FireFlyLite LEP02 LEP Flashlight Review
The FireFlyLite LEP02 LEP flashlight offers two modes of very high throw output and an interesting secondary option. There’s a remote switch, too!
Official Specs and Features
Here’s a referral link to the FireFlyLite LEP02 LEP flashlight product page.
Versions of the FireFlyLite LEP02 LEP flashlight
There appears to be just one version of the FireFlyLite LEP02 LEP flashlight.
Price
MSRP is listed at $178 but there’s a sale price showing right now. You can go and buy the FireFlyLite LEP02 LEP flashlight for $99 through this referral link! I also have a coupon good for one use per customer. I do not know if it’ll work on this sale item, but you can try!
This coupon should be good for one use per user, for 10% off! Below is the coupon!
FFLZeroAir
What’s Included
- FireFlyLite LEP02 LEP flashlight
- 5000mAh 21700
- Remote (USB-C) switch
- Lanyard
- Spare o-rings (3)
Package and Manual
I did not get a manual for the FireFlyLite LEP02 LEP flashlight.
Build Quality and Disassembly
The FireFlyLite LEP02 LEP flashlight is more of FireflyLite’s “old” design. This is to say that the build quality is “fine” but it’s not the same as the FireflyLite E07X or X1L, for example. That’s not a problem really; this light has fine build quality.
The tail has a spring, and as you can see there’s an “inner sleeve” on the cell tube. These threads are unanodized and beefy, too.
The head has a spring too, as you’d expect. I say “as you’d expect” because this light seems to me to be sort of tactical-ish. (Otherwise, why have a remote switch?)
Size and Comps
Head Diameter – 37mm
Body Diameter – 27mm
Length – 153mm
If the flashlight will headstand, I’ll show it here (usually the third photo). If the flashlight will tailstand, I’ll also show that (usually in the fourth photo).
Here’s the test light with the venerable Convoy S2+. The version below is a custom laser-engraved Convoy S2+ host by GadgetConnections.com. I did a full post on an engraved orange host right here! Or just go straight to GadgetConnections.com to buy your Convoy S2+ now!
Also above is the light beside a TorchLAB BOSS 35, an 18350 light. I reviewed the aluminum version of that light in both 35 and 70 formats. I also reviewed that specific edition, the “Oveready BOSS FT Collector Vintage Brass” 35. I love it!
Retention and Carry
The tailcap has a sort of tripod. Each of those legs has a hole where a lanyard could be placed.
A lanyard is not included, though.
Power and Runtime
FireFlyLite includes a 21700 with the LEP02 LEP flashlight. It’s a button top and has a capacity of 5000mAh.
The cell goes into the light with the button toward the head.
There are only two modes. You can see runtime tests on both below. The light is rated as “max 450 lumens” and while that’s not what I measure, the throw is the more important measure. (You can see that below, but it’s around 80% of the claim.)
My temperature sensor fell off at around 240 minutes. I would guess the temperature stayed fairly constant though.
Very throwy lights (or more accurately “very extreme” lights – throwy or floody) are hard to measure lumen values for. FireflyLite undoubtedly has better equipment than I have, so I’m not here to dispute their lumen claim. The throw is LEP, though. It’s an extreme throw.
Charging
This is going to confuse people! The FireFlyLite LEP02 LEP flashlight itself has a USB-C port on the tail end. That port is not for charging.
But the light does have charging capability, through this USB-C port on the cell.
A charging cable is not included. I tested with C to C and that doesn’t work (in my tests, at least) but A to C works fine, if a bit slow.
User Interface and Operation
The FireFlyLite LEP02 LEP flashlight has a single switch. It’s an e-switch on the tail end.
I love the big metal pad and the clicky action is fantastic.
Here’s that USB-C port I mentioned above. This port is not for charging. (Though, you won’t damage anything by connecting a USB-C charging cable here, in my experience.) This port is only for the (included) remote switch.
Here’s the remote switch connected.
Here’s a user interface table!
| State | Action | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Off | Click | High |
| On | Hold | Low |
| Any | Double click | Strobe |
| Off | Triple click | Enter tactical mode |
| Tactical mode | Click click Hold | Exit tactical mode |
| Off | Click 9x | Secondary emitters on |
| Secondary emitters on | Loosen battery | Secondary emitters off |
| On | Click 4x | Lockout |
| Lockout | Click 4x | Unlock |
LED and Beam
The FireFlyLite LEP02 LEP flashlight is a LEP, primarily, but there are some LED emitters in there. They are only for secondary output and are really just for flavor; they are not bright enough to be used for anything.
The bezel seems to be stainless and has a nice shape for letting light escape.
Here you can see the secondary emitters. There’s a bunch of them, and they’re very neat, but they’re very dim. That’s fine if you expect it, but don’t go into the LEOP02 expecting to use these for walking around at night or whatever. These secondary emitters are blue. I don’t love how these are accessed (9 clicks from off) but I think once you get used to it (and realize how dim they are, and that you’re probably turning them on and not realizing it), then it’s fine. I don’t like how to turn them off (loosen the tailcap) but again, they’re so dim it might never matter. Which is to say, if you wanted to leave them on as a locator beacon, that’s probably fine.
Beamshots
These beamshots are always with the following settings: f8, ISO100, 0.3s shutter, and manual 5000K exposure. These photos are taken at floor level and the beam hits the ceiling around 9 feet away.
Tint vs BLF-348 (KillzoneFlashlights.com 219b version) (affiliate link)
I keep the test flashlight on the left, and the BLF-348 reference flashlight on the right. The third photo is with only the secondary emitters on. In the other tests they could be on or off; you’d never know it because of the difference in brightness between the LEP and LED. The LEDs do have a neat pattern, though.
I compare everything to the KillzoneFlashlights.com 219b BLF-348 because it’s inexpensive and has the best tint!
Summary and Conclusion
The FireFlyLite LEP02 LEP flashlight is a nice, fairly low-cost LEP with a useful remote switch. If you need “on-board” charging, it’s nice that the cell has it, but don’t be confused by the USB-C port on the tail. Throw is very good, but the secondary emitters could use easier access.
The Big Table
| FireFlyLite LEP02 LEP flashlight | |
|---|---|
| Emitter: | LEP |
| Price in USD at publication time: | $99.00 (sale price) |
| Cell: | 1×21700 |
| High Runtime Graph | Low Runtime Graph |
| LVP? | Yes |
| Switch Type: | E-Switch |
| Quiescent Current (mA): | ? |
| On-Board Charging? | Yes |
| Charge Port Type: | USB-C (on cell) |
| Charge Graph | |
| Power off Charge Port | No |
| Claimed Lumens (lm) | 450 |
| Measured Lumens (at 30s) | 182 (40.4% of claim)^ |
| Candela per Lumen | 1176.51 |
| Claimed Throw (m) | 1300 |
| Candela (Calculated) in cd (at 30s) | 4700lux @ 7.338m = 253077cd |
| Throw (Calculated) (m) | 1006.1 (77.4% of claim)^ |
| Claimed CCT | 5500 |
| Measured CCT Range (K) | – |
| Item provided for review by: | Fireflylite |
| All my Fireflylite reviews! | |
^ Measurement disclaimer: Testing flashlights is my hobby. I use hobbyist-level equipment for testing, including some I made myself. Try not to get buried in the details of manufacturer specifications versus measurements recorded here; A certain amount of difference (say, 10 or 15%) is perfectly reasonable.
What I like
- Reasonable cost
- For a LEP it’s not huge
- Cell is included
- Remote switch
What I don’t like
- Confusing USB-C port
- Secondary access is cumbersome
Notes
- This content originally appeared at zeroair.org. Please visit there for the best experience!
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