When do you suppose

[I_rv_too]

When do you suppose the "mainstream" flashlight manufacturers will get into LED lights in a big way ...

And do you suppose the price of LED flashlights will drop when LED flashlights go more mainstream?

 

[Entropy]

I think it's already happening - Multi-LED lights are a LOT more common than they were a year or so ago. (Now common at Walmart, Target, etc.), and they're much cheaper now too. I've seen 3-4 LED lights going for less than what some 1-LED lights went for a year ago.

 

[EMPOWERTORCH]

The commercial sector is rapidly catching up...I've seen LED torches for sale in Wilkinson's and Woolies, and other non-specialist shops have started stocking them. For the amount of money they're rather poor value for money...a torchaholic can make a much better torch for the 30 pounds or more I've seen on the price tags of some of the commercial torches with single Nichia white LED's in them. There is a high demand for reliable torches. The colour choice in the commercial sector is somewhat limited, white, blue or red seem to be the most commonly available colours.
I've not yet seen any luxeon torches available over the counter. I still think that the torchaholic is a far better person to buy a ready made torch off than a chainstore, whose personel have little or no knowledge of the product they're selling. You'll be amazed at some of the comments I've heard from shop assistants when I show them an LED torch!

 

[webley445]

There is still going to be some playing catch up time before things get to a point that we would be happy. The led still seems to be a bit of a novelty and most of the lights out there are single led. And most of them are of the keychain light type. The biggest setback I see is the apparent throw that an incan is capable of. For the uninformed consumer, who usually is looking to get only one flashlight for general purpose use, it is hard to justify an led. I can see this in the fact that when someone tests a light it usually involves turning it on and shining it (in their eye?) on the wall. An incan will show a spot with ambient (especially in a store) lighting whereas an led will not really do much unless it is really dark. Even with the SL 4AA 7led it will cast a good flood, but won't "throw" a spot like a M*g will. I feel it will take a little more "educating" or experience in the public before they will really take off. If the government or military or law enforcement lean towards the led that will help its acceptance [look at the 9mm/.45 controversy]. The general consumer/public is just too used to the M*g brainwashing, alot due to leo use for years, and face it it is a tough light, but more exposure is needed to change that. Its just gonna take time, which means we will remain that much more special for that much more longer because we know about leds and they don't.