nerdgineer
Flashlight Enthusiast
Many users seem to think tail standing (TS) is an important or even essential feature for their lights. I find this puzzling.
I don't mind TS where it doesn't diminish other features, like in front twisty lights (Civictor V1, Fenix L0X...) where it doesn't add any bulk or cost as these lights have solid square tails anyway. I MIGHT consider using ceiling bounce to light a room with a big Mag D type light - which already has a square tail - but I think I'd use my small lights (2xCR123 and under) mostly for handheld direct lighting and not for ceiling bounce. If I had to TS one, I'm sure I could find something to put under it.
What I don't like is having to work with recessed tail switch buttons on small tail clicky lights, which is what TS requires. Recessing the tail button:
1) makes the tail of the light bulkier because it now sticks out further and isn't tapered like it would be if the button just stuck out, and
2) makes it harder for me to reach the button with my thumb using a normal (sort of ice pick) grip. Instead, I have to push down into the light from further behind instead of just squeezing the button from sideways like I would do with a ball point pen. Maybe I have a fat thumb, but I often end up having to hold the light with a contorted kind of "dart thrower"s grip just so I can get my index finger onto the switch, which is annoying.
I'm particularly surprised at those who want both a tactical (momentary) clicky switch AND TS on their lights. The whole point of a "tactical" light is to be able to flash it (with the thumb, I think) while holding it in a strong ergnomic grip. A recessed tail button really gets in the way of that for me. If it's going to be tactical, then let the switch stick out and the heck with the TS.
It's why the EL XM-3, the Nuwai-2611X (= the Sharper Image 1W 1xCR123 light), and other protruding switch lights are easier to use than - say - the VB-16 which also has a forward clicky but is designed to TS. It's not the VB-16 designer's fault, he was just providing what we kept yelling for him to provide, but it wasn't for free.
I know that many boutique lights (McLuxes et al) offer those flared, three pronged tail switch shrouds which allow TS and provide "sideways" access to the tail switch through big scalloped cut outs. I think these acknowledge my view; but to my eye, they are also ugly and ruin the lines of these otherwise elegant light designs. Some have tail shrouds bigger than their bezels in front. They add huge bulk, not to mention the expenses for fancy machine work.
So that's my 2 cents. Is it just me or does anyone else think a trimmer light with no TS is better?
I don't mind TS where it doesn't diminish other features, like in front twisty lights (Civictor V1, Fenix L0X...) where it doesn't add any bulk or cost as these lights have solid square tails anyway. I MIGHT consider using ceiling bounce to light a room with a big Mag D type light - which already has a square tail - but I think I'd use my small lights (2xCR123 and under) mostly for handheld direct lighting and not for ceiling bounce. If I had to TS one, I'm sure I could find something to put under it.
What I don't like is having to work with recessed tail switch buttons on small tail clicky lights, which is what TS requires. Recessing the tail button:
1) makes the tail of the light bulkier because it now sticks out further and isn't tapered like it would be if the button just stuck out, and
2) makes it harder for me to reach the button with my thumb using a normal (sort of ice pick) grip. Instead, I have to push down into the light from further behind instead of just squeezing the button from sideways like I would do with a ball point pen. Maybe I have a fat thumb, but I often end up having to hold the light with a contorted kind of "dart thrower"s grip just so I can get my index finger onto the switch, which is annoying.
I'm particularly surprised at those who want both a tactical (momentary) clicky switch AND TS on their lights. The whole point of a "tactical" light is to be able to flash it (with the thumb, I think) while holding it in a strong ergnomic grip. A recessed tail button really gets in the way of that for me. If it's going to be tactical, then let the switch stick out and the heck with the TS.
It's why the EL XM-3, the Nuwai-2611X (= the Sharper Image 1W 1xCR123 light), and other protruding switch lights are easier to use than - say - the VB-16 which also has a forward clicky but is designed to TS. It's not the VB-16 designer's fault, he was just providing what we kept yelling for him to provide, but it wasn't for free.
I know that many boutique lights (McLuxes et al) offer those flared, three pronged tail switch shrouds which allow TS and provide "sideways" access to the tail switch through big scalloped cut outs. I think these acknowledge my view; but to my eye, they are also ugly and ruin the lines of these otherwise elegant light designs. Some have tail shrouds bigger than their bezels in front. They add huge bulk, not to mention the expenses for fancy machine work.
So that's my 2 cents. Is it just me or does anyone else think a trimmer light with no TS is better?
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