Is there less interest in throw these days?

[gcbryan]

I'm just curious. A while back (last year I guess) it seemed that most/many posts were primarily interested in flashlights with the greatest throw potential. That doesn't seem to be a prevalent now.

Am I correct in thinking this and for those who did buy lights for throw are you still using them/finding as useful as you thought you would?

I know in my case I rarely use those lights anymore and never did really have a 'need" for them. For outdoor use the XP-G is a better compromise for me and for indoor use the XM-L is the go to light.

Anyone out there still finding much use for the more dedicated throwers? The problem with throwers (obviously) not being how far they throw but how narrow their beams are and therefore not useful for much other than throwing.

 

[kaichu dento]

Throw and total output being two of the most impressive characteristics of lights have been given far too much importance in the buying decisions of many who are now discovering that tint, close-range beam pattern, controllability of available output, UI and form factor matter far more. That's why I believe we're now seeing so much more interest in lights capable of lower output levels (while still having a decent high setting), warmer tints and floodier beam patterns.

 

[^Gurthang]

+1 on what Kaichu said. Perhaps best summed up as "market maturation"...

 

[knifeguy68]

Throw is fun. Being able to really light something up at a few hundred feet is just impressive when goofing around and I am sure there are those who have a real need for such a thing.

That being said, for actual use I prefer just moderate throw with a good flood mixed in and lower output options. When going out with the dogs or something, I like the ability to have a moderate output and being able to see over a wide area easily...much more useful than seeing a trash can at a hundred yards and nothing else.

 

[trooplewis]

I'm a "throw" kind of guy, just ordered a TK41 specifically for that reason. My Beagle loved for me to 'spot' bunnies with a nice long throw.

But it depends on the application; I have several AA lights that are good floody lights for when I need a flashlight in the house, and in my car I have a 3-mode XM-L that can be a pretty decent thrower or a long-life low-mode light if I need to work on the car.

 

[jondotcom]

I think it comes down to having 10 flashlights and you can't use any of them to find something in your house at night because they are all too bright and give you a migraine. Where did my D cell mag go?

 

[nfetterly]

Wall O'light - not flood. A multi (modern) LED light at high amps with optics gives such a HUGE wall of light - particularly inside a industrial facility is just so damn impressive. The great ones are no cheap though.

 

[Brian10962001]

Buy a flood to throw light and I bet you end up using it on full flood way more than full focus ;) That's what I've found to be the case, generally I need to see inside a fuse panel, under a starter, find a tool I dropped, etc. Having a tightly focused light just isn't pratical up close where flashlights are generally used. I fired up my l2m with the 3 mode XPG drop in on high while under a car and it nearly blinded me! had to switch it back over to low mode, and ultimately I ended up swapping my XM-L with R2 OP reflector into it because it's such a smoother, floodier beam.

 

[Shriker]

Throwers are great for impressing the girls (right!?) but arent really that useful for most. For me i think its just an impressive control of the light. I find a 50 lumen pure flood such as one with the reflector taken off completely to be more useful in close spaces than a 200 lumen with even medium spot in the same space.

 

[linterno]

Brightest LED nowadays (XM-L and XP-G) are not good throwers. (Well, to avoid dangerous replies, not always are good throwers, probably there are some exceptions)

I guess people is looking for brighter lights.

 

[LEDninja]

Manufacturers are forced to use XP-Gs and XM-Ls as the XR-Es are no longer in production. As they are reluctant to claim their current torches THROW LESS than their previous models they stopped pushing throw numbers in their advertising.

 

[Mike_TX]

I think it's safe to say the trend for awhile was to develop LED's (and hosts) that could impress with huge long throw. Over time, however, the novelty of sheer throw has worn off, and people have realized pure throwers are limited in their utility. Now that powerful flooders have come along, I think many of us are realizing that they are a better all-round solution. After all, if a flashlight can send a powerful shaft of light 100 yards AND light up your whole back yard, it has more flexibility.

I still like my throwers and there is a place for them, but it's clear to me my XM-L's are more well-rounded all-purpose lights.

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[gcbryan]

I just masked the lens over the spot led on my headlamp with translucent tape to make that beam more useful and better looking. Now I have a flood mode and a more diffused throw mode that doesn't throw as far but looks better and still throws farther than the flood mode.

 

[mccririck]

Throw isnt much use looking at things close up - you end up getting dazzled by the glare.

 

[Yoda4561]

Back when LED state of the art was 30-60 lumens, maximizing throw was essential to get the naturally floody led's into a tight enough beam to be useful as a general purpose flashlight. Nowdays with the highest power LED's you damn near can get away with no reflector at all because of how much light they put out. Too much throw is bad for general purpose since it overwhelms your vision close up, and makes it harder to see in the periphery.

 

[trooplewis]

It's all application, and I don't think one light works for all applications.
It's like saying, shotguns are more popular these days than rifles, so people must not need long-range firing solutions anymore.
Yeah, they do. That's why the TK41 is selling well. One light does not fit all.

I use AA lights on "lo" at my desk or working on my computer.
I use throwers in my yard or walking the dog.

But food for thought; it would be very cool to have an XPG or even an XML that did not have a hot spot. Something that did send out a wall of light with no center spot. Hmmm, 820 lumens spread out to full spill in a P60 would be a very nice application.

 

[Yoda4561]

The malkoff M91 is REALLY close to that. It's just not driven as hard as possible, so it's only pushing 500 or so lumens (I guess). Wish someone would put one in a decent home sphere to get some comparative numbers.

 

[srfreddy]

The malkoff M91 is REALLY close to that. It's just not driven as hard as possible, so it's only pushing 500 or so lumens (I guess). Wish someone would put one in a decent home sphere to get some comparative numbers.

I would say more around 700, because hes driving it at the "ideal" (to me) 2-2.4 ampsish, which is a really good balance between heat and output, and the small reflector means that not a lot of light is lost from the ridculous bezels that some people have-the Ultrafire XML p60 gives me tunnel vision in the dark. I wish it were cheaper-I could get the M91 with a MD2.... sweet dreams.

 

[LEDAdd1ct]

Throw and total output being two of the most impressive characteristics of lights have been given far too much importance in the buying decisions of many who are now discovering that tint, close-range beam pattern, controllability of available output, UI and form factor matter far more. That's why I believe we're now seeing so much more interest in lights capable of lower output levels (while still having a decent high setting), warmer tints and floodier beam patterns.

Very, very good points. My first 1x18650 light was a Tiablo A8. I took it out on the trail and my friend's Fenix L2P Lux I destroyed it. I could see a tree branch or leaf many feet away, but could not see my own feet. I hated it, and wound up selling it. I can't wait to get my first XP-G light.

Manufacturers are forced to use XP-Gs and XM-Ls as the XR-Es are no longer in production. As they are reluctant to claim their current torches THROW LESS than their previous models they stopped pushing throw numbers in their advertising.

I did not realize XR-E production had actually stopped! Better get that pocket thrower now!