FENIX E01
Purchased From: | LightJunction.com |
Price: | $12.50 (Before Discount) |
Emitter: | Nichia White GS |
Battery Type: | 1x Alkaline, Ni-MH, Lithium (1.7v) |
Run time: | 11 Hours regulated + 10 Hours Unregulated |
Size: | 71mm (l) x 14mm (w) |
Weight: | 14 grams w/o battery |
Waterproofing: | Tested to IPX8 |
Modes: | 1 (Twisty Operation) |
Finish Type: | Type III Anodizing |
Accessories: | 1x O ring, 1x Split Ring |
Outdated Useless Technology???
Except for those newest to the flashlight world, I'm sure you've heard of the Fenix E01 atleast ONCE in your lifetime. You've probably checked it out, saw the specs, and quickly navigated away from the page and never gave it a second thought. I can't say I blame you. When you've got similar sized lights pushing out over 100 lumens with multiple modes, who would want something seemingly so useless? That's all true... until you realize the purpose of the light.
So what is that purpose you may ask? Well I must first say, it doesnt matter how many lumens your solarforce drop-in puts out, or how long the firefly mode burns for on your Quark, if you dont have it in an emergency situation. Thats where the E01 comes in. Like all those "Ronco" products, you simply set it and forget it. Pop an L92 in it, place it on your keys and never worry about not being without light again.
"But wait!", you say. "The E01 isnt the only single AAA based light out there. In fact theres many others at similar price points that put out 10 times the amount of lumens." Well thats true, but despite only putting out 10 ugly lumens, the E01 is tried and true. Lets take the Skyray S1 for instance.
As you can see the Skyray compares favorably. Just about the same size, right down to the amount of threads. So why pay $12.50 for a light that uses extremely old technology when you can pay $10 for light that works with Li-ons and puts out way more lumens? Well size is about the only things these two lights have in common.
For my purposes, I use these types of lights only when my main fails for whatever reasons (battery, electronics, forgetting it at home, etc). So there may be long instances in between uses where I dont check the light at all. When I need it, I want it to work. The skyray is an excellent value but it has a few downfalls. The retaining ring on mine came loose on its own, which brings me to my next point. The lens is thin, real thin. These are two things you dont need to worry about on the Fenix. Theres no lens to fall out or crack. Well what about waterproofing? The skyray claims to be waterproof and though I have tested it personally in the tub, I dont feel confident about the O ring. When twisting the head onto the Fenix, you can feel the grip of the O ring engaging. Not so much with the Skyray. Lastly, the Skyray is light. Seems like a good thing right? Well a lot of the weight comes from the walls being so thin. Im sure I can crush it in my hand if theres no battery in it. The Fenix feels solid throughout. In the next picture you can clearly see the difference in the walls of the two light.
So there you have it. Does old and outdated describe the E01? Absolutely, but like the old saying: "Dont fix whats not broken." Don't be put off by the minimal output. 10 lumens is a lot brighter than you may think. Not to mention, 21+ hours on a battery (more if using L92s) is nothing to scoff at. The E01 is small, lightweight, waterproof, and most importantly RELIABLE. For $12 this is something that should be on all of your keychains. I gave one to my father a while back. He rarely used it up until recently when a real emergency arose. He went on vacation to New York. You dont really plan for the worst when going on vacation, but trouble came in the form of Hurricane Irene. He told me nothing was more useful than that little light that he completely forgot was even on his keys. So buy one, better yet buy a few and like a good flashoholic, hand them out to family and friends. With a L92 or Eneloop (or similar LSD battery) in it, leave it on your keys and rest assured you'll NEVER be without light no matter the situation