Gear heads rejoice! I have been field testing the Fenix PD35TAC LED Tactical Flashlight for the past two months. Fenix Store ( fenix-store.com) provided this flashlight for me to review and I have been using it in different scenarios with excellent results.
From the Fenix Store: The Fenix PD35TAC (Tactical Edition) remains a pocket-size tactical flashlight but has a higher performance and focuses on tactical employment, compared to its predecessor the Fenix PD35. Fenix has taken the all-time bestselling PD35 LED flashlight and added some innovative user features to enhance its tactical capabilities. Measured at less than 5.51 inches, the Fenix PD35TAC flashlight features a 1000-lumen maximum output and has an impressive beam distance of up to 656 feet. The Fenix PD35TAC operates using a single 18650 battery or two CR123A batteries.
Modes of Operation
- TACTICAL FLASHLIGHT MODE
- Turbo: 1000 Lumens (1 hr. 10 min.)
- Low: 60 Lumens (29 hr. 15 min.)
- Strobe: 1000 Lumens
- EDC FLASHLIGHT MODE
- Turbo: 1000 Lumens (1 hr. 10 min.)
- High: 500 Lumens (2 hr. 55 min.)
- Mid: 200 Lumens (8 hr. 30 min.)
- Low: 60 Lumens (29 hr. 15 min.)
- Eco: 8 Lumens (140 hr.)
- Strobe: 1000 Lumens
I’ve been using this flashlight (with two CR123A batteries) for everything from brief tours around my house to light up spiders to quick tactical tests. It is extremely comfortable in your hand. Whereas some tactical lights are too narrow or too thick at the grip, this flashlight fits perfectly in my hand.
Overall design is pretty cool. It is machined aluminum and has edges machined in to prevent it from rolling on flat surfaces. That’s a great feature and I am sure most of you will think so. I know I hate when I set a light down and it starts rolling away and makes noise. This light eliminates the rolling problem.
The different flashlight modes work exceptionally well. The ON/OFF switch is an easy rubber push button at rear end of the light. Each flashlight mode is enabled with a small button at the front of the device. It’s simple to use and quiet. The flashlight will turn back on in the mode when it was turned off. I like that about a flashlight as I have used some that don’t have a “memory” that works.
The strobe is bright at 1000 Lumens and I can see where it would cause confusion if you pointed it right at an attacker. It’s quite disorienting, even when looking at it from the back end. The other modes work as described and useful for any situation; walking at night, heading up the trail in the dark, or lighting up an animal in your backyard from 50-200 yards away.
Battery life lasts a long time and I am honestly still on my first set of batteries, even after two months. I’ve left it on for fifteen to twenty minutes at a time and the head does heat up a little, but it’s only really on the two highest settings. As this is more of a handheld, tactical light I don’t anticipate depleting the batteries too quickly. I do like to use my flashlights when I hunt and clip them to my hat or pack, but this one won’t work like that. As battery life depletes, the mode shifts down to the next level. This gives you a good idea of how much battery time you have left.
The PD35TAC is listed as a “pocket-size tactical flashlight”. I have to say that while it does fit in a pocket,it is a bit bulky for EDC use unless you wear cargo pants or pants with large pockets. If you wear tactical pants it can be kept in many different pockets, but while wearing jeans, which is what I wear almost everyday, it felt slightly uncomfortable.
The PD35TAC has a very tight, focused beam. This is one of the best features. The light spread is minimal and allows you to focus on your target. Normally, with the highest brightness set for a long time, the flashlight head heats up enough where you can’t touch it. That wasn’t the case for me. Normally, I would have gloves on as I am using a light such as this, but I opted to bare hand it. The light did heat up, but not to a point of being uncomfortable. In fact, it was a great feature.
The PD35TAC from the Fenix-Store is a great tactical flashlight. It is also a great flashlight to keep in your vehicle should you need it. Overall, I am happy with battery life and performance and will be an excellent addition to my kit bag. Want to buy a PD35TAC for yourself? https://www.fenix-store.com/fenix-pd35tac-led-flashlight-tactical-edition/ MRSP on this flashlight is $94.00, but Fenix Store has them for $71.95.
I received the Fenix PD35TAC flashlight as coordinated by Deep Creek PR an Outdoor Industry Public Relations Company in consideration for review publication. All opinions are strictly my own.
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