POLL: Do you buy spare lights?

Do you buy spare lights?

  • Yes - two is one, one is none

    Votes: 34 44.7%
  • No - There are always better lights coming out

    Votes: 26 34.2%
  • It's a secret - If I told you, I'd have to kill you afterward.

    Votes: 10 13.2%
  • Spare? I buy my lights by the pallet load.

    Votes: 6 7.9%

  • Total voters
    76

Amelia

Enlightened
Joined
Mar 25, 2015
Messages
677
How many of you buy spare lights for the ones you really like? Not necessarily a "spare for the hallway", but rather a light you plan to store, and use if your main light breaks or is lost?
 

TEEJ

Flashaholic
Joined
Jan 12, 2012
Messages
7,490
Location
NJ
For myself, no.

When equipping search teams, sometimes.


I have gotten a cooler/warmer/hi-CRI version as a comparison version as well though from time to time if the format is useful.
 

richbuff

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Nov 21, 2014
Messages
2,264
Location
Prescott Az
My expensive, high performance lights are members of a collection, and the lower cost, lower performance lights become spares.
 

JohnnyBravo

Enlightened
Joined
May 30, 2011
Messages
725
Location
USA, Idaho, Boise
If you mean spare as in the same exact model/make, then no. But then again, I used to think that if I really like a light, I'd get another one; as in, "one for play, one for display." - but I never got around to doing that...
 

TEEJ

Flashaholic
Joined
Jan 12, 2012
Messages
7,490
Location
NJ
It sounded as though the idea was getting more of one of the same, like a pair or more of the same light. ("Spares for the one's you really like")

If it was a spare, as in just another light...well, this forum is not the place where that's a salient scenario.
 

1DaveN

Enlightened
Joined
Jan 5, 2015
Messages
593
Location
Upstate NY
If I only had one light, I'd probably want a spare. Since I've got several, I can wait for one to be repaired, or replaced with 2-day shipping. I'd rather put the money into variety than extras of ones I already own.
 

peter yetman

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Mar 23, 2014
Messages
5,100
Location
North Norfolk UK
Do bears poo in the woods? Of course!
If I buy a light that is my be all and end all, then I buy another. I may lose it or break it and then they won't make any more.
Trouble is I have more than one be all and end all light.
P
 

Narcosynthesis

Newly Enlightened
Joined
Oct 28, 2008
Messages
105
I do own multiple copies of the same (cheap) light - all of them being bought with a specific purpose and all of them being used in different places.

I don't have any lights where I have bought a spare purely as a backup to stay at home in the box until I need it.

Generally with lights (and indeed with most technology) I have found that the technology advances as quickly enough that when the time comes to buy a new light (or camera, phone, etc) that I will be able to get something newer and better than what I am replacing. To have bought two would just mean I am stuck with the older technology for longer when I had no real need to. That is of course assuming that I do have other lights, so I am never completely without backup or alternative...

At the same time, I do always reserve the right to change my mind on the subject - if I find a light that I particularly like for certain reasons that I don't see in newer/alternative models, I may be tempted to pick up spares, but that is something I have not done yet.
 

Amelia

Enlightened
Joined
Mar 25, 2015
Messages
677
Likewise at casa de run4jc

Here at Casa de Amelia, my EDC and my main special-purpose lights (for flood, throw, CRI Etc.) all have at least 1 identical backup light stored away. I've had situations in the past where a light has been broken or lost, and I've been unable to replace it because it's no longer made or was rare to begin with. If I find a light now that really works well for a certain task, I buy a spare or two.
 

hiuintahs

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Sep 12, 2006
Messages
1,840
Location
Utah
No duplicates of the good expensive lights (the ones I cherish the most), but I guess if you consider the quantity of lights I have............there'd be lots of spare lights :D.
 
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twin63

Newly Enlightened
Joined
Aug 16, 2014
Messages
116
I have an identical back up for my primary EDC light (a lego'd Quark Pro) and a couple of extra Fenix E01's, although I don't think I'll ever have to replace my current E01 unless I lose it. It's a durable little light.
 

Badbeams3

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Sep 28, 2000
Messages
4,389
No. I have no desire to have two of the same light. Too boring for me.
 

Fireclaw18

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Mar 16, 2011
Messages
2,408
Usually I do not buy spare lights. If I eventually lose the light or it breaks I figure it will probably be obsolete anyways and I'll get something newer.

However, there is one exception where I do buy spares: When I'm extensively modding a light and there's a chance I'll break something and need spare parts, I don't want to have to put the project on hold for months while waiting for replacement parts. In that situation I will sometimes order 1 or 2 extras. Usually only of cheap budget lights or unassembled hosts though. I don't order identical spares of expensive lights.
 
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