LED Lenser X Series

Great . . and not-so – My son bought me a X21R.2 as a gift (S/N? 1405006088, see close up). The battery lasted a few months of very little use before death ensued. As in Kaput!, Belly Up, Nothing, DEAD. At about a $150 USD for a replacement cell pack (proprietary) and no warranty support. I am, needles to say, hugely dissapointed. The magnitude of my disappointment is only matched by the performance of the torch while the battery lived. Sammy

Temporary Sun – Bought this torch and as you turn it on during the night, its like you have personally turned on the sun. It is so bright it is simply amazing. It is pricey for sure and some people won't want to pay for a large torch (thats fine) BUT if you want to light something up the xr21r won't fail you. This is my 3rd ledlenser in my family and all are great and not failed, you get what you pay for......

Maintains the pedigree – We are staunch LED Lenser supporters ... owning a P2, a P7, 2 x P7.2's a T7, a H7 and the previous flagship of the line - the X21. Recently came into a bit of unexpected money, and after much research, decided to lash out on the X21R.2. I liked the concept of the programmable modes on the little T7, which can incorporate an SOS function and the… Read more

high intensity strobe - which may become very useful in serious tactical/emergency situations. These are also available on the X21R.2, and it also possesses an inbuilt rechargeable battery .... said to be good for some 3000 cycles.

Now the original X21 is a bright torch - pumping out 1000 lumens, making it possible to see all boundaries of our 13 acre block from the house in the centre. Useful .... however it is said in the literature that the alkaline batteries it runs on can only pump out so much power. The evolution of the proprietary "Ytrion" rechargeable battery in the R2 series allows much higher peak discharge ... ramping up the output of what looks like an identical head structure to a peak of 3200 lumens. As with most of the LED Lenser range, the beam is focusable from a "spot" to "flood" by pushing the head in or outwards.

The torch is big and hefty - which is just fine in our "base" application, and yet it is optimistically referred to in the accompanying manual as a "pocket torch" - either a lost in translation thing ... or referring to those that wear seriously industrial sized trenchcoats!!

Whereas the original X21 has just a simple on/off switch that cycles purely between high and low power, the X21R.2 has the same switch, but it's enclosed within a knurled dial which is slid sideways left or right between 5 separate indents - comprising:

1. a locked off setting meaning that the torch can't be accidentally activated, while in transit for example. This is a great thought .... with only the rechargeable battery option it would be a real downer to get to where you're going to find the torch has accidentally been left on and now has no power left!

2. low power - in this detent position the switch when pressed activates a 200 lumen low power function. If the switch is then slightly tapped power goes to full, reverting back to low if tapped again.

3. high power - in this position if the switch is tapped the torch goes straight to high power - 2500 lumens. If the tap is held in for a few seconds, maximum burst power of 3200 lumens is activated until such time as the maintained finger pressure on the switch is released. It makes good sense for this burst function to be a temporary thing requiring the deliberate maintenance of light pressure on the switch to avoid high battery discharge. When the slight pressure is released the burst function reverts to normal high power. If the switch had been fully pressed in, already activating the high power function, tapping it again activates a programmable "low" power option which can be set following a procedure between several different intensities. Ours is set at the lowest.

4. signalling mode - in this position when the switch is pressed a slow SOS signal is presented, if tapped the signal changes first to a regular slow blink pattern, then to a quick double flash if tapped again. A real boon for position indicating or in emergency situations.

5. The final position is the tactical strobe function. If the switch is tapped while on strobe, the function reverts to normal high power beam then back again if needed.

Sliding this master dial to an appropriate indent activates that function immediately if the torch is already active. For example you can switch from low power or high power to the strobe simply by sliding the dial to the appropriate position if it was already active in the previous one. This would be extremely useful if one is in a situation that requires such an intervention, and saves having to go through a complicated programming procedure for which one really needs time and the owners manual .... as is the case with the T7 ... if the programme you had active didn't present the functions in the order you need at the time.

The torch is presented in a decent ABS moulded box, secured by 2 sliding latches. It comes with removable rubberised hex bands - on the head and at the base, installed at the factory, to allow it to be placed onto surfaces without rolling around - ingenious, but with a major drawback .... more on this later. A shoulder strap with the two rubbery-plastic rings that it attaches to, designed to slide onto the torch body - one at each end - is included, and I'm disappointed that these seem to be exactly the same as those that came with the X21. The problem is that over time these become quite slippery on the torch body, allowing the rear one to simply drop off the torch on several occasions - resulting in it being dropped. Thankfully not into the sea or over a cliff ... yet!!! In the case of the X21R.2, the rear hex rubber ring should prevent this from happening - with luck - and as long as it's on the torch at the time.

There is an amazing AC charging lead which terminates at an LED lit coupling that positively clicks onto the base of the torch using a decent magnetic bond. An ingeniously designed, wall mountable cradle allows the torch to sit in an upright position while it receives its charge and to be kept for ready deployment. The top of the mount has a plastic clip that grabs onto the torch body, and the base swivels outwards so that the torch can be grabbed and unclipped, with gravity then assisting the torch to virtually fall into the hand ready for use. Terrific, and very quick to use!!

The one major drawback here is that the torch cannot fit onto that base while the hex ring described above is in place!! WHOOPS .... what an unanticipated oversight in an otherwise flawlessly designed system .... very unusual for German engineers!! Never mind .... if you ditch the rear ring the torch is still kind of steady on flat surfaces via the front hex band. BUT if you happen to be using the shoulder strap you may expose yourself to the risk of losing the lot as described above!! BEWARE!!

The body of the torch has a narrow window encircling it a couple of centimetres from the base with enclosed LED lights that glow red while charging, and green when charging is complete. The "floating charge" system is never really defined in any of the literature that accompanies the torch, however reference to the Australian distributor - ZEN Imports (who incidentally are about the best product distributor I have EVER encountered. All correspondence answered virtually immediately, and warranty claims rigorously followed through) confirms that the torch is designed to be left on the charge with the light glowing green to allow it to be always ready for use.

Another innovative feature of this model is the arrangement of 10 led lights in a clockface like pattern around the inner base of the torch that act as useful charge indicators. When the silver button at the centre of the base (which accepts the magnetically secured charging attachment) is pressed, these LED's illuminate to show remaining charge out of 10 possible bars. When any particular torch function is activated, these LED's momentarily light up to give an indication of time available on that function .... GREAT!!

Performance wise the torch is all I needed it to be. The maximum power is a definite step up from the X21 it is supplanting. Is it 2.5 times brighter??? Impossible to say without measuring gear of course ... but a very substantial visual difference. I would have liked very much to have seen the "spot" beam be a whole lot tighter than it is .... our front gate is 200M from the house, and on the tightest possible "spot" the beam spills over a distance of what I'd estimate to be 40 or so metres. Too much for me. I'd have much preferred more concentrated light than this.

The Achilles heel of the LED Lenser range, in my opinion, is that the beam is not normally "regulated". This means that as the battery discharges, the beam begins to become fainter. This model is claimed to be microprocessor controlled, but I cannot find any reference to whether this means "regulated" or not. I don't generally like to fully discharge rechargeable batteries .... so I guess I'm never likely to find out.

I would have very much liked to have seen a 12V in-vehicle charging option included ... and can't for the life of me understand why it isn't! Everything else is!!

So there you are .... in essence a 5 star torch, let down by the minor engineering niggles mentioned. Glad I bought it, and considering the well developed enhancements it incorporates, it's reasonably well priced for it's punishing RRP - watch for specials!!

Pretty awesome – It is best torch I've owned... Best size to power ratio going, fits well into a pocket when required. Good battery life and seriously well priced. got it from work sweeeeeeeeeet

WOW – After much research I brought an x21r through ebay. A lot of money but wanted a torch that would go the distance. Have only had it about 18 months and found battery life not lasting as long as advertised. Contacted ebay seller (they are advertised as five year warranty) to be told claims need to be made through Zen imports, contacted them and was… Read more

told to send unit in for examination. Two weeks later and I have just been sent a brand new x21r.2 (close to $800 when the x21r cost $490) Lumens are 3200 vrs 1600 and just WOW what a torch. Have had two m7r for about ten years and still run original battery's so this is the first time I have had reason to use a warranty with them. Wish all company's stood behind their products like these guys FIVE STARS.

Only torch you need – Had my X7R LENSER for a few yrs now, use it alot. I reckon everyone should have one, at the very least for their emergency kit. With the multiple charging options, clip on mount and bright adjustable beam you'll never need another torch. Best $170 I spent on portable lighting, it retired my LENSER L6 & L7 and my big MAG-LITE (which has a pretty… Read more

crap beam for a U.S.A. made LED torch), excellent product. The only torch I'd replace it with is the X21R 1000+ lumen, but that's just overkill for home use.

Bright 500 lumen torch with a 5 year guarantee – Whilst looking for a new flashlight I had my heart set on buying the larger non rechargeable Led Lenser X14. After some research I found out that the X14 was rated at 450 lumens and the rechargeable X7R was brighter at 500 lumens. I was told that the reason for this is because the quality of the Led Lenser lithium-ion rechargeable battery is far… Read more

more superior then the disposable AA batteries that come with the X14. So I decided to purchase the X7R.

The X7R is a great torch. It is bright and is easy to operate. Press the button once and it will deliver a full power light setting. Press the button half way in and the light will dim to 15%. Press the button again it will turn off. The user can also choose from the three light settings of Professional, Easy and Defence. Each setting includes a range of eight different functions. The led lenser even comes with a 5 year guarantee.

I like the focusing design on the X7R. To narrow the beam the user simply has to push the torch head forward. Pulling the torch head backward will spread the beam. This flashlight comes with a swivel belt clip and wall mountable charging stand. It can be charged with either 240V mains power or a USB power outlet. The charger mechanism is magnetic and forces itself to the base of the X7R.

There are several short comings with this product. The plastic lens housing on the head of the flashlight is made from plastic. I have accidentally dropped it on asphalt from a height of 500 mm and it did not break, but I'm not convinced of its durability if it falls from a higher level.

The X7R is not waterproof and the handle is not long enough to fit in my hands comfortably. With the focus control set forward the torch handle is 110 mm. With the focus control set to spread the handle is only 100 mm. I would prefer a few more centimetres to get a full grip of this torch.

Also the Led Lenser X7R is not made in Germany as many believe. The Led Lenser X7R is actuality made in China. 5 year guarantee, easy to use, 500 lumens, rechargeable Torch handle is a little short for a comfortable grip in my hands.

Great torch – Fantastic torch that is small in size but big in power,its small enough to keep in your glove box or kitchen drawer but packs enough light to fill a room,its rechargeable via USB as well as mains power so you have the option of keeping it at the ready at home or on the go in your car,the only thing that stops me from giving five stars is,it's not… Read more

water proof and I'd say if you dropped it hard on its end it could break the plastic housing the led's,that said though it is top quality in its manufacture. Rechargeable,mobile in terms of charging options long battery life Not water proof,and I'd say not even rain proof