The quality champ versus the bargain challenger.
I’ve been a fan of Surefire flashlights for several years since I got my first 3P 3v light several years back for Christmas. Well actually I got one for a relative and while I was at it I just happened to get an extra for myself. Share shipping cost and all that stuff is what I told my wife and don’t remember getting in too much trouble for it.
Anyway that little 3P went through many batteries until a couple years ago when that same relative got me a Surefire Executive Elite E2e for a couple years back. That Surefire also has gone through several sets of batteries and like its little brother the 3P, has never let me down. Surefire lights are known for their high light output and their quality construction and I have always been satisfied with these two lights believing them to be well worth the money.
Last week I was running around Target looking for their dog food isle when I happened to run across the flashlight isle. On sale for the low price of $16.99 (regularly $19.99) was a Brinkmann Maxfire LX Lithium/Xenon flashlight. Advertised with “Extra-Tough Construction for Shock & Water Resistance”, “Push-Button ON/OFF Switch with Silent Signal Feature” and “Xenon Bulb for Maximum Brightness”, I just had to pick up one to try out.
The Brinkmann Maxfire LX as it comes in it’s retail packaging.
Most visitors to TacticalGearReview.com are probably well aware of most of the common variations in the Surefire line but may be totally unfamiliar with the Brinkmann offerings. The Maxfire LX is a 6v (2 Lithium 123A batteries, same as the Surefire offerings) Xenon bulb light constructed of a “extra-tough, durable nylon polymer with rubber grips” with a push button tail cap. Also included in the package are two Energizer 123A Photo Lithium batteries and a cheap nylon belt pouch with Velcro flap. The pouch is a very poor fit for the Maxfire being too tight and too long and the Velcro flap too short barely fastening over the lens but it is a perfect for a Mini-Maglite and better than what comes stock with it so all is well.
As the Maxfire is a 6 volt light just like the Surefire E2e a head to head comparison seemed to be in order.
Brinkmann Maxfire LX (top) and Surefire E2e (bottom)
Brightness
This seems to be the first things people look at when looking at Tactical flashlights, this seem like an obvious place to start.
The E2e claims to be a 60 lumen light with fresh batteries. From approximately 15 feet across the room on a slightly off-white wall, the Surefire beam is bright and uniformly round as one would expect for a $95.00 light. No complaints here.
The Maxfire beam is slightly dimmer than the Surefire and is narrower. From 15 feet the brightness appears be pretty close, slight advantage to Surefire. Outside in total darkness at about 20 yards, the Maxfire appears to be equally as bright while the Surefire illuminates a slightly larger area. It may be just the tighter beam of the Maxfire making it appear as bright as the Surefire.
I started with Surefire batteries in the E2e and the Energizer batteries in the Maxfire and then switched them with basically the same results so I don’t believe the different batteries had any effect.
I would give the Surefire a slight advantage in brightness and a greater advantage in the area it lights up. The Maxfire’s output though is also very good. If the Surefire is a 10, the Maxfire is certainly no less than a 9 and probably closer to a 9 ½.
Functionality
Both lights feature a momentary on push button tail switch as well as constant on capability. The Surefire is constant on by twisting the tail cap all the way clockwise and then turning it back counter clockwise to turn it off. But don’t turn it too far off or the push button won’t work. And don’t turn it too little or the light could very easily be bumped on with very light pressure on the push button. The rotating on/off tail cap is one of the few constant sources of complaints against the Surefire lights. The Maxfire is constant on by pushing the click tail button all the way in until click. Pushing it in to click again turns it off. Push it in just a little bit and you get the momentary on. Momentary on takes some effort but no where near what it takes for the click on/off. In all it adds up to a very positive switching system where you will always get your flashlight to do what you expect it to do, no surprises. With the Surefire, there is the possibility you could push the switch and get no light because the tail cap was unscrewed too far. I personally greatly prefer the Maxfire switch system. If the Maxfire is a 10 the Surefire would at most be a 7. I don’t see any way the Maxfire switch could be any better as long as it proves to be durable. Exercising my thumb way past the point where I wanted to stop (over 100 clicks) the Maxfire switch appeared to be as good as the first click so I don’t expect durability of the switch to be an issue.
Click tailcap of the Maxfire LX (left) and the twist tailcap of the E2e (right).
Size, Weight and Feel
Maxfire E2e
Length 5 ½” 4 ¾”
Width (at Bezel) 1 5/16 1”
Weight (w/ Batt) 3.5 oz 3.1 oz
The E2e feels and looks much smaller than the Maxfire compared side by side. The E2e would be easier to carry (especially with the included belt clip) while the Maxfire was a much better fit in my hand. Based on size, weight and feel, for a light clipped to the belt, pocket, vest or some other article of clothing, I would prefer the smaller/lighter feeling E2e. For a light on the nightstand, in the carry bag or dropped in the glove box, the larger Maxfire would get the nod.
Brinkmann Maxfire LX (top) and Surefire E2e (middle) compared with the common 2 AA Mini-Maglite (bottom).
Durability
Although it pained me to do so I determined to subject both lights to a drop test of sorts.
Both lights were switched on and dropped bezel first from a height of about 5 feet onto a carpeted floor at 10 seconds, 30 second and 1 minute of illumination. Also both lights were illuminated for 10 seconds and dropped, again bezel first, from a height of 2 feet and then again at 3 feet onto a concrete sidewalk. Both bulbs were apparently undamaged from all 5 drops. The E2e picked up a few dings on the bezel from 3 ft to the concrete while the finish of the Maxfire remained perfect.
Price
The Brinkmann Maxfire LX on sale is $16.99 and regularly priced at $19.99. The Surefire E2e sells for $75.00 to $95.00 off the Surefire web site and they usually aren’t found discounted much at resellers.
Bottom Line
Although I believe the Surefire E2e worthy of the steep asking price given its quality of construction, performance and reputation, the Brinkmann Maxfire LX appears to be an incredible bargain (~20% the price of the E2e) offering performance rivaling the much more expensive light while also offering a very acceptable quality level. Based on my initial experience with the Maxfire, I enthusiastically recommend it and plan on buying any which may be remaining at Target later this week.
In all fairness to Surefire, a more appropriate test would have compared the Maxfire to the G2 Nitrolon, Surefire’s polymer made, 6 volt light bargain priced at $34.00. I will probably pick up a G2 in the coming months to add to the comparison.
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