Tag Archives: fenix

Gadgets, Product Reviews

Fenix E06R Mini EDC

The E06R looks like a Fenix E03R keychain flashlight had a growth spurt. It is a bit longer and thicker than the E03R with the addition of belt clip. It also has a higher lumen output, a magnetic tail, a UV lamp, and a laser pointer. Its feature set is closer to a full-sized EDC like the OLight Arkfeld than a keychain flashlight, while retaining the advantage of being lighter and more compact than a full-sized EDC.

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SPECS

Max Lumens: 700

Max Beam Distance: 361 feet (110 m)

Max Runtime: 60 hours

Lighting Modes: Ten lighting modes including four brightness levels, four modes for the decorative ring light, UV light, and red laser pointer

Bulb Type: Two Luminus SST12 LEDs. UV light utilizes one Luminus SST-08-UV LED

Lens Material: Polycarbonate

Color Temperature: Around 6500K

Size: Length: 2.72” (69mm) Width: 1.14” (29mm) Height: 0.63” (16mm)

Weight: 1.90 oz. (24g) including battery

Battery: Built-in 750mAh battery

Gadgets

SHOT 2025 Fenix mini EDCs

I stopped by the Fenix booth at SHOT Show to see Fenix’s new offerings for 2025. I had tested the EO3R, which is a small flat EDC flashlight, about the size of my car’s alarm fob. The new E06R extends this design with a higher output and higher battery capacity. It’s also a bit longer by about 50% so it’s no longer a keychain sized EDC but not quite long enough to be a knife sized flashlight like the OLight Arkfeld. It’s about the size of the SW05R clip-on light that they sent me to test. I hope to get a sample of the EO6R to test out too.

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Fenix https://alnk.to/eDSFSD5

Amazon https://amzn.to/4iqPSMg

Gadgets, Shooting Sports

SHOT 2025 Fenix Weaponlights

I stopped by the Fenix booth at SHOT Show to see Fenix’s new offerings for 2025. I tested the GL19R last year and found it to be a reliable and bright weaponlight. This year, they showed me the GL23R with its new mechanical control switches and the new v2 GL19R with the same switches.

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Get 10% off using code AF-MOONDOG
on the Fenix website https://alnk.to/eDSGwgw

Fenix GL23R on Amazon https://amzn.to/4ksnR8Q

Fenix GL19R on Amazon https://amzn.to/4i3NxqX

Gadgets, Product Reviews

Fenix SW05R Clip-On EDC

The Fenix SW05R is a compact wearable flashlight with a flat form factor It has a lightweight polymer body, with a magnetic tail, a broad belt clip, and a rotating emitter head. The head can turn over 180º to aim the beams giving the user flexibility in aiming the beams depending on where the flashlight is attached.

The unit is recharged via a USB-C cable and activated by pressing either the grey main button on the back or the red side-button. This flashlight comes in two versions, a red light and UV flashlight. To activate the flashlight, the button must be pressed for over a second, which prevents accidental activation.

The belt clip is a split design. The wider outer section is nearly the width of the flashlight (over 1″) and the thinner center clip is small enough to fit into a pen loop. The flashlight can be clipped onto a hat brim, backpack strap, or pocket.

The maximum beam output is only 150 lumens but its beam has a surprisingly long throw of over 120 ft. While wearing the SW05R, the 150 lumens is ideal for illuminating most objects being manipulated within arm’s reach. The flashlight has a secondary red LED light which is useful for preserving natural night vision, desired by astronomers, naturalists, and night hikers.

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Fenix https://alnk.to/eDSFSD5

Amazon https://amzn.to/4bcm4Ri

SPECS

SW05R / UV

Max Lumens: 150

Max  Throw: 128 feet (39m)

Max Runtime: 49 hours

Modes: Low, med, high, red, red flash

Lens Material: Polycarbonate

Color Temperature: ~6500K

Size: Length: 2.72” (69mm) 

Width: 1.14” (29mm) 

Height: 0.63” (16mm)

Weight: 1.90 oz. (24g)

Battery: 700mAh battery

Power Input: USB-C

Warranty: Limited Lifetime

Gadgets, Product Reviews

Fenix PD40R v3.0

Tactical lights with their multiple lighting modes have always been hamstrung by their control, usually having to resort to multiple clicks or one or two buttons to cycle modes and brightness. With the PD40R, Fenix developed a duty light whose controls are an intuitive selector ring, allowing the user to precisely dial in their desired brightness or set the flashlight into SOS and strobe.

The PD40R v3.0 steps up in run time and throw distance from the v2.0. Physically the PD40 is just a little bit larger than the PD30 at a little over 6″ long. It runs of a 5000mAh 21700 lithium battery. The PD40R has a USB-C charging port allowing the battery to be charged inside the flashlight (which is fortunate because none of my LiPO chargers is large enough to fit a 21700 battery).

The PD40R has a slightly crenelated crown to assist in breaking glass and as a pressure point when used a self-defense tool. Because of its control ring, the unit lacks a tail click button and thus easily tail stands. Fenix included a removable pocket clip though the unit is a bit oversized.

In my testing, I measured 2600 lumens from a freshly recharged battery, which is close enough to its stated 3000 lumen output that I consider my reading well within a margin of error. In addition, the PD40 lasted well past Fenix’s 2hr and 40min runtime in Turbo brightness; I stopped my test at 3hrs and 40min and it was still not exhausted.

The only disappointing aspect of the flashlight is its control ring. I prefer the PD40’s control ring system which is much more intuitive and precise than pressing button combinations. Fenix claims the ring has a hard stop at TURBO to prevent the user from accidentally activating the SOS or strobe function. But in my testing, I too often accidentally turned the unit past TURBO into SOS. I contacted Fenix about this and they were aware of the feedback.

Suggestions about the SOS mode in the ring control aside, the PD40Rs exceeded expectations for “professional” performance.

BUY

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on Fenix LIghting website: https://alnk.to/9bugn8I

SPECS

Max Output: 3000 lumens

Max Throw: 500 m

Max Runtime: 89 hrs (low)

Modes: 6

Strobe Mode: 3000 lumens

Control: Rotary Switch

Length: 5.63” (143mm) 

Head: 1.34” (34mm) 

Body: 1.02” (26mm)

Weight: 6.98 oz. (198g) with battery

Charging Type: USB Type-C

Waterproof Rating: IP68

Shooting Sports

Fenix HT32

Fenix updated their HT series of reachable flashlights with a hunting flashlight which offers a very intuitive 2 button selection scheme. Users can quickly switch between green, red, and white light depending on the situation; to preserve night vision or to track prey. It is able output a blinding 2700 lumens at maximum brightness.

BUY

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on Fenix LIghting’s website https://www.fenixlighting.com

Amazon https://amzn.to/3UsK8IX

Gadgets, Product Reviews

Fenix E03R Keychain Light

In the contest to make the smallest, brightest, EDC flashlight, the Fenix E03R isn’t the smallest or the brightest but this keychain sized flashlight offers a bit of both while being perhaps the most durable. This all-metal bodied flashlight looks like it feel straight out of the Star Wars universe. It is about the size of a car alarm remote fob (actually smaller than mine).

The light activates by pressing the activation button for about 1 second and immediately release upon activation. While on, tapping the button changes the brightness mode (4 levels). Pressing the button for longer than 1 second activates the red LED which has a constant and blinking submode. Tapping the button once shows you the battery charge level by the color of the illuminated ring around the button.

Tapping the button twice causes the battery illumination ring to slowly pulse; tapping in this mode switches colors from red, green, and cycling between both. The amount of light cast by the ring is very dim (less than 1 candela). It looks only bright enough to help locate the light in the dark, I’m not convinced this lighting mode has much utility in the real world?

In my lumen test, I recorded an output of 440 lumens on highest brightness which is well within the margin of error of the 500 lumens Fenix lists for the E03R. Fenix claims the light is IPX6 water resistance which I tested and confirmed. Fenix also claims the light has a runtime of 1hr and 20minutes on high; in my test it exceeded that mark by 18 minutes.

The light met all of its specifications and felt so solid in my hand, that I decided to give it a rare durability test out of curiosity. I ran it over with my SUV, twice. The flashlight survived without a dent (well more like a bunch of small scratches) but somehow the pressure activated the flashlights ‘lockout’ mode where the light doesn’t turn on when the button is pressed. The activate or deactivate lockout mode, simply keep the button pressed for 3+ seconds.

The E03R’s main drawbacks are in its controls. I don’t like having to turn on the unit in white light before it switches to red light mode which could spoil your eye’s natural nigh-vision. And the units 1/2 second press activation seems insufficient in preventing accidental activation in your pocket.

But overall I like this light a lot based on performance with those small caveats with the controls (which I have nitpicks with Fenix other lights). This is the Version 2 of this light and perhaps they can address this in a future Version 3.

ONLINE RETAILERS

This light is available directly from Fenix: https://alnk.to/3cjWX2M
Amazon Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/3rm6109