Have you ever been sick of multimode flashlights?

[Landrew]

I do love my Maglite XL200 with it's adjustable modes, but I am sick of the Chinese flashlights which have useless colored lightshows incorporated into the modes.

[Gareth]

I do love my Maglite XL200 with it's adjustable modes, but I am sick of the Chinese flashlights which have useless colored lightshows incorporated into the modes.

err...doesn't the maglite have 2 different flashing modes, with adjustable speeds?  Not sure there are many lights out there that are more flashy that that.

[Landrew]

I do love my Maglite XL200 with it's adjustable modes, but I am sick of the Chinese flashlights which have useless colored lightshows incorporated into the modes.

err...doesn't the maglite have 2 different flashing modes, with adjustable speeds?  Not sure there are many lights out there that are more flashy that that.

Exactly.  The strobe interval and brightness are infinitely adjustable with an internal gyro by rotating the flashlight.  It also locks out all the functions with a secret hand maneuver. However, I am not a fan of the tacky colored lights in some of the Chinese models.

[dks]

tacky colored lights in some of the Chinese models.

Many cheaper (C8 style etc.) torches will have one or two flashing modes but they are the same colour as the normal beam. The Maglite 2AA LED has flashing modes too, so they are not uncommon or undesirable in the US.

As long as there is a memory, or it starts on the same level they should be OK. The problem is with "next setting start" memory, or if you need to cycle through them. But that can be done quickly anyway.

Higher end ones (Fenix, Jetbeam, Romisen, Xtar etc.) may not have flashing modes or give better control over them.

[Warfusion]

I was using one at work one day it gets annoying when you just want a steady light and turn it on and off all day.

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[Landrew]

I was using one at work one day it gets annoying when you just want a steady light and turn it on and off all day.

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I think I understand that you weren't using it on strobe all the time, but found it annoying to have to cycle through the strobe each time you turned it on and off?

[Gareth]

Ah, OK.  I'm not sure I've seen any flashlights with coloured strobe settings.

I do tend to find lights that have strobe/flashing settings as part of the cycle rather annoying, but the majority that have them are at least at the 'end' of the cycle.  Much prefer not to have them at all IMO, or even better is to have them 'hidden'.

[Warfusion]

Exactly. Lol sorry typing on the phone isn't my strong suit. But yeah I find strobe is more for a specific use like outdoors for signaling. The one I used was horrible it not only strobed but has red, green, and lazer. So I has to go through 5 modes to turn it off.

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[dks]

Sounds fun 
Like a multitool torch ...

[Warfusion]

Would have been cool if it had a switch to choose the mode. But sadly no press that button 5 times and hope not to press it a 6th or you have to try and get it off again. Haha.

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[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

I prefer multiple modes in my lights.  I use low and medium most often in a handheld light, but I tend to use high or max most often with my headlamps around the house, or in the garage.  Camping it's exactly opposite though. 

I hate having to both do a bezel twist and a button click to get to the mode I want, like with Quarks, and especially Fenixes.  Add that Fenix seems to have completely forgotten what a floody beam is without having to use a diffuser, they don't seem to know what an HCRI emitter is, and I don't have any of them anymore, nor do they have any current models I find even a little bit appealing.

I also prefer 1xAA or 1x18650 lights.  I have a couple of lights that run on 123's, but only just a couple.  Now days, a well made light with a broad voltage range driver that can run standard AA's or 14500's is a much better light IMHO than anything limited to 123's.

[Landrew]

I like the multimodes when they are well designed.  I think the low power at first click is best, followed by brightness increases, and then strobe.  The best by far, that I have seen is the Maglite XL 200.  You can set the brightness to infinite intensities by rotating the flashlight after a click-and hold, and it stays on that brightness until you change it. It also has SOS mode, adjustable strobe interval, and a nightlight mode which stays on low intensity until you move it.  I doubt if anything else currently on the market can hold a candle to it (pun intended).

[legtu]

if it was a choice between a single or multi mode light, i'll take the multimode anytime. being able to cycle through modes and select an appropriate level is well worth the effort for me as compared to  having a light that's either too bright or too dim for the job... but then, there are lights which offers direct access to different light levels w/o having to cycle through them. 

[Landrew]

I like the multimodes when they are well designed.  I think the low power at first click is best, followed by brightness increases, and then strobe.  The best by far, that I have seen is the Maglite XL 200.  You can set the brightness to infinite intensities by rotating the flashlight after a click-and hold, and it stays on that brightness until you change it. It also has SOS mode, adjustable strobe interval, and a nightlight mode which stays on low intensity until you move it.  I doubt if anything else currently on the market can hold a candle to it (pun intended).