Flood is underrated

[CaseyS]

I'm still very new to the quality flashlight world, but before purchasing anything, I read quite a few posts on this forum to get an idea of what to look for. Seems like one of the most popular questions is, "How well does it throw?" After playing around with a Malkoff MD2 with a a M60WLF, I wonder why more people don't ask, "How effective is the flood?"

So far all I have is a Fenix LD01, a neutral white Quark AA and the MD2. Of the three, I will always reach for the MD2 for any home task. Whether it's looking around the basement or attic, looking into a computer case, hooking up a home theater system, or finding a dropped item in the lawn, the big floody beam from the Malkoff is fantastic. I still love the Quark and will probably carry it most of the time when I leave the house, but after reading quite a few threads, I have to say flood is underrated.

 

[jonesy]

I completely agree with you, my floodier lights are the ones that get the most use. I went camping for two weeks and the M60 only got used a few times, whereas my novatac and zebralight were always fired up. I'm thinking of switching up my edc to a Titan t1a and then something like the upcoming LX1 for when I could use some throw.

 

[kramer5150]

Spot throwers are more fun to play with... "Ooooh Aaaaah".
Flood beams are more fun to actually use.

IMHO

 

[CaseyS]

A Zebralight H60w will probably be my next purchase. The M60WLF has a 20 degree flood that seems perfect for anything within about a 10 foot sphere. I'm guessing a Zebralight with its 80 degree flood is going to be most effective at a much closer range than that. It should be an interesting comparison.

 

[CaseyS]

Spot throwers are more fun to play with... "Ooooh Aaaaah".
Flood beams are more fun to actually use.

IMHO

I hear ya. Once I'm done buying "tools", I'll definitely be looking to buy a "toy" :laughing:

 

[computernut]

I tend to lean on the flood side with my usage. Still having a good thrower is useful when you want to see what those glowing eyes are off in the distance. I love using my F04 on my Surefires but it really reduces the range so I find I'm popping it on and off as I do things outside.

 

[Kestrel]

Spot throwers are more fun to play with... "Ooooh Aaaaah".
Flood beams are more fun to actually use.
IMHO

+2. Throw is more useful sometimes, particularly for some out-of-doors situations.
Flood is more useful most of the time for folks who actually use their lights.

 

[StarHalo]

+3, I have no idea why all the manufacturers are moving towards more throw; the previous-generation Fenixes had a beautifully balanced beam, and I don't know of any recent JetBeam I'd have much use for.. At least Quark seems to understand.

 

[Dances with Flashlight]

+2. Throw is more useful sometimes, particularly for some out-of-doors situations.
Flood is more useful most of the time for folks who actually use their lights.

+3

Many of us dream about some new thrower that will be able to substitute for a laser to measure the precise distance to the moon. But it's the little EDC that lights up everything nearby that gets the most use.

 

[OceanView]

I hear ya. I'm a flood guy, too. Unfortunately, flood is rarely sexy, whether you're talking flashlights or pants.

 

[DimeRazorback]

EDC a flood light and a thrower

 

[Kestrel]

EDC a flood light and a thrower

+1, that's what I do. However, I have found that you need _way_ more floody lumens to impress someone, that's why I carry a single-cell P7. :huh:

 

[Big_Ed]

While I like floody lights, and find them very useful in many situations, overall I find lights that throw are more useful. You can turn a thrower into a flooder, (like putting an F04 on my E2DL), but try turning a flooder into a thrower. Not too easy. I find that as long as you have a diffuser for a light that's built to throw, you have the best of both worlds. Need flood? Just put the diffuser on. Need throw a couple minutes later? Just take the diffuser off. Simple.

 

[jupello]

I prefer floody beams on my lights, and reasonably wide hotspot is another thing I've found to please my eye in practical use.

 

[metlarules]

I use a surefire flip up beam diffuser on my 6p. That way I have both flood and throw in one light. It is the light that I use the most.

 

[NE450No2]

Flood is good... Throw is good...

Under @80 Lumens Flood is good.

Over @100 Lumens I want THROW.

 

[Kestrel]

Under @80 Lumens Flood is good.
Over @100 Lumens I want THROW.

That's funny, my taste is the opposite - If a light has very low output, I prefer a very focused beam to provide some throw, as even a low output thrower is very useful to me, but floody lights are useful for me only at relatively higher lumen outputs. :tinfoil:

 

[zven]

Yeah, I think flood is often left ignored next to the well-promoted throw that many lights demonstrate or try for. Then again, I think there are lots of us who recognize and desire the utility of a good flood beam, so maybe it's not TOO underrated.

Myself, I have use for both flood and throw. Some things require one, some better served with the other. So to me, I think I'd prefer a light than can do either/or, over a light that is a specifically a good flooder. One of my EDC lights is a SF C2 with M60 and FM34, and I can't tell you how much I love that FM34. From throwy spot to beautiful, wide flood in half a second, and then back again just as easily. I just wish such flip-up diffusers were available for a greater number of flashlights...

 

[NE450No2]

Kestrel

My thoughts/ uses are, If I am using the light close up, ie I want some flood, and not much over 80 lumens...

It I am going to "pay" [in battery $$$] for much over 100 lumens, it is because I am looking at a distance, of if up close for "detail" like blood, so Throw is what I want.

For instance I find my A2 Aviator has the near perfect balance between throw and flood, for a personal light.

Any of the SF lights that use the P60 bulb have more throw [better for tactical uses no doubt] than the A2, and less usable "personal" flood.

I only think in terms of Sure Fire lights, as that is what I use, but when I go above more than 2 CR123 primaries I want Throw.

 

[arcel1t]

I dont think flood is underrated, flood light excell at what they are ment to do.
When checking the computer,car or stuff around the house I always use my H60.
It's also great to iluminate the campsite, youst clip it to a branch and put it in medium\high.