Everything after the first, if I’m being honest with myself.
The first really good flashlight I bought was a JETBeam JET-U. I’d had a pretty decent 9x5mm LED light and a Sipik SK-68 before, but they had both died. I was amazed by how bright and how dim the JET-U could be. I remember going to meet some friends at a bonfire one night and they couldn’t believe the light they saw coming towards them was from the tiny AAA JET-U.
Pretty much every one of them but two or three...probably just two.
I just bought an Olight and I feel a little dirty. Little 16340 Baton model, taking advantage of sale prices and coupons plus two free gift lights...really I just wanted to buy a couple of their accessories but apparently could not order just those because of a vague hidden dollar minimum. First light I've bought without looking up reviews and such, and after placing the order I read in the manual that the battery is not supposed to be removed from the light (?) and is inserted in the opposite direction/polarity from normal (tailcap mag charging). If I'm not thrilled with it, it will make a nice holiday gift for someone (probably the same with the freebies).
First I bought horrible sub-junk. I suffered through it for decades of my life. Then I discovered reasonable quality flashlights. I bought reasonable quality, hot rod flashlights that I wanted, but that I didn't need. Finally I got around to getting a flashlight that I needed, S2 Baton. Then I continued with more flashlights that I wanted, but didn't need. Then I continued with new offerings of Baton size lights that offered more hot rodness. Then I continued again with more huge power throwers and huge dedicated throwers that I don't need. My current light that I need is the Emisar D4V2 Vn 4 x W2.
The most recent new flashlight that I got that I wanted that I didn't need is the Lumintop FW21a Pro Vn triple SBT90.2.
The next light that I am going to get that I don't need is the Acebeam X50.
I like small, medium, big and huge flooders, throwers and power throwers, in vast middle price range. I have not yet gotten into jewelry class lights.
Lights that other people like: I have nothing against them. Nor the people.
The variety of lights that I like: There are lots of people who don't like them.
That has been my mini-EDC light of choice. I don’t like the cool tint beam, but it’s a nice intensity, 3 useful modes, and it just looks so damned cool with the body design and very dark brown anodizing. Picked up a few at $12 a pop from AliExpress 2 years ago. Now? They’re averaging $20. For good reason, IMHO.
I just don’t need that range. My dog does not run away usually, but if he does, the Olight R50 (and sometimes a Sofirn C8F) is all it takes. For fun, I have a 16340 Zoomie with white flat (love that one) and, at the other extreme, a XHP35 thrower.
I plan to sell a large number of lights, but from all lights I do not use, the KR1 and the Emisar D4V2 will stay.
Yes. Hank Wang itself does product maintenance. If I’m not mistaken, there is or will be a SFT40 KR1 with an appropriate driver. The latter is glued, but I think it’s possible to obtain it from him and replace it.
Only the cheaper lights get heavy use and wear and a real purpose to buy.
70 % of my lights have been modded, and 90% are just toys for fun.
I am just about maxed out on lights because of modding upgrade options are almost exhausted.
There is a Convoy 4x18 on the operating table now, but after that ? I’m out of ideas.
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Bort is not typically one for shameless self promotion but i do have two lights for sale, one with two heads that begs for modding and another that can probably be modded if you are ambitious
That’s a tough question for me. To be practical (obviously not why most of us are here) I really only need one light so most of mine were bought for fun. More specifically, these little guys; 10180 Peak Eigers in brass and SS.
Peak Solutions lights are quite underpowered compared to many offerings today, but they’re so seriously solid… can last a lifetime. And really, for close range task illumination, the Eiger does the job.
Agree. They are very well built. Probably the best I have ever seen. These little guys will light up a dark room but not very useful for most applications. Just got them because they’re cute. Probably won’t use them much.
Here is the potting in a Sofirn and Peak.
I got a Lux-RC engine from a friend. Thinking that it would be impolite to put it inside a cheap convoy host, I purchased a used Surefire E2E for the host.
Now I barely use the flashlight because it’s hard to get good 16650 battery.
I didn’t have the heart to buy the 6D Coleman.
So I told my wife to gift it to me.
4 or 5 hundreds flashlights later, I think I own the longest
flashlight ever. And I have 8 6D Maglites. And 2 7Ds.
None of ’em is longer. LOL.
It’s a matter of priorities. I could drink the money.
Or worse. But that wouldn’t last long. That’s my excuse.
What is yours?.
I used to buy those giant throwers at hardware stores and I thought, eh, this is 4x as much, of uselessness, so if I buy the GT, I will stop buying junk.