Gerber Infinity & Fenix EO

[Teofilo]

    Gerber Infinity Ultra surely is tough and water resistant and so is the Fenix Eo. At 100,000 bulb life and 5.5 lumens of light brightnes, the Eo with its inexpensive battery, really serves as a close companion. The cheapest in the fenix family of flashlights and perhaps the smallest which uses 1 aaa battery, its workmanship (state of origin-China) is excellent.
    The light output of the Eo is exactly the same as Gerber's Infinity Ultra, but its battery life can last only 18 hrs. compared to the Ultra's 100 hrs.
    Quality Flashlights, made in China.

[edap617]

Hi there Fil,

Congrats on your fine new toys!

[Teofilo]

Thanks Eddie, See you in Manila. Hope to see Duckman also.

[edap617]

Yeah, we will have our own version of meetup in Manila sometime this year.

[RichardMT]

Did you ever have the Infinity when CMG made them? If so, how do they compare to the Gerber version?

[NutSAK]

I have the Gerber and the CMG, and can answer that question if the OP can't.

[edap617]

Teofilo bought his IU just very recently, it is a Gerber

[RichardMT]

I have the Gerber and the CMG, and can answer that question if the OP can't.

Cool...what do you think of the two as far as quality and durability and anything else that could be compared?

[NutSAK]

IMO, the advantages that the CMG IU has over the Gerber is better ruggedness/durability and lighter weight.  The CMG is made of fewer parts--the body, the head, the clip and the emitter module that is permanently crimped into the head.  The Gerber is more complex, and consists of a two -part body (threaded and potted together) that includes the emitter module, a tailcap switch, a contact plate inside the tailcap, and a spring at each end of the battery.

The Gerber is brighter, with a CS Nichia emitter vs. the CMG's BS emitter, and has a longer runtime.  It can tailstand, where the CMG cannot, and has an improved clip.  Many people prefer the head twisty-switch of the CMG but, since I tend to hold flaslights in an overhand, ice-pick style grip, the tailcap twisty-switch of the Gerber works better for me.  The Gerber switch can also be used in a momentary-on fashion.  Due to the inclusion of battery springs, the battery inside the Gerber doesn't rattle when it is turned off as the CMG does.

I have always admired the dependability and simple design of the CMG, but I carry the Gerber because it is more versatile for my uses.  I keep my CMGs stored away in survival kits.

[edap617]

Terry, can we distinguish which is which at one glance?

[NutSAK]

Yes, easily.  I should explain that Gerber bought CMG several years ago, and produced the CMG design under their name for a while.  Gerber then redesigned it to the current Infinity Ultra that we're all familiar with.

CMG in center, with a Gerber UI on each side:

[edap617]

Terry, the IU on the right looks unused.

[NutSAK]

That's my newest one.  The black one has been carried quite a bit.

I have too many flashlights to carry them all. 

[edap617]

Does all take their turn regularly as your EDC Terry?

[NutSAK]

Not anymore.  I used to carry most of my lights in EDC rotation, but I haven't since I got the Novatac.  It is the perfect EDC for me, but I still use my L2Ds frequently outdoors and on my bike.

I'll say more about the Novatac in the EDC thread.