Tactical LEDs - LED Flashlight Reviews and News

LED Flashlights and Infrared (IR), What you need to make it work

2011-05-11T13:33:00.000-04:00

Recently the question has come up several times, why won't my NVG work with my LED flashlight?

The user generally has a good handle on their equipment and how it works and they are disappointed with their new LED flashlight when it will not put out IR light. Since the question/problem has arisen several times, it's time we address the issue.

Our old ICAN lights produced light by passing an electrical current through a filament between two electrodes. The result was the filament glowed brightly producing useable light. Since the primary reaction of the device was actually heat and fire, the useable light was actually a secondary product from which we sought benefit. The light that was being produced was in the entire frequency bandwidth from IR to UV. Obviously the portion we are usually concerned with is what we can see. To use the IR or UV bands, we would simply filter out what we didn't want, leaving the required band available for our use.

When LED flashlights hit the main stream, soldiers, law enforcement officers, helicopter pilots and hunters alike immediately complained about the lack of useable light with their much brighter LED flashlights. Followed closely by "Even without a filter, I can hardly see with an LED flashlight or it is really, really dim,there must be something wring with the LED flashlight.

To diagnose the problem, users were trying all sorts of remedies before calling for an explaination. Turning the white light on without a filter, provided only marginal results. Generally in the presence of a bright white light, NVG can be damaged quite quickly because they gather useable light. With an unrestricted ICAN light, the wearer of NVGs can have sudden pain and even eye damage if a white light is shone at NVGs. Not to mention the shear lunacy of having to perform a "low-light" / "no light" operation by using a flashlight. Kinda makes NVGs pointless, yes?

So what is the problem and how can it be fixed?

Well, LEDs are actually really small computers. They are designed to produce light at only a certain frequency that we can see. I'll not go into the human eye and the frequencies here; a quick internet search will give you tons of information. Unlike ICAN bulbs that produce light across all frequencies, LED only produces light in the visible band. This makes LEDs much more efficient since they do not waste power on light that can't been seen anyway. In the case of IR, we specifically want IR light and no visible light.

SInce LEDs can be designed to produce light at a certain bandwidth, it becomes immediately apparent, we need an LED designed to produce light in the IR bandwidth if we intend to use it with NVGs.

There are several solutions available to meet your needs. There are helmet mounted IR emitters that produce a very small amount of IR light for navigation with NVGs or instrument reading in aircraft. There are dedicated IR emitters, generally intended to be mounted on a weapon that will produce sufficient IR light to acquire a target. And there are flashlights that are equipped with White LEDs and IR LEDs so the light can be used for multiple purposes.

Like the incandescent bulbs replaced by white LEDs, LED infrared emitters are very efficient, last for thousands of hours and provide IR in the required bandwidth to be used by NV equipment.

If you are searching for a light for an IR application, please call our custom service team at (888) 308-9661 and we will be glad to help you out.

LED Flashlights and HID Lighting & Equipment, Tactical LEDs

2011-04-21T21:59:00.005-04:00

LEDs are here to stay and in the near future, LEDs may well be the sole source of light we use everyday in our homes. We have recognized LED Technology is an important source of portable lighting for public servants. Though LEDs have become more popular it is somewhat hard to find what your looking for. At Tactical LEDs we carry a huge inventory of this light source in many forms. From police flashlights, LED flashlights, LED headlights, HID lighting and equipment and tactical flashlights, we have it all! Visit us online at www.tacticalleds.com and call 888-308-9661 with questions.

Tactical LED's Has An Amazing Inventory

2011-04-21T21:59:00.002-04:00

No more searching for Tactical LEDs. All you need to do is log on to www.tacticalleds.com . We're sure your going to find what you need. We have a vast inventory of LED tactical Flashlights, Police Flashlights, LED headlights, HID lighting equipment, LED flashlights. Call 888-308-9661 with any questions you may have.

Each kit includes:

The Tomahawk MC White/Red/Green (white light at 120 lumens, plus a ring of red and green LEDs)
An Ultraviolet or Blue Task Light
Tomahawk TRS MOLLE mounting system in Foliage Green or Tan
Two Retention System Finger Loops
CR123 Lithium Batteries
Instruction Manual

MADE TO PERFORM IN THE WORLD'S TOUGHEST MEDICAL ENVIRONMENTS.
Geared with the tactical medical professional in mind, our medic-specific systems and packages improve safety and performance through:
INCREASED SURVIVABILITY.
We've taken a potentially targeted light source away from the Soldier's head and moved it to the most protected part of the Soldier's body - the chest.
REDUCED OUTPUT SIGNATURE.
The Tomahawk TC3 system reduces a light's output signature by:

Utilizing a non-glaring wavelength (red/green mix)
Orienting the LED's downward to "shield" them from direct view
Decreasing light movement (when compared to head- or helmet-mounted lights)

BLOOD "HIGHLIGHTING."
A proprietary mix of red and green LEDs, operated at the appropriate wavelength and brightness setting, will "highlight" red fluids like blood, while subduing other colored fluids. This allows for quicker casualty assessment and treatment, especially when multiple fluids are present.
THE TOMAHAWK TASK LIGHT (TTL).
Until now, medics have had to carry multiple lights of various sizes, from small penlights to large and fragile ultraviolet lights. The TTL incorporates a single 5mm LED into the battery cap of the Tomahawk and is available in two colors:

Blue - ideal for use with fluorescein strips or drops
UV - to fluoresce certain fungal and bacterial infections

Finest LED Tactical Flashlights and LED & HID Light Equipment

2011-04-21T21:58:00.003-04:00

Tactical LED's is a great source for LED tactical LED flashlights, police flashlights, LED headlights, LED bike lights, Camping LED's, and so much more. Ordering is easy and shipping is quick. Log on to www.tacticalleds.com to view all our amazing products. Please call us at 888-308-9661 with any questions. At Tactical LEDs we are dedicated to bringing you the finest LED and HID lighting equipment in the world. We are real people with a real inventory. We stock nearly every item we sell
Provides superior distance and peripheral vision. Used on bike helmet or handlebar (adjustments required). Multiple modes enable light intensities to be adjusted; meant for High Speed Sports.
Light Emissions

300 Lumens
30 Field of Vision
Distance Vision: 200 - 250 ft (60 - 76 m)
Peripheral Vision: 60 ft (18 m)

Features

4 White LEDs
Quick Tilt (90)
Tap Switch
Battery Power Pack Belt
Bike Mount

LED Weapon Lights, LED Tactical Flashlights, Safety Flares & More

2011-04-21T21:58:00.000-04:00

Order all your tactical LED eqiupment from Tactial LED at www.tactialleds.com or call 888-308-9661. We carry everything from LED tactical flashlights,LED safety flares, LED headlights, LED weapon lights, batteries and chargers and so much more.
Elzetta's ZFL-M60 LED Tactical Weapon Light boasts patent- pending Malkoff Devices Technology, rated at 235 honest lumens out the front (not rated at the emitter like competitive units). Benefits include optical beam projection for uniform lighting, electronic current management circuitry for optimized battery life, fully potted electrical components for ruggedized performance, and a patent pending heat sink mechanism for efficient thermal management.
ZFL-M60 Bodies, Bezels, and Tailcaps are constructed of Mil-Spec Type III Hard Anodized 6061-T6 Aluminum. Bodies feature circumferential grooves which may be fitted with O-rings (included) for an enhanced fit in Elzetta Tactical Flashlight Holders, providing a complete Elzetta Illumination System.
Like all Elzetta products, ZFL-M60 Tactical Lights are Made in the USA.

Police Flashlights, LED Flashlights From Tactical LED

2011-04-21T21:57:00.003-04:00

Tactical LED's online store has a full inventory of LED flashlights, LED headlights, police flashlights and LED tactical flashlights. Visit us at www.tacticalleds.com and call 888-308-9661,
Serious light output from a compact, sculpted aluminum body that's rugged and features two output levels. It's nearly impossible to relegate this beauty to the junk drawer.

High-strength aluminum body with open architecture design; effectively dissipates heat and fits comfortably in the hand
Durable power-regulated LED maximizes output and runtime; never needs replacing
Micro-textured reflector creates a smooth, powerful beam
Ergonomic "clickie" tailcap switch allows for easy switching between two output levels
Powered by one AA alkaline battery; included
Sealed with O-rings; waterproof to one meter for
30 minutes.

light output - 50/6 lumens
runtime - 3/70 hours
length - 4.5 inches
weight - 3.8 ounces
waterproof - up to 1 meter
battery - one AA alkaline

LED Flashlights, Tactical Flashlights, Online Ordering From Tactical LED's

2011-04-21T21:57:00.000-04:00

The Solo flashlight is proof positive that it takes the right combination of functionality, portability, and design to transform a simple everyday item like the pen light into something essential. Tactical LED is the perfect place to order any tactical flashlights or headlights. We have so many different LED tactical flashlights to choose from! Log on to www.tacticalleds.com to view all our products or call 888-308-9661.
Solo's highly efficient dual-output LED and its micro-textured reflector produce a smooth, versatile beam at two useful levels. It's durable high-strength aluminum body weighs just over two ounces and is sleek and nearly as compact as your favorite pen and fits nicely into a pocket, purse or pack.
And, with its ergonomic lines and attractive color, its every bit as elegant as a fine writing instrument. Solo even has a sturdy pocket clip to make sure it stays put wherever you decide to carry it. Because, with all Solo has going for it, you wont be able to leave home without having it along for the ride.

New CREE XP-G S2 LED Has Lower Output than Previous Models

2011-04-21T21:56:00.002-04:00

If you are a flashlight enthusiast or you if you have been shopping for LED flashlights recently then you know the two most recent LED emitters available are the CREE XP-G R5 and the CREE XP-G S2.

At Tactical LEDs we do our best to keep the most current models available from the manufacturers we carry. However; like the new car industry, there has been a lot of mystique lately when it comes to releasing the newest models. With the release of the S2 emitter we were surprised to see lowered lumen ratings from several of our manufacturers. Accordingly, we had a run on our R5 inventory and folks were clamoring to get the higher rated R5 versions before they were gone.

To set the record straight, the new CREE XP-G S2 emitter has an approximately 7% INCREASE in output to the CREE XP-G R5 emitter. Why then the published DECREASE in lumen output? To get the answer we have been in contact with our manufacturers that are using the new S2 emitters and here is what we have found.

Since the LED Flashlight revolution began manufacturers have been attempting to WOW you and each other for that matter, with higher outputs and longer runtimes in smaller packages; to date, we think they have done a pretty outstanding job. However, there has not been a standard of how each manufacturer measured the output of their lights, Company X measured one way and Company Y another. Although they both were using the exact same emitter they could easily have vastly different published output ratings.

As consumers we all want the most bang for our buck, so there is an obvious financial gain for the company that can produce the brightest light at the lowest price. With no standard and no way for the average consumer to measure output, some companies published lumen ratings at the emitter to get a higher WOW factor and some manufacturers published ratings that were out the front (OTF) of their lights to give you more useable numbers. Although these numbers could be quite impressive; they are meaningless to you as a user if the light does not illuminate what it is supposed to illuminate. With a difference of as much as 100 lumens, it would seem one company had a “brighter” or better product, when in reality they did not.

With the light emitting diode (LED) market emerging in other areas, i.e. home lighting, outdoor lighting, automotive lighting, etc., a standard has been established so all of the manufacturers can play on a level playing field and you the consumer can gain some insight to what it is exactly that you are purchasing. The standards are established by ANSI. ANSI stands for the American National Standards Institute. ANSI publishes certain requirements and measuring standards and the manufactures measure their lights according to the standard. Participation is voluntary; but, those that do participate are willing to show they are producing a product capable of doing what it is advertised to do and they are not pumping up the numbers to get your cash.

With this new standard, Company X and Company Y can produce flashlights and now you will have a standardized method to compare them to each other and to other LED products in the marketplace. Essentially you will be able to compare an LED flashlight to another LED flashlight or to an LED spotlight you place in your yard. Some of the basic measurements are lumen output, run time, useable beam distance, light temperature (color), beam spill, water resistance and drop height. Like other electronic products in the US Market, ANSI has produced a standard ICON set that will denote the various parameters and they will be standard across all manufacturers that participate.

At Tactical LEDs we are still learning more about the ANSI standards and we will publish more as we get it. We have begun posting the standards for those products that already have ANSI standards produced and as more products go to ANSI, we will update them on our site. We think this is an excellent step for the industry to take. It will give you, the consumer; a standardized tool to use when selecting a flashlight for your task.

First-Light USA Tomahawk LED Flashlight Review

2011-04-21T21:55:00.003-04:00

Given the size of the Tomahawk LED Flashlight from First-Light USA, at first blush it doesn’t really stand out as being something special. After spending some time with the Tomahawk, it is nothing short of extraordinary.

The Tomahawk tactical flashlight from First-Light-USA looks like an old style Army flashlight from Word War II that got shrunk in the dryer. It has a short tube for the batteries and the head is angled at ninety degrees with the operational buttons located on the top of the light. Other than the similar appearance to the old military light that's where the similarities stop.

The Tomahawk has several different models available and depending on your needs, there is one that will probably be the perfect one for you. All of the Tomahawk models have a 120 lumen output white LED and add features from there. In order of features from basic to advanced, there is the Tomahawk GP which the Mil-Spec model and the most basic model, white output only with steady and momentary on and off functions. The Tomahawk ST features all white output with the addition of a strobe feature and a separate button for activation. The Tomahawk MC adds a ring of Red and Blue or Red and Green LEDs around the outside of the bezel. The MC can be operated in several different modes of colored or white output. The Tomahawk LE is similar to the MC and also adds a strobe function for a strobing Red, Blue, White combination. And The Tomahawk NV offers the primary white light with the addition of Red LEDs for low light navigation and IR emitters for use with NV goggles. There is also a white lockout mode to prevent the accidental activation of white light in covert conditions. Of course as you add features the price tag goes up; but, if you need a multifunction light; the extra investment is well worth the cost.

For my evaluation, I was given a Tomahawk MC. The Tomahawk MC puts out 120 lumens of white light and it also has a ring of multi-color LEDs around the outside of the center LED. It comes in red and blue or red and green, depending on your needs; mine was red and blue.

Out of the box you get the Tomahawk model you ordered, a set of Duracell C123A Lithium batteries, an instruction sheet and two circular pieces of plastic. The pieces of plastic are EXTREMELY important and we'll cover them later.

All Tomahawks are made of aircraft grade aluminum and come Force Grey,First-Lights anodizing color of choice. There is a clip that is Molle ready attached to the light when you take it out of the box and the bottom of the light is covered with semi-hard closed cell foam for grip. The bottom cylinder doubles as the battery compartment as well as the handle. The control panel is made up three buttons (depending on model). A big momentary button at the back of the panel and an on/off button and a cycle button for going through the different brightness levels of light.

When I first held the Tomahawk I wasn’t sure I liked it as it felt a bit awkward. The plastic pieces I mentioned are finger rings. The light comes with a medium sized ring and an extra large sized ring, for different sized fingers of course or the use of tactical or winter gloves in conjunction with the Tomahawk. The ring is fairly robust plastic and it has an opening on the bottom so the light will break away from the holders grip if it is grabbed by an adversary in a confrontational situation. This prevents the holder from being over powered or the finger holding the light from being broken.

I put the extra large sized ring on the light and held it again in my non-dominant hand and all of sudden; this little light didn't feel half bad. To align the finger loop, hold the light in your non-dominant hand at your chest and look down. The ring should point to about one o’clock toward your non-dominant side. With the ring properly positioned; the Tomahawk felt very natural and comfortable in my hand.

Next I wanted to try using the Tomahawk with my firearm as it would be used in low light. I tried to find a grip that felt comfortable with the Tomahawk, to no avail. I called First-Light and asked for some assistance and they were excellent at describing how the light should be properly held with a firearm. They told me to hold my gun in my dominant hand with a one handed grip. Then hold the Tomahawk like I normally would. Then take the knuckles of my dominant hand and push them directly into the back of the foam on the Tomahawk. Instantly I could feel how natural the light felt and I was holding my gun and a flashlight with almost the same exact hold that I use during daylight shooting. No more modified Harry’s or FBI holds and no more worries of lazing my arm when under stress shooting in low light.

Now that I had the light adjusted and had a grip that felt good, it was time for some low light shooting. At the range the first thing I noticed was how easy it was to acquire a target in low light with the Tomahawk. Having been a cop for sixteen years I have been shooting like everyone else in low light; a one hand hold on the gun with a tube light in my non-dominate hand under my dominate hand for support and to control the light. With the Tomahawk I ended up with a slightly modified two hand hold that I use without a light. It feels natural and intuitive. This feature alone makes the Tomahawk series of lights an awesome choice for new recruits that are learning to shoot for the first time. We teach and teach the basics in ambient light and then change everything when the lights get dim. With the Tomahawks, recruits can be taught to shoot with the same two hand hold, night or day.

Now that I was shooting with my Tomahawk MC the benefits of owning a First-Light product really began to shine. Pardon the pun! The finger loop that holds the light on your finger allows you to keep control of the light while changing magazines or clearing a stoppage. We have always limited the amount of stoppage drills we do in low light because of the inherent dangers of holding a loaded firearm and a flashlight and then trying to manipulate everything in the event of a stoppage. With the Tomahawk MC I was able to perform all of the stoppage functions flawlessly and without the need to holster my light.

If you are a tactical shooter; you are familiar with transitioning. To transition with the Tomahawk simply roll the light forward on your pointer finger, place the butt of the firearm into the webbing of your thumb and pointer finger, pinch, reach over the top of the firearm grab the Tomahawk, push your pointer finger into the loop and you have transitioned quickly and safely and there was no fumbling with the light or gun and there was no possibility of lazing your arm or hand while trying to manipulate the light.

I chose the Tomahawk MC because I am a hunter. The blue LEDs are reported to help the user see blood when tracking and red LEDs are useful for preserving low light adapted vision. I have not had the opportunity to try the blue light out on blood or fluid detection yet, but the red LEDs have been very handy for maintaining low light vision.

After using the Tomahawk MC for over a month in the street it has found itself a permanent home in my cache of gear. The Tomahawk line is small and compact and because of its size, it is very concealable for plain clothes or under cover officers. Combine the Tomahawk with the Tactical Retention System (TRS) from First-Light and the Tomahawk is a perfect light for uniformed patrol as well.

The only drawback I found with the Tomahawk was the Molle clip. The Tomahawk is probably the smallest light on the market that performs so many functions. Because of its size, there is not a lot of real estate around the battery compartment of the light. The Molle clip is great if you wear a Molle vest; but for me, it was difficult to clip the light to a duty belt with the clip. The clip also seemed to be in the way when shooting. This is a very small price to pay for everything that you get from the light; but, it was a noticeable inconvenience to the light. First-Light has rolled out the TRS (tactical retention system) for the Tomahawks and the Molle clip can be removed with the addition of the TRS.

I'll cover the TRS in another review; but suffice it to say; the Tomahawk coupled with the TRS is probably the best setup for patrol officers that I have found. Period!

Rick London in the managing partner of Tactical LEDs LLC and is a Patrol Sergeant in Pennsylvania. Rick has over 18 years of experience as a police officer and has written numerous articles regarding the use of light as a defensive tool. For more information, visit, www.tacticalleds.com.

The Use of Strobing Light in Flashlights

2011-04-21T21:55:00.000-04:00

We frequently get asked about flashlights that have the ability to strobe, so we thought we’d write a little article about them to point you in the right direction.

When used in a confrontational environment a strobing light can be a very effective tool to disorient an adversary. Once you have successfully disoriented your opponent; now what? Advance, shoot, retreat; what is the next logical move? Although we don’t have specific answers for your particular situation; we think a little thought about how you plan to use a strobe light may be in order. First a little background about how strobing came to be used as a disorienting tool.

Strobing was found to be useful as a disorienting tool when Navy Seals were training to defend ships and subs. When at sea, our naval vessels are the most formidable in the world; when those vessels are in port, they need to be defended like any other military asset. They must be defended by humans; their great guns are useless against a small force when they are docked at port. As part of their duties the Seals were tasked with defending different naval vessels that were in port and they quickly found that once below deck in a vessel with no lights, there were many places for adversaries to hide and that from a position of darkness; the attacker had a supreme advantage. During one of their learning exercises, they used a strobe light for disorientating those participating in the exercises and they quickly found that strobing a light had amazing properties when deployed against an adversary and it quickly leveled the playing field between the hunter and the hunted. From these exercises came the fundamentals of “Fighting with Light.”

In true Seal fashion, they developed tactics and strategies for defending our vast naval fleet from incursions and much of what they learned has been passed onto our civilian defenders as well; namely, our police officers. Now, many years later, we as regular civilians have access to the same technology the military has been using for years. With this feature now available to everyone; several questions arise in the civilian use of strobe in a flashlight.

Strobing is no magic bullet. In a nutshell, a strobing light shone into the eyes of an adversary interferes with their depth perception. During the few seconds that their depth perception is not working properly; you have the opportunity to act. Understand this; if you are in a confrontational situation and you use a strobe to disorient an attacker; it is likely that the attacker will not run away screaming like a little girl, in fact, he may shoot in your direction or at least that of the light. The key to using a strobe effectively is knowing what to expect and what you plan to do after you have deployed it. You only get a few seconds, so pre-plan, train and spend them wisely.

As civilians we all want to believe that if we are the victims of crime in our homes that we will confront the situation and “do what we have to do.” The truth is, in a situation that is truly life and death, unless you have trained for the situation, trying to complete any task for which you have not trained will be extremely difficult if not impossible. Simply, your autonomic nervous system kicks in and you do those tasks that you have trained yourself to do. Many folks state “It seemed like I was watching myself in a movie” or “I was on remote control,” I never heard the gun go off,” and the list goes on.

Comments like those are heard over and over by experts who examine close quarter confrontations. Now, we are not suggesting that a strobe has no use in the civilian market; but, what we are suggesting is if you decide to invest in a light with strobe for your own defense; we highly recommend you invest in some type of low light confrontation training. Military operators and law enforcement officers spend hours upon hours training for situations that may or may not occur during their careers. By adding a strobe to your arsenal of defensive tools; you are adding a tool that very well could save your life or the lives of your family members; on the other hand, without some type of training in its use; a strobe could be one of those tools that you just never really found a good use for.

Rick London in the managing partner of Tactical LEDs LLC and is a Patrol Sergeant in Pennsylvania. Rick has over 18 years of experience as a police officer and has written numerous articles regarding the use of light as a defensive tool. For more information, visit, www.tacticalleds.com.

Finding a Good Flashlight for Police Patrol

2011-04-21T21:54:00.000-04:00

Let's face it, with so many flashlights in the market to choose from today, it can be difficult to find "the" one that is just right. No one ever likes to think they are making a poor choice when they make a purchase, but; it never seems to fail, shortly after you buy something, you'll see something you like more. For many police officers, flashlights are provided by their departments and they don't get a choice, for others, it's a personal choice and finding the right light can be daunting.

Regardless if you are the officer making a decision for a SWAT team, a new cadet buying your first flashlight or an old road dog upgrading your incandescent light that's seen better days, thinking about what you will do with that light will help point you in the right direction. What do you mean what will I do with it? I'm going to light things up, dummy! Well, you're right; you will light things up with it; but, how, where, when and why? When you are armed with the answers to these questions, you will be able to make a better choice for your needs; that way, when your buddy shows up and you begin to think he got something better, you won't be second guessing your first choice.

For police work there are three types of lights; weapon mounted, vehicle mounted and those that are carried personally. People usually think of personally carried lights when they think of a flashlight. Weapon mounted lights have very special uses and an officer that has a weapon mounted light, even on a pistol, should also have a personally carried light as well. Pointing a "loaded flashlight" at an old lady with chest pain on an EMS call just isn't cool. So let's discuss personally carried lights and leave the vehicle and weapon mounted lights for another time.

It used to be one size fits most, when it came to flashlights. Today, if you have the budget and the arm strength, you can buy a high intensity discharge (HID) handheld light that puts out 5000 lumens for over 110 minutes; you can also buy a light you put on your keychain with a pushbutton LED that will last about 1000 hours and provide enough light to read your favorite novel. A 5000 lumen light would be great for search and rescue and a pushbutton LED would be great for a sniper that was referring to windage charts in low light. Somewhere between the aircraft landing light and the reading light there is a light suitable to your task.

For police work a light must be dependable, it doesn't matter how bright it is supposed to be if it doesn't work. A good light for patrol should run for at least 90 minutes on its highest setting before needing fed new batteries. Rechargeable batteries are always a good upgrade, when your light can accept them. If you go the rechargeable route make sure you invest in the best rechargeable batteries you can buy; your life may depend on them.

Brightness is also an important factor. If you are new to LED light technology, figure 80 lumens is brighter than older flashlights with 4 D Cell batteries. How bright is too bright? Well, if you are in low light or darkness, are you looking for bad guys? There are lights out now that are 400 to 500 lumens, that's bright! However; with that much light, you could easily toast your low light vision and the bad guys for that matter and you are probably going to have enough backwash (light reflecting off everything in the room) to light up yourself as well. I'm not against lights that are that bright; but, sometimes too much isn't just right. Also consider as the lumens go up, the runs times go down and the light requires more batteries to feed its hunger for power. For me, 80 to 200 lumens is the neighborhood I look for in a good patrol light. 80 to 200 lumens is brighter than anything we have ever had access to, it is plenty of light to light up even the biggest of rooms we search and it is not so much light that we blind ourselves or silhouette ourselves in the process.

Along with the brightness comes adjustability. Having an LED light set to its highest setting isn't required all the time. When you just need a "little" light for a task, having the ability to turn the light down is a must. Lower settings help conserve your low light vision and it saves on battery life as well. Most LED lights have several settings to adjust the light. The more the better; but be sure the light you consider has immediate access to the brightest setting so it can be accessed if a threat suddenly pops up. You don't want to be fumbling with a light switch if you're trying to acquire a bad guy.

A strobe function is also a good addition to a patrol light. If you are not familiar with "strobing," it is a feature on today's newest lights. Flashing a strobe light into the eyes of a subject in low light has been shown to disorient them, sometimes to the point of making them physically sick. For the user, being behind the light, the same untoward effects can also be felt; but, not to the same degree as the receiver, also with proper training and practice, you are expecting it, the target is not. The strobe can be a dramatic, intimidating tactic in low light. Like the adjustability; if your new light is going to have a strobe feature, it needs to be immediately accessible in a crisis situation.

The ability to carry the light also must be considered. For years, flashlights have been a round tube with the light at one end, the batteries stacked behind the light head and a switch on the tube or on the tail cap. New developments have changed the way we carry our lights, as well. There are lights you can clip on your shirt pocket or lapel, there are even lights you can wear on your head. One company has designed a flashlight that is worn on the hand so both of your hands are free while using the light. To me this is an interesting concept. Think about this for a minute; if you are on a traffic stop in low light, do you have your light out? What are you going to do with that light if you need to demonstrate field sobriety tests? Write a ticket? Handcuff the subject? You are going to do what we all do, stick the light in your mouth (if it's small enough), stick it in your belt or stick it under your arm. What about shooting at night? We all have our favorite flashlight technique for shooting a night; but, if the gun malfunctions or we need to reload, the light goes right into our mouths or under our arm. Having a light on your hand and not in your hand is the biggest advance in flashlight technology I have seen to date. With this latest addition to the law enforcement field; a good patrol light should have the ability to be used and keep both hands free for other tasks as well.

You are now armed with the information you need to go forth and find a new light suited for police work. To summarize; the light should: run for at least 90 minutes on new batteries without a recharge, be 80 to 200 lumens in strength, be adjustable from full power to low power with instant access to the highest setting; have a strobe function with instant access and have the ability to keep both of your hands free while the light is in use. This a pretty tall order for a good patrol light. They are out there, just spend some time to find the light that is right for you; your life could depend on it.

Surefire 6PX and Surefire G2X LED Flashlight Review

2011-04-21T21:51:00.000-04:00

The new 6PX and G2X LED flashlights from SureFire are the latest addition to the 200 lumen LED flashlight market. The 4 models can be seen here: Surefire 6PX PRO, Surefire 6PX Tactical, Surefire G2X PRO, Surefire G2X Tactical.

At 200 lumens, either the SureFire 6PX or G2X make an excellent addition to any gear cache. Both lights are available in 2 models, the PRO and the Tactical. The 6PX sports an all aluminum body and the G2X has SureFire’s Nitrolon composite body with an aluminum head.

The PRO models have two levels of output that are accessed from the rear click switch. The switch is momentary with light pressure and steady on if you continue to press until you hear and feel the “click.” The first output level is 15 lumens and is plenty if you just need a light for general navigation purposes. The second output level is 200 lumens. It is accessed through the same rear switch by clicking the switch a second time.

When you first start using the PRO model the UI can be a bit quirky and takes a few minutes to get used to. If you are using this light as a tactical or duty light, you just have to train yourself to “double click” the switch as you illuminate your target. However; for everyday patrol use, this light is an excellent choice.

The Tactical models are super simple to operate. They have one level of output, 200 lumens of retina burning LED power. The light is operated by pressing the tailcap button for momentary on/off activation of the light. For steady on, turn the tailcap clockwise until the light comes on and turn it counterclockwise to return to momentary operation. Simple!

Although the 6PX and the G2X lights are SureFire’s economy models; they are not cheap by any stretch. These models use a standard reflector instead of SureFire’s patented TIR lens design. With a very small amount of orange peel on the reflector, the lights throw an excellent beam with just enough spill to be useful for picking up peripheral threats you need to be aware of.

The body of each model has indentations to help with grip and the head has a hexagonal type configuration for anti-roll.

In the LED flashlight world, where more output is the name of the game these days; bigger, badder, brighter seems to be the mantra. However; it is very easy to get misled. SureFire has been slow to jump into the “me too” high output lumen arena and with good reason. It can be tempting to buy a light that touts X number of lumens of output; but, when compared side by side with a light of lesser rating, it pales in comparison. It comes down to the amount of USEFUL light a flashlight produces.

An LED Flashlight that is going to be used in high stress, confrontational situations needs to be rock solid and do what it is designed to do. SureFire knows this and leads the industry in durability. Don’t be concerned that these lights only produce 200 lumens, it is 200 SUREFIRE lumens you are getting and they are worth every penny.

The only downside I have seen to these lights is the first output mode on the PRO models. I would have liked to see the first mode be 200 lumens and the second one be 15 lumens. The logical argument to that is blasting your own night vision to kingdom come in low light with 200 lumens of light. Regardless of the argument; you cannot beat the value of these SureFire lights.

If you are a new cadet looking for your first duty light or an old road dog trading in the tried and true Kel-Light, either the Surefire 6PX or the Surefire G2X will be an excellent choice to add to your duty belt.

This review was submitted by Rick London from Tactical LEDs LLC. Rick has been a police officer for 18 years and is the managing partner of Tactical LEDs LLC, the online super store for LED and HID lighting equipment. He has written numerous articles for law enforcement publications regarding the application of low light in police field operations. He can be reached here.