Photon Rex Lithium Ion Rechargeable Light

This is a brand new light, Ben, and most retailers are just getting them in now. I'm actually expecting my order any day. The technology looks very promising. I'm excited about the ability to recharge my light from any battery 6 volts or less. LRI promises at least 500 recharges! Cool stuff.

Yup — definitely looks promising. Am mighty curious about actual performance (brightness and longevity of charge).

Hope you get yours soon!

Just got mine. A few notes:

The light can be charged on 9 volt batteries according to LRI customer service.

It seems plenty bright for night hiking, but I have not given it a fair test yet.

There is an unfavorable review (short runtime) at the bottom of this page: http://www.photonlight.com/Photon-ReX-Keychain-LED-Flashlights-p/rex-lithium-ion-rechargeable.htm

My brand new light will not recharge unless you press on the magnet points fairly hard. I contacted LRI and they told me that I would have to send the light back for repair or replacement and that they would not send me a replacement in the meantime. Not a great start!

There is, at this time no clip to attach the light to a hat like there is with the Photon Freedom. There may be an elastic strap coming out to use the light as a head lamp.

With the few minuses, I can still see this being my favorite backpacking light.

Thanks for the feeback, Bill.

Boggles my mind why some stores insist on receiving back your defective gear before they'll send you a replacement! This gives a bad message of distrust to the customer — which is a real shame considering how little risk there is to the business. After all, if the defective item is not received back, the company can always charge the customer's credit card again — after all, they've got the info. already.

sorry for being off topic, but the company cannot rely on charging the same card info.
each time i buy on internet, i connect myself to my bank and get a one use card number for a fixed amount.
this number wont work a second time or if the amount is too different.

to get back on topic, i am very interested by this lamp, but my last BPL command being only 3 weeks old, i will wait for some users reviews to resist the urge to buy it now :)

I just got my photon rex lithium ion rechargeable light and when i turn it on…it only stays on for about 5-10 secs then turns off automatically. The only way for me to keep it on continuously is to hold down the button. Is this one defective or is it just a feature to conserve power. It is kind of annoying to have to continually hold down the button…plus i dont know how you keep it on something other than full brightness. Thanks.

Your light is in demo mode. It's normal for a new light. There are instructions on how to take it out of demo mode either on the box itself or on a sheet of paper inside of the box. If you no longer have the packaging, try either holding the switch down until the light blinks or pressing the button on and off until something happens. Sorry that I can't be more specific.

Excellent! Just hold down the button till it shuts off automatically…that then switches it out of the demo mode. Funny thing is that there is nothing about a demo mode on the box … but it makes since or someone in the store could just leave them all on! Thanks for the help..works like a charm now!

At full brightness, I get about 20 minutes of full brightness before the light starts dimming dramatically. The thing about it, though, is that it's REALLY bright, (especially considering the size of the light.)

I think the key to using this light, is to use just the amount of light that you need for the task at hand–and no more. No wasted light, no wasted battery. Perfect.

Has anyone else had any experience with this light? My purpose in buying it would be to upgrade from the Freedom Micro. Would it really be an upgrade?

Hi Ryan,

Roger and I have a co-review in the hopper. Short answer is yes, it puts out considerably more light (both "volume" and intensity) than the Freedom.

Hopefully it's in stock, as they were backordered for quite awhile.

I've been using mine for quite a while and on dozens of trips with conditiosn ranging from working under my car to near whiteout snow while bailing. I'm definately a fan.

I made a headband that seems to be working very well. Simply make a loop of elastic that fix your noggin and another small loop of elastic going around the side that will hold it vertically on the side of your head. It casts a wide enough beam that this situation doesn't have the usual downfalls of unadjustable lights.

As long as I remember to charge it up before the trip, I've never had it get dim and the sucker certainly has enough light intensity for my needs around camp and navigation.

I also really like the environmental aspect of not just throwing away a button battery every time I want to make sure it's got a fresh charge.

Rick or Joe:

I have a feeling the answer is "no" but I'll ask anyway… Will the Rex light fit onto a Freedom swivel clip?

I just placed an order. I'm hoping to replace my headlamp with it. I usually carry my Freedom Mirco around my neck and also bring a headlamp. (The headlamp saved my tail once during a late-night bail out, but I would have been in trouble if all I had was the Micro). If I can wear this around my neck AND use it as a headlamp, I can drop 2.8oz.

Nope, it won't fit in the standard photon clips at all… I had hoped for the same thing.

Joe — thanks for the quick feedback.

Ryan Gardner, been there..done that. We hiked into Havasu Falls in 2004 and I was going all ultralight with only a photon 3. We were there only one night. During the night it started raining buckets. We had to get up at 3 AM to pack up in the rain, hike out 10 miles, and drive several hours to Vegas to catch a plane around 6 PM. The hike out was nutso with the road through the indian village turning into a 1-2 foot flowing river. Needless to say my photon 3 wasn't up to the job of being out in front to lead the way. Another with a more powerful headlamp had to lead us out..lol. It was an adventure though.

Somebody else led with a brighter light while you reaped the benefit of a truly UL light. And your problem is? :)

I figured I should go ahead and add that I find the Rex suitable for hiking out etc on trails and some off trail but if your bushwacking a lot or need longer range light you may want a more condensed beam. Also, on high you don't have a extremely long battery life something like 1.5 hours and it's barely usable. If you can night hike with it on a lower setting you'll be just fine but if you need something brighter for a full night hike you'll be packing something a bit different.

For those scenarios I bring a Petzl Myo XP which is wildly overkill for 99% of the time but that 1% when you have to have a extremely bright light with adjustment capabilities with a very long life for navigation it's worth having. I just try to ignore it's weight for those conditions since I'll not be packing a shelter and such.