My first thought reading this was that there's another forum that takes itself too seriously...
Anyway, this is mostly a hobby site. I have questions about the validity of "tactical" flashlight application, but that conversation gets political rather quickly for me so I'll avoid it here. You did seem a little condescending in your thread about lights to depend on with your life, which suggests you already had ideas going into the conversation and the answers didn't mesh well with them. I'd recommend that you can probably get the answers you're looking for if you're a lot more specific or technical with your questions. For example, you might post questions about lights with potted electronics, or lifetime warranties, or specifically suitable for weapon (handgun vs. long gun) mounting, or only using lithium primaries, or whatever aspects of flashlight design are already important to you. Such a broad question was bound to find broad interpretations and answers.
Hey! What about my Tactical Sunglasses? “Tactical” is right in the name. And the guy on teevee even said so!
I mean… they’re even polarised! That’s how I can see a blank screen turn into a Murrcan Eagle just by putting ’em on! If that ain’t tactical, I don’t know what is…
If you’ve ever seen James Bond then you should know that any tool can quickly become tactical with a few modifications… lol you thought the “modders” on BLF were simple flashlight modders did you?
You are totally wrong and you probably need more time to realize that there are a lot of different people with different concerns about life in general and flashlights in particular.
All I see here is a lot of diffrent people with their own opinions and tastes…and budget.
A few are machinists, electronicians, programmers, etc, and all this people can help you to turn your most crappy flashlight into a gem of reliabilty because the more reliable and durable flashlight in the world is not made by a happy few over-rated USA manufacturers but it’s the flashlight you can flash, reflash, improve, repair, swap/replace parts, etc.
If you are fine with sealed products from brands that will never share their knowledges, patented design, electronic scheme drivers, etc, again it’s fine but you are totally dependant of reputation that won’t avoid failures with time. With every brand there are models that are more reliable than others. Everything should be judged on a particular basis, case by case. Taking things for granted, for example a reputation, is just a way to reassure ourself, to be convinced that we have made the right choices.
You have a preconceived idea about this community and what a flashlight should look like and should be, it’s fine, but personnaly I don’t need a community to have the same ideas than me about life and flashlights. I don’t need people to validate my own tastes, opinions and concerns about life and flashlights.
Anyway…you appreciate flashlights from brands that I do not appreciate for my own particular reasons but who cares, you are welcome here.
Exactly. The beauty of BLF is that when/if someone has a question about something, whether it's a P60 drop-in or a MagLite conversion or potted weapon lights, even in-depth driver design or firmware programming, others help. Also, most at BLF are critical of the more expensive flashlights out there, and skeptical that something equal or better can't be made for cheaper.
As it’s been proven numerous times by our designers/programmers and the manufacturers willing to take up the designs. The Lumintop BLF GT (affordable ultra-thrower), Convoy L6 (budget-friendly XHP70 monster), Thorfire BLF Q8 (great cheap coke can blaster) and several others are excellent examples.
The feeling I get from this forum is that most of us are hobbyists. We enjoy playing with our lights, getting new lights, seeing what can be done with lights, and modding lights. There is a free-wheeling spirit of creativity here not present on any other flashlight forum. :sunglasses:
Most of us here on BLF don’t rely on our lights as tools for life or death situations. Our lights are toys, and we probably don’t even need them.
That said, the knowledge base on this forum is quite high. If you are seeking info on tank-like super-reliable, but possibly low-output professional lights, chances are someone here will know the answer to your question. But at the same time you might find more info on other forums that focus more on people who use their lights professionally in their jobs.
Yeah I’m more worried about not tripping on something while walking the dog or being able to find the breaker box in the dark than having a light that can survive an EMP. You could give me all the prepper gear in the world and I’d probably be screwed anyway in SHTF scenario.
Enablers; I only had a few until this forum; now, well, I’d have to go count them.
I don’t remember how I found this forum but I’m here now; never met a flashlight I didn’t like; be it $2 or $40.
I would never spend over $40 on a flashlight.
“I have realized this forum is not for people who need high quality (*1), tough built (*2), lower lumen (*3), lights to save their lives (*4), but lights that are fun and that are non tactical (*5).”
My comments:
*1: large numbers of popular flashlights discussed in BLF are of high quality
*2: Intelligent people don’t smack nails with flashlight, they usually use a hammer for the job
*3: If we can make brighter and more efficient flashlight why should we stays dim and inefficient?
*4: Sounds very much like a marketing slogan to me. Your flashlight don’t save lives, it’s the people who knows how to use their light properly do.
*5: Have fun while you can, life is short. What’s is this tactical term refers to? Most are just tacticool than tactical.
