will flashlight makers STOP WITH THE MULTIPLE FLASHING MODES and JUST MAKE FLASHLIGHTS

I remember growing up though the 70, 80, 90s (born 1969) that to get a brighter flashlight you needed a bigger blub, more and/or bigger battery and the size grew too.

The police had the 6 to 8 D cell "night stick" mag light (to which i still have one like this 30 years + later just with updated led bulb in my car) or the brick with a headlight like you saw on x files to get alot of light.

now thanks to LED technology you can get at least equal brightness (if not more) using a light about the size of one or two end to end C batteries and using three or four AA / AAA batteries.
with such nice features as adjustable beam , rechargeable built in batteries , and (be rechargeable or standard) length of use time we had to have several sets of batteries on us to achieve .

heck i just got a bike mounted light that is about the 2/3 ish size of a standard battery pack you buy to charge your cell phone from..
that is brighter (at max setting) as almost a car headlight, super long life , and can charge cell phones multiple times if so desire.

but there is one thing that is on almost if not all flashlights and bike lights (basically flashlights) that had driven me totally bonkers..

this "multi flash" modes.. you know the "slow flash", "sos" , "rapid flash (also with the LAUGHABLE claim "you can disorient/ stop and attacker") and other modes.

Look MAYBE if you are on a boat or hiking you MAY want a light to flash "SOS"...
but other than that most people dont want or need that, much less all the other laughable "flash patterns"

normally i would not care IF it was triggered by a separate button.

but all the ones that carry this feature you have to cycle though the modes to get the one you want after you turn it off..

for example lets use my approved work light

you start with low, med high brightness then slow flash, then SOS. If i say needed high brightness for something i was doing after i shut it off to get back to say med brightness id have to keep turning it on and off though slow flash, sos, then low to get to what i needed.

now given i dont use my light every day so after i turn it off it goes in my pocket till next time i need to use it.
then (much silent cursing) i have to go though the modes to get what i want.

it is a situation that ranges from inconvenient to dangerous if i need my light in an emergency.

Yes some would say "just set it up after your done or get off duty...
given how busy i get it just isnt practical all the time nor do (yes i an human) remember to do so...

but in any case I DONT NEED those fancy "flashing modes"

i would gladly buy one that didnt have them
but as i found out with standard led ones and trying to buy a bike light for my daugher... ALL OF THEM (or damn near) has it..

from the smallest to alot of the biggest...

look it is to much to ask to oh HAVE A FLASHLIGHT BE A FLASHLIGHT and not some laughable "self defense flashes", sos, and (in case of the bike light) two more flashing modes?


i want to see what i need to in the dark, not run a mobile disco dance floor..

or at very least have a separate button , switch, slide, if you insist on putting it on.

thank you for letting me old man rant

scrounger

The old military green ones are the best. Durable, water proof. Light is not that strong but I never found I needed some outrageous amount of light in the dark. The newer black LED military ones are junk. Not as durable and the light is either on or off with a low battery. Old ones would dim and give you some time.

a reply to: Stupidsecrets

I had one of those for a decade (before it was accidentally dropped off a high shelf on concrete and broke).

loved the filters it came with and could be stored in the base.

sadly I do need and especially for my daughter biking at night where our sub division has minimal street lights with idiot drivers.

hell all they need to do is simply NOT PUT ON the control chip those stupid flashing modes.

doesnt cost them a thing and I suspect if the "flashing modes" went away not hurt sales in the least..

or at least offer us an OPTION of not having it...

scrounger

Bought 3 flashlights for $2.99 each.
Smaller than a tube of toothpaste and no multiple modes .
Light up the woods for 50" on a dark night though .
Now , if I could just find them .

Best RANT of this year , in my opinion .

streamlight
single aaa model

survives going through the laundry, decent battery life, and the bottom has no computer, it's a simple toggle

they sell them at cabellas, and the local gun store. i get them online for around $12 each and usually he one on me

originally posted by: lordcomac
streamlight
single aaa model

survives going through the laundry, decent battery life, and the bottom has no computer, it's a simple toggle

they sell them at cabellas, and the local gun store. i get them online for around $12 each and usually he one on me

sadly what you found was rare and not on their website right now

they do have a single AAA light with not bad brightness

but sadly has "flash modes""

I dont doubt some lights exist but they are either expensive, rare, not bright enough or all three...

scrounger

a reply to: scrounger

It's ironic that you've posted this today, only last night I was cursing at my headlamp for going into bright strobe mode outside my neighbours house, it was about 10:00pm, all I wanted to do was put the bins out, not have a rave, lol

...thank you for letting me old man rant

What age do they usually start to kick in? Because last night wasn't the first time I've bitched about the headlamp, or the neighbours cat mess, and any number of other things, my Missus and Daughter already call me a grumpy old man, and I'm not even forty yet

www.streamlight.com...#
Model 66318

Of course, the price has gone up three fold since the last time I ordered them. Looks like I bought a ten pack for $70 delivered a few years back.

Good little lights. I've yet to kill one- but I've lost a few.
Eventually the lense in front of the LED gets pretty badly scuffed up and there's a noticable difference in brightness because of it- but they come with the little two way pocket clip, so you can stick one on the brim of a hat to use as a head lamp.

Last fall during fluid film season I found one hanging from a brake line on my truck- it had been under there for at least six months. Hosed it off, popped in a fresh battery, and it works fine still.

Go to the dollar store, buy some flashlights; battery up and that is that!

I agree this is the best rant (so far) this year.

Amen!

2nd.

I have to agree as well. I have zero use for the flashing mode but somehow always seem to hit the switch that way.

originally posted by: Gothmog
Bought 3 flashlights for $2.99 each.
Smaller than a tube of toothpaste and no multiple modes .
Light up the woods for 50" on a dark night though .

I can't agree with this more. Why waste your time frustrated with expensive crap you don't want? Spend a couple bucks and you're set. If they crap out, get more.

I believe in quality products and all, but a flashlight is not hard to do. Spend 15 bucks on batteries or 2 bucks to replace?

For a simple flashlight Maglites work good. Some of their models are just turn the head to turn it on and focus. Only drawbacks is that they seem to eat batteries but they are bright and do the job. And you can still go to their website and order new lenses when the old one is scratched or cloudy.

Maglite.com

a reply to: scrounger

Wranglerstar is that you?

😀

I wouldnt mind one of those 2100 lumen Olight Warriors or the EDC Warrior mini. Once you get used to it you dont have to go through all the modes. I've seen some reviews and it's getting pretty smart. Complicated at first but for this very reason. I think there's already a flashlight with a phone app but I dont think you can hack the buttons yet

a reply to: scrounger

I _WISH_ this was the extent of world's problems... this would be a happy world, and I would be happy to rant with you.

I mean, who cares about flashlights, when there are 10 000 about 10 000 times more important, damaging, scary and immediate problems to talk about in the world? Be glad you _HAVE_ flashlights! Think about the homeless who don't have anything, and if they had a flashlights, would probably trade it for food/booze/whatever.

You have the luxury of owning a flashlight and you dare complain?

I have two flashlights, both are very small in size. Neither has any other option than "ON" and "OFF", although the other flickers randomly because of bad connection or something a lot.

You can buy all kinds of flashlights, you _CHOSE_ to buy those ones, and then you complain. Basically you complain about your own choices. Now, is that something worth complaining about when kids are starving in Asia while sniffing glue and falling asleep on the streets?

a reply to: Shoujikina

o good lord

i was wondering when someone would post the "with all the words problems" attacking rant.
took a while and man you stepped up to the plate in spades.

you do know this is the RANTS section and just because we have other and bigger problems in the world doesnt mean this isnt one (to me and others at least) and we can vent on it if we want.

im sure "mr perfect" you have some issues you rant about that BY YOUR STANDARDS are as petty and silly.

i would not mock you for posting such on this forum but yet you gotta be the self appointed judge douchwaffle.

expected but sad at same time

if this bothers you then i got a sure fire thing to solve your issue
DONT READ RANTS

sigh

scrounger