I bought my first LED flashlight, a Fenix LD22, in December 2013, so I'm a relative newbie. When I bought the Fenix I also got a cheap 4-LED Dorcy light for my son (3 years old at the time). The Dorcy was rubberized, so I figured he could drop it without hurting the light or our hardwood floor.
Since then I've drifted toward flashaholism, purchasing a Thrunite T10 (aluminum version), Fenix LD01, Eagletac D25A clicky, a L3 Illumination L10C with the Nichia 219, and a Preon 1.
Since my experience is limited, I'm wondering what kinds of experiences you all have had with dropping flashlights, and if there are any design features to look for that make a flashlight resistant to damage from dropping or other impact.
My own experience hasn't been great. My son dropped the Dorcy just once on the road, from a height of about 2.5 feet, and as a result only one of the LEDs works now. The Thrunite was DOA and never worked. I dropped the L10C just one time on the hardwood floor this evening, from a height of about 4 ft, and it is dead now. It won't turn on at all. The LD22 hasn't been dropped, but I can hear something rattling in the head.
I haven't dropped the Eagletac yet. The only one of my lights that has survived even one drop is the LD01. I dropped it on the hardwood floor from a height of about 4 ft, and my son dropped it on the street from a height of about three feet. Other than a few scratches on the outside, it still works fine.
To me, resistance to damage from impact is an important feature. Hard anodizing, beam profiles, lumens, CRI, etc. don't matter much if the light won't turn on when you twist the head or click the switch.
Please share here your stories of lights surviving (or not surviving) drops and other impacts. Also, let me know if there are any design features that help a light stand up to impacts. (By the way, I'm not a modder, so if anyone wants my dead L10C for parts or to try to fix it, I will be happy to send it to you for free. I'll edit this post once it has been claimed.)
Since then I've drifted toward flashaholism, purchasing a Thrunite T10 (aluminum version), Fenix LD01, Eagletac D25A clicky, a L3 Illumination L10C with the Nichia 219, and a Preon 1.
Since my experience is limited, I'm wondering what kinds of experiences you all have had with dropping flashlights, and if there are any design features to look for that make a flashlight resistant to damage from dropping or other impact.
My own experience hasn't been great. My son dropped the Dorcy just once on the road, from a height of about 2.5 feet, and as a result only one of the LEDs works now. The Thrunite was DOA and never worked. I dropped the L10C just one time on the hardwood floor this evening, from a height of about 4 ft, and it is dead now. It won't turn on at all. The LD22 hasn't been dropped, but I can hear something rattling in the head.
I haven't dropped the Eagletac yet. The only one of my lights that has survived even one drop is the LD01. I dropped it on the hardwood floor from a height of about 4 ft, and my son dropped it on the street from a height of about three feet. Other than a few scratches on the outside, it still works fine.
To me, resistance to damage from impact is an important feature. Hard anodizing, beam profiles, lumens, CRI, etc. don't matter much if the light won't turn on when you twist the head or click the switch.
Please share here your stories of lights surviving (or not surviving) drops and other impacts. Also, let me know if there are any design features that help a light stand up to impacts. (By the way, I'm not a modder, so if anyone wants my dead L10C for parts or to try to fix it, I will be happy to send it to you for free. I'll edit this post once it has been claimed.)
Last edited: