Why do you collect or enjoy flashlights?

I got into flashlights because I'm into camping, survival and tools for Every Day Carry (EDC). Similar to packing water, a multi tool, or a first aid kit, a source of light is an essential survival tool.

I didn't set out to 'collect flashlights'. But I've started to accumulate a few different flashlights because of buying various lights trying to find the right one that fits my needs. I give away the ones I don't use, to family and friends.

I was given a LED light 10 years ago as a gift. It was pretty nice. Years later I read about how much they've improved. LED emitters are so much brighter and more energy efficient now. So I bought a couple lights on DX that were well reviewed.

From there I've started looking at other lighting gear for camping. Like LED lanterns, head lamps, angle head lights, and glow tubes.

My main challenge is finding lights with the longest run time, low power mode, and most efficient use of power. All this of course at a budget price point.

I use my lights for my outdoor adventures like Hiking, climbing and camping.

As a kid, only have a plastic flashlight given to me by an uncle as I could not affor expensive ones. A maglite has been my dream light as my older brother describe to me the power of a Mini mag AA after camping in boyscout.

Flashlights has its usage so collecting them was already justified for me.

First off they are great tools to have and it always nice to be the “hero” when it is dark. Secondly BLF shows you an inexpensive alternative to high dollar lights. I have had to put additional firearms and photoequpiment on hold due to finical strain. I still need something to do and I like good flashlight so here I am.

I love that this forum shows you how to get a quality light for little money and also this can be a budget hobby if you keep it within reason. :)

Everything I have gets used on a regular basis or it's sold or given away. Knives, tools, MTs, lights. Keeps the collection from getting... unwieldy.

... Never would have seen them being linked hobbies, but I too am into both. Just a couple of old Gillette adjustable DE for now (a like new example of the one on the bottom right in jacktheclipper's pic above) but a nice Merkur is definitely a future purchase for me.

Got into flashlights ages ago as a kid, saved my allowance and bought a 5D grey plastic incan from radio shack. Discovered maglites, went from mini's to D's. Drooled over cop friends streamlights and surefires but never had the cash. A friend told me about DX and surfing through that site discovered that LED flashlights were more than just pathetic little 5mm diodes. My paypal was put to work and I was hooked. Lurking here and at CPF I kept reading and learning and started a little bit of modding (swapping in an R2 into a 3xaaa with a 3 mode driver) and then moving onto an SST90 on a copper heatsink in a 4D mag driven at 10amps.

Trying to decide what to do next, maybe 3xXML in another Mag or maybe an HID or ??? Either way it is great fun to turn night into day and surprise the hell out of people not used to high power lights when you click it on.

my obsession enjoyment of flashlights is ingrained in my youth..I still remember grabbing that crappy 2 D cell plastic thing that my parents called a flashlight and going into the bush exploring..these days I still find great satisfaction in lighting up the dark..greatest thing ever as far as i'm concerned..

When my father asked me, "Why do you collect lights?", my answer was, "Why not?"

It's not as if my entire expenditure on lights/batteries/chargers/holsters/accessories/light meters/other stuff I can't remember just now would cost as much as he spends on changing his car every couple of years. Me I hate travel, but enjoy arriving enough to put up with it most of the time - I drove less than 6000km last year. And flew less than 2000km. And walked farther than I flew.

One definition of a nerd/geek is someone who spent more on his computer than his car. I own at least 3 computers that cost more than my car. And my light (and accessories) collection cost a lot more than my car. In fact probably cost more than my last 3 cars combined. And all the motorcycles i have ever bought.

But this time of year we don't get much darkness. Sunrise today was around 4am and sunset will be around ten minutes from now. It will not actually get as dark as it was around noon (When it rained - again!) till around midnight. It will be light enough to get around easily at about 3am.

That said, yesterday I had 4 XM-L lights at full output lit in my already brightly lit office. Not because I wanted or needed the extra illumination, but because I wanted to run a bunch of cells down so I could test my new charger.

With each new purchase, Theres the excitement of receiving it, but then another one has features that look useful, and then the mass research begins again! in an effort to justify the next one.. Putting the appreciation of the engineering and some functionality aside, It must be said that there's also some fun in the chase.

I was thinking of this as a new thread, but did a search and found the question had already been asked, so here it is resurrected.

I like a lot of the answers above. The primordial fear of the dark, the power of light, things we had as kids and try to fill a perceived lack from then.

Something more though. they are really cool tech now. Not just plain simple battery tubes with a bulb and switch anymore. That design filled a basic need, but today’s lights are far beyond what most people require or can really use.

To me, they are useful, look cool, feel good to use, and work on mysterious electronic principles to coax amazing amounts of light out of small cells and tiny diodes in ways that not many years ago I could not have imagined possible outside of science fiction movies. How can I not love that? I admit it, I’m a tech junkie. Lights just happen to be cool and very useful items too.

Now, when is the new TrustFire Phaser due out? No that it matters, I’m sure it would be banned in Australia anyway :frowning:

I am clueless. Also mad at myself for having this addiction. I’m way too level headed and logical so it makes no sense. I had 3 lights around the apt before I started and that was PLENTY sufficient. It started buying a Xeno EO3. After buying 3 lights I said that’s enuf! I now have about 22 and just bought an EagleTac D25C Titanium for $65. It’s my most expensive light. It’s just ‘another’ light, that’s all it is. It’s dumb. I’m dumb. I should be above any addiction. Revealing your feeling is the beginning of healing it’s been said……

no mas!

Nobody has given you a true answer. The truth is and I will speak for all of us here if I may, we are all scared of the dark. That’s why we have so many flashlights. Kind of like Troy Landry says on Swamp People, “You here noises out here at nite, and you don’t even know what they are, and you don’t want to know what they are.” :bigsmile:

I like well built……things, can appreciate a reliable tool. You find a lot of stuff out there, some that is just better after you break it and fix it better than new. Knowing how something is made, and how to fix it, the need to tinker and perfect fuels the obsession. To make something your own, unique.

Its generally the same drive behind a lot of hobbies.

Why do some people do what they do? Sometimes to see what happens, Sometimes to see if they can, Sometimes just because they can.

Hell, browse youtube for a few hours. There is a guy on there flushing different items down the toliet and video taping it….whole box of cereal/other stuff…… I don’t know whats worse, that he films that, or that people watch it….

Ya, for me its something about having something powerful in your hand. I don’t just want a car, I want a FAST car! Same thing with my lights. Plus its the fun of taking things apart and modifying and making them better. I like the different cool designs and the different uses. Floody, throwy, and everything in between. Its just plain COOL!

Maybe it's about getting something new, made of metal that doesn't cost $500. Let's face it; hobbies are expensive and this one, even when confined to budget offerings, can vacuum a wallet quicker than an Oreck.

Still, I've found that by not spending my usual $6 to $10 a day eating out for lunch and/or breakfast, a person can amass an embarrassing large collection in a surprising amount of time.

My collection as of 9-22-11 . . .

1-30-12 . . .

and, 6-19-12.

I joined BLF 1-2-11 and by November, my modest collection totaled around 28. A year after joining BLF I had barely 50 lights. The last picture shows about 80 lights and I have less than 5 or 6 more scattered around the house/car.

Out of control? Yes.

But, would you rather have this or the warm, wonderful memory of McNuggets?

itsallaboutchoicesFoy

[quote=Foy]

Still, I’ve found that by not spending my usual $6 to $10 a day eating out&[/quot
itsallaboutchoicesFoy

Awesome collection, fastingforflashlightsfoy

Keith

"fastingforflashlightFoy"

Damn, why didn't I think of that?

awesomeFoy

I’m getting ready for 12/21/2012

I knew you would say that! A lotta times we use the ole “LMAO” when actually we are “chuckling” (LMCO*laughing my chuckling off*? nah). Well, I just woke up (3 AM) & this is the first thing I read & I am literally sitting here (half asleep) LMAO. I can see you (Foy) in my (half asleep or is that half awake? I don”t know) mind”s eye going “drats” I missed it. Now that i am awake (I think?) I must add that your avatar is “priceless” (I am assuming that is you?). It is perfect! Thanks (awesomeFoy) for the laugh. iI think I just set a new standard for butchering a post.

Keith (who don”t have no ass no mo)

It’s in the blood, lol.