I pretty certain everyone here "likes" flashlights. And I'm most sure that everyone here uses them for whatever.
What I don't know is, why are you a flashaholic?
It is an involuntary addiction, a sickness. I did not choose to be one.
they made me do it.
No seriously, they did.
But I don't mind :).
I just got a flashlight in my car, my bag and wear one in my jeans. It might get dark here sometimes, always usefull to have a light with you! To find the keyhole or check for animals (we got some foxes and hedgehogs around here, cute but dangerous), pets (why did they invent a lease for a dog?! people just let them walk all around the block) and eventually I'll put it on my bike since I need a light for that too :P.
I'm not a flashaholic but every once in a while a gadget catches my attention and becomes a hobby for a while. Just under 2 months ago I was blissfully happy thinking that my old 3 D cell maglight was a great light. Then someone showed me a Surefire Backup E1B and I couldn't believe how much light was coming out of something so tiny. So I investigated on the internet and found that I was way behind the times with my ancient crappy maglight and thus began my interest in getting some new lights. I've since acquired some of the costco tactical lights, a nebo redline, a Fenix 05, an ITP A1, and a trustfire Z5. Now I have a UF-2100 on the way. I figure 2 or 3 more lights, a couple of batteries, and a charger and I'll be set for a while.
The fact of the matter is that I have little practical use for all of these lights other than a keychain light and maybe one or two for around the house. I live in a densely populated city and there is all kinds of lighting and light pollution around me so other than for walking the dog and the occasional camping trip or hike out in the everglades, a decent keychain light is all I really "need". On the other hand, I also live in hurricane alley (Miami) and it will be nice to have several flashlights during storms and when the power goes out.
Anyway, for me it's just the appeal of a cool gadget that recently caught my attention and now I'm trying to update my old lights to some decent current technology.
I am not a flashaholic, I can stop whenever I want! :-)
When i went to the mall when I was young with my parents I always seemed to return with a cheap plastic flashlight instead of candy, salts,... When i enter a store now i always go watch flashlights first although i know these real cheap plastic ones just want satisfy me anymore, but it is nostalgia i guess :d. I just seem to be good in having strange hobbies, I for exemple also collect lighters but only if I find them (went to a festival this summer and came back with 40 of them that i found on the ground)
I actually know exactly what kicked off my quest for nice and bright flashlights. But first the preface that probably better explains the why (or how) instead of the when.
For years I would end up getting my dad some flashlight contraption for Christmas every year, although they were always cheasy and I think they were always found at Costco, haha. But they had a purpose (one was an emergency style light you kept plugged into the wall and it turns on when power goes out, another was the Stanley tripod set - nifty concept but rather gimmicky and not very bright).
But I actually know the very moment that started my journey into discovering and acquiring real LED flashlights. As silly as it may sound it was a random YouTube video that was linked on my Engadget news links on my homepage. It was about the DIY $100 flashlight for $10 or something like that. You know, take a cheap Eveready flashlight and replace the batteries and bulb. Then it just took off from there. And that wasn't even an LED mod! haha
Why? Men do all sorts of things to make progress. Women asks why?
Lennart
No you won't, my friend, no you won't....
lol....you may have a point. Unfortunately my finances can't really support another addiction. I already spend waaaay too much money on guitars and amps and related accessories.
I have a generic 50 lumen cree light now and a KD C8 that i consider as more serious lights, although the 50 lumen is not really impressive anymore next to the KD C8 :d. Have a DRY NW too but no replacement battery carrier yet to power it up so for a week now i have been able to admire the body but not the light :d. I really hope testing the revised but apparently still not working original carrier didn't damage the light. If it works (and it should or it's a financial disaster :)) I'll order me a new driver with turbo (DD) mode for the DRY. Then i should be satisfied for a while!
Thats what I tell my wife
No kidding, this forum just feeds the addiction...
Used to be in the Army back in the day and at that time i thought the Mag was king....lol.....would use it to patrol the area's we were assigned to, then i became a ghosthunter and i think my very first light was a 2D with led drop in. I did a search and cpf came up and so i joined there and was awed, by how many collected and bought them just for the heck of it.
It started for me as a kid. We went camping and I needed flashlights for that, plus I always helped my dad work on cars and I was often the "flashlight holder" for him. Up until around 5 or 6 years ago I didn't even really know how much flashlights had advanced. But an internet search got me going and I was hooked. Here's a sticker I have on my truck...
Dude i want one......start selling those for 50cents and i am sure all of us here would get one.
I got it from another flashlight forum a few years ago. Don't even remember if the forum gave them out or if a member did. Sorry.
Its okay......need to get a printer and sticker sheets.
"No kidding, this forum just feeds the addiction..." trooplewis
You want to know why I stayed away for so long? I get a mini anxiety attack just before clicking the BLF shortcut on my browser quite often because I know what is going to happen. What I'm feeling right now about that damn L2T (and the M6, M8, blah, blah, blah . . .) is just stupid, really.
I'm not sure what it is about a flashlight but like troop said, I absolutely did not choose this. It's not just a cute coincidence either, that I happen to have a picture of me with a Rayovac Sportsman in my hands at three years of age.
itsnotjustanavatarFoy
It's a disease. I was away from buying for 2 moths and suddenly when i let myself to spend up to 25usd i managed to do 90 in 2 days. :/
Bought emitters, tir optics, and a few double flashlights.