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By Derek McDonald
Photos by Ichiro Nagata
Excluding factors such as cost and brand preference,
there are three main factors to consider when buying a
tactical flashlight. As you formulate your decision,
each of these factors will contribute to your final
selection. First, comes the toughest: for what tactical
applications will you use the light? To search trucks
and vans as a Border Patrol agent or to execute dynamic
entries as the entry man on a SWAT team? Maybe you're an
armed citizen concerned with keeping your home safe if
you hear shattering glass in the middle of the night.
Second, how much light will you need? Do you anticipate
long range threats or mostly CQB distance encounters?
The amount of light is crucial to fulfilling different
tactical roles for white light. Finally, how long will
you run the light before you can install fresh batteries
or put the light down for a recharge?
A flashlight is simply a tool you use to control or alter your environment. And, like any tool, it usually has one specific application for which it excels, depending on its design and construction. For instance, the SureFire M6 Guardian with its six lithium batteries and retina-searing 500 lumens of blinding white light is an incredible tool for a SWAT operator who needs to blind a bad guy while crashing a crack house, but the size and weight of the M6 make it a poor choice for an undercover officer or a civilian - who needs something compact enough to carry comfortably and small enough to conceal in a suit pocket.
If you carry a light for self-protection - and you should - you need one that produces at least 60 lumens of light. SureFire believes that 60 lumens is a sound threshold for temporarily blinding a would-be assailant whose eyes are dark-adapted. Most people, except for police, military and rescue personnel, have no urgent need of a light that produces more than 140 lumens. Note that many SureFire lights have more than one output level, depending on which lamp is installed. For example, the Z2 CombatLight model - standard issue for the FBI and U.S. Air Marshals - ships from the factory with a P6O lamp assembly that produces 65 lumens for a runtime of 60 minutes. Installing the optional P61 lamp assembly in a Z2 increases the light output to a dazzling 120 lumens, but the runtime is reduced to 20 minutes.
Duration Of Light
SureFire makes two types of lights: those powered by
disposable lithium batteries, and those that run with
rechargeable battery packs. How you intend to use the
light dictates whether you should select lithium or
rechargeable. Lithium-powered flashlights are typically
smaller and lighter than rechargeables. When lithium
batteries are used up, you replace them. Unlike
rechargeable batteries, lithium batteries do not
self-discharge. In fact, SureFire lithium batteries have
a 10 year shelf life; a lithium-powered flashlight
placed in a drawer will function a decade later. This is
why many police officers carry a lithium-powered light
as a backup to their main rechargeable light. Because of
their small size, lithium-powered lights are a good
choice for camping and hiking, personal defense and
daily carry. And their 10 year shelf life qualifies them
as great backup lights in the event of a disaster.
Rechargeable flashlights make sense if you use your flashlight for at least a few minutes each week. Rechargeable flashlights may cost a bit more initially but, depending on usage, they can save you as much as $75 a year in battery costs. SureFire rechargeable batteries can be recharged up to 1,000 times, never develop a memory and each rechargeable light includes an extra battery and a SmartCharge recharger. The downside is that, for a given light output, they are slightly heavier and larger than lithium-powered lights, require regular recharging, and necessitate a recharging device. Rechargeable batteries self-discharge, so don't think you can grab a rechargeable flashlight that was last charged four months ago and expect it to be fully juiced. Just like your cell phone, if you don't keep it topped up with a fresh charge, it will slowly drain itself. This is the inherent nature of all ni-cad batteries.
Specific
Recommendations
SureFire designs lights to meet every variable and the
variables are infinite. So maybe now would be a good
time to just give you a few suggestions based on
personal experience. Concealed Carry: The nod goes to
the lightweight, compact, discreet E2E Executive Elite.
Bright enough to blind a potential threat, yet small
enough for purse or pocket, the E2E is the choice of
many Secret Service agents. You'll never regret getting
this one. Or two. I have three Executive Elites: one in
my briefcase, one in my glove box and - most of the time
one in my pocket. This light is also a favorite of
commercial and military aviators, as it meets the FAA
requirements for a mandatory aircrew light. By replacing
the Executive Elite's MN03 standard lamp assembly with
the optional MN02 lamp assembly, the E2e goes from 60
lumens of output for 75 minutes to a marathon 25 lumens
for 2.5 hours of runtime. This makes the E2e Executive
an ideal camp light. Rechargeable: The 8AX or 9AN
Commander from the SureFire Advanced
Rechargeable series are my two favorites. I've kept an 8AX next to my bed for the last five years. I use it for everything from finding my shoes to investigating strange noises in the middle of the night. I swap freshly charged batteries regularly since SureFire supplies its rechargeables with two batteries for just this reason. The 9AN is basically the same light with an added feature of two bulbs in one reflector so you can switch back and forth from 20 to 140 lumens depending on your need. Now you have enough information to go shopping. To truly appreciate a SureFire you really have to hold one in your hand and see the beam quality with your own eyes, which is why SureFire recommends that you visit your local SureFire authorized dealer for a hands-on demonstration. Or if you want to narrow down your choices before visiting the store, you can comparison shop directly at surefire.com.
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