Modern LED torches: not so dim

Grabbed a Fenix L0D from this site:
http://www.glowgadgets.co.uk

I won't bother with pics as it's pretty much what you see in the youtube video that the owner of glowgadgets has done. There's probably no point in even reading my review, just watch this! It features a slightly older model of the same torch:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isfuJ8ru7Xk

The tiny torch takes one AAA battery which powers a Luxeon Rebel LED. If you think LEDs are a bit dim, think again - these new chip types are literally blinding, as in you don't point them at your eyes or you *will* hurt them and get a nasty case of the temporary shinies :)

I actually work for an LED manufacturer (neither myself or the company I work for are affiliated with glowgadgets or fenix; I bought this out of personal geekiness and am reviewing it out of personal geekiness) and when dealing with Luxeon and other new chip based "light engine" type technology we do have to take care and follow certain safety procedures, that is how bright those things are out of one tiny point.

The chip in this tiny little torch (the chip itself is just a couple of millimeters in size) can put out a stonking 60 lumens, which is brighter than a standard (filament bulb) 3 D-cell Maglite which puts out around 40. At full 60-lumen power it will "only" last an hour on 1xAAA but as a general "everyday carry" torch that seems more than adequate. However it also has a very reasonable default mode of 21 lumens (3.5 hrs) or low power mode which is 7.5 lumens (8.5 hrs) - even this mode is brighter than most "bog standard" LED torches which just use 1-3 high intensity discrete LEDs (the sort you normally visualise).

I still can't get over this thing, I mean I do know what Luxeon chips are capable of (I do work for an LED manufacturer/distributor after all) but the implementation is fantastic, all the brightness and throw of a big-ol' 3-D maglite (and more!) in a package not much larger than a triple-A battery. Awesome. You may wonder why the company I work for doesn't tend to make gadgets like this to save me from ordering from a bloke in Bristol, but my answer would be that they're more into the large scale lighting and supplying to industrial markets.

Side note - I think the police tend to stick to their big maglites - you can't really club anyone with one of these ;)

The best thing though is the site, and the guy who runs it. I reckon he should've called it "Fenix Lights" as he's got the same accent and mannerisms as Peter Kay, except he's a lot funnier even if not on purpose. I've been watching his Youtube videos and reading his blog for the best part of this evening.

Highly recommended - but don't expect quick delivery if you go diving in there right now (5th January) as he's gone off to CES, Vegas until the 13th. I ordered mine on time and it was pretty darn quick, though his cutoff time is 3pm and I ordered at 3:05 so it took 2 days instead of next-day.

Again I'm not affiliated with Glowgadgets or Fenix, just thought I'd share this thing, and I'm doing so out of personal geekiness not because of where I work, just to clear up any bias theories (I liked LED tech long before starting there!) Though it helps having a related background. I'd never have known about it if I hadn't thought "those Luxeon chips we distribute at work would be nice in a torch" and Googled it.

Whilst the L0D is ideal for taking everywhere on a keyring, I think I'll get the Tactical T-1 next, as my full size beastie for walking/camping. That will do 60 lumens for TEN hours (or a more ridiculous 225 lumens for an hour and a half). The downside is it uses the more scarce and less affordable CR123A lithium cells rather than normal batteries like my L0D, but you can get rechargable li-ion CR123A's so it's not all bad.

BTW I did phone up to check on my order's progress, as I didn't fancy waiting for him to get back from CES. I got straight through to the "Doc" himself, about 2 rings, no automated systems, no call centres, as Peter Kay himself would say "No Nonsense". He operates an 0800 number but I didn't use it, as it costs money on my mobile; I called the geographical number instead. He was a very friendly chap who anyone can get on with, and he knows his stuff. I wish all businesses were like that.

Legendary torches, distributed by a legendary bloke who deserves and seemingly already has a bit of a cult following. Really chuffed.