Arena Battle! Fenix E18R -VS- Olight S1R Baton II

Sometimes, things were meant to happen. Forces have to clash. One has to lose. And one will.

Olight came onto the scene some years back, and tore onto the high performance lighting scene with it's blue bezels blazing. It's a manufacturer that has created a very devoted following. It puts out alot of new models.

Fenix, a very seasoned veteran, and one of the best manufacturers in the world; took a slightly different path. The path of practicality. Instead of many new models, it would refine older ones, creating super lights. Known as Ultimate Editions.

This was meant to happen. it was a matter of time.

Next, welcome the entrants! Two enter, one leaves!

Judging criteria.
 Points for each category awarded. Most points win.

1. Fit, finish, build quality: 1 point
2. Optic system & beam quality/tint:  2 points
3. Runtimes: 1 point:
4. Battery: 1 point
5. Charging system: 1 point
6. Accessories: 1 point
7. UI: 1 point

That said, let's get it on!

**Fit, finish, build quality: 1 point...

Both lights are well built. Everything form the threading, to the bezels.
Olight has been working hard on building a light of this caliber, and it shows.

Fenix has been at this level for a very long time.  They understand how to make a super high quality light.

However, the Olight is using a button style that has caused me problems. The button on my Warrior and older Mini has lost it's backing and the backlit LED shines through the entire button. My fear is that this will happen to this light. Regardless, they built an exceptional light.
 
The Fenix narrowly wins here. Looking at the lights VERY closely, you can see milling marks on the Olight, at least on my sample. Seemingly absent on the Fenix.

Fenix WINS, 1 POINT! 

 **Optic system & beam quality/tint  2 points

Here's few beamshot videos of these two lights. 

Olight has been in the TIR game for a long time. They have made great use out of this optic. The beam out of the Olight is floody, and it's area is well defined.
It's tint sways towards warmish compared to the Fenix and has a slight green hue.


The Fenix has an optic system that is steller, simply stunning in it's design.  The Fenix is more of a thrower here. It has a nice sized hotspot, and quite good sidespill. It sways to the cooler tint, much whiter then the Olight.

Summary, ones a flooder, ones a thrower. Both have good tints. Both have found ways to create optics that create massive beams of light in such a tiny package.

This is a TOUGH segment to judge!!! 

BOTH WIN, DRAW! 2 POINTS EACH.

 **Runtimes.

Let's just see the facts here first:

 Notable here is the Fenix with a 700mAh battery and the Olight with a 550mAh battery.

Also notable, the lumen spacing. No further explanation really needed here.

Winner by a landslide... FENIX WITH 1 POINT!

**Battery: 1 point

Fenix is using it's ARB-L16-700P rechargeable. @ 700mAh
Olight is using it's ORB-16C05-10C @ 550mAh 

Less capacity and it's proprietary design put the Olight in a disadvantage here. You simply cannot pop this battery into your bay charger. I prefer bay chargers over the included charging systems. I like to condition my batteries, and see what the stats on them are. Opinions vary on that.

Winner: FENIX BY 1 POINT

** Charging system 1 point.

Both lights use a magnetic charging system. And although the Olight is faster we must remember the capacity on it's battery is smaller.  

Both look great, pleasing the eye and very functional.

I'm not going to get technical in a place that my knowledge lacks in. Fair is fair.

Both win one point. DRAW.

** Acessories 1 point.

Both lights give you a belt clip.
Both lights give you a lanyard
Both lighst give you O-rings

The difference is:

Fenix supplies you with a metal keychain ring.
Olight supplies you with a velour drawstring bag.

and

The clip on the Olight is fantastic, mutli positional 
The lanyard on the Olight is a nice rope style with a slid lock.
Olight does supply you with a gernous velour bag to store the light in.

The clip on the Fenix is qute nice, and very functional, but not as nice as the Olight clip.
The lanyard on the Fenix is nice, but not nearly as nice as Olights.

Conclusion...

.
Olight wins by a landslide, 1 point!

**UI one point.


The UI on the Olight is tried and trued.

The UI on the Fenix is simple, very functional.

Both lights feature a lockout, strobe, and a full compliment of  modes.

The Olight is a push and hold type of UI.
The Fenix you button tap through the modes.

The Olight has the typical Olight "Double tap" for turbo mode.
The Fenix has turbo mode as a regular cycled mode.

The Olight has a timer function.

The Olight has mode memory, the Fenix does not.

Winner....Olight 1 point


POINTS BREAKDOWN

1. Fit, finish, build quality: 1 point  FENIX
2. Optic system & beam quality/tint  2 points FENIX AND OLIGHT
3. Runtimes: 1 point: FENIX
4. Battery: 1 point FENIX
5. Charging system: 1 point FENIX AND OLIGHT
6. Accessories: 1 point OLIGHT
7. UI: 1 point OLIGHT

Fenix 6 points.
Olight 5 Points

WINNER FENIX

Notes here and perhaps some TL;DR

I do and still do in fact, work heavily with Fenix. I have been an ambassador to Fenix Lighting USA and Fenix HQ. I'm saying this in full disclosure.
I want to clarify that this was AN HONEST REVIEW. I said from the beginning that the best light would win, and if that light was the Baton II, then so be it. Unlike other a few others that review lights I trust in honesty.
Honesty helps the manufacturer to make a better product, and helps you to make a better buying decision.

On the section with the charging systems, this can get technical. Technical above my knowledge. Since both systems were close, I gave them both a pass, fair is fair. 

I want to suggest to Fenix:   Accessories! Add more, or improve them

I want to suggest to Olight: Stop making so many models, refine what you have.

Again, hope you enjoyed this!