The best thing about giving a flashlight as a gift

[michman]

There's no point giving someone a tool they've never needed before.

I once would have agreed with this point, but now that I have given so many E01's and E05's as gifts to people who never would have carried a light in the first place I can attest to the lights being generally appreciated in due time. I have always been pleased to hear people wonder out loud how they made it this far without having a light on them all the time.

I think the key when giving a flashlight as a gift to a nonflashaholic is that it needs to be keychain sized (AAA), and the battery needs to run for a long time, and be easily replaceable. I have given Photon Microlights in the past, but the problem with those was that once the battery died, it was a $5 to replace them, and required tools (if only a flat screwdriver).

The way I judge the light to give is: E01 for those who just need a general light, will likely only be used indoors, or in the civilized world (parking lots, closets, driveway to the door, etc.). The E05 goes to those who already use lights, but have not updated their lights in a decade or more OR to those who camp, are trades people, or generally handy. A real light for when they do not have their big one on them.

 

[teamle]

I gave my brother a fenix ld40 for his appartment in NY. I asked he how he likes it but he says he has never needed it. I'm sure the day he does he will be happy to have it. My wife didn't understand my obsession w flashlights until I bought an ld20 for the house. Our previous lights were the crappy aaax3 ones from Costco w the terrible UI that forces you through strobe everytime you turn it off. Now she won't touch those crappy lights and gets mad if I don't put the fenix back in its place. It is safe to say I got her hooked on good lights. Next is knives...

 

[Harry999]

I once would have agreed with this point, but now that I have given so many E01's and E05's as gifts to people who never would have carried a light in the first place I can attest to the lights being generally appreciated in due time. I have always been pleased to hear people wonder out loud how they made it this far without having a light on them all the time.

I think the key when giving a flashlight as a gift to a nonflashaholic is that it needs to be keychain sized (AAA), and the battery needs to run for a long time, and be easily replaceable. I have given Photon Microlights in the past, but the problem with those was that once the battery died, it was a $5 to replace them, and required tools (if only a flat screwdriver).

The way I judge the light to give is: E01 for those who just need a general light, will likely only be used indoors, or in the civilized world (parking lots, closets, driveway to the door, etc.). The E05 goes to those who already use lights, but have not updated their lights in a decade or more OR to those who camp, are trades people, or generally handy. A real light for when they do not have their big one on them.

I kind of agree. I now give Fenix E01s and for next Christmas possibly Thrunite Ti's to people I gift a light. Those I know will appreciate it get a better light. This year one person got a Zebralight SC51 with eneloops and charger and another received a Fenix MC11.

If a person totally does not appreciate lights they don't get one. One of my work colleagues does not understand my interests in lights so there was no point giving him one. Instead he got a Victorinox Solo SAK with a nice lanyard. It is legal to EDC in the UK especially if he uses it for his regular camping trips and it made him happy.

 

[Jiri]

I would like to restore this thread and add my comment.

I actually have also a not very good experience with enough appreciation or usage of the gift so do speak. But I rarely give a high quallity flashlight as a gift to anyone. Last year I gave a Fenix HL50 to my friend who is a doctor - she is a vet, and she has this small practice, but no good light to use during surgeries, so I gave her this head-lamp which has a beautiful neutral tint so she could see better while performing surgeries. But after 6 months the flashlight was still there in the shelve in the package... not used at all. Funny thing is, I once lent her my HL50 so she could try it and she said that time... that's a fantastic light - I will buy it one day and after I gave her the headlamp as a present, she said... "that's what I have wanted!" Second time I gave my other friend who is a hunter a TK-series Fenix flashlight... older one, that couldn't feed rechargables yet... We agreed that I will give him spare CR123A batteries whenever he needs. He asked for new batteries after 3 years of having the flashlight... so I guess he does not use it that much as well. Third time I gave my collegue's child (3,5 years old) a NiteCore Tube, just to have fun with. but you know... 3,5 years old kid... I don't really count that But in general I am not giving anyone a flashlight after these first two experiences. I will save the money so I could buy a flashlight to my-self...

 

[Jiri]

I have given away a bunch of Fenix LD20's and Quark AA2 lights to most in my family. The best response yet came from my nephew this past spring after I gave him a Fenix LD20 R5. He said, "whooooa I'll be the coolest kid in scouts with this thing." He's since been on several campouts (one on an island for a week and another on a sailboat for a week,) and says his fenix is the brightest in his troop. Says his cool-factor has been elevated.....ha!

+ 1

 

[LetThereBeLight!]

The best thing is the joy I feel.

A few examples follow.

I gave a brother-in-law a Fenix E-15 and he said (appreciatively) when he heard a noise out back it lit up his whole backyard. (This year for his birthday I gave him a Nebo Slyde which he also really loves.)

I gave another sister's brother who travels a lot a D25AAA with some backup triple A's which he liked.

A few weeks back, there were 7-8 kids playing in the dark up the street so I found some differently colored AA flashlights the next day reduced to $2.00 and bought extras for my nieces. The mom of one family wanted to give me money for them but I said it wouldn't be necessary (I didn't buy them to be reimbursed) and explained that I was a flashaholic, lol.

For this Christmas I bought some Nitecore Tubes on sale so I will be gifting pink and blue ones to family members for their keyrings along with a photocopy of the downloadable instruction sheet and the USB cord I will purchase separately to put all in one package (I HATE wrapping!)

How interesting that an inexpensive gift can still be one of great value!

So may the "bright" Christmas extend, when needed, into a "bright" year.

So maybe I'll attach my own handmade Christmas card with the greeting, "May you have a BRIGHT Christmas" on the front, and on the inside, "Let your light shine!" lol

- LetThereBeLight!

 

[bykfixer]

At first I was like "wow this thread filled up fast" but then noticed it has some age..

Anyway, the key to having somebody enjoy the gifted light is to give one based on their needs, not on what we'd like to have....

On contruction sites during night shifts, the guys needed a pocket sized light with enough size to easily find if dropped in darkness.
Focus beam helps in the varying situations where a light is needed, and easy to find replacement batteries are a bonus. I gave away several Lux-Pro lights to grateful laborers.

For family who usually don't have a flashlight I gave away some Coast HP1's with store bought lithiums for trouble free storage. Very versatile yet very portable.

Other family got Mag solitaire LED's (w/lithiums) to hang on their near front door car key hook for when the lights go out.

To older neighbors...the big ole size mag in metal color. Easy to find, easy to turn on...lithiums of course.

And to a flashaholic friend of mine, his first Malkoff drop in. A simple M61 for his old, broken 6P. He since bought upgrades for it.

And next week a surprise MD2 should arrive at his house. He helped me in a big way so I'm returning the favor.

My wife swiped my 360 Coast HP7 for it's brightness and weighty-ness. Security.
So I outfitted it with eneloop pro's for dependability.

My kids got key chain lights, a focus beam HP1 (w/ a lithium) and a Lux-Pro 470 (w/lithiums)

See a need, fill a need. If they still have it a month later....that''s a bonus.

 

[Jiri]

Anyway, the key to having somebody enjoy the gifted light is to give one based on their needs, not on what we'd like to have....

....See a need, fill a need. If they still have it a month later....that''s a bonus.

Yeap, that's a great advice... and you're right! I am sometimes thinking: "Hm, they would never buy this high quality (and a bit expensive) flashlight, even if they needed one". And I don't much care about if they really need it. I bought my brother Fenix BC20 as a Christmas present last year, because he is a real enthusiastic cyclist and he didn't really have a good flashlight... but after opening the present he said "I don't really need a front bicycle light, I like the one I have"... So I was dissapointed buy his reaction, becuase I though he well appreciate the better output and use of AA batteries for this light, because he is very AA battery guy. But after a few months he had not even attached the light to his bike.

I see a lot of guys here give something like Fenix E01, E05... maybe that's the way I should go in the future, and save more money for my own flashlights :laughing:

 

[Jiri]

For this Christmas I bought some Nitecore Tubes on sale so I will be gifting pink and blue ones to family members for their keyrings along with a photocopy of the downloadable instruction sheet and the USB cord I will purchase separately to put all in one package (I HATE wrapping!)

Yea I bought some NiteCore Tubes on sale as well a while ago I think you make a good gifts with these! And it's great you are giving the time and money for adding actual USB cord and instruction sheet to the flashlight itself... that is really thoughtfull +1

 

[bykfixer]

This year, every adult who walks through my door on Christmas Eve is getting a pewter aa mini mag incan...$7 at sprawl mart (w/ batteries)
The ones that are excited by receiving a little ole flashlight I'll tell 'em where to get a $7 nite ize drop in at Lowes...I'll even offer to install it if they actually go out and buy one.
The last year my pop was on this earth he gave everybody a flashlight for Christmas....varying types and sizes.


Kids...they get socks, gloves and stocking caps in random household item boxes like Rice-a-Roni, or hamburger helper boxes.

 

[SemiMan]

Now as in 2011, buying gifts for other people that "you" like ..... is a bad idea. It's the thought that counts, and this says ...... I bought YOU what i thought -- I -- would like.

Yep, still a bad idea .... like buying your wife an iron as a gift. You just don't do it.

 

[bykfixer]

^^ this...
Or like buying her that flat screen you've wanted all summer.

 

[jmwking]

Several years ago, I got my 9 tween and teen nieces and nephews each a cash register special as a cheapie to go with various cash and gift cards. I want them to have something tangible to unwrap and play with - last year it was rubber band pistols they could load with six shots, ammo included (their parents may forgive me someday!). These specials had a forward "throwing" mode, and a sideways, uber-floody, multi-led panel opposite a magnetic mount.

As you'd expect: Poor construction. Horrible tint. Low output.

But the kids loved them! A few years later, they're the go-to dog walking lights. And a couple of them asked me about my zebras. Best, my brother now has a serious thrower...

Moral is: gotta bait 'em, then reel 'em in.

-jk

 

[LetThereBeLight!]

Yea I bought some NiteCore Tubes on sale as well a while ago I think you make a good gifts with these! And it's great you are giving the time and money for adding actual USB cord and instruction sheet to the flashlight itself... that is really thoughtfull +1

Thank you, Jiri! The instruction sheet tells much more than is on the packaging.

 

[HurtzDoughnut]

After lurking around on here for a while I went and bought a couple of lights based on stuff you folks have talked about. When the wife shook her head at this interest in my life I was disappointed. Then I caught her using my lights for different things around the house. So I bought us a couple of Fenix PD 20's for edc. She carries that thing EVERYWHERE! she never leaves home without it, and has come home telling me that she did this or that with the light somewhere, and how people commented on this little light that put so much more than they thought it would.
She's even gotten me some stuff for presents the last couple of years to help my addiction. She got me some Malkoff's for my 6P's, and for my birthday I got a Surefire M600U.
I think she's coming around on this stuff, starting with that first light. Best $50.00 spent!

 

[bykfixer]

^^ right on.

My wife confiscated a light.
Now she borrows a head light...but after Christmas she'll have her own.

 

[Jiri]

After lurking around on here for a while I went and bought a couple of lights based on stuff you folks have talked about. When the wife shook her head at this interest in my life I was disappointed. Then I caught her using my lights for different things around the house. So I bought us a couple of Fenix PD 20's for edc. She carries that thing EVERYWHERE! she never leaves home without it, and has come home telling me that she did this or that with the light somewhere, and how people commented on this little light that put so much more than they thought it would.
She's even gotten me some stuff for presents the last couple of years to help my addiction. She got me some Malkoff's for my 6P's, and for my birthday I got a Surefire M600U.
I think she's coming around on this stuff, starting with that first light. Best $50.00 spent!

That is awsome!! Thanks for sharing!

 

[Dr. Tweedbucket]

I have several E01s that I plan on giving out this Christmas as token gifts... I think it's a love it or hate it thing. I gave one to my Brother and thought he would like it, but he just kind of blew it off like .... oh well, my iPhone light is good enough..... funny thing though, his wife loved it! She was a closet flashoholic ... I never knew it!

 

[Poppy]

I have several E01s that I plan on giving out this Christmas as token gifts... I think it's a love it or hate it thing. I gave one to my Brother and thought he would like it, but he just kind of blew it off like .... oh well, my iPhone light is good enough..... funny thing though, his wife loved it! She was a closet flashoholic ... I never knew it!

All smiles here :thumbsup: