Fenix accompanied the racers in the 2011 Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race

Seeing 14 teams from all corners of the world, the dramatic and challenging 2011 Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race kicked off in March, 2011. In the race, Fenix products have accompanied the racers in discovering and exploring one of the most untouched and isolated places in the world in the unpredictable weather. The racers have spoken highly of Fenix products when illuminating the great adventure.

Ultimate Gear Test: Patagonian Race

March 07, 2011
This column is part of a series of gear reviews based on tests in the 2011 Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race, a weeklong competitive event in southern Chile. The race stretched 300+ miles and included trekking, kayaking, climbing, mountain biking, and wilderness navigation. Team GearJunkie.com took second place.

By JASON MAGNESS
On most any trip in the outdoors, taking the right gear means increased comfort and joy - and choosing poorly leads only to being a bit more uncomfortable than necessary. But in some instances, gear can stand between success and failure, and occasionally that "failure" means even more than turning back from a summit early or not finishing a competitive event. In the most extreme scenarios, the wrong gear can result in pain, injury, expensive rescue, or even death. The Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race never quite reached that outer limit, but my team did ultimately depend on our gear for survival in one of the harshest and most remote environments in the world. It was a crazy race. Below is a compilation of some of the best and worst equipment we took along for the ride.

Player's review of Fenix PD31 Flashlight:

This indestructible waterproof torch boasts a high beam of over 300 lumens and a burn time of nearly two hours (on a pair of CR123A batteries). The PD31 was critical during the night navigation sections, especially when descending steep mountain passes and canyons. The beam range allowed us to distinguish far-off features and find possible fording points for the many rivers we crossed during the midnight hours. It costs about $75 and is worth every cent.

Fenix PD31:2010 special edition

Fenix PD31 is a compact outdoor flashlight that features a wide applicable range. Offering four brightness levels and two types of flashing mode, it perfectly combines various brightness levels and runtime. Powered by frost-resistant CR123A Lithium batteries or high capacity 18650 Li-ion batteries, the light and convenient PD31 also performs wonderfully in frigid conditions.

With Fenix advanced technology to keep constant brightness and waterproofing to IPX-8 Standard, PD31 is the best solution for your outdoor illumination or emergency use.

• Cree XP-G LED (R5) with a lifespan of 50,000 hours
• Uses two 3V CR123A batteries (Lithium)
• 120mm (Length) x24 mm (Diameter)
• the inner diameter of the tube is 18.8mm
• 64.4-gram weight (excluding batteries)
• Reverse polarity protection, to protect from improper battery installation
• Tail cap switch
• Capable of standing up securely on a flat surface to serve as a candle
• Made of durable aircraft-grade aluminum
• Premium Type III hard-anodized anti-abrasive finish

Notice: The above-mentioned parameters (tested in lab using quality CR123A primary lithium batteries) are approximate and may vary between flashlights, batteries, and environments.