Not usually, but I made an exception for my Maratac AAA twisties since I didn’t want to have to move just one light between my work pants, casual pants, and pajamas every day. Plus I had to have a copper one, and then a brass one….
oh
there would have to be a reason like cheapness
or maybe new FW release, anduril 2 maybe
i would not just pay full list price for a backup i do not currently need
Only a very few...ones that I really like and use (and want to keep using well into the future). To me, if it's a winner, I don't need to find the others at a discount or used, I just want to be sure I have them (and I don't usually get lights that are above the $60ish range anyway, so it's no big deal). After learning to swap parts and mod a little bit, it makes all of this easier, although having spares of emitters and drivers and rings and springs and such...cheaper and takes up little space, anyway. :)
For me, currently, it's only C8F, S2 variations, spare original Nicron N7 (those are neat...or were), and of course the venerable MiniMag AA which are never used anymore and rarely looked at (but they're like family). I wish I had gotten a second FW3A from the first batch but I've hesitated in buying another from later iterations of it. Many lights have been fun or interesting or useful but there's no way and no reason to get duplicates of those. I don't really buy or sell, either, so hoarding some models or collectibles doesn't interest me.
My grandfather slipped a tidbit of wisdom my way when I was a teenager but it didn't hit home until many years later:
"If you find something you really like, buy two, because it may not be there when you want another."
That has been so true for me more often than not.
I’m now currently at (gave some away) 18 D4V2, each different from all the others in a meaningful way. 11 titanium, 2 brass and 5 aluminum.
Each offers something the rest don’t, each one fantastic in its own way.
I also have 9 KR4, 6 titanium and 3 aluminum. Here I have some actual duplication with 4 titanium 2000k mules. They are such beautiful tail-standing mood-setters, multiple are sometimes needed for maximum effect.
There is bit more, but I’ll stop my text-wall here so nobody dies.
Depends a bit on what you consider to be multiple:
5*C8( +): XM-L2, Green Flat, 400nm UV, 365nm UV, SST-40
4*S2( +): XM-L2, White Flat, 400nm UV, 365nm UV
To me they are all special in their own unique way.
Too many times. :person_facepalming:
I want or “need” multiples of lights I like and use regularly, just to not be without one in case one breaks, gets lost, stolen, etc.
Too many lights that I tend to not use, whether because of the tint, the UI, some other quirk. You buy ’em to try ’em, and there’s that one shortcoming that knocks it out of everyday use.
Also, too many lights that are “too nice to get rid of”, but I find myself not using ’em. Eg, of C8s, GTminis, P30s, lights in the same general form-factor and function, do I really “need” all of them, or should I just settle on one and ditch the rest?
Then there are the improvements, eg, the original TO46R, then the same ’46R but with Nichias. So what do you do with the lower-CRI original? Or the whatever-model Nitecore that you get in the typische CW, but later score in a much nicer NW?
Frankly, I want to thin out the herd… bigtime… but I gotta confess I’m loathe to take a huge bath doing so, especially since most of them are not just shelf-queens but box-queens, ie, brandy-new in the box except for testing/trying. Most “used” lights go for, what?, half price? Not much distinction between well-carried and BNIB. That hurts y’know? 
Same here. Crappy 1B emitters in generic gray/black ano, but they make hella nice and cheap hosts to throw together something in a pinch. In fact, the complete lights were cheaper’n empty hosts.
I don’t usually buy multiples, but if I find a basic light that’d be good to give away or use as a host, I can’t resist buying a few.
If you came across say an FW3A for $20 , would you buy two? Or more? --> No
If you believed you found the best EDC, would you buy two or more? --> Yes, if I really love it and use it I take one for backup
If a light you love, is offered in multiple colors and multiple emitters, would you buy multiple units? Yes !! For the moment I don't have the same model with different colors which have the same emitters. Exceptions for some models in Brass, copper, etc. :)
Can I add a question ?
Do you have a battery in each of your flashlights ??
Personally I try, (and I recycle my vaping batteries in my FL, it helps) but when I see the collection of some here, sometimes I ask myself the question !
nbattery in every one model? YES. And of course 4 sets of of backups for my multiple 18650 lights (all paired), and try to keep 4-5 21700 backups and the same with 14500, 18350, and single 18650. I did the math once I think I have over $500 in damn batteries. I'm sure others can relate. I will add- I defitnely try and use all of my lights (my collection is not nearly as large as many peoples though). So I look at it as jot too crazy to have a battery in every light. I've read people here having 400+ or 200+ flashlights, and others with like 20 kr4's lol. If I had 200 flashlights I wouldn't have a battery in everyone because I know I wouldn't be using all of them that often. And I'm not judging, I'm sure some day unfortunately I will have 200 lights lol
Yes, batteries in each light. And a few spares, of course. For extension tubes.
I don’t want to start a search for one ore more batteries every time I need a light.
Lights in drawers, etc. are always physically locked-out.
Lights with bad or worn ano are stored with a plastic cap over their tail spring.
Yes batteries are a hell of a price with a growing collection.
I also have some reserves in stock.
I ask that because sometimes I wonder when I'm going to stop wanting to put a battery in each of my FL. Maybe never!
I was secretly hoping someone would say no to help :) But so good to know I'm not alone lol
I also have some reserves in stock.
I ask that because sometimes I wonder when I'm going to stop wanting to put a battery in each of my FL. Maybe never!
I was secretly hoping someone would say no to help :) But so good to know I'm not alone lol
Nope.
Only in lights I use regularly, and ironically, I use the ’micro pretty regularly.
Lights that go sight-unseen for months? Hell no.
Interesting that this question seems to be split down the middle.
Also surprised how few people would jump on an FW3A deal.
Yes, if I think the additional light(s) will add additional excitement to my life.
Two Niwalker MM15, one stock 2 x MT-G2, and the other in 2 x XHP70vn.
Two 47s MMU-X3, one stock 3 x XM-L2, and the other in 3 x XHP50.2vn.
Two Acebeam X65, 5 x XHP35vn, one for each hand.
Two Nightwatch NSX53 3 x 50.2, one stock, and one ultra screaming Vn boosted.
Two Imalent MS03vn 3 x 70.2.
Three stock Astrolux EC03 3 x 50.2.
Two Haikelite HK90 3 x 90.2, one stock and one Vn. One for each hand.
Two Mateminco MT90 Plus 90.2, one stock and one Astrolux branded Vn de-lens.
Four Lumintop FW21a Pro Vn; three are 3 x 50.2, and one is 3 x SBT90.2. Two of the 50.2 I bought to gave to friends, after spending much time explaining operation and safety.
Two BLF GT94 stock, one for each hand.
Lights that I would like to buy more additional multiples of, but have not yet: X45vn screaming boost to 25,000 lumens, D18 W2vn, Noctigon Meteor M43vn in various choice of emitters, P60 quad Vn in various choice of emitters, R90TS, MS18, D4V2vn in W2, and Astrolux FT02S.
I have never sold any of the 49 performance lights that I have bought. My older ones are more obsolete than my newer ones, but the older ones have more sentimental memories attached to them.
I have not bought any of the high dollar USA semi-custom lights, yet. All of my lights are standard aluminum body, for optimum balance of weigh and heat management. Copper is too heavy, and titanium is not in the same heat management class as aluminum.
I ceased buying ultra rock bottom budget lights when I discovered the existence of the Four-Sevens MMU-X3 in October 2014. The broad middle of the road price class of lights is where I am very happy, ranging from the practically free, smaller Emisar, Astrolux, Lumintop, Nightwatch, Noctigon and Mateminco; to the expensive but very large, ultra high performance Mateminco, Astrolux and Lumintop lights.
My lights: https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/9150/287
Yes
3 or more
Emissar D4
Lumintop EDC 18
Convoy S2
Sofirn C01 (everyone got one for Christmas last year….so started with @ 12 and had like 4? left over.
Sofirn D25s and SP40 headlamps.
less multiples of other lights. Have 2 houses, it’s rare I buy less than 2.
I have two FW3A, one is the OG batch with the XP-L Hi and the other is an SST-20.
I also have two of the same light under different names. The Thorfire TG06s and the Alonefire X380. It’s a good AA/14500 sized host. Great for modding since it takes a regular 17mm driver and 16mm MCPCB. The reflectors are a little different betwen the two, but the host is the same.
Do the S2+ and C8 count? Don’t we all have a bunch of those?
Awesome collection
Yes, keep batteries in those that i use everyday or every week, and if not used in a month or so then the batteries come out. Gosh the money i have in batteries alone i do not want to think about, must be hundreds of dollars easy. And then there's the 6 charges i have.
Think of it as an investment.