Tactical comparison: Fenix TK11 R2 vs. EagleTac T10L

Lights/specs:

Fenix TK11 R2 (smooth reflector)
Lumens: 240 60
Hours: 2.7 12

EagleTac T10L (OP reflector)
Lumens: 255 60
Hours: 2 13

Informal regulation test:

- load fresh pair 18650 Li-ion cells* into lights
- run on high until both lights off
- subjectively compare brightness at several checkpoints
- measure time between 1st and 2nd shutdowns
* Ultrafire 3.7V 2400mAh protected (yes I know I should try it
again with decent batteries, but from experience it seems I got
a reasonably well-matched pair of these)

Results:

The T10L did indeed shutdown first, and the TK11 kept going about
30 minutes longer. The two lights were fairly evenly matched for
output until around the time the T10L shut down, when the TK11's
brightness really started to fall off. EagleTac told me they
believe the T10L's regulation to be the best in the industry on
18650, and they may well be right.

Remarks:

The T10L has both a tighter spot and wider spill than the TK11,
which is hard to argue with at the end of the day. The TK11 does
deliver better throw, but not by much (and with a pronounced
doughnut). The T10L's beam is of superior quality overall, with
perfect blend between spot and spill and excellent uniformity out
to a razor-sharp edge.

The TK11 never got more than warm to the touch during the test,
whereas the T10L got quite hot. Whether this is due to the
greater efficiency of the R2 LED, better thermal management in
the TK11, or the extra 15 lumens the EagleTac is said to produce
I cannot say.

I find the EagleTac clicky has a wonderfully crisp feel to it.
The T10L can tailstand (which for me is a very handy feature) yet
its switch is, if anything, easier for me to operate. I've seen
people with "large hands" complain about it, so YMMV. The
softness of the TK11's switch does makes it harder to articulate
signals with momentary-on.

The TK11's chassis is beefier than the T10L's, and resists rolling
even without a clip. Its crenelated bezel is an advantage from
my point of view, though 4sevens sells crenelated bezels for
EagleTac lights for about $10 a pop (you can buy 3 with your
T10L for the price of a TK11 R2).

It isn't all roses for the T10L, though. As with my P10C, it's
possible to untwist the tailcap a bit when trying to adjust the
brightness and vice versa. No such problem with the Fenix.
Also, after about a month of ownership and without any undue
insult to the light, a battery contact fell off the PCB in the
T10L's head. I sent the light back to EagleTac per their
instructions, but it took them almost 2 months (!) with numerous
reminders from me to return it. A review on eagletac-store.com
reports the same experience.

With the T10L back in hand, however, it's hard to remember
anything bad about it. The TK11 is going in the kitchen drawer.

-Carl

Re: Tactical Bloodmatch: Fenix TK11 R2 vs. EagleTac T10L

You really needn't have (is that proper english?) returned the light simply because the reverse polarity protector came off. This seems like it happens on all of the T10L's (at least the two that I have had).
I just put some epoxy on it and reattached it, and it hasn't given me any trouble since. The light is also perfectly functional without it.

I sometimes accidentally loosen the tailcap while changing modes, but only when I am trying to do it one handed. It is a non issue when you use two hands (and it is less akward this way).

The fact that the T10L got hotter should mean that it has better heatsinking than the TK11, not worse. If the head is hot, then that means that it is being successfully transferred from the LED to the outside of the head.

In my opinion, the clip and the crenellations on the tailcap make it somewhat annoying to turn on the switch sometimes, but only in certain positions. I would have preferred something less "pointy" (sort of like what my L-mini II has) for tailstanding.

Re: Tactical Bloodmatch: Fenix TK11 R2 vs. EagleTac T10L

I'd think your runtime test is not accurate...
The T10L fully regulates on 18650 whereas the TK11 does not. That will account for some of the difference in the runtimes. The TK11 should drop out of regulation when the cell voltage goes under the VF of the LED. And that itself should be a variable figure from TK11 to TK11 due to VF variances.
Other than that it's a nice comparison. Both are nice lights. If you want a better 'apples to apples' comparison Compare the TK11 to the T100C2 or the T10LC2. They will both drop out of regulation on 18650 eventually.

Re: Tactical Bloodmatch: Fenix TK11 R2 vs. EagleTac T10L

PhantomPhoton said:

I'd think your runtime test is not accurate...
The T10L fully regulates on 18650 whereas the TK11 does not. That will account for some of the difference in the runtimes. The TK11 should drop out of regulation when the cell voltage goes under the VF of the LED. And that itself should be a variable figure from TK11 to TK11 due to VF variances.

Click to expand...

He has the TK11R2 which HAS full regulation on a 18650 until it reaches approx. 2:45h and goes to a moon mode. I have the same flashlight and did my runtime test, and I got the EXACT same brightness with ceiling bounce at the first minute and after 2.5 hours.

Now, if he also counted the moon mode as part of the runtime, that is wrong, because it can reach 4+ hours in the moon mode.

I have the T100C2 and to be honest if I had to chose, I would stay with my TK11R2 no doubt. The light feels almost indestructible and fail-proof. It also has inbeleivable runtimes in both mode, I was able to do 17 hours on the med mode before going moon mode.

Re: Tactical Bloodmatch: Fenix TK11 R2 vs. EagleTac T10L

PhantomPhoton said:

I'd think your runtime test is not accurate...
The T10L fully regulates on 18650 whereas the TK11 does not. That will account for some of the difference in the runtimes. The TK11 should drop out of regulation when the cell voltage goes under the VF of the LED. And that itself should be a variable figure from TK11 to TK11 due to VF variances.
Other than that it's a nice comparison. Both are nice lights. If you want a better 'apples to apples' comparison Compare the TK11 to the T100C2 or the T10LC2. They will both drop out of regulation on 18650 eventually.

Click to expand...

I think this is precisely what my informal runtime test showed.

Incidentally, I just got a T100C2 and the beam quality blows away the TK11's, but I like the TK11 chassis better. But I don't like to review lights without living with them for a good while first, so take that with a grain of salt. And at the moment, I'm completely preoccupied with my M2C4.

-Carl

Re: Tactical Bloodmatch: Fenix TK11 R2 vs. EagleTac T10L

>You really needn't have (is that proper english?) returned the light simply
>because the reverse polarity protector came off.

I know. EagleTac suggested I try epoxy, but I probably would have just
left it off, since I'm confident I'll never put a battery in backwards.

But it's the point of it. We mustn't forget these lights are very expensive
boutique items with healthy profit margins attached. EagleTac needs to
know about this problem, and they need to be motivated to make sure it
doesn't happen again. And in fact, it looks like the T100C2 and kin have
completely redesigned head contacts.

>This seems like it happens on all of the T10L's (at least the two that
>I have had).

And at least one other user had too long of a wait on the warranty
service as well (review on eagletac-store.com). Not acceptable for a
boutique manufacturer I'm afraid.

>I sometimes accidentally loosen the tailcap while changing modes,
>but only when I am trying to do it one handed. It is a non issue when
>you use two hands (and it is less akward this way).

Many lights have this issue to one degree or another, but this gen of
EagleTac lights seems to have it slightly worse than others.

In my opinion, untwisting the light to adjust anything is a dumb idea.
Control rings (ala Legion II and the M2) are clearly the way of
the future.

>In my opinion, the clip and the crenellations on the tailcap make it
>somewhat annoying to turn on the switch sometimes,

I don't use clips, and always remove them straightaway, so I can't
speak to that.

-Carl

Re: Tactical Bloodmatch: Fenix TK11 R2 vs. EagleTac T10L

The TK11 costs nearly twice as much as the T100C2, so I would hope that the quality would be better. The T100C2 seems like a pretty good value.
The T10L is really all I need, since I don't plan on using CR123 batteries when I have so many 18650's.

I have adjusted your thread title to remove an unnecessary absurdity.

DM51 said:

I have adjusted your thread title to remove an unnecessary absurdity.

Click to expand...

Gee, thanks. -Carl