zulumoose
Newly Enlightened
As someone interested in EDC and everything that goes with it, it seems to me that there is a huge gap in the market that is ready for flashlights but is not being filled. Knives evolved very rapidly into multitools, it is perhaps time flashlights did the same.
Some movements have been made to make flashlights more multi-purpose, but they don't seem to have taken off very well. I have a few ideas of things that might work, but would like to know what others think about what is already here, what is likely to come soon, and what will either never happen or will likely just be a passing fad and disappear quickly.
The "one is none, two is one" idea makes a flashlight an untapped vessel for secondary backup.
1) I think it is very obvious, with all the rechargeable flashlights entering the market, that it will become far more normal to have a power bank function, and perhaps even built-in cables. Some power banks have incorporated lighting, but in a very cheap crappy way as far as I have seen up to now, time it went the other way round.
2) A waterproof stash component, for coins/notes/spare contact lenses, medication etc.
3) A ferro rod or spark wheel, perhaps even a lighter.
4) A blade, either completely removable or using the flashlight body as a handle.
4) Whistle, since a torch is already a practical signalling device at night, why not during the daytime?
5) Compass. Probably not a great idea, impractical and gimmicky?
6) A flashlight, seriously. How about a main flashlight that has a small AAA removable backup light built in, or even a small rechargeable light that slides into a docking port. This would be great for camping, leave your main light within reach at night and slide out the mini-light to hang as a moonlight lantern overnight, or to read by, doesn't matter if it runs down completely, slide it back in to recharge in the morning.
7) A pen. Some Swiss army knives have them, and I have used my True Utility nano pen on my keyring numerous times. So easy to leave your pen in the car when going to collect something you have to sign for, or drop off something the other party has to sign for. If your EDC doesn't have one, perhaps it should.
8) Wrap-around storage. The body is cylindrical, switch often on the end, so the body is sometimes available to store some duct tape, rubber bands, paracord, why not have wrap-around Velcro storage for something else?
What else pops into mind? What things are we going to see come and go, or remain as a common variant?
Some movements have been made to make flashlights more multi-purpose, but they don't seem to have taken off very well. I have a few ideas of things that might work, but would like to know what others think about what is already here, what is likely to come soon, and what will either never happen or will likely just be a passing fad and disappear quickly.
The "one is none, two is one" idea makes a flashlight an untapped vessel for secondary backup.
1) I think it is very obvious, with all the rechargeable flashlights entering the market, that it will become far more normal to have a power bank function, and perhaps even built-in cables. Some power banks have incorporated lighting, but in a very cheap crappy way as far as I have seen up to now, time it went the other way round.
2) A waterproof stash component, for coins/notes/spare contact lenses, medication etc.
3) A ferro rod or spark wheel, perhaps even a lighter.
4) A blade, either completely removable or using the flashlight body as a handle.
4) Whistle, since a torch is already a practical signalling device at night, why not during the daytime?
5) Compass. Probably not a great idea, impractical and gimmicky?
6) A flashlight, seriously. How about a main flashlight that has a small AAA removable backup light built in, or even a small rechargeable light that slides into a docking port. This would be great for camping, leave your main light within reach at night and slide out the mini-light to hang as a moonlight lantern overnight, or to read by, doesn't matter if it runs down completely, slide it back in to recharge in the morning.
7) A pen. Some Swiss army knives have them, and I have used my True Utility nano pen on my keyring numerous times. So easy to leave your pen in the car when going to collect something you have to sign for, or drop off something the other party has to sign for. If your EDC doesn't have one, perhaps it should.
8) Wrap-around storage. The body is cylindrical, switch often on the end, so the body is sometimes available to store some duct tape, rubber bands, paracord, why not have wrap-around Velcro storage for something else?
What else pops into mind? What things are we going to see come and go, or remain as a common variant?