100, then I buy the L1D body/tailcap, and POW!!

Has anyone had some real waterproof experiences with the L1D?

AARRGGHH. Sometimes buying a flashlight is painful!! Ultimately this will be a pro/con decision. Now I know why the CPF motto is "buy them both".

 

[IcantC]

I have the Jetbeam and the few things I like
- The knurling
- The size(I can drop it in any pocket and totally forget about it).
- Fits in hand well. Has clicky only and none of the head turning.
- Good brightness and battery life
- Looks good and is waterproof.

 

[Teodoryk]

Has anyone had some real waterproof experiences with the L1D?

AARRGGHH. Sometimes buying a flashlight is painful!! Ultimately this will be a pro/con decision. Now I know why the CPF motto is "buy them both".

Hi Gaffle,

I have both, love them both Jet is significanly dimmer but gives more than enough light IMHO,Looks better than Fenix and has memory function which i found very usefull. Both Jet and Fenix are fog and rainproof, they should both survive short dive or accidental drop to 1m depth and thats it.

 

[cheapo]

you could probably take the cle swimming with you for hours and hours and there would still be no water in it, if it is anywhere as waterproof as my mk2x (which jetbeam says it is). i took my jetbeam swimming for an entire day in my swimshorts pocket. absolutely 100% waterproof.

 

[Luminescent]

Back when I was buying department store lights, I found a very nice Luxeon 1W which was super bright, and had a full 2 hours run time on one AA battery. I used this light daily for months and thought it was a SUPER light, and was very happy with it (Even now the person I gave it away to after getting the C-LE still thinks it's incredible).

The reason I gave away the 1AA 1W Luxeon, is that the C-LE is TWICE as bright on high with the same runtime, and matches the brightness of the 1W Luxeon when the C-LE is set to medium with TWICE the runtime (4 to 5 hours).

So by any objective standard, the C-LE was twice the light that the 1W 1AA Luxeon department store light was in every catagory (higher quality HAIII finish, scratch resistant glass lens vs. plastic, etc) at almost the same price, so the choice between them is a no-brainer.

Unfortunatly, it's not quite as much of a no-brainer with the L1D vs. C-LE because the L1D costs a LOT more and actually gives up some points to the C-LE on finish, appearance and size.

So I can understand your quandry.

The L1D RB100 version does beat the C-LE on output (though I think the 2 to 1 figure is at the outside of the envelope, with a so-so C-LE and an exceptional L1D), so if output level is your main criterion, and price is no object, then the L1D is a great light. It is almost 3 times the cost though when you consider that you have to buy a L2D RB100 and then buy the extra L1D single AA battery tube as an accessory.

For day to day use I kind of prefer the C-LE, it's easier to carry, and If a friend want's to grab it to take a look under his car, I don't even feel a twinge, because:

a) It's not a seventy dollar light.
b) The HAIII finish on the C-LE is tougher than the L1D.
c) I have a brand new one in my drawer at home as a spare.

I think the Jetbeam is the best deal out there in a reasonably priced multi-mode light, and the Fenix L1D/L2D RB100 is tops on output and runtimes, so in the end, you can feel good about either choice (or both)

 

[Gaffle]

a) It's not a seventy dollar light.
b) The HAIII finish on the C-LE is tougher than the L1D.
c) I have a brand new one in my drawer at home as a spare.

Now thats what I was waiting for. Thanks for making up my mind Luminescent! Sometimes I need :help:.

 

[Luminescent]

Now thats what I was waiting for. Thanks for making up my mind Luminescent! Sometimes I need :help:.

Good choice! The C-LE is a great light and should serve your needs for years and years to come, and if you want an even higher performance light in the future, the only penalty for holding off on spending the big bucks for now will be that you will get even more bang for your buck in the future.

 

[f22shift]

buy the most expensive you can afford. only purchases i regretted are the cheap ones.

 

[Grateful Ned]

The C-LE v2. has been on my watch list too but today I am unable to find one retail. At the moment I'm not much into PayPal and would prefer to get a retail package item (giving to my teen son). Have these disappeared from the market?

 

[defloyd77]

The C-LE v2. has been on my watch list too but today I am unable to find one retail. At the moment I'm not much into PayPal and would prefer to get a retail package item (giving to my teen son). Have these disappeared from the market?

Check out bugoutgearusa.com you can even pay money order there, they have great service, a cpf discount and retail packaging with certificate of authenticity.

I would also like to add this is my first cree light and as said before it has about the same brightness as a lux I on medium with more than double runtime (I had almost impulse bought the River Rock 1 watt 1aa before getting this), about the same brightness or possibly more than a lux III on high, a perfect low imho, tough and waterproof to I think 12 feet for 12 hours (IXP8 standards). Can't really go wrong with this light, unless you are in need of just 1 mode, which technically with the memory mode, this could be that.

 

[Luminescent]

buy the most expensive you can afford. only purchases i regretted are the cheap ones.

Where you planning to grow gills, return to the oceans and evolve to navagate by sonar? No? Well, as long as the human vision system still continues to work as it does, the C-LE will remain a very very usefull tool.

I have NEVER regretted purchasing my C-LE's (in fact I ordered two more imeadiatly when I saw how well this little light worked). :thumbsup:

Worst case, if there is another huge leap in performance, I'll give the C-LE's away as gifts when I replace them with the next generation (because, as noted, the C-LE's will still be a very very GOOD light for many many years, even when an even BETTER light appears on the scene). :twothumbs

I do agree that if you are paying the big bucks for a Fenix light, it doesn't make any sense not to pay another 6 to 10 bucks for the 'premium' version (it's blindingly STUPID that Fenix even offers non-premium models given what their lights cost). I mean, why would you build expensive, suposidly 'high-end' flashlights, and then give them only so-so average performance that doesn't match their price tag? (who do they think they are Surefire?).

 

[gunga]

I have both, I like both.

The +'s and -'s here are all valid.

I don't think you really lose much by going with the C-LE. It's a great light for the money.

There is no clear winner here, but the C-LE is a better value.

 

[StandardBattery]

I have both, I like both.
There is no clear winner here, but the C-LE is a better value.

+1

That's the way I see it. The UI is a personal preference thing between the lights, but the JetBeam is very good value, without giving up much.

 

[f22shift]

Where you planning to grow gills, return to the oceans and evolve to navagate by sonar? No? Well, as long as the human vision system still continues to work as it does, the C-LE will remain a very very usefull tool.

I have NEVER regretted purchasing my C-LE's (in fact I ordered two more imeadiatly when I saw how well this little light worked). :thumbsup:

Worst case, if there is another huge leap in performance, I'll give the C-LE's away as gifts when I replace them with the next generation (because, as noted, the C-LE's will still be a very very GOOD light for many many years, even when an even BETTER light appears on the scene). :twothumbs

I do agree that if you are paying the big bucks for a Fenix light, it doesn't make any sense not to pay another 6 to 10 bucks for the 'premium' version (it's blindingly STUPID that Fenix even offers non-premium models given what their lights cost). I mean, why would you build expensive, suposidly 'high-end' flashlights, and then give them only so-so average performance that doesn't match their price tag? (who do they think they are Surefire?).

not sure what this has to do with sushi :laughing: but if you think about the overall cost during the length of ownership, i think it's worth spending more to get more. now if someone is on a fixed budget that's something else.

 

[Luminescent]

not sure what this has to do with sushi :laughing: but if you think about the overall cost during the length of ownership, i think it's worth spending more to get more. now if someone is on a fixed budget that's something else.

I was just pointing out that the C-LE is a nice useful little light, and that this usefullness doesn't go away just because there is another light somewhere that cost more money (though if we all evolve into sonar-eyed sushi-men, all bets are off )

I suspect you and I are calculating that 'cost of ownership' differently. You seem to be saying "gee it's not that much considering the years and years you are going to own it" I look at it like this; not 'how long will I own it' ; but 'how long will I own it till something better and cheaper comes along'?

For example I have an older L1D that I got a little over a year back. True the L1D was brighter than my C-LE version 1.2 at the time, and had slightly better run times. On the other hand it has it's own little quirks, and I don't like the tint and finish nearly as well as my C-LE lights. So, as I indicated in my post, I found myself carrying the C-LE as an EDC light anyway.

The L1D ended up in the glove box of my car and got used maybe 3 times in the last year.

Now along comes the C-LE v2.0 only a year later which is a nice 'clicky' design, and which I find still has better fit and finish (and by luck, better tint on the emitter on my samples), compared with my big bucks Fenix, and which is now just about as bright as the good ol 'non-premium' P4 L1D I bought only a year earlier.

Now that I also have a C-LE v2.0 that's a 'clicky', and which is a bit brighter, my L1D is probably going to get even LESS use.

I got a great deal on my C-LE v1.2's and they only ended up costing me about 25 dollars (the new C-LE v2.0 is going for about 29 dollars).

So which light was the better value, the 25 dollar light I used about 500 times last year, or the 60 dollar light that I use 3 times?

 

[f22shift]

i see your point. it makes sense.