Talking Points – Fenix CL09

Ambassador Justin J.

Philosophy of Use
• When size, weight, and performance are needed during long backpacking treks.

• Emergency light for signaling, stored in the vehicle.

Size/Weight
• 3 inches tall. 1.6oz in weight. You can hide these little lanterns just about anywhere in your pack and never know they are there. I’d say the CL09 is roughly the length of your index finger and weighs as much as a few quarters.

LED/Lumens
• Max 200 lumens of neutral white light. Provides both red and green light options. I chose the CL09 for a lot of reasons, but one of the top factors for me is the red and green options. I’ve been using flashlights, headlamps, and lanterns for many years. I tend to gravitate toward the ones that have the color modes the most. You’d be surprised just how handy having a red LED is at 2am at a campsite. The neutral white light is very easy on the eyes and is more than bright enough at 200 lumens for any tasks while hiking or camping.

Beam Distance
• 33ft. If you’re going solo, this is the lantern for you, although it would be plenty of light for two people. I say solo because the light falloff is fairly rapid after about 10 feet on turbo. Since I don’t often use it on turbo, the falloff is even shorter on medium and high.

Functionality
• The CL09 incorporates a magnetic base and key ring for multiple hanging options. There aren’t too many places this tiny lantern can’t go. I’ve attached it to all kinds of metal surfaces and have hung it from something as simple as a tree branch when my hands were full. Powering it on is easy as it uses a twist function at the base. Just twist clockwise to get to the lowest setting. To change output level while the lantern is switched on, turn it off (counterclockwise) and back on again within one second to change through the various modes.

Battery/Accessories
• Fenix ARB-L16-700U battery, spare 0-ring for water seal, key ring. Can also use a CR123a battery. The rechargeable battery that comes with the CL09 is one of my favorite batteries they make. There’s a built-in usb charge port on the side, which makes it super hand to charge, even from your vehicle. I tend to carry a few spares with me when I plan to be gone for a day or two.

Durability/Reliability
• IP68 – waterproof and impact resistant. You could torture test these little lanterns, but you’d be wasting your time. Mine has been in the rain, freezing rain, mud, washing machine (by accident), and it still works.

Value
• Many years ago, 200 lumens was considered ultra-bright and was almost out of reach for the consumer due to price and demand. Today, flashlights, headlamps, and lanterns are pushing up into the thousand lumen mark and well beyond. The Fenix CL09 has the advantage of a much smaller footprint than a traditional size lantern. It also is able to deliver more light for its size than anything else like it on the market today. Couple that with excellent runtimes, functionality, and a price that cannot be beat, and you have a clear winner.

Final Thoughts
• On a scale from 1-10, (1 being not recommended vs 10 being highly recommended) I give the CL09 a solid 10.

• The CL09 provides flexible lighting options when traveling light on the trails. You get all the light you need and none that you don’t. A lot of lanterns are big and bulky and take up a lot of space in your kit. Chances are, you very rarely use their highest setting. For most of us, we don’t need a ton of light when traveling solo. However, a problem with smaller lanterns is not having enough power to run them for extended times. That’s not the case with the CL09. At the lowest setting of 1 lumen, you get an impressive 150 hours of runtime when using a cr123a battery! Being the lantern has the ability to throw light in a 360-degree direction, you can hang it from the top of your tent and have plenty of light for the entire night. With 150 hours at your fingertips, you’ll never have to worry about how many days you spend on the trail. This is an excellent choice for anyone hiking the Appalachian trails. It comes with a rechargeable battery and also allows for cr123a’s to be used for longer runtimes.

• Ultra-durable. Fenix spared no expense when considering the materials to be used in the CL09. I love gear that is designed to be used in the toughest environments on earth. This means the likelihood of someone like me damaging the product is slim at best. This is definitely hard use gear. It’ll take a beating and keep smiling.

• I picked up the grey color option since black is harder to see on the ground. The grey is, at least for me, easier to see and seems to have some sheen to it. That may help in locating it if I drop it on the ground.

• The price. New members receive 20% off their first order. I would pick up at least 3 of these, if not more, on my first order to save a few bucks. Having at least 3-4 would provide a ton of flexibility at camp verses having only one larger lantern. They are so lightweight you’d never know you have a handful in your pocket or pack.

• These make excellent gifts for any occasion. Any time I gift someone a flashlight, I usually receive a message from them not too long after telling me thank you, over and over. Most people who have never owned a quality light never realize how helpful they are in day-to-day tasks. We own almost all of the current lineup of Fenix lanterns and each one gets used multiple times per week. I would say the CL09 gets used the most since it’s so small and able to stick in a pocket. We use them to aid in changing diapers at 2am as turning on the overhead light is too much for a sleeping baby.

• Overall, my favorite aspects of the CL09 is a combination of its size, and light output, without sacrificing performance. It doesn’t matter if you have on dress pants, or jeans, or shorts. This little light can go anywhere with you and it’s ready with the twist of the tail cap. Great job on this one Fenix. It’s a clear choice in my book.