With regards to an EDC light, Ive been thinking a lot lately about the issue of a light having utility, as opposed to being versatile. By this I mean a light that is useful, as opposed to one that can perfectly fill a couple of roles... but through this versatility, it becomes unsuited for general use.
So i set out the requirements for what I see as the perfect edc:
100+ lumens
multiple levels
slim form factor for ease of edc
small enough to disappear into a pocket, but still have enough runtime to run for days in an emergency.
its gotta eat rechargeables... because I hate buying those expensive lithium primaries...
but then again, those lithium primaries would come in handy since they have a super long shelf life...
but yet again, some places, lithiums can be hard to come by, so maybe alkalines would be best, since they are cheap, and you can get them anywhere.
When it hit me... ive almost already got it!
When I want to throw it in a pocket and forget it, attach the 1X123 tube. If I want all the modes feed it 123 primaries... if I want max brightness, feed it a RCR123.
Don't mind a little bigger? Stick a 1XAA body on. Still fits easily in a pocket, but gives better runtime than the Lithium. Close to home and using it a lot? Feed it NIMH rechargeables. Going out, or storing it until the next power outage hits? Lithium AAs. using it on a trip camping, or going to be a field with it for a long time... feed it some Alkalines when things get dim.
Don't need to be super tiny, but need more runtime? Thread on a 2XAA body. Pounds out the light on max, but it will last an entire WEEK of nights using it continuously, all night every night, on a pair of batts, and more than 2 days of continuous use. On top of that, it will STILL eat 3 different types of battery chemistries!
Now then, I said almost perfect... and heres why.
Input voltage: If this light could stay in regulation from 1volt, up to say, 4.5volts, that would allow all modes with a RCR123... or better yet, a 2X123 body that would fit a 17670, or 18650.
Tailcap: if there was a forward clicky available for this light, it would allow it to serve the roles that many of my surefires do. At least you can lock out the light with a quick twist to the tailcap.
So i set out the requirements for what I see as the perfect edc:
100+ lumens
multiple levels
slim form factor for ease of edc
small enough to disappear into a pocket, but still have enough runtime to run for days in an emergency.
its gotta eat rechargeables... because I hate buying those expensive lithium primaries...
but then again, those lithium primaries would come in handy since they have a super long shelf life...
but yet again, some places, lithiums can be hard to come by, so maybe alkalines would be best, since they are cheap, and you can get them anywhere.
When it hit me... ive almost already got it!
When I want to throw it in a pocket and forget it, attach the 1X123 tube. If I want all the modes feed it 123 primaries... if I want max brightness, feed it a RCR123.
Don't mind a little bigger? Stick a 1XAA body on. Still fits easily in a pocket, but gives better runtime than the Lithium. Close to home and using it a lot? Feed it NIMH rechargeables. Going out, or storing it until the next power outage hits? Lithium AAs. using it on a trip camping, or going to be a field with it for a long time... feed it some Alkalines when things get dim.
Don't need to be super tiny, but need more runtime? Thread on a 2XAA body. Pounds out the light on max, but it will last an entire WEEK of nights using it continuously, all night every night, on a pair of batts, and more than 2 days of continuous use. On top of that, it will STILL eat 3 different types of battery chemistries!
Now then, I said almost perfect... and heres why.
Input voltage: If this light could stay in regulation from 1volt, up to say, 4.5volts, that would allow all modes with a RCR123... or better yet, a 2X123 body that would fit a 17670, or 18650.
Tailcap: if there was a forward clicky available for this light, it would allow it to serve the roles that many of my surefires do. At least you can lock out the light with a quick twist to the tailcap.
