Huh? How do "minimalist" and "collection" go together?

Well, I'm not a collector, but I figured that a one-size-fits-all flashlight does not exist, at least for me. So I thought about the minimum number of flashlights I would need and came up with three:

  1. An EDC flashlight: The Sofirn HS10 is an ideal everyday carry item: It's small but bright, it's rechargeable via USB so I don't need an extra charger or spare batteries. Great for quickly illuminating the dark corners of the cellar when searching for something. It also doubles as a headlamp for short walks (like, from the bus station to my home over a dark farm track across the fields). 4000K is a warm-ish color temperature while still bright.

  2. A pocketable but capable thrower: A Convoy S6 with an SFT40 at 5000K is my choice for longer hikes in the dark. Its super-bright beam illuminates the path well ahead. Just what I want from an outdoor flashlight.

  3. Then, an indoor light for tents and blackouts (not that we have many around here, but still): The Convoy S2+ has a more floody beam than the S6, and I intentionally chose an 1800K emitter to get the warmth of candlelight, a cozy bonfire, or a sunset. And it delivers! Wow, what a color. You may ask why not something more "practical" like 2700K or 3000K, but for this, I have my EDC flashlight. So, "bonfire color" it had to be!

I also decided to go with a single battery type only, for easier battery management. Well, I missed that target, as the Sofirn has a different size than the others (a 16340), but as it recharges through the built-in USB, I consider the battery as "built-in".

For the other flashlights, I looked for models that take 18650 batteries, which, in my opinion, nicely combine a small form factor with a decent battery life. Furthermore, in the summer months when the nights are too short, I can use the batteries in a power bank, so that they don't just lie around and get old.

So I think this is the most minimal collection I can own.

What do you think? Are three enough? Or too many? Do you face more use cases that call for a wider variety of flashlights? Or have you found the ideal one-size-fits-all torch for you?

by ChristophBerger

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