Z
z_DeepBlackZeppelin
Guest
Hi everyone. I am relatively new to the led torch scene (or as you Yankees say, flashlight) and so am certainly no expert. I currently have:
1. Olight SR90
2. Thrunite Catapult V2
3. Fenix TK45
I have just put an order for the Fenix TK35 too, and am eager to try Fenix's version of the XM-L emitter. In my opinion, the Fenix TK45 is one of the best torches for general camping/outdoors activities. I don't mean however for specialised outdoor activities like hunting for eg that requires a large throw as the TK45 is more of a flooder.
But I just mean general camping and outdoor torches, something that is a compromise between flood and throw, but more weighted towards flood. And here are my reasons.
Firstly, the TK45 uses common AA's that are readily avaliable anywhere. And you could buy extra batteries that are cheap for extended use.
Secondly, the TK45 offers an excellent range of variable outputs. 4 in total. Almost 800 lumens, 300 lumens, 100 lumens and 8 lumens. There is a setting for every possible situation. Furthermore, some torches offer only very high or very low. Such as my Thrunite Catapult V2 that offers only 700 or 170 lumens only. Many torches are like this.
Thirdly, and this is the real clincher for me. The Fenix TK45 offers one of the longest burn times not only on turbo, but also for it's other modes. Turbo mode for eg, is 2hrs. But more importantly, the 300 lumen mode runs for 6.5 hrs, the 100 lumen mode runs for 22 hrs and the 8 lumen mode for a whopping 232 hrs! Almost 10 days continuos running. I can hardly find any other torch that offers such a good runtime for the avaliable lumens. I can tell you that the 300 lumen mode is still quite bright and that the 100 lumen mode is plenty for getting around in the dark.
And bear in mind that this is tested on 2500mAh capacity NiMh AA's. If you buy say Vapex 3000 mAh AA's, then it'll be even longer.
Let me show you some comparisons.
The Olight M30 for eg, goes from 700 to 120 lumens and nothing in between, (though there is an 8 lumen mode). It will run for 9 hrs at 120 lumens whilst the TK45 is running 100 lumens at 22 hrs. More than twice!!
If I compare the 300 lumen mode of the TK45 there again is no comparison. It runs for 6.5 hrs. The TK30 with 2x18650's will operate at 370 lumens for a measley 1.5 hrs. That is a massive difference.
And even on the lowest mode, there are massive differences. The TK45 runs 8 lumens for 10 days straight. The ITP A6 Polestar runs 12 lumens for only 2 days. Even allowing for the difference of 8 versus 12 lumens and 8 versus 6 AA batteries, that diffenence is not proportional. Not by a long shot.
I know that I am no expert when it comes to torches and I'm sure that someone is going to soon sternly correct me. But if I was going to recommend a torch for general outdoor/camping use, I'd strongly recommend the TK45. There is just no comparison when considering the size of the torch, the runtimes for the lumens avaliable (and choice of outputs too-not just very high/low and nothing in between). There is very little for this particular torch size that can compare, and that is why I think the Fenix TK45 is unbeatable as a general purpose outdoors/camping torch.
I don't want to come across as brash and cocky especially being a relative newbie , it's just that I can't see any other torch for this size coming even close to the TK45 for runtime for these particular lumen outputs, plus the combination of good flood with a reasonable throw and the bonus of common AA batteries.
Let the fighting begin!!! :touche:
1. Olight SR90
2. Thrunite Catapult V2
3. Fenix TK45
I have just put an order for the Fenix TK35 too, and am eager to try Fenix's version of the XM-L emitter. In my opinion, the Fenix TK45 is one of the best torches for general camping/outdoors activities. I don't mean however for specialised outdoor activities like hunting for eg that requires a large throw as the TK45 is more of a flooder.
But I just mean general camping and outdoor torches, something that is a compromise between flood and throw, but more weighted towards flood. And here are my reasons.
Firstly, the TK45 uses common AA's that are readily avaliable anywhere. And you could buy extra batteries that are cheap for extended use.
Secondly, the TK45 offers an excellent range of variable outputs. 4 in total. Almost 800 lumens, 300 lumens, 100 lumens and 8 lumens. There is a setting for every possible situation. Furthermore, some torches offer only very high or very low. Such as my Thrunite Catapult V2 that offers only 700 or 170 lumens only. Many torches are like this.
Thirdly, and this is the real clincher for me. The Fenix TK45 offers one of the longest burn times not only on turbo, but also for it's other modes. Turbo mode for eg, is 2hrs. But more importantly, the 300 lumen mode runs for 6.5 hrs, the 100 lumen mode runs for 22 hrs and the 8 lumen mode for a whopping 232 hrs! Almost 10 days continuos running. I can hardly find any other torch that offers such a good runtime for the avaliable lumens. I can tell you that the 300 lumen mode is still quite bright and that the 100 lumen mode is plenty for getting around in the dark.
And bear in mind that this is tested on 2500mAh capacity NiMh AA's. If you buy say Vapex 3000 mAh AA's, then it'll be even longer.
Let me show you some comparisons.
The Olight M30 for eg, goes from 700 to 120 lumens and nothing in between, (though there is an 8 lumen mode). It will run for 9 hrs at 120 lumens whilst the TK45 is running 100 lumens at 22 hrs. More than twice!!
If I compare the 300 lumen mode of the TK45 there again is no comparison. It runs for 6.5 hrs. The TK30 with 2x18650's will operate at 370 lumens for a measley 1.5 hrs. That is a massive difference.
And even on the lowest mode, there are massive differences. The TK45 runs 8 lumens for 10 days straight. The ITP A6 Polestar runs 12 lumens for only 2 days. Even allowing for the difference of 8 versus 12 lumens and 8 versus 6 AA batteries, that diffenence is not proportional. Not by a long shot.
I know that I am no expert when it comes to torches and I'm sure that someone is going to soon sternly correct me. But if I was going to recommend a torch for general outdoor/camping use, I'd strongly recommend the TK45. There is just no comparison when considering the size of the torch, the runtimes for the lumens avaliable (and choice of outputs too-not just very high/low and nothing in between). There is very little for this particular torch size that can compare, and that is why I think the Fenix TK45 is unbeatable as a general purpose outdoors/camping torch.
I don't want to come across as brash and cocky especially being a relative newbie , it's just that I can't see any other torch for this size coming even close to the TK45 for runtime for these particular lumen outputs, plus the combination of good flood with a reasonable throw and the bonus of common AA batteries.
Let the fighting begin!!! :touche:
