Why is it so hard to find a simple flashlight?

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Charlie_K

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Jul 16, 2012
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To me, the ideal flashlight to have on your person is a 1 or 2x AAA, metal body, LED, and a simple on/off switch. No multiple settings based on how many times you click the button so you have to cycle through different settings on beam intensity. I want simple on/off, yet every flashlight manufacturer in the world thinks you need five different settings you need to cycle through.

Why is it nobody appreciates the basics anymore?
 
I don't know, Charlie, but if you find out, let me know!

Thats been a humongous complaint of mine for a long time. I'm dreading the day my beat up 14 year old Fenix E01 goes belly up. I don't need to sear the retina's out of a treed raccoon, or light up a fleeting felon at 200 yards. I just need a small flashlight to find something under a car seat, see the back of a storage shelf in the shed, see where to put my feet with out tripping in an unfamiliar environment in the dark if the lights go out. All I need is two settings; on and off.

I think they make things over complicated to justify a higher price. Somehow we made it through the 50's and 60's wth those old fashioned flashlights that you turned on to see, and turned off when it wasn't needed. I guess we never knew how ill equipped we were.
 
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JA5544 said:
Streamlight Microstream
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Yup, one in my pocket everyday. A single aaa battery that can be replaced in a few seconds. I do use rechargeable NiMh batteries though, but it’s perfect for everyday tasks and disappears in the pocket. I think the last one I bought were $37 for a twin pack, both are still going after 2 to 3 years.
 
jackknife said:
I don't know, Charlie, but if you find out, let me know!

Thats been a humongous complaint of mine for a long time. I'm dreading the day my beat up 14 year old Fenix E01 goes belly up. I don't need to sear the retina's out of a treed raccoon, or light up a fleeting felon at 200 yards. I just need a small flashlight to find something under a car seat, see the back of a storage shelf in the shed, see where to put my feet with out tripping in an unfamiliar environment in the dark if the lights go out. All I need is two settings; on and off.

I think they make things over complicated to justify a higher price. Somehow we made it through the 50's and 60's wth those old fashioned flashlights that you turned on to see, and turned off when it wasn't needed. I guess we never knew how ill equipped we were.
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E01s are starting to get scarce and of course prices are rising since they were discontinued. They were my absolute favorite of the breed - luckily I’ve got a couple spares in different colors stashed away.
 
Armytek C1....it has several settings including strobe but you don't need to cycle through them. Set it to the level you want and it stays there until you change the setting. The Armytek Elf and Wizard Pro are similar right angle lights that you can clip to your pocket. The Wizard Pro also has several settings from firefly dim to blindly bright. These also have a finder function where the on/off switch blinks green. This function on one charge will go for years.
 
Charlie_K said:
To me, the ideal flashlight to have on your person is a 1 or 2x AAA, metal body, LED, and a simple on/off switch. No multiple settings based on how many times you click the button so you have to cycle through different settings on beam intensity. I want simple on/off, yet every flashlight manufacturer in the world thinks you need five different settings you need to cycle through.

Why is it nobody appreciates the basics anymore?
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That's ancient tech for old folks!!! ;)

I used to agree, but once you go past the limits of aa or aaa, you get amazing capability for lumens and battery life.

If you dont want to mess with settings most have a memory to leave on the last one used. Size is also relevant, new super lights are tiny and push much more out. Then you get added benefit of using on a hat or some with magnetic tail caps can help while doing plumbing or car repair.

Strobe is essential for me, for not just safety, but also to communicate across larger distances. Most simple lights don't have a strobe.

Do yourself a favor, checkout the olight s1rii, you may be converted!
 
One other suggestion if you can deal with a simple UI, is the new Fenix E20 2.0. It uses 2 AA's and has a very simple control with a back clicky. Click it once and it comes on in Eco (5 lumen) mode. Half click while the light is on to cycle through Low (30 lumen), Med (150 lumen) and High (350 lumen). It's very small compared to other 2AA lights (5.0") and weighs only 1.5oz without the batteries.

I got two of them and my wife who HATES complex flashlight UI's LOVES the E20 2.0!!
 
I don't know either.
For the most part I too only want a simple on and off, and I don't want it to look like a lightsaber handle either.

If you ask me maglite seems to be one of the only companies out there who knows how a flashlight should look.
Like a flashlight, it doesn't need to be " styled " in any sort of futuristic eye catching manor.
The one exception I have made is the olight I1R2 e0s , turn it a little for low which I have actually started to like a bit, and turn it all the way for high.
It's easy enough to just turn it on all the way like that low mode isn't even there, but it still is there if I need it.
It's simple looking, extremely small, bright, clear , reliable, and rechargeable.

It is not what you're looking for of course though .
 
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Charlie_K said:
To me, the ideal flashlight to have on your person is a 1 or 2x AAA, metal body, LED, and a simple on/off switch. No multiple settings based on how many times you click the button so you have to cycle through different settings on beam intensity. I want simple on/off, yet every flashlight manufacturer in the world thinks you need five different settings you need to cycle through.

Why is it nobody appreciates the basics anymore?
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Check out the AAA maglite minimag.
It's American made and only $15, 2 AAA batteries, and a simple on / off.
Brighter lights are nice but I always found the 100L or so output to be plenty and would still be happy if I hadn't relegated it to my electrical repairs kit.



I do not care what anyone says , I will never love a flashlight with a bunch of fancy modes and memory and blinking and all that worthless crap.
I don't want a flashlight that comes with an instruction book, it should not be required with a flashlight.
Just turn it on and turn it off when you're done.
 
These three fit the bill. One or 2 aaa batteries, simple on off function except for the Fellhoelter. It has different settings but can be set to simple on/off.

I carry the Milwaukee the most. Cheap as chips and works well. 20200623_183456_copy_2241x3984.jpg
 
The Streamlight Micro has been mentioned, but that is the "simple" light that I hang on my bedside gunvault. One click, one setting.

But I think many of the multi-mode lights can still be easy to use, while still offering options. Like the Lumintop Prince. With three settings up to 1000 lumens. Single click on/off, and half clicks to change settings. But what makes this one easier than some is it's memory. It stays on the setting that it was turned off in. So if you always want one specific brightness setting, put it there, and it will always turn on to that one.

Copper Prince

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And assortment.

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