Would you pay $375 for the best flashlight ever?

[**DONOTDELETE**]

So here is the situation. I work for a small high-end lighting manufacturer and we are debating bringing a handheld flashlight to market. It would be the size of a normal flashlight, but would be a 10 watt HID system with rechargeable lithium ion batteries that would run for 1hr and 45min. It would be very similar to the UK Cannon as far as light output, but significantly smaller and lighter with rechargeable batteries (charges with a 2.5hrs fast charger) Would likely also be fully waterproof. The kicker is the price: $375. What do you think...would you buy it?

 

[Albany Tom]

Hmmm. I'd be tempted, but then again, I'm kind of a nut. Maybe check with somebody at brightguy, and see if they think there's a market?

One thing, though, is a HUGE bonus would be having an HID bulb that would go "boom" if you dropped the flashlight on the ground.

 

[Darell]

Yikes. I'd be first in line to buy a used one for $250. Of course I'd also be willing to test one out for you, to assess its marketability.

 

[hoss]

From Albany Tom:

Hmmm. I'd be tempted, but then again, I'm kind of a nut.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">You mean there's Flashaholics here who are not nuts when it comes to flashlights??

I mean there's not that much of a price spread between an M6 and the HID light you propose.

Heck I'll dip into my home equity loan for one

 

[redbird]

There are lots of guys here who love flashlights and have spent PLENTY on them. But, you are going after a limited market.

As noted earlier if you reduced (if you could) the price to a more affordable $250, the guys who love high end lights would be the first to spring for it.

 

[Saaby]

I can do testing too...send it to school with me for a day. If it survives, it passes

I don't know about the general public...but I have to tell you a secret about everyone around here. If you build it, they will buy.

 

[bwcaw]

I would buy it, if it had an incandecent, or luxeon, but I don't think that HID would be worth the $375. It is much too fragile, complicated, and expensive to replace. How about this: </font><ul type="square">[*]<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">5 watt luxeon(s) </font>[*]<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Lithium ion rechargeable </font>[*]<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Hard anodized </font>[*]<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">pyrex lens </font>[*]<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">lock-out tailcap switch </font>[*]<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">spare battery, and fast smart charger </font>[*]<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">about the size of a streamlight stinger, maybie a little bigger. </font>[/list]<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">I think that if you made this light, many many people here would buy one, or more. Even at $375!

 

[DavidW]

I'm saving all my pennies for a high/low beam 9003 HID conversion kit. But the light you describe could divert my attention.

 

[jtivat]

Yes, but it would need to be in the Surefire quality range. Also it would need to have the same kind of warranty SF has. A lot of people here are willing to spend big bucks for lights but we expect a lot.

 

[Roy]

OH MY GAWD! A new, exotic, over the top flashlight! I can either get the new light or go to the CPF GT in Feburary but NOT BOTH! Oh woe is poor ole me! I'll have think about this.

 

[Lantern Jack O.]

You've got my interest. If it's small enough, and if the HID lamp assembly is durable enough, I'd consider such a purchase.

 

[Bernhard]

I will buy if it is instant on-off, no bigger than SF M6, drop-resistant, "SF like" customer service, warranty, and quality (hard anodized, pyrex lens, aircraft grade aluminium).

 

[Alan]

If the light is reasonably shock proof to protect the expensive HID bulb and at the size range of M6. I'll get one.

I think the size and reliability play an important role on its price.

Alan

 

[GeoffChan]

Is this $375 US or some other currency?

I'll buy it if it was a surefire

Geoff

 

[SCOTT THE BADGER]

I'd give it serious thought. When can we see what it looks like?

 

[Size15's]

What kinda beam does will it have?
If it's a narrow intense beam suitable for longer range illumination, I'd seriously consider it.

Al

 

[yclo]

So it will be somewhere in the league of this?

Although cost is around $660~$800 USD for this one..

 

[Azreal911]

wow for all the things you guys want in this like and want it only for 250us? hahahah good luck! it'll never happen due to production in small numbers. that would be like a perfect flashlight but can anyone guess he production costs to that all this? i don't know anything about manufacturing so i got no clue about it.

 

[BuddTX]

"The Best Flashlight Ever" Hmmmm

Kazamanero, spend some time reading here, and you will discover that flashlights are like tools, and there are different tools for different jobs. Some of the "best" flashlights around are:

Streamlight SL-20x
SureFire E1e
SureFire E2e
SureFire M6
Arc AAA
Arc LS
Princeton Tec Surge
Brinkmann Legend LX
Optronics 2 Million CP rechargable Spotlight
UKE 4aa
UKE Sunlight SL6
UKE Light Cannon or D8
Inova Microlight

But they vary in size, weight, light output and price. There are "kazillions" of posts here about the ARC AAA, and they are mostly ultra great posts, but does that mean that the ARC AAA is better than the Streamlight 20-XL?

You would have to define your target users, and design a flashlight for them. Is it Uniformed Law Enforcement? Is it plain cloths law enforcement? Is it for EDC? Is it specifically for night time LE? Hikers? An Auto Flashlight? Fishing or boating? Under water? Cold environments?

I would say that it would need to be compared to the SureFire 10X series and the SureFire 9an Commander.

Also, what is the bulb life?

For that kind of money, every detail is important.

Tailcap or twist on or side button, or some combo of the three? Is there a lock out option? Is the tailcap momentary on, constant on, or both?

Also, no matter how well made, a 375$ light from an unknown company is a lot to spend.

Also, the beam, is it a narrow long beam, or a wide beam? Whatever it is, people are going to want the other one.

Is the beam perfect? There can't be any rings or shadows.

Is there a "low output" mode?

Also, you say "the size of a normal flashlight". What is a normal flashlight?

Maybe for the lay person, that might be a 2D or 3D light, but most people here prefer smaller to larger. If you ONLY use for a flashlight is light, then smaller is ALWAYS better than larger.

IF, however, you were in a position where the light might also be used as a defensive tool, then you might want a "steel pipe" type of light.

The Streamlight Ultrastinger, SL-20x and LS-35 are very popular lights, because they are well made, strong, bright, durable, long bulb life, and rechargable, but they are also a "mini club" should the user need it to be.

A hiker doesn't need, or want that style of light.

Is it something that a police officer would rely upoon to depend his life on?

I think we would love to hear more about this light, but you need to define your users. As you see, there is more than just "a light that shines" to a flashlight.

 

[Slick]

Sorry to say, I would not... There are simply too many "second best" flashlights that will do exactly what I want and still leave $300 jingling in my pocket.