How is your collection distributed between users and shelf-queens?

[brighterisbetter]

Just curious.

EDIT - As per the 3rd post I have decided to clarify what I think constitutes a shelf-queen.

shelf-queen: a light that rarely gets powered on whose main intention for owning is purely for showing-off or bragging rights, or one that doesn't get used often for fear of getting scratched or dropped. a light which does see use at home but doesn't go outdoors or is handled infrequently could also fit here (ie. nightstand light).

user: any light that doesn't fall into the above category

This means that a 6P for example could be one person's shelf-queen and another person's user. This poll was not created with the intention of grading lights according to one's income universally; it's merely for fun. A Spy 007 could easily fall into either category as many users EDC theirs while others sleep in a display case. The important thing to remember is that a light technically can't be considered both a user and a shelf-queen, unless of course it's the only one you have. In the case where one has many lights in their collection, along with a Rayovac plastic 2D sitting in a drawer not seeing use, I'd consider that to be a user because it's not extreme care the reason for inactivity, but rather neglect or for JIC (just-in-case) scenarios. Take from this what you will. :o

 

[DaFABRICATA]

I use the Shelf Queens in the house only...but they do get used.

I have a lot of lights and I ALWAYS load up my backpack when I'm heading out so that I have a nice selection to use.

I voted 35-65

 

[deranged_coder]

I think you need to clarify a bit on what you mean by "shelf queen". Do you mean something purely for collecting and was never carried or used? Or would you expand that to mean something that is no longer in regular use now (and is now simply "on the shelf") but was regularly used in the past? Would a regularly used "hard use" light that has not been subjected to "hard use" be a "shelf queen"? :shrug:

If you mean the first definition, I only have a small handful of lights (less than 10% of all the lights I have ever owned) that were purchased purely for collecting. Most everything I have bought I have EDC'd and used at one point or another.

If you mean the second definition, I do have several "shelf queens" (more than half of my collection, though in my case, they sit in a drawer, not on a shelf) now but that is because they have either (1) been superseded by other lights (for example, my Surefire E2e-SG Executive is a "shelf queen" now because it has no longer been carried in my pocket for over a year but when I first got it I carried it regularly) or I bought it, tried it out for EDC, did not work too well for EDC use but I still like it (for example my Surefire 6P falls into this category, I bought it and I like it a lot but I find it a wee bit bulky for EDC use so I never carried it regularly).

On the third thing I brought up, I have a Surefire M6 which has not seen a lot of use because I keep it as a "bump in the night" light. It has barely been taken out of the house because I keep it by the bed under the assumption that if I hear something going "bump" in the night then I want a reliable light that will produce a lot of light. Since it has not been subjected to the hard use it was designed to endure, would that be considered a "shelf queen"?

 

[Flying Turtle]

In all honesty I probably regularly use less than 5% of my lights. I've been accumulating flashlights for a long time, always looking for something new, and see no end in sight...thankfully.

Geoff

Edit: Based on the rewording of post #1, I should clarify my response by saying I have 5% user lights, and 95% shelf pawns.

 

[danpass]

I put 20/80.

But they're not really shelf queens as I have the 3 SF G2's around the house "just in case" and the Fenix L1P and Brinkman LX are in a drawer for the moment.

My SF A2 is my user/EDC

 

[divine]

I have lights I carry and lights I don't carry, but only because of their usefulness. If I thought any of my lights were best suited for a task, I would be using it.

For some reason, I rarely carry a Surefire.

 

[Guy's Dropper]

I have a light that I use indoors only. My old Inova X03 with TIROS is just so pretty. It is no longer the most efficient light, and I don't want to get it scratched, so I only use it indoors, if ever. Eventually I'm going to get around to modding it, but I have a well-used T-3 until then.

 

[Sub_Umbra]

By your definition I have no shelf queens. I have lights that don't get turned on much -- but I don't own them to show or impress anyone else -- I have them just for me.

A good example would be my Inova XT5 HA III Nat from Country Comm or my Ultra Gs or my Sonic G. They are not to show off. They are just for me.

 

[HoopleHead]

No Shelf Queens here.

 

[Moka]

0 Shelf queens... Not everything of mine gets used all the time, but they've all been EDC'd at one point or another, and they're all in bags, cars and various other places ready when I may need them :D

 

[nzbazza]

I don't have any "shelf queens" per se, or purchased torches/headlamps for collecting. However as I only can use 1 or 2 torches at only one time, the others sit around waiting their turn.

It's the 95/5 rule: 5% of the torches get used 95% of the time while the other 95% get used for 5% of the time.

 

[Chrontius]

One precious shelf queen that gets taken out and used now and again in the house. Everything else (~5 surefires, 3 Inovas, a couple Mag mods, and a Pelican) are or were users, though the Pelican M3 LED only had a short stint due to obnoxious purple tint and typical Lux3 efficiency. I should really compare it to a P60L at some point, but the thing is not efficient.

Brighterisbetter, I'd suggest a third class - backup lights. These are not users in that they don't get used much, but they aren't shelf queens in that they are bought with the intention of becoming users when confronted with some pressing need.

 

[ypsifly]

No shelf queens in my house. They all get used on a semi regular basis be it for navigating my way through the house for a late night snack, night fishing/hiking, taking the garbage out, after dark walks to the liquor store....etc.

 

[PhantomPhoton]

Ive got a couple hotwires that don't have the longest of runtimes... they're mainly wow lights so I'd consider them to be shelf queens in a sense. But a large majority of my lights 95% are users and do get used or are in a position to be used should I need it - such as a bail out bag.

 

[alanagnostic]

I voted 80% users but I really just have one that doesn't get used...a titanium McGizmo. All the rest get used.

 

[rayman]

I don't have any shelf-queens. When I buy, build or mod a new flashlight it always has to have a purpose even when the purpose is sometimes not very reasonable ;). But I think this will change with the time :D.

rayman

 

[Kingfisher]

All mine get used, and the ones that don't get lent out or given away. I just gave away an EO1 and some batteries to my son (as it wasn't getting much regular use or keyring time).

 

[tx101]

I have about half of my lights scattered around the house, they are all users.
Mainly Mags, SFs and Chinese
The shelf queens are locked in safe (a present from the Mrs) and I have two or three beaters which are also lend out.

 

[Juggernaut]

0% shelf queens. No use for the not used:whistle:.

 

[A/V Dude]

I don't even know the meaning of "shelf queen" :D