I bought a PD36R before and assumed it was faulty because the side button felt so mushy compared to the solid feed of the PD35 v2.0.
I now have another brand new one, this time in different packaging (came with the free E01) and it’s slightly better than the previous one but still doesn’t feel as solid and clicky as the PD35 v2.0’s button.
Can anyone else confirm this? Also how is longevity on the 36R, any reports of issues with the side button?
Thanks
I bought my PD36R earlier last year. I don’t have a PD35 to compare it to, but I don’t find the PD36R to be mushy, I find the click to be ok, but not as good as it should be. There is some wiggling when you have your thumb lightly on the button and gently move your thumb side-to-side. My E35 V3 has the same exact play on it’s button. This might be the cause of the mushy feeling your getting on your PD36R…?
I brought this to the attention of Fenix last year regarding the PD36R. I use my PD36R quite a bit being a great EDC size, and it has been a great light. The button has not gotten any looser, no increased wiggle. Been using my E35 V3 a lot since I got it, no further issues with the button.
The first one was mushy, this new one isn’t mushy, it does click, it’s just not the solid robust click of the 35v2.
I have two PD36Rs and on both models the button kind of wobbles around a bit. Feels like it’s gonna pop off, but it clicks just fine. Not sure if the wobble is normal, but yeah…
I found it clicks if you press it in the right area, if you try the opposite side of the button it feels mushier. Not a great design imho. The PD35v2 button is much better.
I just checked mine, and it clicks solid any way I position my finger onto the button. Middle or around the edge.
Can’t be 100% but could be that your unit does have a slight manufacturing or assembly fault of some sort.
I had two and they were the same. Interesting. Could be a bad batch, or maybe I just perceived it differently from you. I don’t have the 36 anymore so shrug 
Too bad you had to part ways with yours. Could be a bad batch, who knows.
Anyway, If you’re looking for something else in the same category, I’d recommend Nitecore MH12S.
I have it and it’s awesome. Pretty sure you’d love the side button feel on that one. 
I much prefer the PD35 v2.0. I like the more focused beam and the fact that it’s slightly smaller and lighter.
That nitecore light looks nice but the beam is kind of floody like the 36R.
It’s more like a flood/throw combination, which is my favourite, but if you prefer more focused beam, then yeah, it might not be the one for you. Small advantage over the PD36R is that it has ultra low 1 lumen mode as well.
Hello everyone! I’ve bought a PD36R via ebay 2 mounts ago. The side switch of mine is not working properly… When I don’t press it hard enought the brightness is not changing at all, but it definitely clicks. I guess it is not normal. At the first time I thought that it is designed like this to press harder the button to change the brightness. So if you press it normally it clicks but does not change the brightness.
What are your thoughts?
Honestly I think they used a bad switch. I bought one of those and the switch felt wobbly and weak even though it did work. I didn’t feel confident that it would last a long time. Strangely though Fenix do know how to make decent switches, the switch on the PD35v2.0 is sturdy. Not sure what happened with the 36R.
I recommend the Nitecore MH12S over the PD36R by the way, similar price but a little brighter and IMHO better made and has a moonlight mode which the 36R does not.