NDI R2 or SureFire E1L?

[BigBluefish]

At first you might not consider these two lights as similar, but, as I see it, they are both:

1. Single cell lights;
2. Very small, meaning EDC-able;
3. Of excellent quality, or so reviews would suggest;
4. Offering two output modes, high and low (although user definable in the NDI);
5. Very simple UIs, with forward clickies;
6. Very good-looking lights, IMHO.

These are the +s that make these two so appealing. The problem is, which one do I get?

The purpose woulld be EDC, which may include, though I would hope not "tactical" application, and/or l as a primary light for nighttime use while campling and hiking.

Battery type doesn't matter to me, I like CR123a and AA. The price difference isn't really an issue, once you factor in the free batteries that come with the E1L, it's not that big a deal, maybe $20.

The E1L's particular strengths, in addition to the above, would seem to be the 3.5-4 hour regulated runtime on the high setting. Also the high setting is not blindingly bright, which would seem about perfect for a light to be used for camping and hiking or simply walking in the woods, at night. Reputed to be pretty-much bombproof. And, of course, it's a SureFire. Which I have wanted for some time.

The NDI's strengths seem to be high-output, which if a serious situation arose, could be of use, and user-defined lower output, coupled with a forward clicky, and also, if reviews are accurate, high-quality construction. It also appears to have a more or less "conventional" beam pattern we've come to expect from a reflector.

The usual CPF mantra would tell me to get both, put the NDI in the suit pocket during the week and drop the E1L in my jeans on the weekend or on vacation. But could either of these lights do everything I want a light to to? Or would one be so much better at EDC/tactical or general nighttime outdoor use than the other that getting the "wrong one" would be a mistake?

The questions I have about the E1L concern the TIR optic beam. I've looked these in stores, but it's not pitch black, so you can't get any feel for how much spill the light has, or even how bright the hotspot is. The few beamshots I've seen show little spill, but a spot that seems very bright, appearing brighter than the 45 lumen rating would lead one to believe. This may though, be simply a result of the optic and the light's producing virtually all throw. In fact, the E1L seems to offer more output (or is it simply more throw?) than most single cell AA lights. I don't know if actual user experience bears this out, but the beamshots I've seen seem to suggest it. My concern is that despite what I see in the beamshots, I might not find the high level high enough in an urban or suburban setting. Also, one poster had opined that the TIR beam on the E series is an impractical beam for a light you'd want to use to find your way around in the woods in the dark, and, having never tried one myself, I'd tend to agree. So far, I've used an LM31 and LM33 as my camping lights, and the floody nature is good for some uses, but I'm a little concerned about the LM series ruggedness. And the runtimes aren't as high as I'd like.

Yet everyone who has the E1L one seems to love it. I mean, have you seen anyone on CPF complaining about the E1L???

The things that concern me about the NDI are it's durability. Is this going to hold up as well in the rain, snow, dirt and through my clumsiness as the E1L will? And is the lumen rating (145 now with an R2) realistic? I find that hard to believe coming from a singe AA cell. I also wonder about the ramping feature...is this a feature is which is going to cause the light to be less reliable than the 2 stage E1L, or require more attention to care of the lgiht to keep it clean to work properly? For awhile, it seemed the NDI was sort-of the king of the 1 x AA lights.

The one light I have that bears some similarity to the E1L and NDI in terms of features is my L1T v.2, which is a great light, but I'm hoping that either the SureFire or the Nitecore will be a bit of an improvement on the Fenix, in terms of output and overall quality and durability. Is the E1L significantly less bright on high than the L1T? Is the NDI significantly brighter? I'm under the impression that the E1L will give me a slightly lower high, a significantly lower low, and much greater runtime on bothl. The NDI, I think, will give me a much brighter high, and a much lower low, and much greater runtime on both.

So there it is. I like the L1T v2. I want a similar, but better light. Do I get the E1L, or the NDI?

 

[Moonshadow]

Interesting.

Did you also consider the Nitecore Extreme ? That's the CR123 equivalent of the NDI, so would be a more direct comparison with the E1L - same battery, similar form factor. And an even brighter high than the NDI. Get a nice choice of bezels on the Extreme too.

 

[Toaster]

I would go for a Nitecore Extreme R2 or Surefire E1B over either of your two choices. I would also advise waiting another 2 weeks for the 4Sevens brands of lights to be released and see what they offer.

 

[Outdoors Fanatic]

Go for the L1 or the E1b Backup.

 

[Zeruel]

Personally, I like NDI for its form and trust it to deliver in my everyday usage, indoors and outdoors. So far, it works for me. I have no equipment to measure, but this is the brightest AA i own, and it sure looks like 145 lumens to me. I've even tested it against EX10, an AA against RCR123 and they're comparable. On the other hand, if I'm to pick E1L, I would have it for specific uses, like camping or where throw is of importance. I choose it for its ruggedness and runtime. But of course in this case, it's apple to orange, comparing AA's runtime to a CR123. In any case, I would pick L1 over E1L. So, my preference in the matter would gear towards NDI which, IMHO, covers more uses for me and the ramping has not fail me so far.

 

[bigfoot]

Another thought, depending on how complicated you want to go, is to check out the "Ra" lights (formerly HDS) or the NovaTac offerings.

For $99 you can snag an Ra EDC Executive which is a great light. But it does tend towards flood instead of throw.

The SureFire E1L (dual output) will accept an F04 diffusion filter which goes on the head of the light, changing it from throw to flood.

 

[Litbobber]

Get the E1B or the E1L both are great lights.

 

[greenpea76]

I have all of the mentioned lights. I always seem to go back to my NDI no matter what the latest and greatest are. Add a small clip from and older mini-mag and it keeps it from rolling around. The AA form factor keeps it handy and batteries are easy to get. The NDI is the only light I have two of. I have a D10 and EX10 also. Though I do like them, the simple twist of a head and programability of the low are pluses for the NDI. I love the piston operated lights, but the good old forward clicky still works great for me. I click the crap out of it waiting for it to fail one day.........

I'd say go with the NDI since you did only mention that or the E1L. My E1L and backup sit more than anything else due to the tight beams. I use it (NDI) mostly for things up to 75 feet at night.

 

[LiteTheWay]

I have several NDIs including the latest R2. Like others here I always seem to come back to the NDI for my EDC or for travel. I run it on AW 14500s but the fact it can take AAs and run really well too is a big plus.

 

[Marlinaholic]

I have both and they are both nice, BUT the if I could only have one, it would be the E1L with FO4 beamshaper. The reasons are:

With no F04, the E1L throws great, better than most lights with much higher lumen rating (and lower runtimes), with the FO4 you have a nice flood beam that is great for most situations. The NDI has a compromise beam that throws pretty well, and spills well, but isn't dedicated to one or the other.

Runtime will be a little better with the E1L on high, as the NDI only goes about 45 minutes on an Eneloop on max (less on alkalines), but about 120 minutes on 14500's, so its no slouch either if you use 14500, but I believe the E1L should still beat it by a margin, especially if you are comparing throw away batts in both lights, the NDI just really prefers 14500's to do its thing, and as a 14500 light, it is wonderful.

The switch in the E1L is better quality than the NDI. The NDI is a great light, but if you check the forum you'll see a whole thread about the junky feeling of the switch. They don't fail as much as you would think going by how they feel, but the Z57 is better. Not perfect of course, they can fail too, but somewhat better.

Like I said, I own both and love both, so if at all possible later on, get both. The NDI is a great bottom of the pocket light, more compact than that E1L, which is an advantage of AA size lights. I love the NDI for close to medium ranges where I want a lot of power in a small package that I don't plan on running all night long. I also like its versatility in that it eats any battery that fits, maybe not the most efficient with them all, but it eats them all and works fine on all levels with them (Fenix is the efficiency king, but direct drives with 14500's, which is probably hard on them). Its hard to choose, which I guess is why I own both (and a bunch of other Surefires, and Nitecores, and a couple Fenixs, and a Jetbeam, a couple Leathermans, still got a few Mags, a Rayovac or two.........:thinking: )

 

[ResQTech]

The things that concern me about the NDI are it's durability. Is this going to hold up as well in the rain, snow, dirt and through my clumsiness as the E1L will?

Not sure about dirt and clumsiness... but they found it'll hold up to "rain" and "snow"... well "ice" really... haha :rock:

Check it out: