The X21 is a  high brightness LED torch, which employs seven individual white light LED emitters in a single round "head" to produce over 900 Lumens.  It can be zoomed in to allow distant areas to be illuminated, or zoomed out to provide a flood light for an area.  The zoom uses a "push/pull" system.

As soon as you turn it on you realise that this device is in a class of its own!  It truly "turns night into day" within 15 to20m.  Beyond this range it still produces a very bright and usable area illumination, out to over 100m.  When zoomed in fully the beam will usefully illuminate objects as much as 300m-400m, at this range the problem is the "resolution" of the human eye to spot objects, not the brightness of the torch.

I purchased this torch to use on night searches with my local volunteer Search and Rescue team.  I have used this torch on half a dozen "live" missing person night searches and several night training sessions.  I carry it using the shoulder strap which allows me to move it around as I am walking along, it also prevents my arms from becoming fatigued when searching for several hours.  I tend to operate with the zoom around half way, which gives an excellent compromise between brightness and illuminated area.  If something catches my eye I can quickly operate the zoom to get more light onto the object, I usually do this with two hands, but it can be done with one if you let the torch hang from the strap while you change it, but it is a bit more difficult to accurately get the level of zoom you want.  I rarely use the "low power" setting.  I use a separate low power head torch for map reading and making notes etc.  The X21 is too bright for this and will ruin your night vision if you illuminate a piece of paper or a map right in front of you. The only small issue is that the full/low/off press switch on the body is easily depressed by mistake.  I am careful to store the torch in its plastic carry case so the switch cannot be operated accidentally.  In field use this isn't particularly an issue, but occasionally I have caught the switch and gone onto low power, it is a simple matter of pressing it twice to go back onto full.  To be honest, this is being picky, but I couldn't think of anything else I could say negatively about it!

I have only changed the batteries once during this time.  The torch is unregulated and gradually fades over time.  It reached a point where I felt it was not "doing the job" when on a recent search.  Putting in new batteries made a huge difference.  I have tested the "old" batteries and they indicate that they still have 60% charge available.  Having said that, I estimate that I have had 30 hours of operation on the maximum brightness setting.

So far I have managed to avoid dropping the torch from any height, but it does seem pretty robust in design.  My only concern would be what would happen if I dropped it onto the lens glass, as the weight is significant.  Hopefully I won't find out!  The torch has got wet due to heavy rain on several occasions and has operated flawlessly.  I have not accidentally immersed it in water.

I am VERY satisfied with the LED Lenser X21.  It does exactly what I want.  I think the price may make it a luxury, but if you can justify the cost you won't be disappointed by the performance!


Reviewer: Gerald Davison. Gerald is an IML and an operational team member with one of the North Wales Mountain Rescue teams. His website can be found here: www.skillsforthehills.co.uk

Date:February 2010

LED Lenser X21 Price: £269.95  RRP:  £314.95  Qty:

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