Is flashlight an effective tool for self defense?

Off-topic Chatter
46

“I’ll be driving cross country and plan to sleep in my car during the trip. If I were threaten by shady character in the dark of night, would a good flashlight’s turbo mode (or strobe mode) effective enough to disorient the attacker, affording me a little time to get away from the situation?”

If ya gotta sleep in yer car (and who hasn’t….:laughing:, at least sleep in the driver’s seat with yer windows rolled up, doors locked, butt most importantly have da keys already in the ignition.

So……if you’re already in the car stay put in the car. Hopefully soon doing 90 per. :laughing:

Common sense tends to go a long ways in just about everything in Life.

Butt yeah, a sturdy heffty metallic flash IS a weapon if need be IF ya got nothin’ else. The blinding part cood (BIG unlikely cood) buy time butt rapidly and yet smoothly (smooth is fast) turning that ignition switch is MOST likely yer best move. Practice this scenario at least mentally before falling asleep so it comes to you even if he loudly busts out a window.

The accelerator is yer best friend here.

Remember you’re essentially cornered/trapped in that vehicle. :open_mouth: He’s (or they) free to move all around you. It’ll be REAL tuff to “blind” him much less through reflective/diffusing windows. The only person yer gonna blind is yerself. Becuz of these immutable facts he has by FAR the greatest advantage over you.

Git movin’. :+1:

PS. Pre-plan how you will park. Git dam aware of your immediate surroundings. Think like him and watt he’s looking for. Always try to leave a way to motor exit. Don’t park between cars for example. So watt this obviously means is carefully choose where you’ll park up first.

PSS. Don’t forget a long press on that horn if ya have any doubts on who’s approaching you, hear voices, wakes ya up strange noises, etc. (Then press twice for the next pulse horn mode……) :laughing: :open_mouth:

PSSS. Don’t ever roll down a window even for watt you think is just a “little bit” to better determine watts just now going on. Have no “cracks” in your quasi-armored vehicle as it were.

47

My acebeam L19 green saved me from tresspassers. I caught two people sneaking into my back yard at 1am and so I turboed them with 570k candela in the face and they ran away.

48

They likely would have reacted mostly the same way if it had been a keychain light or by singing “Happy Birthday To You” with your best Marilyn Monroe impersonation. Although the acebeam probably got them to run a little faster and a little further.

49

This sounds like a good plan but staying in a cheap hotel, being able to use a proper bathroom and shower is a bit more attractive.

50

WRONG !!!!

Don't ever sleep in your car with the keys in the ignition ....

the above comment by notawhackjob is really,really BAD advice .

The act of sleeping it off // while having keys in the ignition ...is like writing yourself a DUI .

Trust me on this one .I know someone who got a Public Intox. for sleeping in his car and was told later that .. " it's a good thing the keys weren't in the ignition or it would have been an automatic DUI ". Laws are different everywhere and some much harsher . asleep in a car drunk in some states no matter where your keys are is a DUI .

51

ABSOLUTELY AGREE. It wood be BAD ADVICE. I’ll remove the :beer: . I just said that as to why anyone would havta sleep in their car jokingly butt as you say if you’ve :beer: DON’T DO THAT. :laughing:

Otherwise if ya haven’t been :beer: then it’s ok to leave keys in the ignition. If a cop sees ya sleeping in a car no matter watt (keys or no keys in ignition) you’re still gittin’ sobriety tested anyway. Keys in the ignition tho’ will likely make the test more “vigorous”. Gotta weigh the pros and cons here depending on your situation.

PS. Which brings up an interesting twist. With newer cars having the option of keyless ignitions a cop finds ya asleep anywhere in the vehicle (maybe even in the trunk :open_mouth: ) and you’ve been :beer: you’re likely gettin’ a DUI. Watts good for DUI in one state is prolly now likely to be blanket good in all states in context with that technological advancement. The modern moral of this story thus becomes even WITHOUT keys in the ignition and you’ve been :beer: you’re likely gettin’ a DUI. Ya know they gotta level the playin’ field. Why should keyless car owners get a :beer: pass? :laughing: :open_mouth:

PSS. There very well could be an unfortunate time, (car breaks down in the middle of nowhere and ya don’t have cell service, etc.) when ya gotta sleep in your car. Watt I’ve said above still applies as to the accelerator being yer best friend in that situation.

52

My state public intox is harder than a DWI to reach. For a DWI use must be in a running car and suffer only one of the three. Blood alcohol over 0.8, or loss of mental faculties or physical faculties. In a public intox you can be all three and not meet the standard needed. In Texas a public intox is when you have become a danger to yourself or others. I have heard of a man sleeping in his car with his foot on the accelerator burning up the motor. So sleep in the back or passenger side. No open containers, no drinking no problem on the DWI side. Of course always to just drink in strict moderation while using a rolling home will save you the hassles.

This thread is so off topic now it probably just needs to fade away. Original poster has had no further input or questions. Probably on the cooking forums asking if any foods have any self defense value.

53

“My state public intox is harder than a DWI to reach. For a DWI use must be in a running car and suffer only one of the three. Blood alcohol over 0.8, or loss of mental faculties or physical faculties.”……

Point being ultimate results vary state-to-state and testing the nuances is kinda risky, no? :laughing: Then there’s the intangibles; a LEO’s particular mood that day, your attitude, condition of yer car helping pre-determine perceptions of guilt, etc. Good luck with that reality roulette wheel.

I don’t think this thread “needs” a fade out. One cood say that about any other off-topic trending thread. Threads completely staying on topic is preferred butt sometimes things are learned that wouldn’t otherwise be brought out. Food cooking forums analogy doesn’t jibe. The first-time OP had a seemingly to some stubid question concerning using a flash as a weapon. Which in fact they swingingly can be butt watt makes them likely an ineffective deterrent emitting-wise from inside a vehicle notwithstanding. :student: A flash has to know its limitations. :laughing:
.

54

I guess I have been lucky. I have slept in my car for a few/several hours on many ocassions through the years when driving on a long trip & getting tired.

I would stop either at an Interstate Rest Area, top of an Interstate On Ramp, or a Gas Station/Convenience Store.

Keys always in ignition & .45 close at hand. :wink:

Police have checked on me a few times & a sobriety test was never even mentioned.

I guess it depends on location & the officer who checks on you.

55

Ya know that wood be a great answer to a LEO.

“Sir, why are you sleeping in the car?”

“Well officer I was getting tired and I didn’t want to risk falling asleep at the wheel”.

Sounds like watt a good law-abiding citizen wood say. :+1:

Watt could he say?……

“Get out of the car, turn around with your hands behind your head and spread em’!!! You’re under suspicion of driving under the influence of potentially snoring, Mr.!!!” :laughing: :open_mouth:

56

EXACTLY…. :white_check_mark: :wink: :smiley:

57

I heard (from a lawyer, no less) about a case where a guy was working on his car in his driveway with the car up on blocks, but had a few b33rs and was charged with DUI. I could never find a cite to that specific case, but did some poking around, and it is possible.

Depends on the state and how the law’s written, but in quite a few states, yes indeedy. “Locking” the keys in the trunk where you have to crawl through the folded-down rear seat, etc., don’t cut it. The car could be out of gas, immobilised with a boot, up on blocks, etc., and if you’re still “in physical control of the vehicle” and buzzed, you’re guilty.

Strobing the cop and trying to get away are generally Not Recommended.

58

w0w… Completely UNBELIEVABLE!!!
:person_facepalming:

Talk about a screwed up “legal system”… Common Sense has left the buiding. :open_mouth: :person_facepalming: :frowning:

59

Hello everyone, OP here.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I appreciate all your comments, … some make me laugh out loud, all good fun, some make me think, some point out things I haven’t thought of. I feel very welcome here.

Thanks to you, I have realized that a flashlight is probably best used as intended (a light source) with no extra duty or expectation.

My use case has then become much simpler. I just want to have quality bright light while car camping out in the boonies (mainly national parks and forests).

What a journey it has been in the last few days. I went from complete ignorance of flood/throw, Lumen/CRI, Andúril, etc. to having a rudimentary understanding of the topics.

Apologies for a long post/update. TLDR: I think I have found a good flashlight, almost perfect for me. Super thrilled :slight_smile:

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Realizing that it’s best to use the flashlight within the confine of its intended usage, my research has been more focused. I decided to limit my choices to only those with USB charging, so SP70, C8G, C8F, Q8 were out.

SC21 and SC31 Pro were out as well because they are on the lighter side of the Sofirn line-ups.

SP35 is interesting but at 2000 lumens, I was a bit hesitant.

SP36 Pro sounds fantastic, 8000 lumens and all, but a bit heavy at 300+ grams. So the search continued.

SP33 V3, what’s not to like? Respectable 3500 lumens, 26650 cell, light enough at 144 grams, simple UI for a beginner like me. I almost pulled the trigger and called it a day. Then I stumbled onto the topic of color temperature. More readings ensued. Afterwards, I opted to pass on the 6500K option, but unfortunately the 5000K option was not available for picking.

My last hope was the IF25A. It ticks all the boxes. Except for … turbo mode can get very hot very fast, so it can’t stay in turbo for long. Grrr! I felt exhausted and overloaded with all the information by now.

Back to square one! There is no perfect flashlight that rules them all. I went through the entire line-ups again, debating/looking for the option with the least downside for my use case. Reading and re-reading a bunch of reviews.

SP36 Pro was back in for consideration, since I figured I’m not looking for for an EDC, 300+ grams is not that big of a deal. This could be it. Hallelujah!

Only if it was that simple! I googled for more info on the SP36 Pro, and came across a discussion about CRI.

Bad news! The SP36 Pro has a weak link … low CRI.

I went back down the rabbit hole, and the hard work paid off.

In pursuit of the latest and greatest, I mistakenly discounted older versions/variations of all models. So glad I looked again and left no stone unturned. I’m now a proud owner of a Sofirn SP36 BLF Anduril 5000K (scheduled to deliver in 10-14 days). It has many things goings for it: high CRI, better emitters (Samsung LH351D) than the SP36 Pro’s; better tint options than the SP33 V3; can stay in turbo mode longer than the IF25A. Although lower lumens than the SP36 Pro (5650 vs 8000), I read that it takes 4x the lumens to double the brightness. Good trade off, all around well-balanced.

In hindsight, may be I should have gone for the 4000K. But for real, I wouldn’t know any better. I have not seen neither the 4000K nor 5000K in real life to have an opinionated preference. May be ignorance is bliss!

No matter what, there is no turning back now, I’ll learn to enjoy my new light. I hope the hype is real, and expectation will me met. Can’t wait to be blown away when it gets here. I hope it’ll knock my socks off. Well, my bar is kinda low. The only reference I have for comparison is made by a brand called “refun”, powered by 3 AAA batteries, and bought 5 years ago for $10.

My journey is far from over though. I’ll have to learn Anduril, and learn it quick. I’ll need to find a way to attach a lanyard. The para-cord solution is neat, but I’m not sure I can do a good job. I’d like to add a diffuser to turn it into a poor-man lantern, but wondering how bad would it compare to a full fledged BLF LT1.

I’m glad I have found this forum. There are a lot of knowledge and wisdom on here.

60

You have done your homework and welcome back. The SP 36 is a good all round choice. I have that same model and use it often. Load it up with some Sanyo GAs and you are good to go.

61

PREP? (Pension Revenue Enhancement Program)………. :laughing: :open_mouth: :+1: :beer:

62

You will have no regrets with the Sofirn SP36 BLF Anduril 5000K for what your plans are. They are cheap enough so you can always get another. I have the 2700k model on the way because I have nothing with that warm a tint

63

Now, don’t forget a headlight…

64

Exactly…. 2✅

And HERE is one that will not break the bank. $16.19 on sale!!!
And it is a good one too.

I use mine multiple times a day for one reason or another. :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:

65

Put a good lanyard on it and you could swing it like a weapon. It’s got enough heft.