Every night I walk my dog a couple of times. It's the highlight of his day. I need a bright, eye catching flashlight more to alert oncoming cars to our presence than to actually see where I'm going. Our suburban neighborhood is fairly dark due to lots of trees and subdued streetlights. And we have lots of newbie teenage drivers speeding and not really paying attention like they should. I can't tell you how many times I've almost been sideswiped when I first moved here last year.
And I've almost sideswiped others with my car while they were walking their dog's in dark clothes and using cheap weak flashlights that no one could see.
So, after the first week of nearly being run over 5 times, I began using my 6P with beamshaper to walk the dog. This really gets their attention, a quick three or four flashes at their hood and they always give us ample room. It's amazing.
This got really expensive since we take 30 to 60 minute walks, and I was burning thru 123's like crazy. So I jumped on the ASPI sale when I saw it and picked up an 8X and a 9P. The 8X is my first rechargable good light (I didn't know about the B90 problem or even about CPF at the time, I was on ASPI's mailing list from a previous purchase of 123's, spares carrier and other stuff).
Anyway, the 8X, with a freshly recharged battery each night and a flip open beamshaper (a must have accessory that greatly enhances the functionality of the light IMHO) works perfectly. It allows an underhanded left hand carry with the ability to turn it on and off one handed, and you can go from perfectly focused spot to flood in an instant one handed. It can still be used tactically with the momentary end cap switch.
However, when cars are coming from behind, I have to flip the light around in my hand or over my shoulder to flash them a few times and be seen and avoid getting hit from behind. I'll tell you, this light really gets their attention, half of them turn off their high beams thinking I'm a car or motorcycle flashing my high beams at them.
Anyway....sorry to ramble so much.... the perfect dog walking light for my kind of neighborhood would be an 8X type light with two heads, one in the rear, and two switches side by side near the front head to allow for an underhanded carry and the ability to flash one or both beams, or keep the front one on and flash the back one when needed.
For now, I sometimes use a velcro strap and attach my 6P backwards onto the body of the 8X. Works good...looks dumb...doesn't slip into my back pocket nicely that way either.
So, who makes this perfect dog walking flashlight? Any thoughts on my idea before I try to build it?
BTW, if your B90 craps out before the end of the walk, an ARC AAA turquoise backup really gets their attention and they give you room to walk. I think they must think I'm a Borg or something when I zap them in the face with it. I've even strapped the turquoise AAA backwards to the body of the 8X with a velcro strap too, but again...looks dumb...doesn't slide in and out of my back pocket nicely.
And I've almost sideswiped others with my car while they were walking their dog's in dark clothes and using cheap weak flashlights that no one could see.
So, after the first week of nearly being run over 5 times, I began using my 6P with beamshaper to walk the dog. This really gets their attention, a quick three or four flashes at their hood and they always give us ample room. It's amazing.
This got really expensive since we take 30 to 60 minute walks, and I was burning thru 123's like crazy. So I jumped on the ASPI sale when I saw it and picked up an 8X and a 9P. The 8X is my first rechargable good light (I didn't know about the B90 problem or even about CPF at the time, I was on ASPI's mailing list from a previous purchase of 123's, spares carrier and other stuff).
Anyway, the 8X, with a freshly recharged battery each night and a flip open beamshaper (a must have accessory that greatly enhances the functionality of the light IMHO) works perfectly. It allows an underhanded left hand carry with the ability to turn it on and off one handed, and you can go from perfectly focused spot to flood in an instant one handed. It can still be used tactically with the momentary end cap switch.
However, when cars are coming from behind, I have to flip the light around in my hand or over my shoulder to flash them a few times and be seen and avoid getting hit from behind. I'll tell you, this light really gets their attention, half of them turn off their high beams thinking I'm a car or motorcycle flashing my high beams at them.
Anyway....sorry to ramble so much.... the perfect dog walking light for my kind of neighborhood would be an 8X type light with two heads, one in the rear, and two switches side by side near the front head to allow for an underhanded carry and the ability to flash one or both beams, or keep the front one on and flash the back one when needed.
For now, I sometimes use a velcro strap and attach my 6P backwards onto the body of the 8X. Works good...looks dumb...doesn't slip into my back pocket nicely that way either.
So, who makes this perfect dog walking flashlight? Any thoughts on my idea before I try to build it?
BTW, if your B90 craps out before the end of the walk, an ARC AAA turquoise backup really gets their attention and they give you room to walk. I think they must think I'm a Borg or something when I zap them in the face with it. I've even strapped the turquoise AAA backwards to the body of the 8X with a velcro strap too, but again...looks dumb...doesn't slide in and out of my back pocket nicely.