Do you carry a backup light or spare batteries?

[AlphaZen]

Let's do a poll

 

[RobertM]

I tend to always have at least two lights. Having spare batteries depends on whether or not I have certain bags with me (computer, camera, etc.) which I've stashed spares in.

-Robert

 

[Barbarian]

I always have at least one backup light on me and when I'm wearing a jacket, I carry a spare battery (CR123).

 

[curiousone1]

Back up battery is sufficient.......I try not to carry more than I have to.....I was unloading my EDC "kit" from my old pants to my new ones this morning......had it all laid out on the bed.....my wife asked me, "You carry all that around with you EVERY DAY?!? To which I gladly exclaimed, "Yep...every day."

 

[Illum]

Backups on backups...

does EDCing a light purely for the benefit of having extra batteries constitute as spare batteries or spare lights?:candle:

Fenix E01 as backup to the Muyshondt Aeon, Surefire L6 as backup to the Streamlight PP4AALux, Surefire L4 MCE'd by AaronM as backup to another Surefire L4 MCE'd by AaronM:nana:

I carry an inova X5 purely as a cell carrier

Much of it is in dead weight, since I'm only out in the daytime. But at times there will be study overhauls that keeps me on campus until nearly midnight...and parking garages are awhiles away

 

[tsask]

I recall a phrase: "C-cubed" pertaining to triple redundancy.

A failure will usually occur when you are USING a light, of course.
Knowing in some cases that a light will not be utilized until "something has gone wrong" means great distress and possibly danger if a light fails.
I always have a spare or 2,3..4?. There is no excuse not to have at least one or more keychain coincell LEDs on your keys. For EDC duty, spare cells can be carried /used although a separate battery pouch holster would add to "congestion" on the right side of my belt.

 

[gallonoffuel]

I carry an E1L in my cargo pocket to backup my SF C3. On the odd chance that the C3 craps out, the E1L has at least one fresh battery, and will run for a pretty long time on 'depleted' cells, of which I would have 3 in the C3. The ARC-AAA on my keyring is a last resort.

 

[Ajay]

Primary: D10 Q5 + 3 eneloops
Secondary: SF 6p Q5 18650 + 2x 18650
+ battery junction coin light

edit: I seriously have to lighten that load but it's winter and I have a backpack.

 

[kelmo]

That depends. If I'm goofing off around town I usually have a small pocket light, currently an Arc AAA GS and whatever is at hand that is holstered for belt carry. Right now that is a C2 w/BOG drop in I'm using to squeeze the life out of a couple of well used cells.

If I'm on the trail or traveling I will have both. Luck favors the prepared!

kelmo

 

[carrot]

I always have my McLux PD and Muyshondt Mako on me. I usually also have an Arc-AAA, which is on my keys. I don't really carry backups for the McLux PD, although if I remember I'll carry spare batteries for it. The Quark MiNi 123 makes an excellent battery carrier/backup also.

If I'm carrying a bag or wearing a jacket I usually have whatever random lights I felt like having. Right now there's a Surefire C2+M61 in my jacket and an ICON Rogue II in my bag. I also have a handful of CR123 in that bag.

 

[fespo276]

Besides my key-chain light (LD01), I always carry one "main" EDC light with extra batteries. Usually in a cargo pocket, like such:

 

[computerpro3]

I carry a Mini AA with a 14500 in it on my keys, and a LED 2AA MiniMag (with the rebel) in my backpack, along with 2 L91 primaries (in case it's cold) and 2 Eneloops in a dealextreme battery holder. Takes up virtually no space (the maglite fits in a pen holder pocket in the backpack) and is extremely light. As an added bonus, I just ordered a Eneloop 2AA mobile booster/charger, so I'll always have a power source for my cell phone.

The batteries are interchangable with both lights, and between them and the backup batteries I should have enough light for weeks on the low modes.

 

[makuyo]

Main EDC: Quark AA R2 Tactical + AW 14500 + 14500 spares x2

Backup: Quark MiNi 123 Q3-5a + AW RCR123 + 3volts RCR123 LifePo x2

all in my right front jeans pocket with all 4 spare batteries in a small sealed plastic..

 

[Ajax517]

On my person, just one light with backup lights and batteries in my backpack.

 

[Yucca Patrol]

When caving, I bring multiple backups plus enough batteries to run for many days if somehow we became trapped.

Every day, I just carry an EDC in a pocket and have a backup light on my keychain. No extra batteries.

 

[f22shift]

usually a backup light. and preferably one that uses the same battery type so in essence it's holding spares too.
often i find that i will never run out of power because of today's efficiencies. so i rather not carry the dead weight unless it's in another flashlight so i have option if the light fails or i need to lend out one.

i think i would carry spares if i were without a charger or place to buy batteries for a week or more.

 

[jp2515]

Usually try to carry both a backup light and spare batteries (for each if applicable). Most of the time I will try to carry a CR123 light as the main, a AA light as a spare and a AAA light just in case. In the event of a emergency, at least the AA batteries shouldn't be hard to find.

 

[souptree]

Another idea to consider:

Are your backups compatible with each other? If a tailcap fails on one light, can you raid the other light for spare parts?

 

[The Hawk]

I carry a backup light. Extra batteries won't help if I drop my main light. Backup light will help me find dropped light. Plus, I can loan my backup light to someone if need be.
Backup light can be deployed quicker than changing batteries.
Having a backup light allows for two different styles of light to be used.
Plus, I get to have two lights with me.

 

[makuyo]

Another idea to consider:

Are your backups compatible with each other? If a tailcap fails on one light, can you raid the other light for spare parts?

which is why there is a backup light...:shrug: