Lights

[Mistwalker]

An early view of an article in the queue to be posted on the website soon, as a little light reading to entertain the Friday faithful

There are many reasons why it is a good thing to be able to illuminate darkness at need. Some of them can actually be crucial to our survival. Having spent much of my life working in various non-illuminated environments, both urban and woodland, I almost never venture out without having at least one light on my person and a backup or two in the console of my truck and / or in my pack. A deep forest can be a very dark place to find yourself on a cloudy night or on the night of a new moon, and our cities are only well lit as long as the power grid is up and running. When the grid goes down, cities can become very dark places. I've spent time under stress in both situations with no light source, so today I make every effort to avoid finding myself in that position again if it can be helped.

Having also spent a good deal of time as a significant other and a parent, one of the best reasons I've seen for always having a light handy is simply for being able to do a better job of being there for those we care about. One night a few weeks ago I got a call from a friend telling me that she had lost one of her favorite earrings a parking lot. Luckily, as stated above, I almost always have at least one light on me. So after a quick over to the restaurant, which was already closed, the search was brief and I was able to recover her earring very quickly. That was actually one of a few instances that week which inspired this article, hence snapping the above picture for an illustration for it.

Between my work and my play, I spend a good deal of of time around bodies of water large and small. From the rivers streams and lakes of Tennessee Alabama and Georgia, to the bays swamps and coastal plains of the gulf coast. Over the years I have put several models of torches to the test, and have seen for myself whether or not they worked as advertised. In fact I have used this Klarus Mi10 to illuminate several objects in the rain, and under water in the shallows of various streams and rivers, even in the Gulf of Mexico once, in the 6 years since I got it. It was even used to illuminate a set of keys at the bottom of the fountain at the Westin Hotel in the above image once, for an illustration experiment. Talk about getting some funny looks from some of the strangers on the patio. The tech specs on the packaging showing that it was rated to IPX8 had given me ideas for several photographic experiments, and it has so far performed flawlessly through all of them. The fact that I have come to trust it so much is why it lives in my pocket.

The IP rating, which is sometimes referred to as International Protection rating and other times referred to as the Ingress Protection rating, is the rating system by which the extent a device is protected from the ingress of dust and water is measured. The first number after the P refers to the dust protection level, and when there is no data for that in relation to a particular product or it is irrelevant, an X is inserted as a place holder. In the world of outdoor gear IPX8 is one of the highest ratings you will find. It means the device is waterproof to a depth of more than one meter for an indefinite length of time, and will still perform as intended whilst submerged. The actual depth to which the device may be submerged is supposed to be specified by the manufacturer on their packaging, but so far I have yet to see it. If you are someone who spends a good deal of time in wet or aquatic environments for any reason, this alpha-numeric sequence is a good one to know.

Just to clarify things, the knife being included in the above shot was neither gratuitous nor incidental. It was there for a very real reason. Most clam shell packaging is made so as to inhibit easy opening in order to help prevent shoplifting in the stores, and the Fenix packaging shown here is certainly no exception. Unless you are a good deal stronger than the average person, you will need to cut the package open in order to extricate the light.

So far the most intense underwater test I have put a flashlight through was in murky water just under 2 meters deep, with the light on for a four or five minutes at a time and off for a couple to rest, for just over an hour. And that was a completely unintentional testing. It happened when a friend and I were hanging out and talking on a pier one night. When that evening started I had no idea I was about to get a refresher course in problem solving, and she had no idea she was going to learn a new skill set and see first hand just how perseverant I can be.

However as we were there on the bench you see in the photo below, my keys somehow slipped out of my pocket, and soon the only chipped key for my truck was in the darkened waters of the Tennessee River at night. At first I wasn't all that concerned. I'm familiar with the area, the dam was off so there was no current, and the water was low, and I mistakenly thought the keys were in a couple of feet of water. I knew they weren't going anywhere at any rate, so I wasn't exactly in a hurry to retrieve them. As it turned out, when I did go in the water to get them, I learned they were just under two meters deep, as the water in that spot was up to my neck.

Obviously I didn't take the time to take pictures that night, things had just become unexpectedly complicated and I had a lot on my plate at the time, but luckily I did have a Fenix LD22 flashlight in the console of my truck. The above photo was recently contrived just as an illustration for this article, but that same flashlight spent almost an hour tied to a stick with the cut-off hem of my t-shirt and held a few inches from the bottom of the river. I had to be able to light the rocky bottom, but look down from above the surface, due to the fact that the water was so silty and murky. There simply was no seeing anything clearly with my eyes under the water, even with the light in my hand a few inches in front of my face.

I was lucky in a few ways that night. I was fortunate in that she made time to stick around and help me, because of the distance from the pier down to the water in the darkness I would need her help to be sure I was in the right location to search for my keys. And I was fortunate in that I had that light in the truck. It made a Fenix light fan of me, hence purchasing the E12 and using the packaging as an illustration for this article. Whether it be the gear we use, or the people we choose to spend our time with, the quality of what we carry and those whom we bring into hour lives play a very important role in the overall quality of our lives as a whole.

 

[Halfneck]

My budding fascination with flashlights started with the Army. We were issued the old Angle-head flashlight. It was big, not too bright, and burned through the D-Cell batteries. Instead almost everyone used the smaller Maglite that ran on 2 AA batteries. As I was getting out the Surefire lights were starting to come out. The flashlights & CR123 batteries were more expensive, but they were exponentially brighter.

Fast forward a bit and I picked up a Photon red light for my keychain. Used it on many a camping trip, and in fact it is still going strong on my keychain. Then one day I was at a gunshow and ran into Marshall from Going Gear (RIP). He had a slew of flashlights and I was drawn to the smaller AAA lights. I picked up a light from Fenix that had 3 brightness levels and 2 strobe levels - all for around $23. I'd carry that light in my pocket anytime I was out. My wife use to semi-mock all the stuff I usually had in my pockets.

So a couple years down the road the wife and I are eating at a restaurant in Cabbagetown (section of Atlanta) with friends. It starts storming pretty hard, but no one is really paying attention. Then the wind ramped up and my buddy & I notice a tree outside the window getting blown around. About the time we are looking at it, the roof on the building across the street gets blown off. The lights then flickered and went out. At this point everyone was now hunkered down as a Tornado blew by for our viewing pleasure. Luckily no one was hurt, but now we are in a dark restaurant unable to see. Out came my little AAA Fenix light and illuminated the whole inside. Later my wife remarked that I probably wasn't going to let her forget about mocking all the stuff in my pockets - she was correct. They're just too useful to not have. I just used my Nitecore TINI at work Friday to find a loose connection on a co-worker's computer.

Good flashlights are so inexpensive & compact it makes little sense NOT to have one in your pocket, or on your keychain.

 

[Mistwalker]

My budding fascination with flashlights started with the Army. We were issued the old Angle-head flashlight. It was big, not too bright, and burned through the D-Cell batteries. Instead almost everyone used the smaller Maglite that ran on 2 AA batteries. As I was getting out the Surefire lights were starting to come out. The flashlights & CR123 batteries were more expensive, but they were exponentially brighter.

Fast forward a bit and I picked up a Photon red light for my keychain. Used it on many a camping trip, and in fact it is still going strong on my keychain. Then one day I was at a gunshow and ran into Marshall from Going Gear (RIP). He had a slew of flashlights and I was drawn to the smaller AAA lights. I picked up a light from Fenix that had 3 brightness levels and 2 strobe levels - all for around $23. I'd carry that light in my pocket anytime I was out. My wife use to semi-mock all the stuff I usually had in my pockets.

So a couple years down the road the wife and I are eating at a restaurant in Cabbagetown (section of Atlanta) with friends. It starts storming pretty hard, but no one is really paying attention. Then the wind ramped up and my buddy & I notice a tree outside the window getting blown around. About the time we are looking at it, the roof on the building across the street gets blown off. The lights then flickered and went out. At this point everyone was now hunkered down as a Tornado blew by for our viewing pleasure. Luckily no one was hurt, but now we are in a dark restaurant unable to see. Out came my little AAA Fenix light and illuminated the whole inside. Later my wife remarked that I probably wasn't going to let her forget about mocking all the stuff in my pockets - she was correct. They're just too useful to not have. I just used my Nitecore TINI at work Friday to find a loose connection on a co-worker's computer.

Good flashlights are so inexpensive & compact it makes little sense NOT to have one in your pocket, or on your keychain.

I agree. My one crazy experience was the power going out at night during a hurricane in Tampa and we were at the printing shop where my father worked. Luckily I had a pen light, ironically because I used it mostly like a toy...I was 9 and a star trek fan and it was my laser. But that night it showed me the light in a whole new way. A friend of our's was hurt, and I was the only one who had a light on me. As small lights have progressed I have almost always had one on me daily from the early mini mag lights on to the more modern and better made ones. I keep a few around as primaries and backups.

 

[lmalterna]

Recently I have been converting D cell Maglights to LED and lion batteries. No more worry about the alkalines leaking and ruining a light. Lighter, longer storage and run times.

Bill

 

[Mistwalker]

Recently I have been converting D cell Maglights to LED and lion batteries. No more worry about the alkalines leaking and ruining a light. Lighter, longer storage and run times.

Bill

 

[Mistwalker]

Back in my commercial fishing days I always kept 2 4 cell maglites and extra batteries in my boat

 

[Fiddleback]

I get a kick out of having a flashlight on me when it comes up and one is needed. It happens a lot if you have a small one in your pocket. Nowadays with phones, it doesn't happen as much, but it still does.

 

[NoRest]

I always have several within reach. A small copper AAA Maratac in my wallet, copper rechargeable Maratac on my keys, and a cr123 Surefire on me whenever I'm doing anything outside(which is most of the time). And I also have the light on my phone.

 

[lmalterna]

I have a little copper 1080 rechargable on a ring with my copper alox farmer, a Maratac TPF AAA in my pocket and a Zebra SC52w L2 clipped to a pocket these are always on me. I like the TPF as there is no hotspot, great for reading. I have a ton of other lights but these are the ones that get carried every day.

Next project it to bump a 2 D cell Maglight to a 3 step 800LM LED. It is already set up for Lion 18650's. Light, tough and soon to go from 200 LM to 800LM. There are mods that go much brighter but even for a late night yard light 800 is all I need.

Olights come in handy with the magnet at the bottom. I have used that feature many times at work were I keep a S30 Baton. Lets me work hands free, I do keep a headlamp in my bag for more in depth work in the dark.

Andy,
I get the same from people that say they do not need to carry a pocket knife- they always ask me to open things for them.

Bill

 

[Mistwalker]

I get a kick out of having a flashlight on me when it comes up and one is needed. It happens a lot if you have a small one in your pocket. Nowadays with phones, it doesn't happen as much, but it still does.

Yeah, the phone comes in handy for sure. Though I use my home screen to just light up the area at my feet when I drop something more than using the actual flash light app. I like having the app for quick things, but when it comes to long searches they drain the battery pretty fast and I like to save my battery for all the images I take in my lines of work

I always have several within reach. A small copper AAA Maratac in my wallet, copper rechargeable Maratac on my keys, and a cr123 Surefire on me whenever I'm doing anything outside(which is most of the time). And I also have the light on my phone.

Same here. I'm almost always outside, even when I am editing and writing if the weather is clear. I like my phone's ability to light up an area, but I like the torch's ability to focus the light in a smaller point. Plus I'd rather use a torch for self defense than risk cracking my phone on some fool's head on the streets at night

I have a little copper 1080 rechargable on a ring with my copper alox farmer, a Maratac TPF AAA in my pocket and a Zebra SC52w L2 clipped to a pocket these are always on me. I like the TPF as there is no hotspot, great for reading. I have a ton of other lights but these are the ones that get carried every day.

Next project it to bump a 2 D cell Maglight to a 3 step 800LM LED. It is already set up for Lion 18650's. Light, tough and soon to go from 200 LM to 800LM. There are mods that go much brighter but even for a late night yard light 800 is all I need.

Olights come in handy with the magnet at the bottom. I have used that feature many times at work were I keep a S30 Baton. Lets me work hands free, I do keep a headlamp in my bag for more in depth work in the dark.

Andy,
I get the same from people that say they do not need to carry a pocket knife- they always ask me to open things for them.

Bill

Thanks for that insight. I have been looking at other lights to keep in my truck. I like the magnet idea.

And yeah, seems a lot of people have become rather lazy and want to put very little effort into their lives. Lately, since I quit smoking, every time someone asks if I have a lighter on me I tell them "I don't smoke" and they go away. I always have a lighter, I carried one long beiofre I started smoking. I just get annoyed at people's laziness. Same with knives. I someone who knows me well enough asks and I like them, I'll probably loan it to them or cut something for them. If they don't know me or I don't like them they usually get a different answer, especially the ones I don't like, and have to solve it some other way.

 

[lmalterna]

I carry a Bic also but have never smoked and I NEVER give them my knife. I cut what they need cutting but the knife is in my hand.

I figure if they are not smart enough to carry a knife, they are not smart enough to use mine.

Bill

 

[Mistwalker]

I carry a Bic also but have never smoked and I NEVER give them my knife. I cut what they need cutting but the knife is in my hand.

I figure if they are not smart enough to carry a knife, they are not smart enough to use mine.

Bill

I tend to keep a Bic around also, one in my console if I need it, and usually another in my pack. They weigh next to nothing and are totally worth carrying. But usually I have a special Zippo in my pocket, that way on those VERY rare occasions when I am not carrying a fixed blade, which doesn't happen often, I'm still repping Fiddleback Forge And yeah, I like your logicinmg there!