If you give a NON flashaholic a light which UI would you prefer.

FIL for the win.

Boruit D-10 . King of the budget headlamps ... just like a old lumintop AAA Tool starts on a medium mode .

You're right in saying people want light right now .. but all muggle mode type lights are actively turning them down for them . So muggle start in med mode has to be a perfect answer .

Like every idiot here I hated the thought of a med low high mode order but after using it for years it makes perfect sense and like putting the toilet seat down .. after you get trained . It actually makes sense .

flu===sh

…until you get blinded in the middle of the night when you grab one that starts on M and not L (or F).

That’s why the only 2 I grab for at night are the ones with lit sideswitches, the GTmicro (level 1 for F) or the SC31pro (ditto), as I know press’n’hold starts at firefly levels.

If I grab the Xeno, even in WW, it’s “Aaaaaah! Bright lights! Bright lights!”. Forget about going back to sleep after a blast of that…

Father in law knows best. On and off are the only modes non-flashlight nerds want or need. The AAA Mini Mag LED and the Mag ML25 twistys are pretty simple and easy to use.

Again for Muggles all they want from a light is light . anything more is simply confusing . So you can start on a mode thats low and make them mad because it produces no light .. or a mode that has too much light and gets hot .. or you can screw with the high so it's no longer a high and try selling that magic . The d10 is a perfect example . you know what it's gonna do if you're a flash head . if your a muggle it gives what you'd expect or need .. If you're a flashamatic ya oughta know what the lights gonna do when you go click .

The bathroom light is a motion detection light . it's one of the best lights I own considering how much work it actually does vs those 800 sitting on shelves all competing for shelf queen glory .

The Miuja ? 4AA motion lights we bought on sale for like 8 bucks rock .. I have two and I wish I had 17.

the e03 xeno even on a AA has no low . it's a great host remarkable design and reallyreally BAD with a 14500 because now the low ..ain't low ..no mo .

I used a AAA tool Nichia as an EDC for years and M/L/H is perfect because 20-30 lumens of hi cri is damn delicious .(when you need a little light)..and if you know you want low you can click on and half click quicker than the time it takes for the electrons to begin to move ..It just takes talent

the 2xAAA nichia 219B smooth head off the iyp365 put onto a regular tool is the simplest answer to getting a real sub lumen low too .. not to mention the light feels better too .. looks better, feels better ,works better .

Slickest trick in the book .

Right .. So you make one that turns on in a mode that a moron can't hurt themselves or anyone else with >> medium, and you don't totally hamstring a light for everyone else with their faculties . Something for grandpa to grow into after he's used the light for a year or more . That way it's a tool that actually works .. Not just a junker light . other people with their wits ca actually appreciate the extra modes . High first seems right but ...Why either let it get hot ... or make high at a level it doesn't .. both thoughts are flawed .

Wellp, the original (non-pro, non-B) SC31 was exactly that. High was 500lm and dropped down to 300lm or so after a few min. It was almost the definition of a gramma light. Couldn’t hurt yourself setting your pants or purse on fire if it accidentally got bumped on.

But I’m not sure if it sold all that well, being elbowed out by 9999999000lm “tactical” lights. Damned shame, ’cause it was almost perfect for The Muggle.

The ’pro is now 2000lm? Ouch. Gramma would set her house on fire.

Some one who is “ a brilliant and capable man. A professor of psychology, award winning ball player, and a capable handy man (runs tractors, chain saws, you name it)”

doesn’t sound like a moron, or someone who doesn’t have their wits about them to me. I have had similar experiences with smart and capable people who are not into flashlights that just don’t want to fool with modes - for them simple utility is best.

Well, if we are REALLY seriously talking about non-flashies, then certainly any Dollar Store 35-lumen “9-led flashlight” in cheesy colors and a packet of 10 for $2.99 would do. If we are talking about having a nice work light for someone who wants a light that can be used, with that someone wanting something better than a storebought light, then it’s as I said. ^

High with no memory for me.

But if I get to choose I’d go no memory default medium 500lm default with “hidden” double tap to turbo. A little like Surefire

if i`m lending it and going to get it back before the battery needs charging then the Convoy M3 is good, 4 power levels and Off. if I`m gifting then I use old school flashlights (basic On/Off) modded with a protected 18650 and tripple led emitter, I ALWAYS supply them with a charger as well, and have a quick chat just so they understand what to do (it`s not rocket science) my 71 yr old mom picked it up pretty easy :slight_smile:

I tend to agree with that, but that doesn’t rule out something extra.
Ideal would be, say, a 400lm light. That’s brighter than most ever seen or need.
No memory and it just always turns on at that level.
Unless they enter a hidden mode like long press for moonlight/turbo.
That way they have a simple on/off light with the potential of something extra.

NON flashaholics come in three flavors: (pre)adults, (small)children and senior citizens.

- If your question is about the first group, it’s just a matter of logic or preference.

- Don’t get me started about the middle group. Some can only poop, others can operate any flashlight.
My 3yr old neighbour kid instructs his mother how to install the kiddy-seat.
If his tiny hands were any bigger, he would do it himself. Silent type, boardroom or supermax material
Gave him a multi-mode flashlight on his 4th birthday. No need to tell him about hidden modes or so.

- Last group, and it’s getting bigger very day. A much heard slogan is: 60 is the new 40.
There are two groups of retired folks: those who finally do the things they always wanted.
And those who buy a big chair to watch the world go by. Behind a window or in front of a TV.

My late father started out in the first group, on a ladder, painting his house at the age of 75.
But like Robin Williams he was cought up by Lewy Body dementia.
It was quite a struggle to provide him with things that could made him live on in his own house
(losely monitore by friends and neighbours) until it was time to move him into a safe environment.

With that said, if you’re thinking about the last group, there’s only one thing I can recommend:
KEEP IT AS SIMPLE AS YOU CAN, so I second the advice of TexasToasted in post #10.
My (4*AA) SWM M40A comes very close to that, but it has a (lame) strobe that should be removed.

Bit of a ridiculous poll with only 2 choices. Essentially you have already chosen your own answer, all you are really asking is should it have memory or start in high - the 3 mode is the same on both.
Most people and I mean 99%+ of flash light users simply have on or off and are more than happy with that.
Most wouldn’t even realise it had 3 modes let alone memory or how to change modes.

People like us who fascinate about flashlights, tints, ui’s etc are essentially weirdos (me included lol), and a tiny tiny tiny spec of a minority.
So with that in mind none of your choices, certainly none with lithium batteries either.
Off/On (high) would be the best choice for the rest of the 99%+ of flash light users in the world, all they want is light to come out when they press the button, and wouldn’t want to fiddle through modes even if available.

I resemble that remark!

Me too lol! :confounded:

Since were on the subject of U/Is anybody can figure out (and the poll doesn’t list), ive always thought a button similar to the old ray-o-vacs , but with gradual brightness ramping the more you push it, would be super easy. Push down button and slide to turn on in low, slide further (or parhaps keep pushed forward for an electronic switch) for brightness ramping).

A rotaing ring is nice too.

As others have pointed out, you can’t lump all non-flash people into one pile. Click on and off, press and hold for cycling should be good for 99% of people with 10 seconds worth of instruction. Probably with memory and an external plug. Those 99% deserve a good flashlight. If you want to create something for that 1%, have at it. And let them deal with double A’s if that’s all they can be trusted with. And if you’re going to be giving somebody a flashlight then you can give them 10 seconds worth of instructions. Edit: you could still have press and hold from off for moonlight, and double click at any time for Turbo. If they never use those two features it doesn’t matter.

I’m not sure that’s true. It’s more like they prefer other things.
They have an opinion about the UI. On/off, no 50 click hidden settings.
The weird thing is that many people really know about tints. When buying a bulb for their home they may no speak about 3000, 4500, 6500K, but my experience is they know cool, warm and warmer lights. Or they even call it relaxing, romantic color. And many really take notice of those option and even go for the extra expensive ‘cozy color’.
Most people only see $3 flashlights at Shell :slight_smile:

Weirdows come is many tints…. :slight_smile:
Many here are lumen-weirdos. I’m a compact/simple/UI/runtime weirdo :slight_smile:
But before I discovered this forum I was a all flashlights are the same weirdo :slight_smile:

I use a v11r to lend out as Muggle light.

Not an option in the poll, but mid-low-hi without memory is also good for muggles.

Always works if they just want light. If they take the effort to get to know mode switching they can set the light to a nice low level and if they go pro they might even reach the high mode.