Is the Day of the Flashlight Past?

[Travis Autry]

I ran sound for a program last night at work.  Just before the event was about to begin a thunderstorm blew up and the electricity went off.  The event was in the practice gym that is adjacent to the university's main sports arena, so the lights require time to cycle before they will come back on.

As I reached for the ZebraLight that was on my belt, I noticed a number of lights among the people in attendance.  They were all on their cell phones.  While they were not nearly as bright as what I had, they were functional enough to allow the people to move around the hall safely.

So, I began to wonder:  Is the day of the stand alone flashlight or keyring light nearly a thing of the past?

While there are those of us who still carry our pocket knives, multitools and personal flashlights, it appears we are fewer and father between.  I'd be interested to see thoughts of our members.

[mvyrmnd]

Not at all. The day you find me geocaching at night using only the LED in my iPhone will be the day you find me fallen off a cliff and dead...

In an emergency it's a nice backup to have, but it would be my last resort.

[Lynn LeFey]

I went to see 'The Avengers' this afternoon, and a lady got up to use the restroom during the movie, using her cell phone as a light. All my friends with Iphone 4s have the flashlight app. It certainly is a handy backup. It also eats your cell phone batteries very quickly, and in any event with any duration, I'd think you'd want to keep a charge on your cellphone.

I think it's great for folks who have their cell phones to have the option of using it as a flashlight, and I think it's better than no light at all, but I don't think it's the best solution. Things may change in the future, and cellphone designers may include better flashlight solutions. Who knows?

[dks]

My, cheap, phone has  TV, radio, 2 Cameras, Light, records and plays video and sound, Wi-fi, games, telephone with 2 SIMS  etc..

None of them is a good enough replacement of a dedicated product but they are all good to have on a small device that is on you all the time; a multitool of some sort.

I also have an LED lenser on my keys and torches everywhere, just in case.. 

[N_N_R]

I don't think so ... It seems modern technology wants to transfer everythign into your mobile- your wallet, your flashlight, wtf. Well, ok, what if you get robbed of your mobile? You remain without connection, without money, without light. Hm. I think those who rely on everything being in one single "box" are a little silly. What if you drop it, if the battery dies out, if, if, if Viva Good Old Flashlight!

[Millhouse]

Nope.

I will always have my EDC lights, and a light on my keys.

[kirk13]

Its an interesting question.I've had a mobile with built in LED to use as a flashlight(its was a dirt cheap Nokia rather than a smart fone,and I loved it,a Alox Soldier of mobiles),and before I started carrying a flashlight(before I met you lot )I have used the mobi screen on the odd occasion.

I think its more a case of less and less people being prepared rather than the mobile replacing it.

[ducttapetech]

i think they may wane a little but they will not die out. Mainly do to some jobs like Leos, miliatary, maintance, farmers and things of the such. Jobs where phones dont shine bright of far enough and nobody or the phones likes oil, greese, water etc on them(phone).  also flashlights can be deployed faster and last way longer.

[nuphoria]

A firm no from me.

I think the people who rely on their phones as a light, never carried a light in the first place.

[ducttapetech]

a very good and true point.

[JAfromMn]

I think its more a case of less and less people being prepared rather than the mobile replacing it.

+1

I don't think the cell phone will replace the flashlight for those who already carry one.

[Sazabi]

I don't see it happening, either; I've had to use my phone as a light before (I have a Samsung flip phone POS) and it is terrible.  I'd rather have a Photon or fauxton on my keys than having to rely on my phone's LCD.  With that said, I wish I could find Nokia phones that work on the Alltel network still; I want one of their cheap, can't-kill-it, phones. :/

It is worth noting that I remember reading an article that a lot of third world nations' most popular dumbphones consisted of "cheap" Nokias and other models that had integrated flashlights.

[Syph007]

No I doubt it.  Lots of people I know at least have a keychain flashlight on them.  Even non EDC type people.  My wife carries and E01 on her keys and uses it.

[Mr. Whippy]

Hardly.  Try checking your kid's tonsils with an iphone.  Or when you drop your keys in the rain, are you gonna pull out your smartphone to look for them?

Plus, when you need to hold your light in your teeth so both hands are free, I don't think people will opt for their iphone over a AAA light.

 

[sawman]

Although cell phones cast enough light to maneuver around a little in the dark, their brightness is very limited.  I'd hate to be trapped in rubble after some major disaster and have the rescue workers looking for me with a cell phone.  I don't see the flashlight going anywhere.

[Zed]

Not for me, for one i dont have a I phone thingy  and my cheap phones light is ok for and luminates our bedroom so is pretty bright, im hoping to get a JCB site phone in november as for me a more important thing for a phone i own is to be waterproof and bash proof  oh and to ring and text  oh and this phone has a built in torch lol

[powerring]

In an emergency, a phone might best be used as a communications tool, not as a flashlight.  For incredibly small cost and weight, a Photon light would be a worthwhile purchase for anyone. 

[Steinar]

Personally, I think the flashlight is going the way of the pocket knife. Fewer people will carry one, but there will be a sizeable enthusiast and speSmurfpillst market for the foreseeable future. I have the impression that carrying anything giving a capability to handle unexpected problems as just a minor hiccup (as opposed to time consuming and/or risky) is nerdy/geeky/etc. Most people carry neither a pocket knife nor a flashlight, at least that's my impression, just as most people don't carry multi-tool or even a pencil.

I think flashlights for most people is something that lives in the basement, which may or may not have batteries, or headlamps used exclusively for sports.

[Mr. Whippy]

Personally, I think the flashlight is going the way of the pocket knife. Fewer people will carry one, but there will be a sizeable enthusiast and speSmurfpillst market for the foreseeable future. I have the impression that carrying anything giving a capability to handle unexpected problems as just a minor hiccup (as opposed to time consuming and/or risky) is nerdy/geeky/etc. Most people carry neither a pocket knife nor a flashlight, at least that's my impression, just as most people don't carry multi-tool or even a pencil.

I think flashlights for most people is something that lives in the basement, which may or may not have batteries, or headlamps used exclusively for sports.

I think this is possibly very true for a large percentage of the population.  Self imposed helplessness seems to be the order of the day.  I can't believe the number of people who can't change a tire, tighten a screw, or change a car battery.  Really pathetic .

[Zed]

Personally, I think the flashlight is going the way of the pocket knife. Fewer people will carry one, but there will be a sizeable enthusiast and speSmurfpillst market for the foreseeable future. I have the impression that carrying anything giving a capability to handle unexpected problems as just a minor hiccup (as opposed to time consuming and/or risky) is nerdy/geeky/etc. Most people carry neither a pocket knife nor a flashlight, at least that's my impression, just as most people don't carry multi-tool or even a pencil.I think flashlights for most people is something that lives in the basement, which may or may not have batteries, or headlamps used exclusively for sports.

This is probably very true, i always have a blade of some sort and gets me out of trouble most days,a light not so much but still usefulll when needed, we are the people others ask for help when these items are needed, its a joke at work that i carry everything but the kitchen sink 

[dks]

.or pick any wild mushrooms or other wild plants without risking getting poisoned, or cook anything from scratch, or unblock  a toilet or paint a house or fish or check the oil or water in their car, or fix/inflate a bike tyre..... and so on

Personally, I think the flashlight is going the way of the pocket knife. Fewer people will carry one, but there will be a sizeable enthusiast and speSmurfpillst market for the foreseeable future. I have the impression that carrying anything giving a capability to handle unexpected problems as just a minor hiccup (as opposed to time consuming and/or risky) is nerdy/geeky/etc. Most people carry neither a pocket knife nor a flashlight, at least that's my impression, just as most people don't carry multi-tool or even a pencil.

I think flashlights for most people is something that lives in the basement, which may or may not have batteries, or headlamps used exclusively for sports.

I think this is possibly very true for a large percentage of the population.  Self imposed helplessness seems to be the order of the day.  I can't believe the number of people who can't change a tire, tighten a screw, or change a car battery.  Really pathetic .

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

Personally, I think the flashlight is going the way of the pocket knife. Fewer people will carry one, but there will be a sizeable enthusiast and speSmurfpillst market for the foreseeable future. I have the impression that carrying anything giving a capability to handle unexpected problems as just a minor hiccup (as opposed to time consuming and/or risky) is nerdy/geeky/etc. Most people carry neither a pocket knife nor a flashlight, at least that's my impression, just as most people don't carry multi-tool or even a pencil.

I think flashlights for most people is something that lives in the basement, which may or may not have batteries, or headlamps used exclusively for sports.

I think this is possibly very true for a large percentage of the population.  Self imposed helplessness seems to be the order of the day.  I can't believe the number of people who can't change a tire, tighten a screw, or change a car battery.  Really pathetic .

Agreed.  I've changed dead car batteries at a gas station in the middle of Nowhere, Nevada before, and several other similar incidents.  An app on a smartphone can't do for you want even a simple 1xAAA light can.  I will always have at least a 1xAA or 1xAAA light on me (as well as a SAK or MT).  I'd rather be able to save the battery in my phone for making a call when possible, rather than waste it on something a $20 keychain accessory can do much better.

I'm not a "prepper" by any means, but that doesn't mean I haven't learned the value of self sufficiency and preparedness.  I've spent one too many cold, wet, and otherwise uncomfortable/unsafe nights in the woods because I didn't have the basic I needed to be safe, if not comfortable.  Never again. 

My standard policy now is that I always have what I need with me to either get home, or spend a night outside if need be, at all times.  I carry a small first aid kit in addition to my other EDC items, and just toss that in my hiking pack when I'm going out for even just a short hike. 

I also always keep my hiking pack stocked with at least one light, spare batteries, an MT, a SAK, a shell, a few energy bars, etc.  I'm still working on a self contained survival kit that will I'll carry in my MaxPed EDC organizer though, but once that's finished, it will also live in my hiking pack as well.

[Lynn LeFey]

I'm not a "prepper" by any means...

My standard policy now is that I always have what I need with me to either get home, or spend a night outside if need be, at all times. 

...

I also always keep my hiking pack stocked with at least one light, spare batteries, an MT, a SAK, a shell, a few energy bars, etc.  I'm still working on a self contained survival kit that will I'll carry in my MaxPed EDC organizer though, but once that's finished, it will also live in my hiking pack as well.

Yeah... just keep telling yourself you're not a prepper.
The bags you're describing are known alternately as Bug Out Bags or Get Home Bags.
Being a Prepper ranges in degree. I know I'm a prepper, but I consider myself a 'moderate'. I'm planning for situations I have personally encountered before, or situations that are reasonably likely: Power failure of a few weeks, emergency repair to storm damage, having stuff on me at all times that would let me get home either by, fixing my own car, calling a cab, or hoofing it. I carry basic tools, and the basics of survival gear (like a way to make fire, shelter, a bit of food, water purification, etc) with me.

And currently, 3 flashlights: a keychain fauxton, a AA Minimag LED, and trying out a Gerber Infinity Ultra-M NVIS.

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

I'm not a "prepper" by any means...

My standard policy now is that I always have what I need with me to either get home, or spend a night outside if need be, at all times. 

...

I also always keep my hiking pack stocked with at least one light, spare batteries, an MT, a SAK, a shell, a few energy bars, etc.  I'm still working on a self contained survival kit that will I'll carry in my MaxPed EDC organizer though, but once that's finished, it will also live in my hiking pack as well.

Yeah... just keep telling yourself you're not a prepper.
The bags you're describing are known alternately as Bug Out Bags or Get Home Bags.
Being a Prepper ranges in degree. I know I'm a prepper, but I consider myself a 'moderate'. I'm planning for situations I have personally encountered before, or situations that are reasonably likely: Power failure of a few weeks, emergency repair to storm damage, having stuff on me at all times that would let me get home either by, fixing my own car, calling a cab, or hoofing it. I carry basic tools, and the basics of survival gear (like a way to make fire, shelter, a bit of food, water purification, etc) with me.

And currently, 3 flashlights: a keychain fauxton, a AA Minimag LED, and trying out a Gerber Infinity Ultra-M NVIS.

Okay, maybe I'm a little more into it than I want to think...     but still, here in CA, it's not a matter of IF we have another big quake, but WHEN.  USGS estimates a 7.5 or greater on the San Andreas or Fremont faults (both of which run right through the bay area) in the next 20 years at 95%. 

My parents-in-law have a cabin up in the foothills that our family has been working on improving and setting up as an emergency family gathering place in the event of a major natural disaster, etc. 

In general though, I still try to keep with me whatever it is I might need to get home or survive a night outdoors in an emergency.  I don't bother to call it BOBs or GHBs or whatever, for me it's just the stuff I need to get things done and take care of myself and my family.

To get back to the topic though, for me, a phone app will never do what I typically need to use a flashlight for, so I will always carry at least one light with me at all times.  I use my lights regularly and daily for all kinds of different tasks.  There's no way a phone app could ever meet my needs for lighting.

[powernoodle]

Is the day of the stand alone flashlight or keyring light nearly a thing of the past?

For some folks it may be, but the speedy deployment and high output of a small belt light is something that a cell phone can't replace.  I consider my Android device to be a backup to my belt light, and its nice to know its there if my primary light croaks, but functionally it can't replace a "real" light IMO.

[Steinar]

I'm not a "prepper" by any means...

My standard policy now is that I always have what I need with me to either get home, or spend a night outside if need be, at all times. 

...

I also always keep my hiking pack stocked with at least one light, spare batteries, an MT, a SAK, a shell, a few energy bars, etc.  I'm still working on a self contained survival kit that will I'll carry in my MaxPed EDC organizer though, but once that's finished, it will also live in my hiking pack as well.

Yeah... just keep telling yourself you're not a prepper.

Okay, maybe I'm a little more into it than I want to think...   

Not a prepper, not a collector... I notice a theme here... They say doctors are the worst patients, it seems it goes for people with PhDs in psychology too... 

[gustophersmob]

To get back to the topic though.....

Against the rules

 

Seriously, though, my level of prepping largely mirrors yours.

I wonder if things like smartphone apps could fuel interest in better lights.  I think part of the upsurge in interest in entry-level DSLR cameras is due to people using their iphone and saying, "wow, that's a nice picture, I wonder what a real camera can do."  Maybe a similar thing in LED lights could happen?

[Mr. Whippy]

My level of preparedness is higher than most.  We're set for hurricane and major thunderstorm or ice/snowstorm issues.  Generators for the house and barn.  250 gallon gas tank for the generators and vehciles.  #2 fuel oil tank (diesel basically) for tractors and home heating.  Flashlights, snowplow, front end loader, chainsaws, tec. 

We ran the farm on generators for a week after Hurricane Isabel blew through.  Four days has been the max due to snow/ice storms.   (One time I had to bodge together a vaccuum assist fuel pump on the house generator, definitely a McGuyver moment.).

[jzmtl]

My phone battery already die fast enough without flashlight app helping, a single 123a light in pocket is cheap insurance.

[Mercury]

I use my iphone flashlight app in my house at 3 am, but that's it.  And rarely at that because I have my pants next to the bed, and they are always "loaded" with my TWO EDC flashlights(leatherman monarch 300 and Fenix LD01), and I have a streamlight nano on my nightstand.  I have another two AA light on my EDC pack(ITP SA2 Eluma), and three lights of varying quality in my BOB/Truck bag.  I keep two loaded Mag D cell flashlights in the house ready to go, along with various cheapos spread around the house with caches of batteries. 

All of this wackiness was inspired by a huge storm we had here a few years back and my house had no flashlights, my wife was scared to death and had no illumination while I was at work battling debris and wind to keep my hotel guests safe.  I felt stupid and unprepared, something I never want to feel again, so I make sure I have redundancy where I can in the field of Flashlights.  Iphone LED is fine for movie theater use, but that's it.

In my mind, you can't have too many flashlights.