So, I have to pre-qualify this by stating what I've firmly come to believe over the past few years about my EDC flashlight needs.
1) I like simple, un-complicated and in most cases, single level twisty type UI's. Think Z41 and Malkoff. That said, and a 6P light being a bit large for EDC to me, I have long since settled on the the Surefire L1 as a compromise of simple and intuitive with minimal failure potential. I actually like the low/high combo for EDC. My current EDC is a Milky Modded 4 flats floodmaster.
2) I'm a firm believer in enough light to get the job done, no overkill.
3) Flood/Diffused: Love it. Hot spots have always proven to be useless for most close range tasks and I have long come to love flood type lights. One of my all time favorites being the above said Z41 Malkoff combo with a M60LF drop in- gorgeous.
My backup, BTW, has usually been a Peak Eiger #1 flood. I often have a tertiary backup in the form of a SS Preon ReVo.
I'm a cool white kind of guy.
So, here's what happened earlier today. I go to get the wee ones at daycare and lo and behold, in the middle of a raging thunderstorm, power goes out.
Now, there's no massive generator at work here, a few UPS style wall lights come on in each room (you know them well, the utterly-dim 2 flood deals), but the hallways- devoid of windows and lights (I am not happy about this, BTW)- are now pitch black.
Not a flashlight in sight that belongs to the daycare.
Well, there were some pretty frightened kids and the Teachers were getting concerned with all of the crying and the lack of good lighting. Sure, the exit signs were visible and getting out was not really a huge issue if an evacuation were required (since the daycare is relatively small and there really is no way to get lost in the hallways), but make no mistake, it was dark in there.
So out comes the Milky. Awesome, beautiful flood, reliable, working as designed. Teachers incredibly thankful as I helped usher kids out to the gym area where they could be accounted for and where there was better light and then went back to make sure all rooms were clear. No big deal, the light worked, everyone was happy.
Except for me.
I realized that all of my EDC use to date had shown my lighting choice was sound, but I had not forseen the need to light large areas while, and here's the gap, ushering groups of people to and fro.
The L1 just did not have the lumens or throw needed. I tried ceiling bouncing, but the hallways had low drop style ceiling tiles, and their rough texture did not allow for the great bounce I had become accustomed to in my high ceiling, bright white-painted house. In other words, the light was adequate, but but it required that I spend more time ushering groups rather than lighting up the joint while folks made their way out.
Boy, did I miss my M91 and various Kerberos Quads and Oveready triples!!!!
So... that's my tale folks. I am going to make a change to my EDC and I believe I will be changing my tune to that of needing three levels, one of which will be REALLY FREAKING BRIGHT!!! I want Quad/Triple power with Optics, or an XM-L.
I have not yet determined if that will be the addtion of my single levels (say M91) to compliment the Milky, or a replacement to the tune of an Oveready pocket that will give me three levels and my choice of output vs. Runtime.
One thing is for sure, I will never be caught without the right amount of light again!
1) I like simple, un-complicated and in most cases, single level twisty type UI's. Think Z41 and Malkoff. That said, and a 6P light being a bit large for EDC to me, I have long since settled on the the Surefire L1 as a compromise of simple and intuitive with minimal failure potential. I actually like the low/high combo for EDC. My current EDC is a Milky Modded 4 flats floodmaster.
2) I'm a firm believer in enough light to get the job done, no overkill.
3) Flood/Diffused: Love it. Hot spots have always proven to be useless for most close range tasks and I have long come to love flood type lights. One of my all time favorites being the above said Z41 Malkoff combo with a M60LF drop in- gorgeous.
My backup, BTW, has usually been a Peak Eiger #1 flood. I often have a tertiary backup in the form of a SS Preon ReVo.
I'm a cool white kind of guy.
So, here's what happened earlier today. I go to get the wee ones at daycare and lo and behold, in the middle of a raging thunderstorm, power goes out.
Now, there's no massive generator at work here, a few UPS style wall lights come on in each room (you know them well, the utterly-dim 2 flood deals), but the hallways- devoid of windows and lights (I am not happy about this, BTW)- are now pitch black.
Not a flashlight in sight that belongs to the daycare.
Well, there were some pretty frightened kids and the Teachers were getting concerned with all of the crying and the lack of good lighting. Sure, the exit signs were visible and getting out was not really a huge issue if an evacuation were required (since the daycare is relatively small and there really is no way to get lost in the hallways), but make no mistake, it was dark in there.
So out comes the Milky. Awesome, beautiful flood, reliable, working as designed. Teachers incredibly thankful as I helped usher kids out to the gym area where they could be accounted for and where there was better light and then went back to make sure all rooms were clear. No big deal, the light worked, everyone was happy.
Except for me.
I realized that all of my EDC use to date had shown my lighting choice was sound, but I had not forseen the need to light large areas while, and here's the gap, ushering groups of people to and fro.
The L1 just did not have the lumens or throw needed. I tried ceiling bouncing, but the hallways had low drop style ceiling tiles, and their rough texture did not allow for the great bounce I had become accustomed to in my high ceiling, bright white-painted house. In other words, the light was adequate, but but it required that I spend more time ushering groups rather than lighting up the joint while folks made their way out.
Boy, did I miss my M91 and various Kerberos Quads and Oveready triples!!!!
So... that's my tale folks. I am going to make a change to my EDC and I believe I will be changing my tune to that of needing three levels, one of which will be REALLY FREAKING BRIGHT!!! I want Quad/Triple power with Optics, or an XM-L.
I have not yet determined if that will be the addtion of my single levels (say M91) to compliment the Milky, or a replacement to the tune of an Oveready pocket that will give me three levels and my choice of output vs. Runtime.
One thing is for sure, I will never be caught without the right amount of light again!
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