I’m considering performing drop tests in my reviews and wondered if it would be considered fair to tell a manufacturer that if it fails to replace it? This would add to my reviews, but is going to suck if I end up with a bunch of broken flashlights at the end of my 30-40hr reviews (includes editing).
I’m sure this would gain interest with those who have more of an interest in its durability instead of just another light show.
The drop would be at the specified rating. Should I include this test or go on as normal with my camera and drone, and leave it to someone else?
Hum, I will be honest and say that I guess that even if you prove/show to the manufacturers that a light fails to resist a drop test they won’t change nor the specs nor the light.
I had lights falling from smaller heights than the ones advertised and they stopped working, and others falling from higher heights than advertised and kept working. So, manufacturers may not care that much about that input
There are some manufacturers making drop tests and “hit” tests and publishing those videos. Wuben did it with the T70 and other lights.
Olight does it frequently, but many other manufacturers won’t probably care that much.
If “losing” the light(s) is important to you then I would ask them first if they are willing to replace the ones that get damaged or quit working. And I would ask them for specifics about how they test their lights…do they drop to concrete or linoleum tile or wood floors, head first or sideways, etc. I suspect many do not actually test their lights this way and just paste on an impact “rating” because it’s the thing to do. I’m not sure how much there is to learn here, though. We know that aluminum bezels can ding or deform on a larger arc, lenses break, and sometimes cell + ends dent and/or driver boards are damaged from cell impact. Where solid contacts are used instead of springs, the latter damage is far more likely to occur. Steel or ti bezels add a significant amount of protection in that area. Three feet is enough to ding a bezel and crack a lens sometimes, depending. I think that’s just rule of thumb wisdom from experience and you aren’t likely to see significant improvement without dual springs and/or stiffer springs, both ends, and of course potting can help a little.
It’s a good question. I would also consider using a dummy cell(s) in the process if you do. Cell denting and damage is another thing that could leave you with a negative return.
I would propose having it as an option for the manufacturer, and their response be transparently communicated in the review. Them declining is a not a vote of confidence, but won’t leave you with an aluminum scrap pile. Those that take you up gain credit in my book just for standing behind their product.
Ultimate drop test, drop them from the drone. I bought a Wowtac after watching a Youtuber throwing one around multiple times and still working. The hunting crowd would sure appreciate it. Couldn’t hurt to ask the manufacturers if they would replace failed ones. It would be interesting which ones say yes.
I don’t think it’s worth it since it isn’t informative unless you have a large sample (10+ of the same light). There is no way to perfectly control the test.
If the light advertises with a very high drop rating or indestructibility, then it would be more informative.
Not very interested in "extreme" drop tests but normal ones, i.e. repeated (10+) drops from waist and shoulder height on hard surfaces.
These would be realistic and informative .. because those are the accidents that really happen. If I drop my flashlight off of a mountain I don't really expect it to survive or to ever find it again.
“This light didn’t survive a drop from an altitude of 10,000 feet onto concrete from my drone. Stand by as I ask the manufacturer for a free replacement!” :laughing:
I don’t think its needed to do drop tests unless a light has an unusually high drop resistance rating. It seems that most lights are rated at 1M, and I think that’s generally fine for the average joe and doesn’t need to be tested. For lights with extreme drop resistance ratings (2m+), then it may be worth doing drop tests because that is a unique and compelling feature for users who care a lot about durability and drop resistance.
I like to see phones drop tested. I like to see flashlights drop tested. I like that pipe linked to above where you’re sliding it so you’re going to end up on the bezel or tail. Others have done similar in the past. I would say three drops per would be sufficient. One bezel, one tail and one where you try to land on the side. Can you put together 10m of pipe to test Armytek? Any light that does not have a specific rating you go to one meter I guess. It’s probably not worth doing if you’re not going to land on cement as per ansi with batteries. That means a whole lot of dings and nicks and scratches.
A drop test might be a double edge sword kind of thing. If the company sells the light as certified for a certain height then I would say test it for the truth.
But what might happen is if we start pushing or demanding lights pass a certain height drop test then they will start gluing and potting more stuff. Thats a bad thing if you want to mod a light. If you want to buy and just use a tough light the way it comes then I guess its a good thing. Some companys do listen to their customers, so it might boil down to who their customers are.
I bought a Wowtac after watching a Youtuber throwing one around multiple times and still working. The hunting crowd would sure appreciate it. Couldn’t hurt to ask the manufacturers if they would replace failed ones. It would be interesting which ones say yes.
