Anti - Strobe / SOS Petition ?

[M I K]

Strobe / SOS

It is better to need it and not have it, than to have it and not need it.

 

[nzgunnie]

OP + 1

Strobe and SOS are a waste of time.

I'm a big fan of KISS (no, not Gene Simmons...).

 

[hurricane]

I like strobe/SOS too.

The only light I have with a 'strobe' [well it's more like a steady flash] is a Petzl Myo XP. It's the 4th setting on a circular menu. I never hit it by accident. I fail to see how this is an issue on a decent light with a decent UI. Just b/c you don't like them doesn't mean they shouldn't exist. A strobe or SOS beacon isn't something you use everyday nor do you hope to ever have to use it, but it's nice to know you have it ... for that very very rainy day.

The majority of the high-end lights [and the cheapy lights copy the greats] are designed for military/professionals and hard-core users - not for dog walkers or that occasional black-out ... or to be collected and sit on a shelf. These are features deemed necessary for these types of users. You don't feel you need a strobe or SOS beacon for your lighting tasks, which means your light were designed for a different end user. I spend a lot of time in the mountains [on technical terrain: glaciers, class 5+ rock etc.] ... having a quality light with extra functionality is critical. I bring one primary light [SureFire or Petzl] and one lightweight back-up option [Petzl e-light]. That is it, I only bring equipment that I know I can trust.

A very sad story: A good friend of mine just lost his best buddy in the mountains a week ago. Luckily they had a SAT phone, but imagine if they didn't - as most don't. They would have needed to summon attention as they were days from the nearest road. Having extra functionality in your tools is so critical for hard-core outdoor enthusiasts or military or other professionals who are 100% reliant on their tools at times. Carrying a parachute flare just isn't practical for emergencies: 1] they're big/heavy; 2] they're expensive; 3] you have one shot.

Just remember who these 'tactical' lights are designed for, they aren't designed for the average flashlight user, though can certainly be used by them. I own a SureFire C2 and it has the 'CombatGrip' - a feature I will never use [I don't own a gun and I will probably never own a gun]. That doesn't mean I hate that light, I just don't use that feature. In reality, the $20 Mag is just fine for changing a flat, walking your dog, and fixing a sink ... or even just basic camping.

 

[s.c.]

All I know is that most lights usually get SOS/Strobe right. With the liteflux you can put it where ever you want it.. disable it if you want.

I've felt that SOS/Strobe has been well thought out on fenix lights too. They are usually at the end of the cycle so that if you prefer a simple on/off light you'd most likely never see it.

Exactly how I feel.

I think the issue of strobe/sos getting in the way is with cheaper DX/KD lights that have 3-5 modes WITH memory. I think the memory feature almost guarantees that you'll have to cycle through the strobe and sos function.

 

[Marduke]

I think the issue of strobe/sos getting in the way is with cheaper DX/KD lights that have 3-5 modes WITH memory. I think the memory feature almost guarantees that you'll have to cycle through the strobe and sos function.

That would be group #3, the "cheap junk" category mentioned in the OP.

 

[american lockpicker]

I can't stand the strobe also won't that cause seizures with some people.

 

[Cosmo7809]

I saw your Sig. line :
Its better to have it and not need it, then to need it and not have it.
(bye the way- the tenth word should be *than*)

Seriously......




BTW: Rather have strobe than, SOS.

Also, alot of people say strobe is "in my way"
So let ask you, how many times have you pulled your EDC light to mistakenly turn the strobe on first? Or have to cycle through modes to get to your desired brightness? Most of the time strobe is last on the line of modes or you can program where it is on the line.

It comes down to this. DONT BUY A LIGHT IF IT HAS STROBE OR SOS AND YOU DO NOT LIKE NOR NEED THOSE FEATURES. As I said before there are plenty of lights you can buy without these modes. Dont buy it and you dont have to complain. Its as easy as that.

 

[Benson]

Cellphone is not visible at a distance, or in a crowd of thousands of others all also yacking on their cellphones.

Actually, I think TooManyGizmos's thought was that you could use your cellphone to call the person you're trying to notify of your position.

Outdoors, and provided you both have GPS, this is a good idea. Otherwise, it can be... quite awkward. Attempting to inform someone of your location over a voice channel is not the easiest thing in the world, especially if neither of you has established visual contact yet.

But though I see the point of a strobe for that purpose, I'd rather have a good momentary function allowing me to manually strobe the light when I want it than a strobe mode cluttering the UI when I don't want it. (If the strobe mode is implemented without cluttering the UI, that's OK, too, but I'd still rather have momentary if I had to choose one.)

 

[Cosmo7809]

It comes down to this. DONT BUY A LIGHT IF IT HAS STROBE OR SOS AND YOU DO NOT LIKE NOR NEED THOSE FEATURES.
As I said before there are plenty of lights you can buy without these modes. Dont buy it and you dont have to complain. Its as easy as that.

I wouldnt buy a light with a strike bezel and the next day make a post saying "omg who would ever use a strike bezel, they are so dumb and non-useful in EDC tasks." I just would not have bought the light.

 

[Marduke]

Actually, I think TooManyGizmos's thought was that you could use your cellphone to call the person you're trying to notify of your position.

Have you never been on a cellphone at an event with 90,000 other people, standing in a section on the phone with a friend you are meeting saying "I'm standing over here, can you see me waving my arm??" Being on the phone with someone in a crowd trying to direct one person to the other is an exercise in futility.

Outdoors, and provided you both have GPS, this is a good idea. Otherwise, it can be... quite awkward. Attempting to inform someone of your location over a voice channel is not the easiest thing in the world, especially if neither of you has established visual contact yet.

Hence my above statement... Using a strobe differentiates a person in a crowd instantly.

But though I see the point of a strobe for that purpose, I'd rather have a good momentary function allowing me to manually strobe the light when I want it than a strobe mode cluttering the UI when I don't want it.

That's great if your light has momentary to begin with. It becomes awkward with a twisty....

 

[matrixshaman]

I think there are strobaphobics. Me - just give me Disco Disco man - strobe me all night long. :crackup:

I seriously would not want to be without a light that can do strobe but I'd have to agree that some of the cheap DX lights could probably sell better if they had a few more without strobe and ones that in place of that had a very low low. :thumbsup:

 

[Wattnot]

:dedhorse: :dedhorse: :dedhorse: :dedhorse::dedhorse: :dedhorse: :dedhorse: :dedhorse::dedhorse: :dedhorse: :dedhorse: :dedhorse::dedhorse: :dedhorse: :dedhorse: :dedhorse::dedhorse: :dedhorse: :dedhorse: :dedhorse::dedhorse: :dedhorse: :dedhorse: :dedhorse: :dedhorse::dedhorse: :dedhorse: :dedhorse::dedhorse::dedhorse::dedhorse::dedhorse:

 

[Cosmo7809]

^^^^^damn right

 

[old4570]

Yeah , I just want a flashlight less the junk functions .
Want to defend yourself = Carry permit + 357

I cant see strobe fending off a determined attacker ! In fact , if your depending on strobe to save your life ? I think you might end up seriously disappointed , you might fend off a half wit , but a seasoned veteran Felon , I think your in for a world of hurt !

Even pepper spray has its limits , and will not stop someone hell bent on hurting you , strobe ? you can have it , I dont want it !

 

[TooManyGizmos]

Maybe the member who created the OP (and many like him) are more like the average consumer who does not like to spend $80 and $200 for a light.

He must be seeing a lot of lights that he has intrest in but would prefer it have just the basic functions of a light without the SOS & strobe to go through.

He is simply frustrated that the choice he prefers is not availabe to him. He does not have the choice and ability to buy the light he likes without the SOS and strobe. Those of you who think you may someday have a need for these *feel good* features are the lucky ones. And since you are so much in favor of these two features - you must be the ones buying all the cheap lights that have it.

If you feel so threatened and unsafe you should be buying SAT phones and floating locator beacons that transmit locator radio signals.

And don't forget fish hooks , twine , Bic lighter , multi-tool , water purification tablets and band-aids.

 

[TooManyGizmos]

I was just trying to help *old4570* out while he was abscent and keep his thread going.

But now that he's back ...... I'll let him take over


.

 

[defloyd77]

I can see where this one's going...How about all of these lights with a 1/10th lumen low. Are these any less redundant than strobe? Heck most of your guys arguments about strobe can be said about low lows They do have their places, but I have my 1 light with a low low and I DON'T want, nor need another light with it.

 

[Benson]

That's great if your light has momentary to begin with. It becomes awkward with a twisty....

Exactly -- that's why twisties suck. :nana:

 

[seaside]

Strobos are quite useful for some people, for example, bikers.
I sometimes think it's kinda fun, even if I do not like strobe of any sort.
SOS is not useful at 99.99% of time, and you should try to avoid that 0.01% chance of using it, rather than find yourself SOS useful.

Thus, any flashlight with more than 1 strobe mode is kind of deal breaker for me. I personally want to see more two mode drivers available. High/medium or high/"low" low or high/user define brightness, with no strobe/SOS would be nice.

 

[defloyd77]

You know guys, the same arguments can for/against strobe can be used for these one millionth lumen lows....