Who doesn't want the perfect flashlight? One that's bright, uses easy to find batteries and employs the latest LED technology
can be difficult to find. The search for the "perfect LED flashlight" has been intermittent at best; I could never find exactly what I wanted. However,
that all changed when I decided to pick up the search once again and began researching to see if a high quality AA battery LED flashlight existed.
Well, I found one and I will give you a short review.
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Most of us have heard of higher end brands of LED flashlights and tactical rail lights made by companies like SureFire. SureFire flashlights are great
and they are made in America but a little out of the price range I was going for. I wanted to find a high quality LED flashlight that was under $50.
During my search for LED flashlights that use common batteries like AA or AAA for example, I found a company by the name of "Fenix". They have
many different products. Some of there flashlights run on one single AAA battery! Impressive to say the least!
Today my review will focus on the Fenix E21 LED flashlight in Neutral White. This particular model runs on just two AA batteries (rechargeable
or alkaline). Here's the basic list of features as found on their website:
Cree XP-E Neutral White LED with lifespan of 50,000 hours
Patented physical structure avoid circuit damaging from reverse connection of battery
Tactical push-button tail cap switch
Made of durable aircraft-grade aluminum
Premium Type III hard-anodized anti-abrasive finish
Toughened ultra-clear double glass lens with anti-reflective coating
Notice: The above-mentioned parameters (tested by 2500mAh Ni-MH battery in lab) are approximate and may vary between flashlights, batteries, and
environments.
Get to the review already!
The first item that impressed me about this particular LED flashlight is just how bright it really is! There are two modes, one is a lower output mode
and one is a high output mode. Mode "A" outputs around 48 lumens with a runtime of approximately 11 hours. Mode "B" is the full power mode and outputs
around 135 (or 150 lumens for the cool white model) lumens. You can switch modes while the light is in use by simply giving the front of the light a
1/8 turn counterclockwise. This flashlight is simple and easy to use. I didn't need any extra features like a strobe or a half dozen different output
modes. I wanted it to turn on when I clicked the switch and turn off when I clicked it again. This light fit my requirements perfectly!
Here's a couple of shots showing the beam patterns on both of the output modes. Both photos were taken with the exact same exposure so you can compare the difference in output. This flashlight produces a bright and even
center spot of light with a nice outer circle of light. Notice how even the beam pattern is (don't judge the actual color of the light by these photos
as I did not adjust white balance).
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Basic construction photos
I've used this light regularly for the last few months and it has performed reliably and consistently. Here are a couple photos showing some of the
features and design of the light.
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The body has a knurled texture for easy gripping.
Rubber o-rings seal the battery compartment and the bulb compartment.
What's in the box?
Flashlight
Wrist strap
An extra switch (switch appears to be of high quality so I don't anticipate it wearing out any time soon!)
Instruction manual (basically, don't shine it in your eyes!)
You can tell this is a rather short review, but how much can really be said about a flashlight? The point is, it's constructed well, very bright, uses
common household batteries and most of all it's reliable!
I've really enjoyed this flashlight, and I believe the price point is very reasonable for a product of this quality. One can be had for around $35! I
would encourage you to check out the Fenix website as they offer a large selection of other flashlights, from small ones to big ones that output
hundreds of lumens! This flashlight however, receives and A+ from me!
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