Glow Stick Replacements

BushcraftBrainTrust

BushcraftBrainTrust

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Jan 16, 2009
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When I was waiting for my time at the REI Garage Sale, I found these lights. For $6 you get a 200 hour flash light/glow stick/blinking glow stick/ emergency whistle. The light can switch between these modes and turned off. I think it is a good value, considering a 8 hour chemical light costs $1-2 and can't be turned off.


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That does look like a good deal. The only thing it's missing is a firesteel.

Speaking of which would this fit in a firesteel loop on a sheath? Just thinking of how it would fit into my 'set up'.
 
RoyalM said:
That does look like a good deal. The only thing it's missing is a firesteel.

Speaking of which would this fit in a firesteel loop on a sheath? Just thinking of how it would fit into my 'set up'.
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I normally carry 2 chemical lights, so I could just replace them. They are about the same size as a chemical light, so they would not fit in a fire steel loop (way bigger).
 
They are interesting. I like the whistle. I think if you were going to buy a light like that that a headlamp works better. The shape of a glow stick is part and parcel of its operation. The stick shape is needed to facilitate breaking the inner capsule to start the reaction. The stick shape wasn't designed to be a good for light focusing nor convenient for wearing. So are these things just a gimmick for somebody to think they are cute because the look like a light stick? Or is there some reasoning to their design that makes them the best at what they do?
 
kgd said:
They are interesting. I like the whistle. I think if you were going to buy a light like that that a headlamp works better. The shape of a glow stick is part and parcel of its operation. The stick shape is needed to facilitate breaking the inner capsule to start the reaction. The stick shape wasn't designed to be a good for light focusing nor convenient for wearing. So are these things just a gimmick for somebody to think they are cute because the look like a light stick? Or is there some reasoning to their design that makes them the best at what they do?
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(I put the above in bold)

1) Do you know a good headlamp that cost $6?

2) You are the first person to accuse me me of likeing anything because it is gimmicky or cute.

3) It would take approximately 20-25 8 hour Chemical Lights at approximately $1.50 a stick to equal this product ($6 vs $30). From what I read, I think these sticks will be less prone to damage. They can also be turned off, which, I think, gives them a life of 40-50 ($6 vs $60) Chemical Lights. They also have, which the Chemical Lights don't, a limited flash light capability as well as a limited strobe capability.

4) This is my backup. I carry a Fenix P2D as my EDC. I also carry a Surefire 6P with a Malkoff M60 or a G3. I also carry a Fenix E01 and a County Comm mini LED in my FAK.

5) Sorry, I just wanted to post an alternative to a Chemical Light. Maybe, one or both of us is having a bad day.:mad::D:thumbup:
 
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I think you take things too seriously.... I wasn't attacking you I was critiquing the product.
 
I reckon that is a good product. I could imagine buying a few if I saw them in the UK.

I also think they would work very well for Scouts and such. Give them one each for a weekend camp and it's all they need without the drama of handing torches and whistles back in at the end of the weekend. I know Scouts should be prepared so feel free to insert another group of youngsters instead.
 
kgd said:
I think you take things too seriously.... I wasn't attacking you I was critiquing the product.
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I've read many of your posts and enjoy reading them. :thumbup::thumbup: It always annoyed me when I had to crack a chemical light, and could not turn it off and waste the light. I found this today and thought it was a good alternative on all levels (that I could think of). This is a $6 solution to a backup light (flashlight/glow stick). I guess I was not clear in my intended use
of this light as a backup. It was not intended to be a head lamp or any other primary light source. Once again, I enjoy reading your posts.:thumbup:

Thanks
 
I picked one of these up a while ago. Mine has a red color to the stick part, but a white LED flashlight at the end. I actually like the shape because I can thread it through the daisy chains on my pack so groups of people can stay together/see each other at night. This was very useful when I was at Rothbury Music Festival last summer. We all picked a color of glowstick each night and put a few of them on our packs so we could see each other easily in the crowds.

I do agree that it's a little gimmicky, but I think it's a good alternative to chem lights for the reasons detailed by BBT as well as the fact that they are less wasteful as you're not throwing out dead chem lights.
 
BushcraftBrainTrust said:
I've read many of your posts and enjoy reading them. :thumbup::thumbup: It always annoyed me when I had to crack a chemical light, and could not turn it off and waste the light. I found this today and thought it was a good alternative on all levels (that I could think of). This is a $6 solution to a backup light (flashlight/glow stick). I guess I was not clear in my intended use of this light as a backup. It was not intended to be a head lamp or any other primary light source. Once again, I enjoy reading your posts.:thumbup:
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Sometimes I do come off a bit crotchety --- I'm just one of those old guys :D

Anyhow, glow sticks do have their place - like Cmdionne said as a marker or signal they can be handy. I've used glowsticks for similar things as described by cmdionne - sticking them on students PFD's during night time research to be able to spot them better. These seem like they would last longer. I think I also said that I like the whistle part of it ;)

My first reaction really was - what is this product trying to do. If it is a signal than I think it useful. If it is a light then I'm not so sure. Maybe somebody can stick a whistle on a keychain led light and make an old crotchety SOB happy :D
 
The chem lights are great for what they are. However, the cons mentioned are all correct.

For marking or limited area lighting they are great though.

Krill also makes(d) a light just like a chem light and there is another one out now marketed to the military but the name escapes me.

I used a Krill for a while and really liked it. Just like a light stick, but doesn't die on it's own and you can turn it off.
 
Another thing to consider is chemical glow sticks don't use batteries and have no electronics to get wet or otherwise fail.
 
DH1 said:
Another thing to consider is chemical glow sticks don't use batteries and have no electronics to get wet or otherwise fail.
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Chemical lights have their own set of problems. When I was researching buying some new ones, I found a forum that discussed failure issues. It was actually a spelunker forum where redundant light is obviously an important issue. On a trip a group decided to test their chemical lights and found most did not light at all. Apparently, being kept in a pack that banged around set the lights off in the wrapper. They made PVC tubes to protect them, but still had a high failure rate. Also, if the wrapper has a tear in it, the light will become defective.
 
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