Fenix:CL05 “Liplight” Mini Lantern – Review

I am guessing that the Fenix CLO5 “Liplight” got its name from the fact that it looks something like a lipstick…

Measuring approx 3″ x 3/4″ diam and weighing about 3.2oz, this little light comes with a heavyweight performance. Built into its diminutive body are 7 different output functions for lighting and signaling and all have good run times and output from a single battery.

The default setting which always comes on first when you switch the “Liplight” on is “Moonlight” which gives 0.8 lumens and will last approx 40 hours, then a simple twist back and forth of the clear casing cycles the light to “High” – 8 lumens and up to 4 hours burn time. Cycle again and you get Red – 2 lumens of up to 11 hours use, Red Flash of 2 lumens and 22 hours duration, Green, 5 lumens of 10.5 hours maximum duration, Green Flash, 5 lumens of 21 hours and, finally, a White SOS signal of 8 lumens.

Actual “burn times” if you mix and match functions will, naturally enough, vary affecting how long a battery lasts. The maximum beam distance of the Liplight is approx 11.15 feet (3.4 meters), the light is waterproof to just over 6 feet (2 metres) and impact resistant to 3 feet.

The CLO5 Liplight comes with one AAA battery, a spare O-ring and a key chain, and is available in Blue or Purple.

I have found the Liplight ideal as a “mini lantern” under my tarp, as a position marker (so I do not miss my pitch in the woods after a midnight stroll…) and as a torch for short strolls. The clip allows it to be attached to the inside loops of my tarp or another spot where general illumination is wanted, and the light is ample for bedtime reading. Neither the Red or Green lights seem to affect my night vision and, in emergencies, I am sure that the various flashing modes will prove very useful. Everyone who has seen my test sample Liplight has been very impressed.

The only disappointment with the light has been in the color choice – Blue or Purple. I would much prefer a simple black or high vis orange.

The Fenix CLO5 “Liplight” is light, compact, versatile, efficient and (despite its color) will certainly be a part of my essential bushcrafting kit.

Costing only around $20, the Fenix CLO5 “Liplight” is, I think, going to be much appreciated by many outdoor enthusiasts.

Thanks to John Fenna of Bushcraft UK Source@ Bushcraftuk.com

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