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Gotta say several times per day.... every time I go thru modes :bigsmile:
Other than that, NEVER!!!
I've never used the airbags on my car nor the fire extinguisher that I keep in my kitchen but its nice to know they are there if I do need them. Equally, I guess most folks have never used and will never use SOS but..........................
As I see it what needs to be devised is a way that the blinking modes on all lights need a special click sequence to activate them, meaning that they are only there when you genuinely need them.
+1 
Indeed.
Actually i feel a little embarassed by cycling through when showing a flashlight.
I never use the disco modes ever. Unfortunately my Ultrafire 3T6 and Fenix LD20 forces you to cycle through them when changing modes.
I use my strobe mode on a regular basis. Mostly just messing with people but sometimes I have a “legitimate” use for it. I actually stopped carrying my Spark SL6 as my EDC because it doesn’t have strobe. My new 4Sevens QuarkX 1232 on a 17670 is just as bright as the spark on high (the default mode without double clicking to go in to turbo), uses a linear driver for no PWM, has better low modes and has a strobe mode that doesn’t force me to cycle through it to get to the other modes but I can still access it quickly if needed.
I haven't really used strobe, but I agree with KLow. You shouldn't have to cycle through it regularly and, more importantly IMO, when you need it (like to get somebody's attention in an emergency situation) you should be able to switch to it QUICKLY. For both reasons, a second button for the strobe feature is beneficial.
I notice that's your first post, ballard, so welcome to BLF...
I always figure if I have a hand with which to cover the light I always have an SOS mode.
You do - Provided that you can remain conscious, which is by no means a given if you are needing to signal desperately for help. A light in SOS mode will continue to call for help even after you have passed out.
Good point V, I hope I'll never need that.
Absolutely needing SOS mode seems like a one in a million chance. Even if it were neeeded, one might likely be able to find a way, like Hbomb's suggestion. The SOS mode getting in the way of every day function, however, is a much more common occurence. To me, the having the SOS and strobe functions is like carrying a fire extinguisher around "just in case". You're probably never going to use it, ever. If I'm hiking at night or something, then yeah, maybe, but it's still not essential. But most of the time it's just not needed. Working close up under the hood, then accidentally switching to bright strobe kinda sucks.
It's hard to realistically envision the scenario where no one sees you in the first place, you turn on strobe and then pass out and then they find you. They would either find you anyway if there are people around and you are passed out or if there are no people around a blinking flashlight isn't going to go far enough or be oriented to bring people to you.
I try to avoid disco-moded lights and yes, LOW PWM frequency counts as a disco mode in this case :|
Hi...I'm r1derbike, and I hide my disco modes.
I put the light to my shirt when cycling through the disco modes. The general public doesn't need to know I buy flashlights with included disco modes.
It depends on purpose. We can argue about the likelihood of being rescued in a safety situation because of strobe/SOS over a regular light, but when it comes down to it any percentage helps. SOS is known as a call for help to every man, woman and child in every country I know of. If you need to alert people you are injured, there is no better way to do so. No one will be using it by mistake (like people do with three lights making a triangle int he sky), and no one will fail to recognize what it means. Likewise, (and I could be wrong about this) I believe strobe lights have higher visibility over long distances and/or certain visibilility conditions.
The unlikely aspect of it has more to do with location. If you are lost in the woods for instance the light isn't going to travel far because it will be blocked. If you are stranded on a deserted island or on a boat it may be a bit more useful. Even so a regular flashlight can be made to signal as help comes to your area.
I used a fast strobe on a fox last week,just to see reaction.There wasn't any.
I am a strobe hater .
There , I said it .