EdisonBright Fenix E25UE 1000 Lumen Ultimate Edition CREE XP-L LED Flashlight with Two AA Batteries

(The following is a review for the 260 lumen E25, not the newer E25UE)After years of fumbling with cheap, unreliable flashlights I figured it was time to invest in something better. A light I could count on. Fenix was a brand that seemed very well regarded so will all the positive feedback I had a company in mind but with so many models to choose from I had some narrowing down to do.So what was I looking for in a light? Something sleek. Something durable. Bright. Not a tiny keychain light but not a gigantic Maglite style torch either. I wanted something that would run on common rechargeable AAs or AAAs not chunky C or Ds or some obscure, pricey battery.The Fenix E25 seemed to fit the bill.At almost 6 inches long, the size allows for some versatility without the compromise of being too big to comfortably carry. It can go in your pocket. Your glovebox. The gear bag. By your bed. Its compact but feels robust in your hand, easy to hold on to and was perfect for me for a variety of uses. The tactical looking black aluminum frame is very light, but solid and has an impact rating of 1 meter and a waterproof rating of 2 meters.The light has 4 modes: Low (8 lumens) Medium (55 lumens) High (130 lumens) and Burst (260 lumens).It's plenty bright for most tasks but the light output is very concentrated making it more of a "thrower" than a flood light. Very usable and has a great distance but not something that has the ability to illuminate a big area like some larger torches. Make no mistake, its still quite bright...especially for being AA powered.Like others I probably would have preferred a rear power button. The front mounted button is just too flush with the body making it a different experience than your tradition flashlight. However, with some use you get accustomed to it and while its not as instinctive as a rear switch it grows on you. One positive aspect of the front power button is it allows you to stand the light up, like a candle. Powering it on requires holding the button for a split second and then you can cycle through the brightness levels.Burst mode lets you unleash all 260 lumens but with one caveat: you have to keep the power button held down the entire time. Why they did this instead of having a true 4th setting, I have no idea. The 130 lumen high setting is decently bright and its nice to have additional brightness but it would have been nice to have 260 lumens on tap with a single button press. Just sayin'.The power button is gonna be the deal breaker for some. I don't mind it. Others might.Overall this Fenix basically gets it all right. Nice bright light at a good price!**** Periodic updates ****8 month update - I decided to post updates every so often to highlight the long term reliability of this light or any problems with it and any opinions that might change. After 8 months I'm happy to report my E25 is still working flawlessly. I use it almost every few days and it still is an amazing light. As I mentioned the before, the single button control is not very instinctive, and not a fast acting light for stressful situations. However as a general purpose light it works excellent.1 year update - 12 months and no malfunctions at all. Truly a great light from Fenix. After many months of use I really do like the beam it throws..almost like a donut shape - decent wide area of flood with a nice bright, focused hot spot in the middle. A nice balance between both worlds, but tends to work better at illuminating things from a distance rather than lighting up a wider area. Still, it's a light I'd be comfortable with in almost any sort of darkness.Final thoughts: 13+ months and still no problems with it! Definitely a winner from Fenix. While the shiny new E25UE seems to have taken it's place, the regular old E25 is still worthy for those looking strictly for a reliable AA light. While the "ultimate edition" looks nice, I doubt I'll replace my trusty E25 any time soon.

I like the flashlight in general because of the brightness, sturdiness but it does not fit into a typical holster because of its length. The other quite frustrating thing is the buttons to turn the light on are difficult to locate in the dark - which is the whole purpose of a flashlight. The smooth button on the head of the flashlight blends with the finish so locating them by feel is quite difficult. a little recess of concave point would be helpful. It is a very good inspection flashlight because you're using it during the daylight and can see the buttons and it will definitely light up the area evaluating but it is not the flashlight I would carry for EDC, tactically, or use for urgent light needs.

I love Fenix products. So far this light has performed well. I got it as a back-up for my LD 22. So far so good. However, the on/off/intensity side switch is a little awkward and I am still trying to figure it out. I prefer the tail switch on/off like on my LD 22. But, there is a costs difference and I was trying to save money. Still, a very good build quality. Just haven't figured out how to make it always come on full intensity all the time. So if, for example, you go to spot something and hit the switch, you can't be sure that the weakest beam is not on and them bump the side switch to get to the one you need.

Very bright considering its running on AA batteries. The beam is pretty concentrated though so it doesn't light up a huge area. Great for indoor use. I specifically wanted an AA powered flashlight since everything else in my field service bag is AA powered. This way, I only have to carry one type of spare. I use Eneloops or their Amazon-branded equivalent. I only have two complaints: A pocket clip would be nice and the power button could be more distinct and easier to feel in the dark.

My son introduced me to Fenix on a recent camping trip (he has an E10). I was impressed and ordered an E25 for myself shortly after our trip. Wow! It is a very powerful light in a small package. The four power levels are very handy as is the fact that the light remembers your last setting. I like that it uses AA batteries and I also appreciate that the switch is on the side of the body instead of on the end. It took a little while for me to get used to holding the switch down for a second for the light to come on instead of it coming on with a single click, but I am getting used to it. I just ordered an E25 for both of my sons for birthday presents (don't tell them).

Fenix has the best lineup of LED lights in the business. Its crazy bright and works great

this beats the small maglite and similar units absolutely flat.

Excellent light for the price. Very bright for the size, strong.