Surefire E1B or Nitecore D10 GDP?

[Light Head]

Disregarding price, which is better?

Durability--Finish: Surefire E1B
Durability--General: Surefire E1B
Materials--Body: Surefire E1B
Materials--Lens: Surefire E1B (Pyrex lens)
Output: Nitecore D10 GDP
Power Source: Nitecore D10 GDP (AA)
Product Support: Equal
Reliability: ???
Size/Pocketability: Nitecore D10
Switch: Nitecore D10 GDP (Piston Drive)
User Interface: Surefire E1B

Is this list about right?

Which is more reliable? Which one can survive frequent drops? (E1B does not have Surefire Shock Absorption.)

How much will it take to have my name engraved on the Surefire E1B (including shipping both ways to engraver)?

What belt holsters would you recommend for them?

What's the foreseeable trend for Surefire products? I like the UI for the Titan and the Optimus...I'm hoping Surefire will release the same UI in an E1B body.

Just curious about what you guys think.

I'm waiting for the new iNova lights before making another purchase.

(I'm currently using my iNova X5 White 80% of the time, and a FoxFury 20% for the rest. Thinking of adding a reliable EDC in my pocket as the 3 Photon Microlights on my keychain are flickering.)

 

[cl0123]

A nylon holster (the smaller one) carried by AW is a pretty good fit for the E1B, I find. Wish it has a metal clip which would make it much easier to put on the belt.

To me, the D10 has a better interface, but ain't it pretty much user preference?

 

[EngrPaul]

The D10 is very good. I'm not sure it should be given a bad score for durability and materials.

 

[IcantC]

Disregarding price, which is better?

Durability--Finish: Surefire E1B
Durability--General: Surefire E1B
Materials--Body: Surefire E1B
Materials--Lens: Surefire E1B (Pyrex lens)
Output: Nitecore D10 GDP
Power Source: Nitecore D10 GDP (AA)
Product Support: Equal
Reliability: ???
Size/Pocketability: Nitecore D10
Switch: Nitecore D10 GDP (Piston Drive)
User Interface: Surefire E1B

Is this list about right?

Which is more reliable? Which one can survive frequent drops? (E1B does not have Surefire Shock Absorption.)

How much will it take to have my name engraved on the Surefire E1B (including shipping both ways to engraver)?

What belt holsters would you recommend for them?

What's the foreseeable trend for Surefire products? I like the UI for the Titan and the Optimus...I'm hoping Surefire will release the same UI in an E1B body.

Just curious about what you guys think.

I'm waiting for the new iNova lights before making another purchase.

(I'm currently using my iNova X5 White 80% of the time, and a FoxFury 20% for the rest. Thinking of adding a reliable EDC in my pocket as the 3 Photon Microlights on my keychain are flickering.)

Ummm your list could be debated, here is what I THINK would be different(I only own the E1B)

Durability--Finish: Surefire E1B
Durability--General: Surefire E1B
Materials--Body: Surefire E1B
Materials--Lens: Surefire E1B (Pyrex lens)
Output: E1B has more throw, I would like to see outdoor beamshots of both. Overall output is more on D10
Power Source: Nothing wins, depends what YOU will use or want. AA or CR123?
Product Support: Equal
Reliability: ???
Size/Pocketability: Nitecore D10
Switch: Depends what you use the light for, when not correctly lubed, cleaned, the D10 has problems.
User Interface: Surefire E1B

The Nitecore also has great build from what I have read. I wanted a durable 2 mode long running light with throw. So picked the E1B.

 

[jirik_cz]

If you have the money, then just get the E1B. If you don't have the money rather get Nitecore Extreme.

 

[nyyankeefen]

E1B gets my vote

 

[shomie911]

E1B definitely.

 

[PseudoFed]

I like Nitecores and have the EX10 and the Extreme. I have two E1Bs. E1B definitely. Nice change for SF with the finish and the clip.

 

[JJV]

I can't believe no one has gotten the answer correct yet.

The OP needs both. Isn't the credo here? It should never be an "either/or" situation! :laughing:

 

[carl]

I like Nitecores and have the EX10 and the Extreme. I have two E1Bs. E1B definitely.

Why do you prefer a clicky over a PD?

 

[WadeF]

It depends on what you want to use them for really. If you need throw, E1B. For general close range use I prefer my Nitecore EX10, it's much smaller and has a more floody output and more levels and can tail stand.

 

[Light Head]

The OP needs both. Isn't the credo here? It should never be an "either/or" situation! :laughing:

Been there, done that.

When I held my first Inova X5, I just had to get more. That's how I ended up with a bunch of them...and learned that I was only using one: the first one I got, the Titanium X5 White.

Now that I'm older (and presumably wiser), I'm looking for another light, but I was considering 3: the Military Inova, the Surefire E1B, and the Nitecore D10 GDP. I intend to have it as my JIC (Just In Case) light--a light I always have with me JIC the lights go out, JIC I get car trouble in the middle of the night, JIC I get the urge to go walking in the middle of the night.

Thanks to you guys, I have eliminated the Nitecore D10 GDP from my list. (The post and pics by the German CPF'er helped eliminate this light.)

(I can afford the Titan, but I cannot buy a flashlight at that price--my conscience will be nagging at me everytime I handle it. It's worth 1 month's car payment.)

I am looking for something similar to my Inova X5 and XO3. I don't do any maintenance on them, and changed their batteries maybe 3 times in a lot of years, and I have dropped them a lot of times--yet they keep on ticking.

Quality, Reliability, and Function--these are the things I'm looking for.

If the Military Inova disappoints, I'll be getting the Surefire E1B with Z68 Tailcap, and have my name engraved on the side. Get a Lanyard. Get a holster (the AW one looks OK).

BUT...the Surefire Optimus beckons.

It's like a candy shop, and my Conscience is telling me to pick only one.

 

[kts]

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=208460

 

[CM]

...Which is more reliable? Which one can survive frequent drops? (E1B does not have Surefire Shock Absorption.)

When you say Surefire Shock Absorption, are you referring to the shock isolated bezel? If so, those are worthless for LED's since LED's do not require shock isolation like incandescents do. All they would do is give you heat isolation which is bad for LED's.

To answer your original question, you're talking about 3 to 1 ratio in price so you're really talking about different lights.

The E1b does put out noticeably more light than the D10 and boy can it throw. You just have to decide whether the 2.5x-3x price premium is worth it. Surefire does have lifetime guarantee while Nitecore doesn't. You also have to decide on UI preference. Surefire is simple and adequate. D10 is more sophisticated since the low setting is programmable.

Bottom line, you're comparing apples and oranges.

 

[H2Orower]

I'll be honest...I don't know squat about the Inova or Nitecore brands. What I do know, is that I really like my E1B with Z68. That's my vote.

 

[GeneralTsao]

I don't own the D10 but i do have a E1B and the original PD light in Ti, i would of gotten the D10 but the reviews about thin walls steered me away from it since i like stout lights. My vote is for the E1B.

 

[bullfrog]

I'll be honest...I don't know squat about the Inova or Nitecore brands. What I do know, is that I really like my E1B with Z68. That's my vote.

+1 for the E1B + Z68 or E2DL tailcap.

I have been sticking with an E2DL cap over the Z68 because I find the scalloped tail more conducive to tail-standing WITH a lanyard clipped on...

 

[isneyk]

Between the two, my vote goes to the E1B ( + F04 option). :thumbsup:

Granted that you do not loose your light, the SF warranty will keep your light tickin as long as they are in business...






...which to me would probably be till I become an old man?? :thinking:

 

[ScreenName]

I literally just got my Nitecore EX10 and i knew after about 5 minutes that it was my new edc light. Replacing a SF E2L.

Much better clip design on the E1B than other SF lights though. maybe with a KX2 and a Z68?


Edit to Add:

From another thread re: the warranty...

don't worry - just
use it normally. If something comes up we'll be here to take care of you.

Our policy is not too different from the Craftsman (Sears) brand. Use it like
it should be used, if anything comes up we'll repair or replace for the life
of the product.

 

[crocodilo]

Many users here sing the well deserved appraisal song for Surefire's optics ability to throw, and indeed transform a relatively low lumen light to a power thrower. I don't have the E1B, but I did compare (outdoors and indoors) the throw and beam characteristics between my L1 Cree and my EX10. The little fella clearly won in all categories: beam cleansiness, beam versatility, total output, spill and throw. Tint was good on both lights.

If you factor in the small size, small price, ability to run on rechargeables, higher range dynamics (lower low and higher high) and more than adequate build quality, the EX10 may seem the undisputed champ.

However, it really comes down to personal preference for UI, switch type, and whether you'll need Surefire's overbuilt body. Some users may also value the clip. For some, the larger size will be an advantage, since the EX10 may be too small for large hands.

Different strokes... two great lights. I'll be keeping both.