Several years ago, I reviewed the Fenix TK70 LED flashlight (see related posts) and raved about how bright and well made it was. I even gave it a nickname, referring to it as the Ark of the Covenant (AotC) because of the very bright pillar/beam of light it produces, as shown in the picture above. Well fortunately the folks at CR123Batteries.com sent me the lastest and brightest flashlight Fenix offers, the more compact, yet brighter Fenix TK75 LED flashlight to see if it can take away the AotC award from its larger sibling.
The Fenix TK75 has three high-powered Cree XM-L (U2) LEDs with a (theoretical) lifespan of 50,000 hours. Its digitally regulated output maintains constant brightness of up to 2600 lumens (wowza). It also has reverse polarity protection to protect itself from improper battery installation and over-discharge protection circuit to protect the rechargeable batteries effectively. To protect the LEDs, Fenix uses a “tough” ultra-clear glass lens with an anti-reflective coating.
This lantern produces an 80-degree flood beam angle to provide a “panoramic view” – think something akin to a car headlight on high beam. Here is the Gadgeteer Kid lighting up our field at night, a pretty good illustration of just how bright this flashlight is.
Package Contents
The the TK75 typically comes with only the lanyard and spare o-rings. But CR123Batteries sent me the Fenix TK75 LED Flashlight Package that includes not only the flashlight but four 18650 rechargeable Li-ion batteries, Fenix ARE-C1 Smart Battery Charger, and 12-volt adapter/cord.
The only issue I have with the Fenix TK75 LED Flashlight Package is that the flashlight typically uses four batteries, but the charger can only accommodate two at a time, so you’ll need two recharge cycle times for all the batteries to be fully good to go.
Like the TK70, the pieces of the TK75 screw together very much like the lightsabers the Gadgeteer Kid and I built and reviewed a few years ago. The finely-threaded aluminum pieces easily twist together, sealed by a rubber o-ring. The aluminum is aircraft-grade and durable, coated with a Type III hard-anodized anti-abrasive finish. This lantern is waterproof to IPX-8 standard of 2 meters.
Features
- Maximum 2600-Lumen Ultra High-Intensity Searching Flashlight
- Utilizes three Cree XM-L(U2) LEDs with the individual reflector respectively with a lifespan of 50,000 hours
- Incredible 606-meter beam throw
- Over 8-day run time, suitable for long-time searching
- Over 80-degree flood beam angle to provide a panoramic view
- 4 brightness levels (Low: 18 Lumens, Mid: 400 Lumens, High: 1100 Lumens, Turbo: 2600 Lumens), Strobe, and SOS
- Compact and portable so easy to carry
- Intelligent Memory Circuit
- Over-discharge protection circuit
- Capable of standing up securely on a flat surface as a candle
- Uses four 18650 rechargeable Li-ion batteries when needed but also can be powered by two 18650 rechargeable Li-ion batteries
- Run time can be extended with the addition of a body tube segment and battery holder (sold as an accessory kit). Run time will double with each segment-holder addition but brightness levels will not change.
- Waterproof to IPX-8 standard, underwater 2 meters
- Stainless steel bezel
- Toughened ultra-clear glass lens with anti-reflective coating
- Dual button switch system on the neck for quick switching
- Type III hard-anodized finish
- 185mm (length) x 52.5mm (diameter) x 87.5 (head)
- 510-gram weight (excluding batteries)
- Digitally-regulated output: maintains constant brightness
- Low-voltage warning function to alert users to replace the batteries
- Reverse polarity protection guards against improper battery installation
The stock TK75 measures 7.3″ (length) x 2.2″ (diameter) x 3.4″ (head) and weighs 1.5 lbs with batteries. Its power source is four 2600 mAh high-capacity batteries. Although, if you do not have four 18650’s, the TK75 can be operated with just two. Four of these high-capacity batteries enable the TK75 to run 8 days (lowest beam setting) on a single charge.
The dual switch system is easy to use; the right button turns the flashlight on and off and the left button cycles through the four brightness/power levels. The handle is machined for grip-ability and has a nice feel to it. The base has multiple loops/hard-points to connect the lanyard to.
The TK75 has four brightness levels (Low: 18 Lumens; Mid: 400 Lumens; High: 1100 Lumens; Turbo: 2600 Lumens), plus Strobe, and SOS modes.
The three Cree XM-L(U2) LEDs are so powerful that there are ‘high-efficiency’ heat dissipation fins engineered into the TD75 that effectively radiate heat from the LEDs and electronics within the head. This helps protect the LEDs and electronics, ensuring that they do not overheat.
Other than its light output, the thing that impresses me the most about the TK75 is its form factor. The TK75 produces a huge amount of light considering its relatively small size and weight.
Where the TK70 is long and clumberome, the TK75 fits nicely into the palm of your hand, is easy to maneuver, and has a great quality and weight to it.
Even though I really like the TK75’s compact form factor, you can purchase the Fenix TK75 Runtime Kit which adds a machined aluminum extension that screws onto the end of the barrel of the flashlight. The kit also includes the holder for additional 18650 batteries (not included). They are obviously designed to extend the run-time of the TK75 before needing to recharge the powercells. According to Fenix, the runtime will double with each segment-holder addition, but brightness levels will not change.
After using the Fenix TK75 for a month now, I can definitively say it is the new winner of the Ark of the Covenant award without a doubt. Not only is it more powerful/brighter than the TK70, but it is lighter, more compact, and has a better form factor. Its material and build quality are very good, definitely on par with a majority of the other top-end flashlights out there today. The Fenix TK75 itself without batteries is $200, but I highly recommend considering the TK75 package/kit that includes rechargeable Li-ion batteries and charger for only $27 more.
Product Information
| Price: | $199.95 (226.70 w/rechargeable batteries) |
| Manufacturer: | Fenix |
| Retailer: | CR123Batteries.com |
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Alright, I’m a confessed gadget guy, and a certified flashlight junkie, so suffice it to say, this light is going I’m the bag. Add the LD22 and I’ll be lit for almost any situation.
Now, if Fenix had a headband lamp…. *hint, hint*
To say the least, an excellent review of an amazingly impressive light. Thanks for the excellent write-up. A couple more sample lighting capability pics, i.e., lighting up a football field at night from one end zone to the other, and down a dark road a half mile?
Again, thanks for the outstanding reviews.
Wow so Fenix said it can use up to 3 extension. And with 2 already on it looks pretty decent, around the size of a 4d cell maglites, I used to use a 6d cell. If it really does double runtime each time you add one 2 extra holders would be like close to 5 hours at full setting, pretty impressive, the heat might be an issue in the summer but it’s good for all night search and rescue mission and saving someone is worth frying the light, though it would probably be fine.