Carry two lights?

KarlMaldensNose

KarlMaldensNose

Joined
Feb 3, 2009
Messages
1,342
I completely understand why some (myself included) carry two or more knives. What's not so clear to me is why some people rock two or more flashlights. At most, I probably use or need a flashlight once or twice a week. That's why I can't justify spending 60 or 70 bucks on a nice little Fenix or something. I always reason that I'd rather spend that money on/towards another knife. I get that others have jobs, tasks/chores, hobbies, etc. that necessitate pocket-size lights, but why more than one? If one of the possible reasons is for back-up in case of batteries dying, wouldn't it be easier and lighter to just carry spare batteries?
 
I have a Surefire E1B "Backup" that I carry everywhere, a G2L (with two spare CR123 cells) in my glovebox, and sometimes I stick a E2DL in my back pocket.

I like having a light to loan out to people while keeping one for myself. Sometimes I stick the G2L in a belt holster and put the E2B in my front pocket.
 
I got one photon on the keychain. Another in the pocket, if I need more substantial light.
 
I don't always carry two but usually do. When I do I carry a Fenix and a mcgizmo mule. The mule is an excellent small flood light and has helped with some up close fine detailed tasks especially in the garage. It's also good for small areas inside or out.
 
in an emergency situation, light is very important. I've read many stories about people in the dark, which will happen every night! you can find a tool or rock or something sharp to cut things but you can't find a flashlight as easy.

your stuck in a building with the power off and a couple of flashlights on you is really nice for you and others. their so small now.

with the size of todays flashlights it's easier and nice backup to carry a whole light then just extra batteries,
the big ole mag lights are a thing of the past for many of us.

the Fenix EO1 cost me 15 dollars and last for hours and is a tuff little light. plus I have a keychain light on the keys
and another in a pouch with a SAK on me all the time (outside) ;)
 
I always carry two or more lights when caving. Replacing batteries in the dark is a pain in the ass. What happens when the light itself breaks? No amount of spare batteries will help you.

(I rarely edc even one light, and I like my flashlight. I just don't use it often.)
 
Unlike knives, with flashlights the saying is "2 is 1 and 1 is none". The idea behind that is with batteries and only 1 light you could be left in the dark pretty quick. I carry a small Fenix PD20 as an EDC (multi-level light), and carry a Malkoff M60 in a Surefire 6P body (single level, extremely bright!!) in my bag.

The same argument can be made for carrying knives; why would anyone need more than one knife for carry? I've dual carried a fix blade and a folder but in situations where they both are completely different knives (a stout saber ground Busse Active Duty with a folder for a keen slicing edge). OK, maybe I also have a 6-8" blade stuffed in an EDC bag too... :cool:

So to equate knives to lights, my Fenix PD20 would be a folder for detail work; and my 6P/Malkoff M60 would be my medium-large knife/chopper!

In a true survival situation the more of anything you have is beneficial; it'd be a luxury to have more than one knife and more than one light or set of batteries.

Looks like some other quick typists have beat me to the punch on some similar ideas.
 
How would you carry the spare batteries without them getting damaged, shorted or otherwise discharged? Obvious answer, carry them in another flashlight. It also covers the spare lamp in case of damage, allows for light from multiple directions to eliminate shadows when you're working, lets you split up to search faster (since the other person never has a flashlight of their own) and a few other advantages I can think of. But I'm one of those people who uses a flashlight every day. Not quite as often as I use a knife, but close.
 
at work, i actually carry four lights, and have another in the trunk.

1. dedicated weapon light.
2. pocket light in my left sap pocket.
3. little let photon fanatic attached to my pov keys.
4. little led on a small multi tool.

off duty, i generally have the photon fanatic and a pocket light, either a surefire or a nitecore.
 
On many days, I use my flashlight more than my knife (I only carry one of each). I have a flashlight addiction to match my knife addiction, and enjoy carrying both. I work in a shop that has many dark corners that I often have to find stuff in. I get to work about 1 hour before sunrise (already used it to find stuff in my bedroom without waking my wife, unlock my car door in the dark, perhaps take the trash to the curb. At work, it takes a good 2 minutes for the lights to kick on, and I have to find the switch in the dark anyway. Stuff falls under tables, bulbs/fuses blow once in a while, it's very dark under the CNC machines where tools can roll under. I don't carry two lights (Unless you count the keychain and the EDC light) but I feel a lot more comfortable with lending out a light than a knife.

Another reason to spend $60 on a Fenix is you can actually see the $40 in difference between a $20 Dorcy and a $60 Fenix (more so than a Byrd Cara Cara vs. a Spyderco Endura).
 
MORIMOTOM said:
at work, i actually carry four lights, and have another in the trunk.

1. dedicated weapon light.
2. pocket light in my left sap pocket.
3. little let photon fanatic attached to my pov keys.
4. little led on a small multi tool.

off duty, i generally have the photon fanatic and a pocket light, either a surefire or a nitecore.
Click to expand...

I agree, although my set-up's a little different.

1. Dedicated weapon light.
2. Rechargeable big light.
3. Small light on my belt for day-time use & is always on me.
4. Small light on key-chain.

Part of my reasoning is you always want a light with you even during the day.

Off-duty, I have a 2nd light somewhere, usually. It's either a Fenix L1Tv2. AT under 4" & 98/16 lumens off of 1xAA battery, it's hard not have one. AA batteries are easy to pick-up if they go out. However, I always have an old Fenix P1 on me (On my key-chain). At under 3", 90 lumens, & a simple on/off twist bezel, it's a simple, decently powerful, & easy to carry light.

I don't know if one needs to carry more than 1 light during the course of a day (Other than specific work needs), but I do think it's a good idea to have "access" to a 2nd light just in case.

Another good EDC light, for me anyways, is the NovaTac 120T. At around 3.25" & with 120 lumens, strobe, & easy to use set-up, if I could only carry 1 light, this would be it. Because of its shape, it's easy to use with a handgun (Which I EDC), small enough to put on the key-chain, has enough power, & is easy to use.
 
I only have one - a Fenix PD30 - but I carry it everywhere. I need one for work, regardless (I'm a student and I have a job at a movie theater - those damn places are dark!), and it comes in handy outside of the job, too.

Only thing is, people are constantly trying to borrow it - most people around here have never even seen a light that bright in a case that small, which gets quite annoying. Ah well. It's entertaining to watch them point it at their own faces and then writhe in pain afterward :P. Maybe I'll get another, cheaper light to lend out.

EDIT: I -never- lend out my knives. Learned that the hard way -_-.
 
Here's another reason to carry 2 lights- this just happened to me this morning, so this thread was great timing. I carry a Fenix L0D (great light) and a cheapo $1 button light on my keychain. When I went to pull out the Fenix, I dropped it- and thought, now what do you use to find your flashlight in the dark? Ta da- your other flashlight- just when I thought maybe my wife was right and I was getting carried away with this "back-up" stuff.
 
CL01 said:
I agree, although my set-up's a little different.

1. Dedicated weapon light.
2. Rechargeable big light.
3. Small light on my belt for day-time use & is always on me.
4. Small light on key-chain.

Part of my reasoning is you always want a light with you even during the day.

Off-duty, I have a 2nd light somewhere, usually. It's either a Fenix L1Tv2. AT under 4" & 98/16 lumens off of 1xAA battery, it's hard not have one. AA batteries are easy to pick-up if they go out. However, I always have an old Fenix P1 on me (On my key-chain). At under 3", 90 lumens, & a simple on/off twist bezel, it's a simple, decently powerful, & easy to carry light.

I don't know if one needs to carry more than 1 light during the course of a day (Other than specific work needs), but I do think it's a good idea to have "access" to a 2nd light just in case.

Another good EDC light, for me anyways, is the NovaTac 120T. At around 3.25" & with 120 lumens, strobe, & easy to use set-up, if I could only carry 1 light, this would be it. Because of its shape, it's easy to use with a handgun (Which I EDC), small enough to put on the key-chain, has enough power, & is easy to use.
Click to expand...


i gave up on the rechargeables, seen too many go dead during a night search, including mine. they have a tendency to die quickly, rather than provide useful diminishing light.

they aren't bad, provided they get recharged before the shift, but my personal experiences have determined them unreliable.

everything i carry takes batteries, and they are replaced when the light visibly provides less than full power. i end up with lots of batteries that still have juice, but i put those in storage.
 
There is clearly a reason for LEOs, spelunkers, and many others to carry two lights, but for the rest of us it gets a little like this:

whoswho_ubelt.gif


The image is from http://www.dialbforblog.com/archives/282/, which has some interesting info...
 
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true, true. that's funny stuff!

if it weren't for having to carry so much crap at work, i probably wouldn't carry a light off duty. as it is, i barely notice the extra stuff in my pockets.

for the average regular person, a key chain light is perfectly sufficient.
 
I like to carry two lights now and again. There's always a keychain light to handle most tasks, but occasionally, I like a light that's a little brighter and can throw, so I can see objects farther away. It's a matter of the right light for the job. The same can be said about knives.
 
Small Fenix LOD on keys and Photon on neck rig. Photon is for low light find crap on the dresser at night; Fenix for all other stuff. Then when you walk in the woods, take the dog out, take along the Surefire for more throw.
 
The three lights in my life are:

1) Princeton Pulsar 2 -EDC keychain light
2) Fenix L1D -Night time only EDC, when I am outside. I dont carry it with consistency though
3) Full size Maglite -for the car only, since size/ weight is not an issue. It also doubles as a semi-blinding club, which we all know is nice to have:).

I really would like to add:

smoke capsules
tear gas pellets
Laser torch
micro processor power source
and a rebreathing apparatus
anyone know where to get that stuff? I tried countycom, but no rebreather:confused:, too bad.... Oh, you mean it was a joke utility belt:(.
 
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I love knives and flashlights.

I use a flashlight much more than I use a knife. The world is dark around 50% of your life! Artificial light is the only thing that separates you from that.

Bill
 
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