Fenix getting smart!

[WhichDawg]

check these out! https://www.fenix-store.com/product_info.php?products_id=444
nice colors, small, inexpensive, waterproof to IPX-8! nice!

[Benner]

They look pretty good. 

[SxS]

What attracted me to pick one of these up is the runtime and the price. One of the dealers was publicly complaining as to their profit level on these and frankly...I have some sympathy with them in this regard. Until recently (when the Chinese figured out that the rest of the world would actually shell out serious dough for this category) you could receive a poorly engineered version of the same size light with a much higher output and less regulated circuit...for the same price. Since then, the manufacturer hasn't fixed the light one bit through three different versions....but raised the price a full third on a promise to... someday! 
Bottom line:
Somebody is evidently making money on these things big time and it evidently isn't the folks selling them (it is hard to imagine a product produced any cheaper than this garnering even well over $40...but they are doing it).

These lights will be great for the emergency bag with a slew of lithium primaries taped to the side (my setup) and an ability to forget about your light needs for a very long time.

[WhichDawg]

what colors did you get SxS? and what batteries do you use? and congrats 

and I forgot the code; 8% off any item, $20 minimum order, Code: CPF8

[SxS]

I only picked up a black one and rounded out the order with a $6 keep2go (another item that somebody is making a mint on!) to receive the discount. I use low self discharge rechargeable Eneloops (occasionally Japan-made Duracell knockoffs also; whatever's on sale) and Energizer (lithium) L91 and 2's in our vehicles/BOB.
Thanks for posting the info above; it will be interesting to see what folks think of them when they start shipping on Monday.

[WhichDawg]

np, I'll be interested in what you think of the light, I'll be getting some myself(later).
those keep2go's are great, Kreskin, a very generous member here gave many away and I got one, I really like it.

[SxS]

"...those keep2go's are great, Kreskin, a very generous member here gave many away and I got one, I really like it."

Very generous, indeed! 
I like the fact that they fit a Zebralight H50 perfectly with extra battery and rubber reflector included.

[NutSAK]

I ordered an olive one yesterday. 

The E01 is going to offer up some stiff competition for the ARC-AAA.  The combination of good knurling (finally!  Thanks Fenix!), excellent runtime, the newest Nichia GS LED and the very affordable pricetag make it one hell of a great package.

[SxS]

I ordered an olive one yesterday. 
The E01 is going to offer up some stiff competition for the ARC-AAA.  The combination of good knurling (finally!  Thanks Fenix!), excellent runtime, the newest Nichia GS LED and the very affordable pricetag make it one hell of a great package.

Hope that you are impressed with it; as my comparitive knowledge concerning all of these lights is pretty weak.
I've had experience with the Fenix LOD Q4; the Tiablo A1 and the KaiDomain bucklelight; yet have no idea as to how this light will compare (only guessing the output to be more than sufficient; if not near as bright).
From what I've been able to determine (to date); every single manufacturer's claimed output lumens in this size category have been grossly exaggerated by margins unequalled in any other.

[NutSAK]

I'm not expecting this to be a barn-burner.  It should compare to an ARC-AAA, Peak Matterhorn, or Gerber Infinity Ultra.  These are durable, go-to tasklights--not something to be used to "light up the night".  With the GS Nichia in it, I would expect it to be somewhere between 8 and 10 lumens.

I've owned MANY different Fenix models (E0, L1P, L2P, L1T, L2T, L2T v2.0, L0P-SE, L0D-R, L2D, P2D, P1-CE, P1D-CE, etc.) and I've not been disappointed with a single one.  I don't expect to be disappointed by the E01.

[WhichDawg]

Exactly Terry, I was thinking similar to the GIU. and type III finish! that alone for the price is nice.

[NutSAK]

Exactly Terry, I was thinking similar to the GIU. and type III finish! that alone for the price is nice.

It should actually be brighter than the GIU.  The GIU uses a CS Nichia and outputs about 5-7 lumens.  This new GS should be noticeably brighter, depending on how hard the Fenix circuit drives it.  The GS emitter is actually a pair of DS emitters combined into one package.

Regardless, 10 hours of flat runtime from an alkaline AAA in a light like this is excellent.

[WhichDawg]

Terry, someone called it; "The Solitaire Killer!" LMAO

[NutSAK]

I received my Fenix E01 yesterday, and I can tell you that it definitely deserves a review write-up.  Stay tuned.

[Spoonrobot]

Be sure to let use know how the color finish looks. I recall there being some speculation the quality of HAIII color finishes a while back. I've been looking at this light and wondering how it is myself.

[NutSAK]

Mine is olive in color, so it's just the natural color of HAIII.

Before I do a write-up, I can tell you that I would buy one of these over an ARC AAA-P any day.  I have carried an ARC AAA-P around my neck for a couple of years and I never thought anything would replace it.  I'm astounded that I can buy a light of this quality for $15 shipped, especially when an ARC costs me $50 shipped.

Without getting into too much detail, the fit and finish of the E01 are perfect, and the switch design is much better than the ARC.  It uses a gold plated spring in the tail, so the battery is not "crushed" as in the ARC.  The threads are smooth, fully anodized, and are not in the contact path, so they will not have to be cleaned or lubed.  The negative contact path runs directly from the body to the circuit board at the base of the head.

[hawkchucker]

I might have to look into Fenix more. However I am really happy with my Surefires.

[NutSAK]

Fenix isn't likely going to change your mind about the Surefires.  I'm a fan of Surefire too, but it is nice that Fenix can provide a models that Surefire just doesn't produce--a long-running AAA light in this case.  At the price of the E01, I can easily stash one away in each of my PSKs and BOBs and always have a portable, durable light that runs on easily found batteries.  I just can't do that with a Surefire or Novatac.

You really can't go wrong for $15. 

[NutSAK]

Here's the latest pic of the colors from Fenix.  These are supposed to be representative of final production.  The orange is turning out to be more of a gold color.

[Roadie]

Available in the UK for £12 inc p+p not a bad price. Only in black and olive green at the moment though.

http://thephotonshop.co.uk/page4.htm

[Benner]

Available in the UK for £12 inc p+p not a bad price. Only in black and olive green at the moment though.

http://thephotonshop.co.uk/page4.htm

Not bad, but not as good as the $15 from fenix-store.com inc shipping though.

[jzmtl]

Until you get nailed by customs. 

[Benner]

Until you get nailed by customs. 

For a $15 torch.    Even they aren't that picky.

[Grant Lamontagne]

$15 huh?  Looks like the ol' Mastercard is up for another hit!

Def

[WhichDawg]

I'm waiting for the Orange and Purple one, they haven't started shipping them yet (as of the last time I checked)
but I'll have reviews and pictures when they arrive.

All I'm reading is good things, even the ones that are "not as bright as stated"
are turning out good, even longer run-times! I'm not looking for a "Sun" at night,
just something that will last a long time on one AAA and it looks like E01 is it.

[WhichDawg]

remember Boss, if you order from the Fenix-store.com and order more than 20 usd,
you get a 8% discount using code; CPF8 then they are less then 14 usd each.

[NutSAK]

All you guys that love the Gerber Infinity Ultra will certainly not be disappointed with the E01.

[edap617]

All you guys that love the Gerber Infinity Ultra will certainly not be disappointed with the E01.

Which one is brighter, Terry?

[jzmtl]

E01

[NutSAK]

The E01 is a bit brighter, but not noticeably brighter than the newer "CS" LED Gerber IUs to my eyes.  The beam profiles are different--the E01 has a much wider, dimmer "spill" area than the Gerber, but it also has a brighter hot spot, so it throws light better at distance.

The Gerber has a considerably longer runtime but, since it isn't regulated, it dims throughout the life of the battery.  The E01 is well regulated and stays at a constant level of light for ~10 hours and then drops to a dimmer "moon mode" rapidly.  I'm still amazed that this light can run for ~10 hours at this brightness on a AAA battery.