What are the five most important features you look for before you buy a pocket sized compact flashlight? Some people need or want features that others consider optional or useless but I have a feeling that some features will be pretty universal.
This only applies to small, compact pocket lights the size of a Surefire 6P or smaller. Something you can EDC or carry in a coat or pants pocket. Not talking about full sized duty lights or key chain lights. Basically talking about single or double AAA, AA, CR-123 lights.
Here are my five most needed features in a pocket light. Not in any particular order.
1. Pocket clip. As important on a light as a pocket knife to me. I won't buy a knife without a clip and I would prefer it if clips were standard on lights as well.
2. LED. Kind of goes without saying but it must be a LED. The durability, runtime and longevity can not be matched by incandescents.
3. Must run on standard AAA or AAs. I have moved away from oddball batteries and now want to stick to batteries I can find anywhere.
4. One hand easy operation. This often means a clicky switch not a twisty. I am not going to use two hands to operate a light anymore than I am going to go back to using two hands to open a pocket knife. I am not going backwards when there are better ways.
5. Cost. With LEDs being so good and so inexpensive, there is really no good reason to spend big bucks on a pocket light. There was a day when you had to spend $100 on a Surefire to get a good light but with the new LEDs, there are better lights for far less money now. I use my lights and they are subject to being lost, stolen and damaged so dropping large sums of cash doesn't make sense when I can get 90% of the same performance at 30% of the price.
There are some features that I strongly like but they won't keep me from buying an otherwise good light. I like the ability to change from flood to throw and I like having at least two modes for when you want a dimmer light. I also like forward clicky, waterproof and the ability to tailstand but those features are just nice and not essential.
This only applies to small, compact pocket lights the size of a Surefire 6P or smaller. Something you can EDC or carry in a coat or pants pocket. Not talking about full sized duty lights or key chain lights. Basically talking about single or double AAA, AA, CR-123 lights.
Here are my five most needed features in a pocket light. Not in any particular order.
1. Pocket clip. As important on a light as a pocket knife to me. I won't buy a knife without a clip and I would prefer it if clips were standard on lights as well.
2. LED. Kind of goes without saying but it must be a LED. The durability, runtime and longevity can not be matched by incandescents.
3. Must run on standard AAA or AAs. I have moved away from oddball batteries and now want to stick to batteries I can find anywhere.
4. One hand easy operation. This often means a clicky switch not a twisty. I am not going to use two hands to operate a light anymore than I am going to go back to using two hands to open a pocket knife. I am not going backwards when there are better ways.
5. Cost. With LEDs being so good and so inexpensive, there is really no good reason to spend big bucks on a pocket light. There was a day when you had to spend $100 on a Surefire to get a good light but with the new LEDs, there are better lights for far less money now. I use my lights and they are subject to being lost, stolen and damaged so dropping large sums of cash doesn't make sense when I can get 90% of the same performance at 30% of the price.
There are some features that I strongly like but they won't keep me from buying an otherwise good light. I like the ability to change from flood to throw and I like having at least two modes for when you want a dimmer light. I also like forward clicky, waterproof and the ability to tailstand but those features are just nice and not essential.
By that theory I should have more than one
