I carry a SureFire E2L flashlight. Yes, I carry it with me everywhere. I did realize what a Good Thing™ it is to carry a flashlight until I started carrying one. I use it frequently. I carry a Leatherman Wave too. My wife says I have a Batman utility belt. You may laugh, but tools are more useful when they’re around when you need them. Being on my belt, I’ve got tools on hand when needed. It’s that whole Be Prepared thing.

Last week my flashlight broke. I was unscrewing the tailcap and the spring that goes against the battery was tilted and fell off. I noticed one of the plastic retaining clips in the tailcap had broken off and then fell into a crevasse within the tailcap rendering it impossible to screw the tailcap back on. I couldn’t get the plastic bit out, and while trying to do so pressed the tailcap button and parts flew everywhere. Ick. I have no idea how the retaining clip broke in the first place.

I telephoned SureFire’s customer service. The man listened to my explanation, double-checked the model, took my address and phone number, and said a new tailcap is on its way. The UPS man just dropped it off. I have my flashlight again. Yes, I need to buy another (2 is 1, 1 is none… redundancy is good).

So let’s hear it for SureFire. No questions asked. No b.s., no runaround. Polite, friendly, helpful, and fast service. And of course, their products are great.