Strobes: Practical or Gimmick?

[Magsz]

Gimmick. And the fact that most lower end lights feature this, rather than upper end lights, is called a clue.

You're off your rocker.

Strobes are MORE than useful. A strobe has MANY uses including blinding attackers, allowing movement WHILE illuminating a target which can end up being a defensive OR offensive use.

A solid light beam serves to blind an attacker. A strobe disorients, blinds and confuses.

Can you please elaborate on WHY you think it is a gimmick instead of simply expressing your opinion with absolutely no information to back it up?

[Preliator]

I have had a fair amount of luck using the strobe function of my handheld - It certainly catches people's attention, as a cop this is important. Would I go so far to say that it would be important in a life and death situation, I dont know - I could see it being as much of a hazard as a benefit.

I have used my strobe when trying to de escalate situations, particularly where one party is agitated. It just kindof shuts people up. I will say that I generally get the impression that since I am ready for the strobe and practice with it regularly, that when it does go on that I am less affected by it than the subject.

Like lasers I think that strobes have a place, and I would rather pay the extra $5 on my TLR1s to have it, even if I dont use it in gunfights.

[Dennis]

Gimmick. And the fact that most lower end lights feature this, rather than upper end lights, is called a clue.

While from practical experience I am not fully convinced of the disorienting effect of strobes, I don't think your argument of lower vs. higher end LED lights is correct. If by higher end you mean Surefire, there is a great argument that SF is far behind the curve when it comes to cutting edge lighting technology nowadays. As far as cheaper overseas lights many are now of very high quality and on the cutting edge of design for less cost, comparable to the old days in the car industry.

I am huge SF fan and have bought literally hundreds of their products over the past 20 years, but they have .mil and other priorities they have to design to which preclude cutting edge technology. That said, most of my duty light are SF including an X300, A2L, and Defender with a Malkoff drop in.

However, if you are looking for output and features in handheld tactical lighting there are many other choices than SF, many of which actually cost less.

Dennis.

[zakkk173]

I'm not sure how it would work in a tactical situation , as I have never used it in such form. But being a police officer I find it becomes useful at accident scenes at night. I use it to get the attention of people in cars when i am directing traffic , especially when I'm the only one on scene and the accident is still in the roadway.

Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk

[scottryan]

Can you please elaborate on WHY you think it is a gimmick instead of simply expressing your opinion with absolutely no information to back it up?

Because it is extra shit to scroll through on the function buttons that I have no use for.

[scottryan]

If by higher end you mean Surefire, there is a great argument that SF is far behind the curve when it comes to cutting edge lighting technology nowadays. As far as cheaper overseas lights many are now of very high quality and on the cutting edge of design for less cost, comparable to the old days in the car industry.

Really Dennis?

[Moltke]

Although it made for a good scene in the movie Kickass, there is no point at which I'd ever want a strobe over a solid beam strong white light. I'd rather illuminate a potential target and be able to see what the hell was going on.

[Dennis]

Really Dennis?

Really what?

[tresmonos]

...comparable to the old days in the car industry.

Please do tell: have you been 'overseas.' Have you dealt with any form of manufacturing processes?
Do you work in the auto industry?


Hint: foreign (especially 'heavy') manufacturing is where it's at due to engineers from this country flying over to train idiot pawns how to do things correctly. Then having to fly back continuously to tell them to stop effing it up after you get a boat full of scrap. Small time manufacturing is a different ball game. Any simple mind can make a mold and assemble cheap plastic. If it's a small product with minimalist stack-up tolerances, mostly plastic, made in China and costs more than $15, you just got ripped off. QC controls are post boat ride and usually end user.

If you were referencing US brands in the auto industry sucking in the 70's and 80's, you're comparing apples to oranges.

[Itsahak]

it's as disorienting to you as it is to them, and trying to accurately acquire a good sight picture will be next to impossible while the light is in party mode.

This was our experience when we tested them for out patrol rifles...