Last Updated on August 12, 2022 by rabiamuzaffar
Glow in the dark with these rugged and bright tactical light.
For most ordinary people, the purchase of flashlights is mainly based on practicality: walking at night, running at night, and camping in the wild. This article only introduces cost-effective finished flashlights and shares some basic knowledge and purchasing experience of flashlights.
The 5 Most Important Factors to Consider When Buying a tactical flashlight.
1. Lumen (brightness)
Among the parameters of the flashlight, which represents the brightness of the flashlight. The higher the lumens, the higher the brightness, and the lower the lumens, the lower the brightness.
When choosing a tactical light, it is not that the higher the lumen, the better, we have to choose the right flashlight according to our own needs:
• For daily use, such as walking at night, running at night, then 100-200 lumens is enough;
• For amateur outdoor adventure and field camping, you can choose a flashlight with 500 lumens, and do not need more than 2000 lumens;
• Some flashlights say “up to 2000 lumens, 3000 lumens”, which are generally not very useful for ordinary users.
2. Run time
Running time is another very important parameter, and no one wants the flashlight to run out of power after just a while.
Most flashlights now have several brightness levels. The length of the running time depends on the gear position. The power consumption of the flashlight determines the brightness level and running time. Therefore, the brighter the flashlight, the shorter the runtime.
3. Gear
The gear of the flashlight refers to its brightness level. Most flashlights have 3-5 gears. In addition, there are two flashing gears:
● Strobe gear:
It has a self-defense effect, which will make people lose their sense of direction in a short time, forming an opportunity to escape or counterattack, but the theoretical use of this function is far greater than the actual use.
The only time I used the flash function was when a stray dog barked at me on my way to get off work in the middle of the night, so I tried it out, and the effect was pretty good. I guess the dogs were shocked.
● SOS gear:
The flashlight flashes, three long and three short, continuously circulating, this is the international SOS signal, but I also have 0 usage rate in this gear.
4. Waterproof, dustproof and anti-drop
If you are an outdoor sports enthusiast, when choosing a flashlight, durability is one of the important factors. Waterproof, dustproof, and drop resistance are the standards for durability. The flashlight fell into the concrete from a height of two meters, and the flashlight did not have any cracks or damage. So the aluminum body flashlight is the best choice.
Some flashlights say they are waterproof but are followed by a line of small print: “Life-grade waterproof”, which is not really waterproof.
There are three water resistance levels commonly found in tactical flashlights:
• IPX4. Flashlights can work under splashing water.
• IPX7. The flashlight can still be used normally when immersed in 1 meter of water for 30 minutes.
• IPX8. The IPX8-level flashlight can be used normally underwater for 2 meters and soaked for more than 0.5 hours.
So when choosing a waterproof flashlight, you can pay attention to whether there is an “IPXX” standard style in the product description.
5.Battery(rechargeable or non-rechargeable)
The battery is one of the most important parts of the flashlight and deserves a separate introduction.
There are several types of batteries commonly used in flashlights:
• Rechargeable: 18650 or other rechargeable batteries; many power banks and notebooks use 18650 battery packs;
• Non-rechargeable: AA or AAA batteries, and the CR123A battery is a single-use lithium battery.
So how do we ordinary consumers choose flashlight batteries? Here is my suggestion:
• If you find it troublesome to buy a battery, just buy a rechargeable flashlight and charge it on time according to the battery indicator;
• If you often do not use the flashlight, the flashlight is lying in the drawer for a long time, and it is only occasionally taken out for emergency use. When purchasing, it is recommended to buy a flashlight powered by AA or AAA batteries, because the rechargeable battery will slowly discharge even if it is not used. And if it is not used for a long time, it is best to take it out to charge it every once in a while;
• If you often use the flashlight, such as walking at night or patrolling every day, it is recommended to choose a rechargeable flashlight, which can save the cost of use, especially the high-brightness gear. Ordinary dry batteries can’t last for long.
6. Other additional functions
Some flashlights can be used as a rechargeable battery, and some flashlights are designed with a serrated front end that can be used as a self-defense tool …Some additional features are still very practical.
But be aware that some flashlights with electric shock function, or flashlight attack head is designed to be too exaggerated, is unable to pass security checks!
Summary
To sum up, when purchasing a flashlight, you can choose a suitable flashlight according to our usage scenarios:
• For general daily life, such as road lighting in the city, indoor use, you can buy a flashlight with a brightness of 100-200 lumens;
• If you have camping, hiking, night fishing, etc., you can buy a 500-lumen flashlight with anti-drop and waterproof functions;
• If there is a scene that requires a sufficient field of vision such as patrolling, search and rescue, and hunting, in addition to the maximum lumens of 800 or more, it is best to have a flashlight with flash and SOS functions.
Best Tactical Flashlight Pricing
- Under $50: These are medium-quality flashlights. Most have cheap disposable AAA batteries, and flashlights in this price range aren’t very durable, but they’re also effective, with features like shock resistance and water resistance. If you’re on a budget and don’t use them often, you can still choose a flashlight in this price range
- $50 and up: Most are from big brand manufacturers and are of good quality. They are durable, brighter, and have longer battery life. They are usually impact resistant, shock resistant and waterproof. They are mostly made of aluminum and steel materials. These lights are suitable for weapon mounting and self-defense and feature high light output.
My most recommended product:
Olight Warrior 3 Tactical light
| Brand | Olight (www.olightstore.com) |
| Lumens | 2,300~800~250 lumens |
| Run Time | 130 hours at15 lumens;13 hours at 200 lumens; |
| Gear | Tactical Tail Switch,Convenient Side Switch |
| Waterproof, dustproof and anti-drop | IPX8 Waterproof,Aluminum alloy body, anti-drop and shock-resistant |
| Battery | Rechargeable,Customized 3.6V 5000mAh 21700 Lithium-ion Battery |
| My Reting | 9.4/10 |
First, here is my checklist, (please think about these questions before buying):
My use case: A medium-sized LED tactical flashlight for short walks outdoors, camping or emergency home lighting.
1) Budget: An easy question, but you may change your mind after answering the rest! 🙂
Under $100, preferably around $80
2) Function:
Tactical Flashlight with Self Defense
4) Flashlight specific format/size:
Small/Medium, up to 7″
5) Emitter/Light Source:
Probably LED (known for efficiency, longevity and compactness)
6) Manufacturer:
Big brand, with after-sales guarantee, the product is ready to use out of the box
7) What type of battery do you want to use?
Rechargeable because it is more cost-effective
8) Use the scene.
I want to light up my entire backyard or campsite (150-1000 lumens)
9) At what distance are you most likely to use this light?
50 meters, you can get a farther view when walking or camping at night
10) Runtime: Manufacturer’s runtime claims are not exaggerated, but measured from first activation to 50% usable brightness (measured at maximum output) with a new battery.
100-150 minutes (depending on your lighting time needs)
11) Durability/usability: In general, the old adage “you get what you pay for” is pretty accurate when it comes to flashlights.
Slightly important, I hope there won’t be any glitches for at least 3 years
12) Switch type and position:
Maybe a tail mounted switch, but that doesn’t really matter.
13) Battery indicator
I wish I could see the power indicator of the flashlight, and a glance before I travel will make me feel more secure
14)Material/Finish/Coating
I don’t know, but I prefer the metallic finish.
15) Special Needs/Extras: Is there anything else you want or need but haven’t mentioned?
Clip/holster/lanyard if possible
According to my checklist, the Olight Warrior 3 Tactical Flashlight is my best choice. in fact, it exceeded all my needs on my budget and I love it. Pocket sized flashlight with a holster that fits in your backpack or pocket so it’s close at hand when you need it. The flashlight has 2,300 lumens and can illuminate up to 300 meters. It also has a strobe function, which serves as my daily defense flashlight tool.
The lotus-shaped head design prevents damage to the lens in the event of an accidental drop. The housing is made of durable and wear-resistant aluminum shell that is impact resistant and IPX8 waterproof.
The unit runs on a 5000mAh rechargeable battery and can run for up to 10 hours at 200 lumens, which is great for overnight power use in outdoor camping.
For ordinary users, a tactical flashlight can be used for self-defense, and it can also easily respond to sudden lighting needs at certain times, which is really reassuring.
Read More: Camping flashlight reviews
