****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
It was just a quick test flash. Ahem..., it wasn't that quick. It took about a minute or more like two for me to be able to use my sight. 80% of my entire field of sight had whited out. The remaining 20% wasn't doing to well either. I was effectively and completely blind.Perfect.What can you do when a narcotics addict, the O-Beast decides to come after you? Recall, she is high as a kite on heroin or whatever. She feels no pain. She is also 220 lbs or *&^(# nearly 100 lbs heavier, stronger and faster than myself.Stun guns and pepper spray might not work very well. Even guns might not work unless I get a kill shot.I can't shoot worth a damn anyway.Switch to a non-pain based attack.Tactical flashlights are designed to blind your opponent.What is the difference between a flashlight and a tactical flashlight? Apparently, any flashlight 800 lumens or above (according to one source) is enough to blind your opponent especially at night. This one will do it during the day. The best tactical flashlights can blind and confuse the enemy with the beam alone. Since the definition of a tactical flashlight is a flashlight designed to be used in combat, it must leave one hand free to operate the weapon. Additionally, a tactical flashlight must be able to survive combat or search and rescue conditions. It must be water/chemical proof, survive fire, must be useable as an assault weapon. And for heaven's sake, the battery and bulb must last. After that last item, it was down to the Surefire and Fenix for me. All the others seemed short-lived. I wanted something that was police/military grade because unlike them, this could be my one and only effective weapon.I choose this flashlight because I'm already a big fan of Fenix. And because the Surefire is more expensive. As a matter of fact, my other Fenix (going strong after 10+ years) is a very basic tactical flashlight but only if you use the best fresh batteries. The rechargeable battery here takes care of that issue for this new Fenix.I left the battery to charge on my computer's USB port for about 10-ish hours. I was surprised it charged so quickly. You cannot recharge the battery inside the flashlight (must withstand combat conditions remember?).I tried the CR123A lithium batteries. The flashlight operated well but it felt oddly light and off-balance. It's really meant to work with the rechargeable battery.Unlike, my plain vanilla older Fenix, this one comes with a high speed flash mode. Having such a strong light, strobing that quickly is enough to make you sick to your stomach in about 15 seconds.Even better.Can't wait to try it out on the O-Beast.It comes with a tough cord. Loop this around your wrist, snug it and it will be difficult to remove. This is a very heavy flashlight. It's one heck of a club or flail. It's heavy but not so heavy that a 57 yr old woman who's been out on medical disability and hasn't bothered to exercise in 10 years can't wield it. It is *comfortably* heavy.Sadly, belting the O-Beast with the Fenix is a waste of time.Hmmm......Perhaps if I blow air horns at both her ears while strobing the Fenix...Like it's ancestral Fenix, the TK35 is a black, plain flashlight. The ring around the light doesn't twist. It has a dial and two buttons to control all the modes. It is simple to operate one handed. As promised.Button 1: On/OffButton 2: Long press to access Strobe modes. short press will increase light levelsdial position Off - Low - HiIt doesn't look like a defensive weapon and I like that it just blends in. No one ever thinks I'm carrying this flashlight because I'm expecting an attack. Only one person has ever spotted my first Fenix as a tactical flashlight (trust The Engineer to spot a techie/outdoors/survivalist/gun nut/military toy like that in a heartbeat). Everyone else has merely remarked "That's a really bright flashlight!" and never gave it a second thought. So far, this far more massive/bright Fenix gets introduced as "it's one of them new LEDs" and no one suspects I'm expecting to use it for defense. Unlike a taser, no one is alarmed because I keep this in my purse and take it to bed with me. God forbid I should be considered unduly paranoid because I've got a stalker/dope fiend after me.Air horns....
