I’ve written about this flashlight in a few posts as it has been my EDC flashlight for the past 3 years so I thought it was time to do a review. Please note, I purchased this light with my own money and was not paid to endorse this product. This review is based off the Fenix UC35 2.0 flashlight.
The Fenix UC35 2.0 is an updated version released in early 2018 to replace the original UC35 which was released in 2014. The lights might look similar but these are two different flashlights. Here is the breakdown on stats:
| UC35 – 2014 | UC35 v2.0 – 2018 | |
| Max Output | 960 lumens | 1,000 lumens |
| Min Output | 14 lumens | 1 lumen |
| Max Runtime | 150 hours | 800 hours |
| Throw Distance | 656 feet | 873 feet |
| Battery Type | USB-rechargeable 3,200 mAh 18650 | USB-rechargeable 3,500 mAh 18650 |
| Controls | Tail cap switch, silicone rubber mode button | Tail cap switch, stainless steel mode button |
| Dimensions | 5.9 inches long, 1 inch diameter | 5.5 inches long, 1 inch diameter |
| Price | $100 | $100 |
The UC35 v2.0 is a smaller, brighter light with a longer runtime and beam throw. Included in with all the UC35 v.20 are a couple accessories to help you out: a 18650 battery, belt holster, pocket lanyard, and micro-USB charge cable. I thought it was pretty nice for Fenix to toss in a battery, as most of the flashlights on the market these days do not come with one.
Functionality
To turn on the light you use the tail cap switch. You can then cycle the different modes using the stainless steel mode button. There are 5 modes: 1,000 lumen turbo, 350 lumen high, 150 lumen medium, 50 lumen low, and 1 lumen moonlight. You can also activate a strobe mode by pressing and holding the mode selector. Basically you can have this flashlight quickly adapt to whatever job you need it to take on.
Beam
The mean is pretty much like a spotlight, and has a maximum distance of 850 feet. That’s pretty solid for $100 flashlight. Personally, I like the cool white light and found it comfortable to use for sight with a range of activities. Some people don’t like the idea of a spotlight throw beam for indoor activities, but with the different modes you can easily adapt to whatever you need it. Obviously, this is very much preferred to anything out door.
Conclusion
I LOVE this light. It is by far the longest serving flashlight I’ve carried everyday. With that said, it does have a couple negatives. The two buttons and various modes can be overwhelming for some users and might be overkill or difficult to learn/remember. I use this light everyday so it’s never been a problem for me as I got used to it quickly. The other negative are the two different twist caps which after almost 3 years of use have started to get loose and have to be retightened. Not a big deal, as you’ll know when this is happening if the light doesn’t work. Those two negatives are quickly outweighed by the fact that this is such a solid light. It’s $100 flashlight that packs the features of a $200 light, with a rock solid body design that has been very durable. The maintenance on this has been none, you get a rechargeable battery that I still use in this light today.
Rating: 9.5/10
Ben