fyrstormer
Banned
Peak LED Solutions' little Eiger penlight has gotten plenty of praise here on CPF, but I figured I'd add my experience to the heap.
My little stainless-steel Eiger probably sees more use than all of my bigger RCR123-based lights combined, mainly because it's always in my pocket, but...well, actually, entirely because it's always in my pocket. I mean, that's one of the qualifiers of a good backup, that it's always close at hand, and at a bit over 2" long and 1/2" wide (mine uses a 10280 battery), there's no excuse for it not to be.
Given that it uses an unprotected lithium battery, I suppose some might see the lack of a low-voltage cutoff circuit as a disadvantage, but in the role of a backup light it's actually a benefit because it means I don't have to worry about both lights cutting out on me if I haven't recharged them lately.
The medium-beam optic produces a nice, almost perfectly-even square beam of light with just enough throw to reach the ground and still be bright, but smooth enough that I can use it for all manner of up-close work without being blinded or having to flick the hotspot back and forth constantly.
I'm a big fan of titanium, but I got my Eiger in stainless steel, even though aluminum is lighter and I knew there was talk about a limited run of titanium shells, because I wanted something I could abuse, ignore, and beat the hell out of, and not have to worry about it. And sure enough, unlike all my fancy titanium lights with their pocket clips keeping them safely suspended over the mosh-pit that is my tool pocket, my Eiger is down in the mix, jangling against my SeberTool and my tweezers and my Valiant Concepts pen and my P38 can opener, and for all that abuse all it ever looks is more polished than the last time I dug it out to check on it. Heck, I don't think I've ever changed the grease on the threads since I got it, and it still twists butter-smooth.
Of course, no light is perfect, and if I had to come up with any complaints about the Eiger it would be that the optic doesn't have a glass shield like its larger brothers, the Logan and the El Capitan, have, though aside from nitpicking about a small nick here and there on the surface of the optic, it really has no perceivable effect on the beam.
So, how do I use my Eiger?
- When using my bench grinder, for extra spot lighting;
- When connecting computer wires under someone's desk, because it's dark under there;
- When fiddling with stuff on the back of the server rack, so I can leave the lights off so nobody asks questions;
- When soldering, because I don't have a fancy soldering station with a built-in light;
- When checking the mailbox for goodies when I get home late;
- When inspecting the threads on my fancy titanium lights for metal shavings;
- Pretty much any other time I've managed to unclip my EDC and set it on my desk, just before walking off to do something that I need a flashlight for.
As far as I'm concerned, the Eiger is definitely the spiritual successor to the original Arc AAA; it's small, dependable, easy to carry, and unlike the Arc AAA it comes with a slew of battery and brightness options to suit anyone's needs. Heck, I might just get a second one...you know...just in case. 😉
(shown here with the 10180 battery tube; add 1cm to the length for the 10280 tube, roughly the width of the tube itself)
How do you use your Eiger? Is it your primary or your backup? What beam and brightness do you have, and what battery do you use with it? In what sorts of situations do you find yourself depending on it to turn on? What do you like most about it? Has it ever failed you for reasons beyond your control? Do you wish I'd stop asking so many questions? How does that make you feel?
My little stainless-steel Eiger probably sees more use than all of my bigger RCR123-based lights combined, mainly because it's always in my pocket, but...well, actually, entirely because it's always in my pocket. I mean, that's one of the qualifiers of a good backup, that it's always close at hand, and at a bit over 2" long and 1/2" wide (mine uses a 10280 battery), there's no excuse for it not to be.
Given that it uses an unprotected lithium battery, I suppose some might see the lack of a low-voltage cutoff circuit as a disadvantage, but in the role of a backup light it's actually a benefit because it means I don't have to worry about both lights cutting out on me if I haven't recharged them lately.
The medium-beam optic produces a nice, almost perfectly-even square beam of light with just enough throw to reach the ground and still be bright, but smooth enough that I can use it for all manner of up-close work without being blinded or having to flick the hotspot back and forth constantly.
I'm a big fan of titanium, but I got my Eiger in stainless steel, even though aluminum is lighter and I knew there was talk about a limited run of titanium shells, because I wanted something I could abuse, ignore, and beat the hell out of, and not have to worry about it. And sure enough, unlike all my fancy titanium lights with their pocket clips keeping them safely suspended over the mosh-pit that is my tool pocket, my Eiger is down in the mix, jangling against my SeberTool and my tweezers and my Valiant Concepts pen and my P38 can opener, and for all that abuse all it ever looks is more polished than the last time I dug it out to check on it. Heck, I don't think I've ever changed the grease on the threads since I got it, and it still twists butter-smooth.
Of course, no light is perfect, and if I had to come up with any complaints about the Eiger it would be that the optic doesn't have a glass shield like its larger brothers, the Logan and the El Capitan, have, though aside from nitpicking about a small nick here and there on the surface of the optic, it really has no perceivable effect on the beam.
So, how do I use my Eiger?
- When using my bench grinder, for extra spot lighting;
- When connecting computer wires under someone's desk, because it's dark under there;
- When fiddling with stuff on the back of the server rack, so I can leave the lights off so nobody asks questions;
- When soldering, because I don't have a fancy soldering station with a built-in light;
- When checking the mailbox for goodies when I get home late;
- When inspecting the threads on my fancy titanium lights for metal shavings;
- Pretty much any other time I've managed to unclip my EDC and set it on my desk, just before walking off to do something that I need a flashlight for.
As far as I'm concerned, the Eiger is definitely the spiritual successor to the original Arc AAA; it's small, dependable, easy to carry, and unlike the Arc AAA it comes with a slew of battery and brightness options to suit anyone's needs. Heck, I might just get a second one...you know...just in case. 😉
(shown here with the 10180 battery tube; add 1cm to the length for the 10280 tube, roughly the width of the tube itself)
How do you use your Eiger? Is it your primary or your backup? What beam and brightness do you have, and what battery do you use with it? In what sorts of situations do you find yourself depending on it to turn on? What do you like most about it? Has it ever failed you for reasons beyond your control? Do you wish I'd stop asking so many questions? How does that make you feel?
Last edited:
