EDC, Rotary or Custom?

[Tommygun45]

Over the past year I have tried out as many lights as I can. The two remaining areas I haven't delved into are monster lights, triple XML or Lamba types, and the McGizmo/Mac/customs world. I have $200 sitting in my paypal account and I EDC my beloved Rotary. I also have an E1e and some Malkoff stuff I could always part with (for funding purposes).

Point being, I love my HDS Rotary. Its a great light. However, is a McGizmo worth it? I am not hell bent by any means on Titanium. Its neat and all but the aesthetics of it don't suck me in. However is there a feeling of even more substantial-ness*/quality to these lights than the Rotary? I also don't have unlimited funds here so the Rotary would most likely have to fuel the McGizmo. Do you guys think it would be worth it?

 

[nbp]

Absolutely! McGizmos are so worth it. Read my review of the Haiku somewhere here in the LED lights section a page or two down for my thoughts. Few other lights tempt me anymore, because they just waste McGizmo money.

 

[Tommygun45]

Ok Ok I hear ya but is it worth giving up a bunch of other lights to just have a collection of them? Do they get redundant? Can there be that much difference in them? I like to have all of my 'lighting needs' bases covered.

 

[nbp]

Well, some of Don's lights are very niche lights, like the SunDrop or Mule. Others like the Haiku are great all-arounders. I have several of Henry's lights and they are fantastic. But for me, I found Don's lights to better suit my EDC needs. I wouldn't tell you to sell all of your lights and buy McGizmos on a whim. They may not be for you. What I'd say is keep your current lights or at least the ones you really like, and save for a bit longer. Then I'd look for a lightly used Haiku on the Custom BST. They routinely sell around the $350 mark. Give it a try, and see how you like it. If you don't, you will get that money back if you put it up for sale.

 

[xcel730]

To be honest, you know the answer better than anyone else. There will always be those who say yes, it's worth it to spend $500 on a custom light and there will be those who say no.

McGizmo targets to a very niche market and quite frankly you could probably find a suitable light that meets your needs for a fraction of the cost. I would be very surprised if someone says that functionally McGizmo offers something no other flashlight offer.

So it's really up to you to determine whether you want to spend the additional money to buy a nice custom light that could bring you joy every time you carry it.

This is similar to buying an expensive watch. Some people find it extravagant while many others love to collect them.

 

[Tommygun45]

I think that's a great logical answer as well. I just don't currently have the budget to be delving into this right now. I am just so damn curious. I bought a Quark Turbo 123x2 last September with money I had saved up for a week. Since then I've spent, according to my spreadsheet I keep, $3,260. Granted, I have sold back about $1,600 to the MP but I have tried almost everything I want to try. Have a good stable of Malkoff's, Surefire's, and a Rotary and my Turbo of course, can't sell my first born.

I am thinking with the $200 I am going to get an O-Light SR-51 to fill the throwy hole that I have. Then maybe a Peak Logan because I need an AA light. Have a whole bunch of AA's in a bug out bag and then gave away my old Quark AA to a friend. Need to replace that. When I get a round of Cerakoted and bored lights back that are out right now I will reassess, and see if I can consolodate some.

Another concern with these lights is last year I lost my E1B Backup. It felt like someone had stolen my car. It was just devastating. And I had gotten that one for $110. I think if I got one of these now and actually carried it I would be so horrified to lose it I might not even use it. That would be a shame. I guess I'll experiment a bit more for the meantime but thanks for your advice! Also excellent review on the Haiku. Ill get one of them one day. That's what Christmas is for right?

 

[:)>]

GET THE OLIGHT SR51!!! Awesome light!

 

[TyJo]

I love my HDS rotary, and I know people love their McGizmos. Titanium doesn't do much for me and I found the HDS lights to be perfect for me with the presets, programability, UI, build quality, etc. I know the McGizmos are tough, but I don't think they are potted, which I like in a light (but potting has its drawbacks as well, like if you wanna open the thing up). Another point to consider is if you need 4 presets or 3 and if you frequently use low low modes, I do all the time.

I don't think its a good idea to dump the rotary for a McGizmo. If you could get rid of some other lights you aren't using and save up some funds that might be the better way to go. I hope to get one eventually. Then again if you have lights that are similar enough to the rotary it would bring in a lot of cash at the MP.

 

[d_rasp]

Had the opportunity to snag up a *VERY* nice McGizmo PD-S here a month or two back. Thought of ditching my HDS high CRI Clicky to fund it, but decided to make it work so I would have both for a week or two before I had to choose which to let go. . .for me, the MiGizmo was a BEE-YOU-TEE-FUL light, but nowhere near as useful as the HDS. YMMV, of course, as everyone else has said. I will miss having that PD-S forever, wish I could justify owning both, but. . .

 

[pjandyho]

This question in the OP is exactly what I have been thinking for the last few weeks. For years I have been thinking of acquiring a McGizmo but have always held back. I have to agree they are beautiful looking lights but my lights must be functional too. The latest thread started by nbp had me drooling over a Haiku again I have to admit. I know I won't like the UI because anything with click through output change and memory just doesn't appeal to me, and the lack of super low moon mode is another drawback. So I thought about it and came to the conclusion that if I am going to spend $500 on it inclusive of shipping, it would just purely be for the blink factor.

I still occasionally thought of getting one and have been thinking of selling some other less used lights (including some Surefire too) to accumulate enough money to buy one, but I am definitely not letting go of my HDS lights. Never.

 

[nbp]

Don't worry Andy, Henry's lights and Don's lights play nice together. ;)

 

[pjandyho]

Don't worry Andy, Henry's lights and Don's lights play nice together. ;)

I just got to thank you for starting the thread in praise of McGizmo. You had me itching all over for one even though I know I don't need it.

 

[nbp]

Riiiiiight. ;) That's what I said when I had accumulated 5 HDS lights. I don't need a McGizmo, I have 5 HDSs, and saved myself a bunch of money!

But deep inside, I always knew I'd end up in Don's forum. I tried to avoid it as long as possible, but alas, I ended up there. And there is no turning back now. :eek:

How do you know you don't need it if you haven't even tried it? That doesn't make any sense. ;) Just try one...what's the harm. :devil:

And I'm glad you liked the review. :)

 

[pjandyho]

Riiiiiight. ;) That's what I said when I had accumulated 5 HDS lights. I don't need a McGizmo, I have 5 HDSs, and saved myself a bunch of money!

But deep inside, I always knew I'd end up in Don's forum. I tried to avoid it as long as possible, but alas, I ended up there. And there is no turning back now. :eek:

How do you know you don't need it if you haven't even tried it? That doesn't make any sense. ;) Just try one...what's the harm. :devil:

And I'm glad you liked the review. :)

I don't like anything that has a 3 mode click switching and memory. I could still accept it if it operates like the Surefire S2 Stratum, always starting on low output, but the memory really kills it for me as I won't be able to remember which output I last used it and may end up blinding myself when I turn it on in the highest output.

And thanks, I really liked the review. It is so tempting, especially when I saw how the clickie switch was recessed in the tail cap. Beautiful. If not for the UI, I would have bought it without a thought.

 

[the.Mtn.Man]

...is a McGizmo worth it?

It depends on what you want out of a light. As far as ruggedness and utility are concerned, I daresay HDS and Surefire (among others) are easily a match for McGizmo, though I am of the opinion that the HDS Rotary is one of the most versatile lights on the market; plus it has a true low which gives it a leg up over the competition.

What sets McGizmo apart is the undeniable "bling" factor, but whether or not that alone makes them worth their premium price is really for you to decide.

 

[the.Mtn.Man]

I don't like anything that has a 3 mode click switching and memory. I could still accept it if it operates like the Surefire S2 Stratum, always starting on low output, but the memory really kills it for me as I won't be able to remember which output I last used it and may end up blinding myself when I turn it on in the highest output.

I agree. I was considering the Haiku recently, but I knew the memory and lack of a true low mode would drive me nuts. I just couldn't justify spending $500 on a light that I knew I'd hate using. They're great lights, but they're not for me.

 

[Tommygun45]

Ok this thread has made me reconsider my needs. Thanks alot guys. I went ahead and ordered the SR-51. Now I have a wow light. As far as bling factor goes with titanium and all that if I told any of my friends how much the thing actually cost they would all punch me square in the face. Not to mention my girlfriend whom I am saving up to get a ring. I have about $50 left over in the account. Might sell another thing or two and then I just need to find the best all around AA light I can, and throw a few more bucks at it. But thanks for all of the honesty and openness. Reading review after review of the lights just makes it so darn tempting. One of these days Ill grab one, try it out, and hopefully flip it back on the MP. I hope I dont keep it, then we'll have a problem... ;-)

 

[Tommygun45]

On another note, what about Mac's lights? I haven't seen anyone comment on them much in here. Their $200 price tag is far more in my range and they seem to be pretty powerful lights. I also like cerakoted lights far more than titanium lights. Anyone have any opinion on those guys?