Another Poll on Flashlights:: What features are important?

[cclaxton]

Last poll was on brands and models.
Setting aside brand and model, what features are important to have on a flashlight?
CC

[Odin Bravo One]

Ummmmm......

How about that it works every time I ask it to?


(Oh, and there is no such thing as a waterproof flashlight.)

[Savage Hands]

Different lights for different jobs, nothing will do it all.

[cclaxton]

Ummmmm......
How about that it works every time I ask it to?
(Oh, and there is no such thing as a waterproof flashlight.)

Waterproof to 500 feet...they claim. 400 lumens, too.
http://www.batteryjunction.com/uk-sl4-led-bx-opt.html
CC

[Odin Bravo One]

Send me one........I'll PROVE that it isn't in about a week.

I think that one might have made it 8 days.......I'd have to check the T&E reports.

Any company can say anything they want about their product. It doesn't have to be true, it just has to sell product. Case in point.......the strobing effect that is all the rage.

[Tamara]

While absolute waterproofness is not a big deal to me, I would like to know that I can butterfingers my light into a puddle or bathtub without it going tango uniform.

[Josh Runkle]

Ummmmm......

How about that it works every time I ask it to?


(Oh, and there is no such thing as a waterproof flashlight.)

True, but it's still nice to be able to have a light take water and pressure for a good amount of time. I was docking up in a storm a few years ago and a buddy dropped my light in 10 feet of water while it was on. It stayed on for an hour, producing a mysterious glow until we retrieved it. Washed it off, good as new. (Surefire E2DL)

I've also taken other surefire's on night dives and they work great. Not sure that I need it to last underwater for 8 days if I can't do the same.

[Byron]

Send me one........I'll PROVE that it isn't in about a week.

I think that one might have made it 8 days.......I'd have to check the T&E reports.

Is there a common type of failure that you've found in these prolonged tests?

Are the housings not substantial enough to achieve the pressure ratings being claimed?
Are the materials not holding up to saltwater and environmental conditions?

[Odin Bravo One]

For clarification, the lights don't get submerged for days.........

And granted, they do get abused. Much more abuse than most people ever would subject their light to.

But the point is I don't believe in waterproof. And I don't buy into advertising hype.

...........Even dive watches fail...........at least the ones that most people can afford.........

[ToddG]

But the point is I don't believe in waterproof. And I don't buy into advertising hype.

Then the joke is on you, buddy, because I'm developing advertising hype that is waterproof down to 400m...