Which is the true "must have" ?

[Sazabi]

I voted for the E01; while I know the Arc was/is a bit more durable, short of me running over my E01 with my car, I'm not going to break the thing.  Likewise, and I know this is more psychological than anything, but the keyring hole for the E01 is thicker than the Arc, which looks as if a toothpick could break the tiny loop. :/

I briefly owned an Arc before passing it on; while the light was cooler than my E01, it was only worth the used price at which I'd purchased it.  So for me, it's E01; besides, I think the E01 would eat old AAAs much better than the Arc, even if it'd be in moon mode a while longer.

[NutSAK]

short of me running over my E01 with my car, I'm not going to break the thing. 

Honestly, I don't think that would break it.

I have an extra E01 that I've been meaning to sell for quite some time (an angry purple one).  I would consider sacrificing it to prove this theory if anyone was interested.

In hindsight, I should have voted for the E01.  The E01 is a "must have" because of what it offers for the price.  The Arc is something that any flashlight lover would truly cherish though...

[rp252]

short of me running over my E01 with my car, I'm not going to break the thing. 

Honestly, I don't think that would break it.

I have an extra E01 that I've been meaning to sell for quite some time (an angry purple one). I would consider sacrificing it to prove this theory if anyone was interested.

In hindsight, I should have voted for the E01.  The E01 is a "must have" because of what it offers for the price.  The Arc is something that any flashlight lover would truly cherish though...

This could be a little MT.O mythbuster style challenge couldn't it

[2xTap]

Two very similar, excellent torches, but which one would you choose if you could only have the one, and why?

Neither. Lights with low double digit outputs and the words "must have" are things that just don't go together.......but maybe thats just me!

2xTap

[NutSAK]

Two very similar, excellent torches, but which one would you choose if you could only have the one, and why?

Neither. Lights with low double digit outputs and the words "must have" are things that just don't go together.......but maybe thats just me!

2xTap

 

I guess I won't mention that my Arc-AAA is rated in the single-digit output then! 

[David]

I voted for the ARC-P as thats what I have and use.   

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

I'm trying to keep the light's in question as similar as possible, and these two really do go LED to LED

You know, I wonder how it would affect the poll if you added the Infinity/Infinity Ultra.

They're very similar except for cell & size.  The infinity will run just fine on a AAA anyway! 

Do you know, I very nearly did add it

It was the size difference that ruined it

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Two very similar, excellent torches, but which one would you choose if you could only have the one, and why?

Neither. Lights with low double digit outputs and the words "must have" are things that just don't go together.......but maybe thats just me!

2xTap

But as a back up/keyring light, they can't be beat imo

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Back on topic for a second.  As someone who doesn't own either I'm interested in the result of this poll, I can easily believe the Arc-P will be more popular but is it really 3 times better?  Even the basic Arc is twice the price of a E01.  Also very interested in the run time comparison. 

You should maybe think about getting one though mate, as they'd be great for you at work given there very spilly nature at close range

[Gareth]

Back on topic for a second.  As someone who doesn't own either I'm interested in the result of this poll, I can easily believe the Arc-P will be more popular but is it really 3 times better?  Even the basic Arc is twice the price of a E01.  Also very interested in the run time comparison. 

You should maybe think about getting one though mate, as they'd be great for you at work given there very spilly nature at close range

TBH I've no shortage of low output AAA lights, but I've a feeling there's a E01 in my near future anyway.

[Turnstone]

I never had an Arc in my hands, but I own three E01... guess what I voted 

[rp252]

I never had an Arc in my hands, but I own three E01... guess what I voted 

Um... Maglite solitare?

I've never owned either light.  Very tempted to get myself an ARC but no major interest to get an E01 to be honest.  Got an LD01 and that suits my Keychain very well.

So I didn't vote

[Mr. Whippy]

The head is twist on/off.  No tailcap switch.

The Minimag head pushes on a plastic piece to disconnect the batteries and turn the light off.  That plastic piece is what the bulb/LED connects to.  There's no such part on the E01 or Arc-AAA.  If you use JB Quik to "simplify" that part, won't you have to come up with another plan for turning the light on and off?

JB the whole head together.  Twist to on and off. All that has to move are the threads to the head to tube. (O ring in there).

I'm pretty sure it will still work that way with the tail cap in place, but I'll check this evening.

Doh!   

Never argue with a flashaholic! 

I took my miniMag apart last night and...
I retract everything I said. 

There's no easy way past the switchy thing at the top of the tube.

Carryon now.  Nothing more to see here. 

[NutSAK]

The head is twist on/off.  No tailcap switch.

The Minimag head pushes on a plastic piece to disconnect the batteries and turn the light off.  That plastic piece is what the bulb/LED connects to.  There's no such part on the E01 or Arc-AAA.  If you use JB Quik to "simplify" that part, won't you have to come up with another plan for turning the light on and off?

JB the whole head together.  Twist to on and off. All that has to move are the threads to the head to tube. (O ring in there).

I'm pretty sure it will still work that way with the tail cap in place, but I'll check this evening.

Doh!   

Never argue with a flashaholic! 

I took my miniMag apart last night and...
I retract everything I said. 

There's no easy way past the switchy thing at the top of the tube.

Carryon now.  Nothing more to see here. 

Shucks!  I was hoping to see a photospread on your JB Quik mod today! 

[Turnstone]

I never had an Arc in my hands, but I own three E01... guess what I voted 

Um... Maglite solitare?

It would be hard for me if I had to decide between an E01 and an iTP EOS AAA upgraded... 

[2xTap]

Two very similar, excellent torches, but which one would you choose if you could only have the one, and why?

Neither. Lights with low double digit outputs and the words "must have" are things that just don't go together.......but maybe thats just me!

2xTap

 

I guess I won't mention that my Arc-AAA is rated in the single-digit output then! 

Yeah, that's way low. Almost unusable, for me that is. But if runtime is the concern then you can't go wrong.

Two very similar, excellent torches, but which one would you choose if you could only have the one, and why?

Neither. Lights with low double digit outputs and the words "must have" are things that just don't go together.......but maybe thats just me!

2xTap

But as a back up/keyring light, they can't be beat imo

Don't get me wrong, I own some lowly output lights. Got me some earlier Fenix E0's and a E1. Except for the absolute darkest of dark the E0 is about useless and the E1 does a good job of lighting up the pages of a book at night. I was just commenting on how these lights and "must have" don't go together.....for me that is.

I don't carry lights on my keyring. To easy to damage lights this way, and I got so many keys on my keyring I have no room for anything else, aside from a P-38.

2xTap

[gustophersmob]

I do like the E01, and really do think it's a fantastic light

The Arc's a bit special though, and if the shtf I'd the one aaa torch I'd grab

I voted E01, but I think it depends on what you mean by must have.  If you mean must have from a LED flashlight nostalgia point of view, the Arc could be the winner (although now that the E01 has a few years on it, that may be getting closer to a tie).

If you are talking about any situation where the S truly HTF, then I think the E01 is the clear winner.  For the price of the Arc-P, you can get 3 lights.  Plus they are truly miserly on batteries and have been reported to fire on cells down to ~0.4V    I think this could be very important if you ever needed to hunt down batteries to use.

[gustophersmob]

Back on topic for a second.  As someone who doesn't own either I'm interested in the result of this poll, I can easily believe the Arc-P will be more popular but is it really 3 times better?  Even the basic Arc is twice the price of a E01.  Also very interested in the run time comparison. 

See post on CPF here for some runtime comparisons with an Arc DS and GS. 

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

After having completed my runtime experiment (albeit with eneloops, rather than with alkaline cells) I've now come down in favour of the E01 too

[NutSAK]

I do like the E01, and really do think it's a fantastic light

The Arc's a bit special though, and if the shtf I'd the one aaa torch I'd grab

I voted E01, but I think it depends on what you mean by must have.  If you mean must have from a LED flashlight nostalgia point of view, the Arc could be the winner (although now that the E01 has a few years on it, that may be getting closer to a tie).

If you are talking about any situation where the S truly HTF, then I think the E01 is the clear winner.  For the price of the Arc-P, you can get 3 lights.  Plus they are truly miserly on batteries and have been reported to fire on cells down to ~0.4V    I think this could be very important if you ever needed to hunt down batteries to use.

Well said.  I couldn't agree more.    Well, except that if the S truly HTF, I would only want the E01 as a backup to an Infinity Ultra....  but that's purely opinion. 

Honestly, what makes me carry an Arc instead of an E01 is the difference in size.  I carry it around my neck, so the difference in size is important to me.

[Gadget Guy]

Test: Put an Arc-P and a E01 on your keychain and carry them for 6 months.

Result: Arc wins!!   

[gustophersmob]

Well said.  I couldn't agree more.    Well, except that if the S truly HTF, I would only want the E01 as a backup to an Infinity Ultra....  but that's purely opinion. 

Honestly, what makes me carry an Arc instead of an E01 is the difference in size.  I carry it around my neck, so the difference in size is important to me.

Test: Put an Arc-P and a E01 on your keychain and carry them for 6 months.

Result: Arc wins!!   

I agree, this is why I have switched over to carrying my pocket body Peak Matterhorn.  With the pocket body, its even smaller than the Arc. 

I also find that Arc/Peak knurling is less agressive and less pocket eating than the E01.

The downside is the smaller size and smoother knurling make one-handed use a bit more difficult.

For me though, I'm not as worried about flashlights even if a SHTF scenario were to play out.  I'm more into picking which SAK I would want.   

[Benner]

Removing the money element, the Arc is a far nicer product IMO.  Fenix's are good, but they are just lacking that little something.

Bottom line, it all comes down to how much you are willing to spend.

[gustophersmob]

Removing the money element, the Arc is a far nicer product IMO.  Fenix's are good, but they are just lacking that little something.

Bottom line, it all comes down to how much you are willing to spend.

Have you ever had the chance to try out a Peak?  Some of the minor design issues I had with Arc Peak has solved.  The foam donut at the bottom of the battery tube and the brass positive contact are the biggest.

[NutSAK]

Removing the money element, the Arc is a far nicer product IMO.  Fenix's are good, but they are just lacking that little something.

Bottom line, it all comes down to how much you are willing to spend.

Can you define nicer?  I don't find E01s to be mean at all! 

Does the fact that it has a nicer finish and pretty machining make it the "must have"?

I personally think buying a product just because it's "nicer" is a form of elitism.  Not that I don't participate in elitism every now an then--just sayin'.

[NutSAK]

Well said.  I couldn't agree more.    Well, except that if the S truly HTF, I would only want the E01 as a backup to an Infinity Ultra....  but that's purely opinion. 

Honestly, what makes me carry an Arc instead of an E01 is the difference in size.  I carry it around my neck, so the difference in size is important to me.

Test: Put an Arc-P and a E01 on your keychain and carry them for 6 months.

Result: Arc wins!!   

I agree, this is why I have switched over to carrying my pocket body Peak Matterhorn.  With the pocket body, its even smaller than the Arc. 

I also find that Arc/Peak knurling is less agressive and less pocket eating than the E01.

The downside is the smaller size and smoother knurling make one-handed use a bit more difficult.

For me though, I'm not as worried about flashlights even if a SHTF scenario were to play out.  I'm more into picking which SAK I would want.   

Now, that's odd.  My Arc has much more aggressive knurling than any of my Peaks or E01s.

Peak pocket bodies are great, but they sure don't work very well to carry around the neck like I do! 

SAKs for SHTF?  Ah, who likes SAKs anyway?         SAKs are for smurfs. 

[Benner]

It is elitism - like a lot of things I expect. 

Like I said, Fenix's are OK, but I use them and just think "meh".  Quality doesn't blow me away, performance doesn't blow me away, it's just "ok".  But that is what you are paying for.

The Arc (to me at least) feels like a higher quality item.  There is probably very little in it, but that touch more is what keeps me hanging onto it, unlike every single Fenix that I have owned and then passed on due to lack of interest.

Peak's do indeed look nice.  If Terry was any kind of a mate, he'd hook his buddy Ben up with one. 

[NutSAK]

Peak's do indeed look nice.  If Terry was any kind of a mate, he'd hook his buddy Ben up with one. 

He might consider that if he and his buddy Ben ever work something out on that MiNi Ben's been carrying. 

I understand where you're coming from Ben, but, IMO, the performance of the E01 is certainly better than the Arc.  I suppose the Arc is "nicer" though, especially cosmetically.

[gustophersmob]

Now, that's odd.  My Arc has much more aggressive knurling than any of my Peaks or E01s.

It actually has been awhile since I've owned an Arc AAA, so I may just be misremembering 

Peak pocket bodies are great, but they sure don't work very well to carry around the neck like I do! 

Well, unless you carry your pocket around your neck! 

SAKs for SHTF?  Ah, who likes SAKs anyway?         SAKs are for smurfs. 

[Benner]

I like pretty things.    Stonking battery life isn't really that big a deal for me as I carry 2 lights, and I am happy with the output on the Arc as well.  The Arc offers all I need for it's role.

Been having waaaaay too much fun with the MiNi.  Sorry