I've liked my 15-20 year old Stinger DS LED HP rechargeable. A couple months ago I lit up the woods in my backyard and saw about 8 deer. Well, all I could identify is 2 deer and about 6 more sets of eyes. I can't find the lumens on this light because the new ones aren't like the old ones. I wanted a new bright light.
I narrowed it down to the Fenix PD36R and PD36R PRO. I really couldn't decide which so I bought them both.
https://fenix-store.com/collections...r-rechargeable-1600-lumen-tactical-flashlight
https://fenix-store.com/collections/pd-series/products/fenix-pd36r-pro-2800-lumen-flashlight
So, which one do I like the best? Both.
36R: I like the simplicity. You turn it on with a tail cap button and then toggle thru the 5 brightness levels with a button on the flashlights body. At night (and day) the toggle switch with temporarily light up with the battery status making it easy to find. Hold the button down in any level and it's a 1,600 lumen strobe. Turn the light off with the tail button and when you turn it back on the next time it will be on the level it was when you last turned it off. 1,600 lumens is a lot of light in a small package, but it steps down a level after about 30 minutes. Battery life is fantastic!
36R PRO: All functions are on the tail cap buttons. One big button turns it on and there's a smaller button next to it for toggling thru the 5 settings. I like if the light is off and you hit the toggle button it strobes 2,800 lumens! Believe me, whoever you blind with it can't see anything even after you turn it off. It literally burns a hole in the night, too. I'm surprised the 2,800 setting doesn't make a humming sound LOL You could probably identify bucks from does at 100 yards in the off season. It's that bright and white! The light button is also a memory, If you turn it off on 2,800 lumens it will turn on at 2,800 lumens the next time, but it only stays at that level for a few minutes before it steps down.
Pros 36R: Simplicity and I like the toggle switch on the body of the flashlight. It's slightly smaller in size. You get a hell of a lot in a small package. Battery life on the 2 lowest settings are far longer than on the PRO model. Negatives 36R: They're small, but you'll never find the toggle button in the dark once the battery indicator light goes out. The 2 way belt clip is absurd. I'll keep it on because I have it lined up with the toggle switch. Only 1,600 lumens (LOL)
Pros 36R PRO: 2,800 lumens! Oh, yeah! That's worth it right there when it comes to turning night into the sun on turbo LOL It will be my go to flashlight when checking the yard for that damn armadillo that's back, and for other wildlife in the back yard and woods. Negatives 36R PRO: If you're going to keep this light next to your gun at night I can't operate the buttons consistently with my left hand held as a fist like you're supposed to with all tail buttons. It's very awkward for some reason. With more practice I could probably master it 100% of the time. Remember, your gun will be in your dominate hand whether right or left handed. It's really not a problem if you keep it on either of the 2 highest settings and just hit the main button.
Negative PRO continued: When I first took it off the charger I had trouble with the main tail button. It sometimes would click but not turn on, other times it would turn on and give me a flashing red light low battery indicator. Within a day it worked 100% and I have complete faith in it. Still... Both buttons on the tail cap aren't as good as it sounds IMO.
Is the tail button an issue with either one? No. Just leave it at the highest setting and it will turn on at the highest setting when needed. You're not going to be toggling switches with intruders and you're not going to get into a flashlight fight with them. Either will do just fine. I think the 2 tail cap buttons on the PRO is way overrated unless you're Gecko45.
I like to hold a light cradled in my fingers with my thumb pointed forwards. You can do it with both, but it would take 2 hands to toggle it with the PRO.
I believe I'll get the 36R for my son who likes to walk his dog. He doesn't care about 2,800 lumens. He'll want battery life and the ability to easily toggle to the brighter settings with one hand.
The 36R goes for about $100 and the PRO $120. I buy from www.Fenix-store.com. You get 10% off if you sign up for their email alerts. They don't wear you out. 2 days after my order was already in I got an email stating 20% off for Labor Day. I missed it by that much LOL
I could have been satisfied with the 36R no matter what all the "tactical" guys on the net would have you believe. The only thing that's better on the PRO is--2,800 lumens! It's like saying: The only thing you get with this upper model Hellcat is another 300 HP
These "tactical" guys like to hold their flashlights with their thumb on the back. It's up to you.
I have to say that Fenix makes one hell of a flashlight! I have several flashlights, but had none of this caliber. Now I have 2
I narrowed it down to the Fenix PD36R and PD36R PRO. I really couldn't decide which so I bought them both.
https://fenix-store.com/collections...r-rechargeable-1600-lumen-tactical-flashlight
https://fenix-store.com/collections/pd-series/products/fenix-pd36r-pro-2800-lumen-flashlight
So, which one do I like the best? Both.
36R: I like the simplicity. You turn it on with a tail cap button and then toggle thru the 5 brightness levels with a button on the flashlights body. At night (and day) the toggle switch with temporarily light up with the battery status making it easy to find. Hold the button down in any level and it's a 1,600 lumen strobe. Turn the light off with the tail button and when you turn it back on the next time it will be on the level it was when you last turned it off. 1,600 lumens is a lot of light in a small package, but it steps down a level after about 30 minutes. Battery life is fantastic!
36R PRO: All functions are on the tail cap buttons. One big button turns it on and there's a smaller button next to it for toggling thru the 5 settings. I like if the light is off and you hit the toggle button it strobes 2,800 lumens! Believe me, whoever you blind with it can't see anything even after you turn it off. It literally burns a hole in the night, too. I'm surprised the 2,800 setting doesn't make a humming sound LOL You could probably identify bucks from does at 100 yards in the off season. It's that bright and white! The light button is also a memory, If you turn it off on 2,800 lumens it will turn on at 2,800 lumens the next time, but it only stays at that level for a few minutes before it steps down.
Pros 36R: Simplicity and I like the toggle switch on the body of the flashlight. It's slightly smaller in size. You get a hell of a lot in a small package. Battery life on the 2 lowest settings are far longer than on the PRO model. Negatives 36R: They're small, but you'll never find the toggle button in the dark once the battery indicator light goes out. The 2 way belt clip is absurd. I'll keep it on because I have it lined up with the toggle switch. Only 1,600 lumens (LOL)
Pros 36R PRO: 2,800 lumens! Oh, yeah! That's worth it right there when it comes to turning night into the sun on turbo LOL It will be my go to flashlight when checking the yard for that damn armadillo that's back, and for other wildlife in the back yard and woods. Negatives 36R PRO: If you're going to keep this light next to your gun at night I can't operate the buttons consistently with my left hand held as a fist like you're supposed to with all tail buttons. It's very awkward for some reason. With more practice I could probably master it 100% of the time. Remember, your gun will be in your dominate hand whether right or left handed. It's really not a problem if you keep it on either of the 2 highest settings and just hit the main button.
Negative PRO continued: When I first took it off the charger I had trouble with the main tail button. It sometimes would click but not turn on, other times it would turn on and give me a flashing red light low battery indicator. Within a day it worked 100% and I have complete faith in it. Still... Both buttons on the tail cap aren't as good as it sounds IMO.
Is the tail button an issue with either one? No. Just leave it at the highest setting and it will turn on at the highest setting when needed. You're not going to be toggling switches with intruders and you're not going to get into a flashlight fight with them. Either will do just fine. I think the 2 tail cap buttons on the PRO is way overrated unless you're Gecko45.
I like to hold a light cradled in my fingers with my thumb pointed forwards. You can do it with both, but it would take 2 hands to toggle it with the PRO.
I believe I'll get the 36R for my son who likes to walk his dog. He doesn't care about 2,800 lumens. He'll want battery life and the ability to easily toggle to the brighter settings with one hand.
The 36R goes for about $100 and the PRO $120. I buy from www.Fenix-store.com. You get 10% off if you sign up for their email alerts. They don't wear you out. 2 days after my order was already in I got an email stating 20% off for Labor Day. I missed it by that much LOL
I could have been satisfied with the 36R no matter what all the "tactical" guys on the net would have you believe. The only thing that's better on the PRO is--2,800 lumens! It's like saying: The only thing you get with this upper model Hellcat is another 300 HP
These "tactical" guys like to hold their flashlights with their thumb on the back. It's up to you.I have to say that Fenix makes one hell of a flashlight! I have several flashlights, but had none of this caliber. Now I have 2
