This probably doesn’t happen so much stateside, you guys get much better toys, but does anyone else walk into a brick and mortar store, head over and check the availability of off the shelf torches, then sneer, pull out one of your edc’s and think “you want forty quid for for something with a quarter of the output, worse modes and led’s three to four years past their best and with and awful blue tint?”.
I had a mooch round go outdoors, ok, the leathermans were not a bad price, and they had a 6d incan mag that caused a knot of nostalgia, but the more sebsible offerings were of depressingly low specification and high price, as I say, either of my two edc’s would be both more practical and of higher output, along with costing much less.
I don’t think I know anyone that has heard of a Li-ion flashlight, and none in the stores.
But I now have all the boys on the dock armed with good flashlights and folding knives.
Everytime I go into a hardware store or department store I have a look at the flashlights there, and everytime I feel exactly like you did... The stuff they sell is either cheap junk, or halfway decent but way overpriced.
Absolutely mate. Best I can figure comes down to a couple things…
In the case of vast majority of lights sold in mainstream retail and big box stores, its all about maximum margin. Pennies per unit count. So, as you said, tech is usually already outdated [as we nerds see it] by the time it trickles down to this low end mass market. These sorts of lights are all about moving units.
Then there is Surefire, Streamlight, Pelican and the like. Which are very well made, and mostly usually made in USA, but performance is usually not cutting edge - despite fat price tags. These brands can be more complex to figure their intent and their business model because there are other unique factors like Govt orders involved. This brings in new criteria and changes the game drastically.
Fenix, Olight and brands like them, usually have absurd mark-ups when I see them in specialist type brick and mortar stores, compared to what we find them for online. This is not surprising and nothing new. It is not unique to flashlights either.
We flash-heads are on the leading edge of this particular technology, even with the budget stuff. We are still waaaay ahead of the vast majority of the public that are still coming around to the idea of LEDs in general.
Wait until the public realizes the wonders of different tints and temps LOL….
“wait, you mean all LEDS aren’t blue”
she usually points out a random light knowing its… as gords would say “utter rubbish”… and then watch me say something like… yeah i would pee on that light.
but this story does have a nice happy ending… because if those useless rubbish lights are in fact cheap… then they become hosts to 5 amp xml2s J)
…there is a gap in the UK and/or EU market for well spec’d and reasonably priced torches in shops.
Whenever I see a LED Lenser or a Duracell or a Maglite I’m tempted for about 2 nanoseconds then I remember Fasttech.
I can actually go and buy a lithium powered light, off the shelf, with a wall wart and 2000mah 18650 cells……
Its a China made q5 flood to throw and costs more than a zy-t08, two sanyo protected 2900mah cells and a wp2 ii…… the sales assistant had no idea what I was on about when I asked about the cell safety, charger safety or how to make sure things were ok. This was in maplins, an electronics retail chain.
I refrained from digging out my d5 or edc 18650, it really wouldn’t have been fair tbh
When the average Joe thinks “flashlight”, he pictures a plastic Rayovac that comes in a clamshell package for $4.99 with two C cell batteries. Good to go.
There is a gap, both for outdoors enthusiasts and tradesmen, I’ve sold/advised on a few purchases for people, some primary powered, some off fasttech’s shelves, some I’ve built up for a specific task, I’ve not yet found someone who wasn’t a bit impressed with their new toy.
Dad’s made up with his custom built 3 mode xm-l 4c d1, I threw a h03 pocket knife in too. :bigsmile: he said I shouldn’t have spent so much, if only he knew how little it had all cost.
I do look at most of the lights for mod potential, but then remember that its usually just not worth it as they are overpriced in their standard form But it can be great to mod them for the “sleeper” value!
Generally, yes, they’re pretty dim/overpriced/cheap materials, but the last one I bought from a brick and mortar store I was quite pleased with the output, the Rayovac 2AA Indestructible. I’ll be using it as a host for an XP-G2, but in stock form I wouldn’t be ashamed in giving it to someone.
I did notice that Kobalt has a 2xCR123 in Lowes - for $60!
any of the uk guys looked at the d cell shower head lights in asda? I swear its a mag body tube. I’ve picked on up a few times thinking ” reflector, xp-g2, 26650’s….”
I do intend to get another of the 3aaa lights from asda for my stepson, it takes a 16mm star and 17mm driver, not bad for £8 even in stock form, a nice xp-g, 1.7a driver and old lumens’ d battery carrier or 18500 and sleeve would be a nice stealth light.
Anyone in the UK actually seen brands like Fenix, Nitecore, Jetbeam or something other than Lenser in a brick & mortar store? I just looked through Maplin’s online selection - made me chuckle.
But it can be great to mod them for the “sleeper” value!