A flashlight box should...

You can see the archived poll results on the Wayback Machine:

https://web.archive.org/web/20221220093741/https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/72915

how about recyclable?

Good idea but I feel this box poll is already over-complicated and adding it now would skew the results anyway.

D: Burn when you toss it into the fire…

What about be big enough to store off season clothing?

Edit:Oops, sidetracked. Thought you guys are talking about case.

Credit: Jordan Suarez

Getting a fancy durable box/case with an expensive light that can be used for storage, IMO, is cool but not required. In general a simple cardboard package like Convoy does is sufficient for me; my lights never came with any damage from transport.

I made this poll because I noticed some flashlight reviewers would actually list plain boxes as a negative when reviewing a light. Hypothetical example:

Pros:

  • Hits advertised lumens
  • Waterproof
  • High CRI Emitter

Cons:

  • strange UI
  • cheap anodization
  • lackluster packaging

I thought this was crazy. It made me wonder how many people on BLF would consider boring packaging to be an actual downside to the light. The utilitarian boxes from Zebralight and Sofirn don’t bother me at all.

I want a strong box to avoid damaging during shipping. Thick cardboard boxes and eventually some foam are probably enough, I don’t like having lots of plastic inside or outside

After shipping, most of the times I keep the box, but I end up throwing it to trash after a while, except the thick ones that I use to storage some stuff.

Being it a cheap or expensive flashlight, I like that it comes without shipping marks. I had an unexpensive Sofirn SF10 once that arrived chipped due to some damage taken during the process. I asked Sofirn a new one because that one was going to be a gift, and I recommended for a better packaging to avoid damages in new lights.

Sounds like those ReViEwErS are grasping at straws in their desperation to find any tiny nitpick they can criticize.

don’t really care
most lights are durable enough to not need a box for shipping really

Attractive product packaging is fine for brick and mortar browsers, but of little intrinsic value aside from the convenience of encasing accessories/ manuals if provided. I could care less about the box quality, unless it becomes the primary encapsulation for shipping as well. Then the damn thing better be built with purpose. If the package is noteworthy for some unique feature, then I suppose a reviewer would be obligated to mention it. Likewise if they received a product that was damaged or looked like it was dragged through a rock quarry because of poor packaging, that should be disclosed as well.
All that being said, I’m a box saver (even Convoy). Not sure what my thought process is there, though. I have a plastic tote full of empty flashlight boxes.

Let’s be honest. This place would be a lot less busy, and many would have larger bank balances if it it was all about needs, not wants, and intrinsic value.

Yet, people have more lights than they could possibly use, in different colors, in different materials, and drool over lights that can light up targets 1000m in the distance, or turn night into day. And what possible need is there for purportedly durable lights to be ensconced in soft foam, in a rugged case that probably seldom moves from its pride of place in the home? It’s doubtful anyone here leads the ascetic life of a monk, at least by choice.

There’s nothing wrong with having nice packaging. It adds a bit of delight, and appeal to the user experience. Unboxing videos are popular for a reason.

It also shows that the manufacturer cares about every detail, and wants to differentiate itself from others in a sea of SOS,DD brands and lights on the market.

It cannot make up for a substandard product, or its deficiencies, nor should it take priority over it, but it brings something to the table, whether one wishes to indulge it it or not.

But, if one wishes to discuss packaging created by the Devil himself, that conversation should start with clear PVC blister packaging.

Yeah! what TheIntruder said.

I like when a flashlight box isn’t fancy. So I can easily toss it in the trash bin.

I’ve had a problem of storing a pile of flashlight boxes just because they’re “too good” to be trashed.

I don’t think this would work for me. From the plain to elaborate. I think I’ve kept the boxes for all or almost all my lights thus far. What if I sell my light and need a good way to package it?

Might gift it? Fancy.

Disposable? CWB.

Metal-switch S2+es, Zanflare F1s, etc., are good examples of the former. Beautiful showcase-quality boxes, great for gifting.

Crappy CWB (cheap white box) lights have boxes that practically come half-disintegrated, ripped, creased, otherwise mangled, so it’s easy to toss the POS box and just keep the light.

In-between are retail-type boxes, like most Wubens, older black/blue Sofirn boxes, etc. Plastic trays to hold the stuff, etc. Okay to keep the lights in the boxes if you ain’t using ’em, okay to gift, but hardly showcase. They’re the in-between.

So… depends on what you’re gonna do with the light, whether make it a nice gift, actually use it regardless, or something in-between.