You enter a room. On the floor, remnants of a broken-down door and shards of glass. From the back rooms come sounds of violence. A situation straight out of an action movie. Yet it's reality for the many people who protect their family during a violent break-in, or for a regular shift of thousands of police officers.
Whatever the reason you might find yourself in a similar situation, tactical advantage can form the thin line between success and failure, between life and death. It can take the form of good situational awareness, a clearly marked target, or neutralizing an attacker without the need to fire a shot. All these aspects can be found in a small package from the popular and proven brand Fenix. Today we're introducing the GL22 weapon light.
,, The world is a dangerous place. Not because of the people who are evil, but because of the good people who look on and do nothing. ,, Albert Einstein
GL22 in numbers
Let's first look at the light from a technical standpoint. The body is made of aircraft-grade aluminum (A6061-T6) with a Hard Anodized Type III surface finish. Weight including the battery is 94 g. I can barely feel it on the weapon, and it doesn't affect the ergonomics or the balance point. Light has a safeguard for experts like me, as it features reverse battery protection.
Technical specifications:
- Light: Luminus SST-20 - white light
- Modes: 4 (light, laser, laser+light, strobe)
- Water resistance: IP66 (strong water jets)
- Overheat protection: yes
- Impact resistance: up to 1 m
- USB: micro USB
- Mode memory: yes
- Dimensions: Length 6.7 cm, Height 4.2 cm, Width 3.1 cm
Output and runtime:
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Output lm:
- 750 lm (li-ion battery ARB-L16-700UP at full charge) - 8000 candela
- 500 lm (single-use li-ion battery CR123A at full charge) - 5000 candela
- Red laser 5 mW (640-660 nm)
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Runtime:
- Laser - 17 hours (ARB-L16-700UP) / 24 hours (li-ion CR123A)
- Light - 35 min. (ARB-L16-700UP) / 1 hour (li-ion CR123A)
- Light + laser - 33 min. (ARB-L16-700UP) / 57 min. (li-ion CR123A)
Beam distance:
- 180 m (li-ion battery ARB-L16-700UP at full charge)
- 140 m (single-use li-ion battery CR123A at full charge)
As the values suggest, there is a difference in output depending on the chosen power source. With the Fenix battery ARB you achieve higher output and beam distance, with the single-use li-ion CR123A on the other hand, greater runtime. This can be taken as both positive and negative. If you need intense light over a longer distance for a short time, the ARB is more suitable. If a lower output over a shorter distance for a longer time is enough, the CR123A.
is more suitable. Generally, it's not a problem to carry a spare battery in your EDC. I carry one for every light I keep with me. After all, a 700 mA battery takes up minimum space, and I don't like leaving things to chance.
In the package, besides the light itself, you will find the ARB-L16-700UP battery, a micro USB cable, an Allen key for adjusting the laser, a mounting plate for Picatinny, and a mounting plate for Glock.
See the target, hit the target…
Table figures are one thing, real-world use is another. Let's take a look at the GL22 in practice.
Durable …
Building products around durability was a good move by Fenix. Personally, I prefer nylon, so I don't dwell much on this aspect. However, kydex fans are well familiar with abrasion issues. The Hard anodized III surface treatment is therefore more than fitting. Similarly great is the choice of duralumin as the base material, and not just for its lower weight.
Impacts are a common occurrence in defensive and tactical shooting. Getting into an unusual shooting position on the ground or in a tight space is also a common situation.
All it takes is slippery gravel, debris, or a chaotic moment combined with stress. IPSC shooters or graduates of defensive shooting courses could write books about it. I appreciate the IP66 waterproof rating. The GL22 can handle heavy rain. It's therefore ideal for urban or agricultural environments, which are exactly the places I move around in most often.
This isn't a light for special units wading chest-deep through a swamp. However, heavy rain or thick morning fog is something most of us encounter regularly.
Handling and setup…
Mounting the GL is nothing complicated. It attaches to the rail via a mounting plate specific to the mount type and is tightened with a massive screw on the left side. The screw secures the elongated rail and firmly fixes the light to the frame. All mounting procedures and adjustments are simple and intuitive. You can handle them without any manual.
As I mentioned, the light simply slides onto the rail and is tightened with a screw. A small flathead screwdriver or a 1 or 2 cent coin is enough. One slot is widened so the light can be tightened/loosened this way even without tools. I use this method most often outside the house. The mounting plate can be handled with a small Phillips screwdriver or the tip of a knife, and the laser comes with an included Allen key.
You adjust the laser by simply turning two points with the Allen key. They're graphically marked as L/R (Left/Right) and U/D (Up/Down). I've gotten used to shooting through trigger reset. With this shooting style, I zeroed the laser for defensive shooting purposes even without fixing the weapon to a shooting rest. When it goes out of adjustment, I can fix it within a few seconds.
Light and laser…
You switch between light/laser modes using the levers at the back. Hold one and click through the other to switch modes. A short hold of one activates the strobe. The light remembers the last selected mode except for the strobe. When you remove the battery, it resets to light-only mode.
I like lights with a strobe function. That's why I also have the TK16 V2.0 as a handheld flashlight. They offer the ability to neutralize an attacker without having to escalate violence. One of the main things a shooter must master is not only the effective use of their weapon, but especially how to avoid using it and resolve a situation in a less drastic way. Ideally without the use of physical force.
Two-Sided Control
The levers are ambidextrous for both left- and right-handed users. For a right-handed user, they are operated with the thumb of the left hand and the trigger finger of the right hand. With the light, I therefore don't need to change my grip on the weapon and can continue aiming at the target. I would also accept a model with a green laser. Lasers are made more visible by effects like fog or smoke, and green is less pronounced. It would be more suitable for security forces. A laser, like a light, clearly marks the target but also the shooter. That's why, whenever possible, I choose to use light and strobe only at the last moment, so as not to lose the element of surprise. The GL22 is primarily intended for handguns. From personal experience, however, I know it has also proven itself well for PDW types like the Vz.61 after "tuning" or the Roni G1 carbine conversion.
„In 10 years, no one will remember the details about caliber, distance, or tactics… they will only remember who stayed alive“, USMC motto (United States Marine Corps)
Conclusion
A reliable companion found
I was looking for a reliable accessory for my black companion for the worst moments, and I found it. The GL22 fulfilled everything I expected from it – simplicity, reliability, and solid performance. Not only did it give me the opportunity to increase the protection of my family, but it also helped improve my shooting habits. And all of that at a reasonable price.
After the flashlight TK16 V2.0 and the headlamp HM51R 2.0, another sibling has joined the family at home, one that does a good name to the Fenix family. At the moment, we have a total of 7 helpers from Fenix at home, not counting the batteries. But the number certainly won't be final.
Fenix light – Quality first
We already presented Fenix products in more detail in reviews of the TK16 V2.0 tactical flashlight. Fenix products are loyal companions for millions of people around the world. Whether you're conquering mountain peaks, exploring flooded caves in diving gear, fighting crime on the streets, or simply enjoying a starry sky on a trip with friends. Fenix knows what you'll need for success and has the right model for it.
Fenix takes high quality as a standard. That's why their products widely feature aviation aluminum, reverse battery installation protection, high water resistance, and thermal fuses against overheating. And all at affordable prices.
