23rd
Cheap and bombproof: Fenix P3D flashlight
It may be pushing the bounds of incredulity to call the Fenix P3D flashlight ”cheap” at $65, but if you compare it to the gold-standard light of similar size and function, the Surefire U2 at $275, it’s a positive steal.
Another point of ‘cheapness’ (as if I had to justify this to you): Fenix lights are mass-produced in China. Here’s a cute picture of the people who make them, posing with dear Chairman Mao:
(more images and engrossing information at fenixlight.com)
“Thanks for the fascinating lesson in the global manufacturing economy and all,” I can hear you saying, “but where’s the bombproof come in?”
Here is a forum thread entitled ”Fenix P3D Premium 100 abuse” by user Esthan.
Just to quote some of the highlights:
“I started having some fun with Fenix P3D by checking the waterproofness few days ago. Fenix was inserted into a bottle filled with water, where it has spent ca. 6 hours. Since there was hardly any Pressure inside the bottle I did not expect P3D to leak. It didn’t.”
and
“Test A to D have been done by dragging P3D on the ground
Test A: 400m walk on stony ground.
Once I came to the place I’ve got a bit disappointed because the stones from a long forgotten railroad have been covered with leaves and snow. P3D has not been punished as I intended, but I made the whole trek twice, just for confidence that it got some beating.”
It gets worse and worse. As you might expect, the upshot is that while the metal barrel was severely damaged, it survived and continued to function normally.
He then went on to devise an even more interesting test: turning the light on, inserting it into a bottle of water and freezing the whole thing.
Here’s how that worked out:
It is easy to imagine a set of even more grueling tests, but before decrying these tests as ‘wimpy’, one must remember that this is a goddamn flashlight. If you are a person who might reasonably find oneself in even more perilous circumstances, I suspect you have more pressing things to worry about, and could always fall back on igniting your own arm to light the way out of danger.
Needless to say, I purchased one, and it arrived yesterday.
