If you could design an EDC flashlight, what’s the most important feature? I’m an entrepreneur and would love to hear your thoughts!

EDC Gear for Flashlight Carriers USB Power Devices
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Hello everyone!
I’m an entrepreneur and flashlight enthusiast currently considering developing an EDC (Everyday Carry) flashlight. I personally love using flashlights, whether it’s for daily use or outdoor activities, and I understand the significant role they play.
Now, I’m hoping to understand your real-world needs and expectations from a flashlight. What are your specific requirements for a flashlight? If you had the chance to design an EDC flashlight, what features or functions would be the most important?

I would greatly appreciate hearing your honest opinions, as they will be incredibly helpful. If you could share thoughts on the following, I’d be grateful:

  1. What features do you prioritize most when using an EDC flashlight? For example, brightness, battery life, portability, durability, etc.
  2. Are there any pain points you’ve experienced while using flashlights? For example, oversized, too heavy, complicated to use, etc.
  3. Do you have any preferences when it comes to the appearance, design, or size of a flashlight?
  4. What additional features (such as dimming, etc.) would make an EDC flashlight more appealing to you?

As an entrepreneur, I highly value every bit of feedback and suggestions from users. I hope your insights will help me create a product that truly meets market demands. Thank you for your time and support, and I look forward to hearing from you!

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Have a nice time here, boshen!

50 Keanu Reeves
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Haha, thanks, raccoon! Super excited to be here and looking forward to sharing and learning from everyone! Hope you have a great time here and get plenty out of it too!

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An EDC light should have zero parasitic drain so afaik, the only way to achieve this is with a mechanical switch.

Other than that, durability, I like the size of the S2+, imho no built in charging as they cause more harm than good.

I would look at brands like Fenix and Acebeam for examples. The Fenix PD32 for example.

In an EDC you dont want Andruil as this can leave you stranded and requires the user to carry a manual around with the light.

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You will get 10 answers from 10 people, but here’s my list of things I care about:

  • IP68
  • Replaceable batteries - an EDC light will run a lot of cycles, will be stored at 100%, will be run to 0 - so the batteries will suffer. Must be replaceable and somewhat standard sized. I’m fine with having to unscrew a couple M2 bolts or something, but it must be accessible
  • USB-C. On the go the only power source I always have is some sort of USB-C charger for phone. Flashlight needs to be able to use it. The USB connector should be waterproof by itself, a silicone flap or similar only used as an additional protection from dirt. But it must be able to survive submersion into water even with an open/broken flap.
  • High CRI and pleasant (neutral) tint. Unlike pure throwers, EDC lights are something I will use indoors and outdoors. Low CRI limits my possible applications indoors.
  • Good balance of throw and flood. Too throwy and it’s useless indoors (can’t use a spot to light up stuff in a room), too floody and it’s useless outdoors (an EDC needs to light up things, and since small lights have low sustained lumen, if it is too floody it will light up everything a tiny bit and nothing properly. Good example: Lumintop EDC15 stock lens. Way too floody for the brightness it has).
  • Smooth/even beam. Pebbled TIR lens maybe?
  • Efficient buck or boost driver (if it’s small, thermal throttling and low battery capacity are a given, so the more efficient the driver is, the more power you can squeeze out of it).
  • A reasonable UI (something similar to Anduril simple mode as Sofien does, or, ideally, just use full Anduril 2).
  • AUX lights (very low power). Being able to spot the light in a pitch black room is useful for a EDC. Wurkkos etc all use way too bright AUX LEDs. It just needs to be slightly brighter than a tritium vial. Too bright aux sucks the battery empty and is annoying when I’m trying to sleep with the light next to me.
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A lot of competition. Every flashlight brand have EDC .

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And yet, most suck :grin:

One more but done really well would be great. Yet another mediocre one will struggle on the enthusiast market.

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Yes, removable battery is a must.
IP68 as well.

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Welcome Boshen.

With such an open ended question i’m starting to envision Homer’s car… :grin:

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From previous “tell us what you want” threads, I’d say that’s an underestimate, and it’s more like 15 answers from 10 people :sweat_smile:

For example, already, we have “no parasitic drain” and “must have aux lights”, which are completely different ends of the spectrum.

We might be better starting with what we can agree we don’t want.

Let’s start with who is your target market? We are (mostly) all lightning nerds here and have a different list of requirements and priorities compared to “normal people”.

IMO, EDC is a marketing term coined to appeal to our lizard brains and sell us tat to carry around. Yes, some items are useful to have in a pocket or on a keychain, but really, the number of people who “EDC” a pocket tool kit are miniscule.

Fundamentally, the best “EDC” light is the one you have on you at the time of requirement, regardless of make/model/quality/UI.

For me, the light I almost always have on me is the discontinued Sofirn SC01. As an 10180 cell light it sits nicely on a keychain so if I’ve my keys with me (i.e whenever I’m out of the house) I always have light. The stainless steel body, the simple 2-mode UI and the neutral white LED are additional features which prevent me from feeling like I need to “upgrade”. The built in charging is good, however the micro-usb port is annoying as most of my gear now uses USB-C.

My DQG Fairy is another 10180 cell light and even smaller than the SC01, it doesn’t often get carried due to the “mule” LED design - to get any meaningful distance, you’ve got to crank up the lumens.

Occasionally I’ll pocket carry a 10440 (AAA) sized light, the BLF-348 (neutral white LED), good pocket clip, simple UI (1 mode).

People like “exotic” materials - copper, brass, titanium etc, often the characteristics of these materials lend themselves well to being carried daily- the self-colour of the 3 materials means there’s no anodising to wear off, and “patina” can be considered a beneficial attribute.

Many users here expect their lights to be reasonably moddable to allow upgrades or customisation of the LED (no thread-lock compound, no glue).

Summary:

Small size (10180, 10440 etc)
Waterproof
USB-C if rechargeable
Replaceable, non-proprietry cells
Good keychain or pocket clip
Neutral white LED.
Directional but floody beam
Simple UI (2 or 3 modes)
Switching mechanism designed to prevent unintended activation

If you want inspiration for a premium pocket light, perhaps look at the Liteflux LF2XT. This light is from 2009ish and in my opinion, has never been beaten.

Competing in the more budget/affordable range is a challenge as the market is quite saturated, I wonder if something like the Skilhunt E3A with USB-C charging port behind the head and with 2 or 3 modes would be good…

For unusual form factor, a USB-C rechargeable, side-by-side 2x10440 light with replaceable cells (even if it requires tools) would be quite unique. You could have two emitters or perhaps a single emitter with unusual shaped oval reflector.

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Yeah I completely disagree with everything you said.

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Instead of dumping on zoulas, why not add something constructive to the thread? These are just personal preferences, there is no right or wrong answer to the “perfect EDC light”.

I know that one regular forumite EDCs a Convoy M21 something. M21F? That is a hefty pocket light :rofl:

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High CRI 4000k-4500k 95 cri

Constant current driver that can handle over 700 lumens for at least an hour

Preferably doesn’t get too hot which usually means that the led is 6500k and low cri, but my perfect light would be 95cri not rosy, such as the nichia b35am or that new gt50 led from Hank,

One way to keep the light from getting too hot to hold is to make the light thick

But I know a lot of you hate that, you like slim

I hate slim lights cause every one of them either get too hot to hold or they dim in less than 10 seconds

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Agreeing with each other was never a requirement.

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EDC flashlights are my favorite type of light and I own dozens of them. My preferences change over time. Sometimes I prefer slightly larger lights, sometimes smaller ones. Sometimes I want high CRI, other times I can do without.

My personal preferences are as follows:

Must have features:

  • Pocket clip capable - Being able to equip a pocket clip is a must-have feature. Bonus points if the clip is a good one that will fit securely to the edge of sweat pants or a pocket. However, I can usually work with even a bad clip by modifying it to my taste or replacing it with a better one.
  • Must fit comfortably inside a pocket. Max length about 120mm, and even then I probably won’t carry it much. Smaller than 100mm is better. Also, can’t be too fat. Slim or flat shape is preferred.
  • Not too heavy. If it gets any heavier than 120g or so I probably won’t carry it around.
  • Battery size - Max battery size of 1x18650 and even then I would only go for smaller 18650 lights. Minimum battery size 1x14500 or 1x16340 or equivalent in lipo cell. Anything smaller lacks sufficient runtime.
  • Battery type - must run on lithium ion battery or li-po. I do not like lights that only run on AA as their output is too low.
  • Must have at least one of the following features: high-CRI, being a thrower, flat body, laser, multiple light sources, or zoom.
  • Switch type - Switch can be electronic or clicky in either the side or tail or both. However, any light with a small tailcap switch must be comfortable for cigar-grip activation. Must not be a twisty switch.
  • Light must have sufficient brightness. If it can’t produce around 500 lumens on turbo I probably am not interested.
  • User interface must not be too obnoxious.
    • Perfect would be instant click to on-off with shortcuts to moonlight and turbo or a control ring that accomplishes the same.
    • Reject would be having to cycle through all modes to turn off or having to hold the button down for 2 seconds to turn on or off.
    • Sometimes I accept a less than perfect interface as long as it isn’t too close to reject.

Optional features that I look for:

  • Beam profile - for most EDC use I prefer relatively floody high CRI with good R9 neutral white beam. Preferred emitter is a Nichia 519a 5700K dedomed. However, sometimes I like carrying a thrower as my EDC such as the NitecoreMT1A pro. I don’t mind not having CRI or tint in a thrower.
  • Replaceable battery - My light is my fidget toy. I go through them fast enough that having a built-in battery is not a detriment to me.
  • LED display - best example of this is the Nitecore EDC23, whose display tells you the voltage and estimated runtime at current mode.
  • Tailstand - very handy in an EDC light, but I can make do without it.
  • Grippy body - I prefer lights with knurling or other features that make for a secure grip. This is not a dealbreaker as I can apply Talon grip tape to smooth lights, but I prefer the light to come with its own secure grip.
  • Titanium - I love the look and durability, but it can get a bit heavy. I own multiple copper and Ti-Cu lights, but find the added copper makes them a bit too heavy for comfortable pocket EDC so I tend not to carry them.
  • Zoom - I love zoom lights, but it’s so hard finding a good one compact enough for pocket EDC. I’d love it if Fenix made a smaller version of the LD45r with digital zoom, but about half the size.
  • USB-C charging - nice feature to have, but not critical. Most of the time I have an external charger available.
  • Dual-fuel - having a light that can run on AA or 14500 is not something I’ve ever actually used, but it might be nice to have for an emergency.
  • Moddable - I like tinkering with my lights. Bonus points if the internals are accessible for emitter swaps, etc.
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“EDC” has a few broad categories, ranging from the smallest of keychain-compatible lights up to the largest one could stuff into a front pants pocket.

For a keychain enthusiast-oriented light:

  • Power
    • Swap-able cells
      • I want to be able to have the light ready to go immediately
      • Related, I will be swapping out cells whenever I think about it
      • As this is a keychain light I don’t want it to be held hostage to USB charging
    • Formfactors
      • AAA/10440 preferred
      • AA/14500 meh
      • Anything longer or wider becomes unwieldy
    • Chemistry
      • NiMH-compatible is a must
      • Should work with alkaline or Li-primary
      • Li-Ion is a nice bonus but not critical
    • Runtime should be at least 30 minutes
    • Idle currents are not acceptable
  • Operation
    • Simple is best
    • Twist-head allows for physical lockout to eliminate chance of accidental operation
    • 1 to 3 modes (low/medium/high) is fine
  • LED/optics
    • Flood-y beam is ideal: I need to perform tasks and illuminate out to ~3m
    • Good enough CRI: I don’t want angry blue nor puke green, but I’m also not color-correcting prints
    • Neutral tint 4000K - 5000K
    • Peak output >50lm
  • Physical design
    • Aluminum construction, but note that it’s going to take a beating from the keys
      • 2-piece design
      • Head unscrews from body
    • Attention paid to the head threading
      • Maintains water-tightness when off (i.e. O-ring remains engaged 1+ turn from on)
      • Additionally, head is resistant to separating from the body in one’s pocket
    • Can tail-stand
    • Retained to the keyring at the tail
    • No USB charging
      • Makes the light larger
      • Cost seems to dictate micro-USB connectors, a formfactor I very much want gone from my life
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For a USB-C chargeable EDC light, it would also be good to have reverse charging (i.e., powerbank) function. The vast majority of lights don’t have it, and it could save your phone in a pinch when it matters (e.g., when camping).

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IMO only makes sense for 21700 and larger, maybe 18650 and larger. Everything else can offer too little charge, and the increased size and complexity of the driver makes the light too bulky.

On my S21Evo driver about 1/3 of the driver surface is for the reverse charging circuit (15W), 2/3 for MCU and 30W LED boost.

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Continuing my pontification, for more of a max/do-everything EDC…

  • Power
    • Swap-able cells mandatory
      • As this light is apt to be a touch pricey and may be called on to do anything, I do not want to be held hostage to USB charging
      • As an enthusiast I have chargers and a stack of cells
    • Formfactors
      • 18650 preferred
      • 16650 / 2x 123A OK
      • 21700 acceptable, but pushing the limits on pocket-ability
      • Smaller (ex 14500) sacrifices capability
      • Larger (ex 26800) demand a holster or off-body carry
    • Runtimes
      • With a larger cell and more capabilities comes a broad range of expectations
      • Low: days
      • High: minutes
      • Turbo/Burst: until thermal protection kicks in
    • LVP for Li-ion cells so bare cells can be used with confidence
    • Some flavor of voltage indication, be it aux LEDs or a main light battery check
  • Operation
    • Multiple modes are expected
    • Ideally this is achieved with a single switch - be it physical or electronic
    • Standby draw is to be reduced to as close to zero as possible
    • Configurable microcontroller UIs (ala Anduril et al) are cool, but
      • Setting up via a single-button/single-pixel UI sux
      • Mercifully this tends to be set-and-forget
      • But anything that reduces this pain would be welcome
  • LED/Optics
    • A larger design has more thermal margin - harder better faster stronger
    • Triple and quads
      • Allow for more lumens per watt (and more raw lumens)
      • Don’t throw like single-LED designs
    • Range
      • Moonlight: <1 lumen
      • Turbo: >2000 lumens
    • Tint / CRI
      • 4000K - 5000K
      • CRI nearing 90 as this light will see a touch more demanding usage than the keychain
        light
    • Discrete/replaceable lens+optics
  • Physical Design
    • Typical 3-piece cylindrical:
      • Head, body, tail cap
      • Allows for modularity should different-length cells be desired
    • Made from a thermally-conductive metal: Al is cheap and effective
    • Knurled or otherwise grippy circumferential sections
    • A decent IPxx rating - this sort of light will be asked to do a lot of things
    • A solid pocket clip optin is always nice - I prefer head-down
    • If there is to be USB
      • The volume this eats should be minimized
      • USB-C; micro-USB needs to DIAF already
      • Devise a means to cover the port other than a rubber flap
      • An IPxx-rated port would be an excellent additional feature
      • A charge state indicator - be it a dedicated LED or aux LEDs, just not the main LED
      • Powerbank function would be a nice bonus - ideally something that can do the lower ranges of USB-PD
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I don’t really EDC because i haven’t found a ‘great’ light I want to carry around. Ive handled/tested over 100 lights and only a couple are good for what I consider EDC-able. If I were to make one (i sort of did, a S2+ triple, 18350 with 8A buck driver, 3x xp-l HI 5000k and a spot optic), but that one’s lacking charging which I really like. So, back to the drawing board.

Here’s my ideal EDC. It nust be:

Compact and lightweight (100 mm long, 25 mm wide max, around 110 to 150 grams with battery)
Has onboard usb C charging
18350 or 18650 (21700 tooooo big, 14500 too small)
Dual pocket clip
Output must be 2000 Lumens or more on a Turbo mode
Prefer a fully regulated driver, or at least a Fet channel with fully regulated output (750 Lumens)
Prefer a triple optic (Carclo pattern so it can be changed)
Leds should be either 4500k or 5000k. Prefer domeless leds. Luminus sft-25R, cree xp-l Hi, FFL3351, etc. I prefer output/efficiency over high cri.
For the UI it must be simple. Anduril2 is nice, but in a stressful, crisis deployment, a nice clicky UI is invaluable. Plus no quiescent current draw like with an e-switch.

That’s it! If someone can mankenone of those, I’d buy it.

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