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Best handheld spotlight 2018 – [Buyer’s Guide]

Last Updated September 1, 2023

Brayden DiazHi there, I’m Brayden Diaz. After putting in 49+ hours of research and testing, I made a list of the best handheld spotlight of 2018 and explained their differences and advantages.

I’ll brush up on how to choose the best handheld spotlight and examine things like materials, quality, and weight. Now I’m going to recommend a few handheld spotlight you can pick from to get started quickly and easily.

Let’s get to it!

Best handheld spotlight of 2018

The above tidbits will bring you closer to selecting handheld spotlight that best serves your needs and as per your budget. After carefully examining the reviews and ratings of the people who have used them earlier this listicle has been made. You must have heard that the best handheld spotlight should allow you to save money, right? Sure, but that’s not the only reason you should consider getting one. Here, I will review 3 of the best handheld spotlight of 2018, and we will also discuss the things to consider when looking to purchase one. I hope you will make an informed decision after going through each of them.

Test Results and Ratings

Rank №1 №2 №3
Product
Total 4.8 4.5 4.3
Ease of use
5 points
4 points
5 points
Materials
5 points
5 points
4 points
Durability
4 points
5 points
4 points
Price
5 points
4 points
4 points
Awards 1
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How to save up to 86%? Here is little trick.

You must visit the page of sales. Here is the link. If you don’t care about which brand is better, then you can choose the handheld spotlight by the price and buy from the one who will offer the greatest discount.

 

 

№1 – Durapower Led Spotlight 500lm Shock-resistant IP68 Waterproof Rechargeable LED Spot Light Flashlight 3 Light Modes Grey 6 Feet Under Water

 
Durapower Led Spotlight 500lm Shock-resistant IP68 Waterproof Rechargeable LED Spot Light Flashlight 3 Light Modes Grey 6 Feet Under Water

Pros
√ SOLID 500LM BRIGHTNESS It is a small&handy and very powerful spotlight.
√ IP68 WATERPROOF work normally under water 6ft
√ STRONG SOLID BUILT Built in solid rubber, withstand shocks and rough dropping
Cons
For such a price and the level of quality it can’t even have any cons, only pick holes.
 
Total:
4.8

Why did this handheld spotlight win the first place?

I also liked the delivery service that was fast and quick to react. It was delivered on the third day. I really enjoy the design. It is compact, comfortable and reliable. And it looks amazing! I am very happy with the purchase. It is definitely worth its money. The product is top-notch! The product is very strong. Its material is stable and doesn’t crack.

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Ease of use

5

5star

Materials

5

5star

Durability

4

4star

Price

5

5star

 

 

№2 – ROMER LED Rechargeable Handheld Searchlight High-power Super Bright 9000 MA 6000 LUMENS CREE Tactical Spotlight Torch Lantern Flashlight

 
ROMER LED Rechargeable Handheld Searchlight High-power Super Bright 9000 MA 6000 LUMENS CREE Tactical Spotlight Torch Lantern Flashlight

Pros
SUPER BRIGHT LED LIGHT: The CREE LED front light provides you with two brightness levels.Ultra-long illumination range of about 800 meters(about 2600 ft).Can be used for long distance light, convenient search target.
SPECIAL DESIGN FOR YOU: Comfortable handle together with adjustable length shoulder strap, Perfect for using in the camping, hiking, fishing, marine ,emergency and other lighting application,outdoor activities,walk the dog, rescue .
Cons
A little bit expensive.
Insufficient storage capacity.
 
Total:
4.5

Why did this handheld spotlight come in second place?

I really liked it. It is amazing in every aspect. It did even exceed my expectations for a bit, considering the affordable price. The design quality is top notch and the color is nice. The material is pretty strong and easy to wash if needed. I recommend you to consider buying this model, it definitely worth its money.

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Ease of use

4

4star

Materials

5

5star

Durability

5

5star

Price

4

4star

 

 

№3 – STANLEY SL10LEDS 10-Watt LED Lithium Ion Rechargeable Spotlight

 
STANLEY SL10LEDS 10-Watt LED Lithium Ion Rechargeable Spotlight

Pros
Ultra- bright 10 Watt LED
Reaches up to 920 Lumens ; Heavy duty bezel; Charges with included AC and DC charging adaptors
Up to 7 hrs of runtime ; Do not submerge the unit in water. If dirty clean with a soft cloth moistened with a mild solution of water and detergent.
Cons
Need frequent maintenance.
Not as good as some others we reviewed.
 
Total:
4.3

Why did this handheld spotlight take third place?

It doesn’t squeaks nor bents. Looks great in my apartment. We are very pleased with the purchase — the product is great! It is inconvenient to use due to the size. I am going to get something different next time. This price is appropriate since the product is very well built.

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Ease of use

5

5star

Materials

4

4star

Durability

4

4star

Price

4

4star

 

 

handheld spotlight Buyer’s Guide

If you keep the before points in mind, you can easily go out to the market and buy handheld spotlight, right? No!

Flashlight performance

Light output – often measured in lumens, it describes the intensity of light emitted by the flashlight, on the highest brightness and perhaps powered by a new set of batteries. It is a great comparison tool but doesn’t tell the whole aspect of flashlight’s brightness.

Beam distance – it is measured in meters and depicts how far the light will shine before diminishing. Distance often vary with the brightness setting selected.

Runtime – this is measured in hours. It describes how long it takes for the light output to drop to 10% the initial output from new batteries. Depending on the flashlight model, it may decrease gradually over time or remain largely constant before suddenly decreasing.

Impact resistance – also measured in meters, it is tested by dropping lights six times onto concrete at rated distances. This test ensures that light remains functional after several accidental drops.

Water resistance – it is rated using the IPX system. This aspect is especially important if you intend to use your flashlight for outdoor activities where rainfall and water bodies are present.

Power Sources

This is certainly a big deal for portable lighting items. Traditionally, flashlights used batteries of varying battery sizes, in different numbers often determined by bulb wattage. However, the best handheld spotlights should provide more versatility by having rechargeable batteries. This is preferred over disposable batteries.

The single setting flashlight is ideal for general purposes. However, some flashlights offer or more modes, such as low, medium, high and boost. You may use the various modes rarely but having options is better off. Note that the brighter the mode, the shorter the runtime.

CONS                       

The Uonline Tactical Portable LED Flashlight describes the best value LED tactical flashlight you can get with an excellent light spread and of high quality. It is a perfect choice for those anticipating tactical situations such as when fishing, camping, security night patrols, policing activities and hunting.

This flashlight provides five modes, offering serious performance in a very compact package. This makes the light ready for anything. The modes include a full-bright, medium bright, low bright or the power save mode, strobe, and SOS. It can be powered by one 18650 battery or 3pc AAA batteries which are not included.

Uonline Tactical Portable LED Flashlight is also tough, reliable and zoomable. It comes with anti-skid and high water resistance level of Ipx-thus perfect for all-weather conditions. Its construction features a military grade aluminum alloy which prevents scratches in case of accidental dropping.

You will also note its unique lotus shaped head, which can be used to break a car windshield or glass during emergencies. This makes it a perfect tactical spotlight, besides its capability to illuminate up to 600 feet away.

The Cyclop Sirius 500 Lumen Handheld Spotlight is a lightweight and compact spotlight option for those who need serious illumination. It is a good option for both long-range and close-up viewing.

Like other Cyclop models, it features three high-powered LEDs perfect for long-range viewing. This leaves the six weaker LEDs to handle close-up illumination. Based on this, this spotlight has three modes that include off, long distance and short-range lighting.

When fully recharged, the spotlight offers up to hours of runtime on the three powerful LEDs whereas the dimmer alternatives can last for 1hours. Concerning the power source, it runs on 6V lithium polymer with 2.5Ah.

Some of the additional features you will notice from this spotlight includes a 20 percent brighter illumination, ergonomic design with rubberized grip, detachable red lens and an always-ON lock switch. Weighing only 1.5lbs, this lightweight and compact spotlight is easy to use even with one hand.

Many people often opt for LED lanterns to light up their paths during late night duck hunts. Even though quite effective, they are not as effective and powerful as the Hallomall 15W 24LED Spotlight. It is a quality set with a versatile design and super-bright bulbs.

The Hallomall 15W 24LED Spotlight features a rotating head making it possible to cover a large area. You can use it over 360 degrees without moving your hand. It has an Ipxwaterproof level rating, thus a durable waterproof light for various outdoor activities.

Camping is certainly enjoyable, the reason why millions of people engage in this every week. However, for a fruitful escapade, a reliable power source should be present. This is what Lighting Ever Rechargeable Camping Spotlight presents. It is a good option to the low-powered flashlights that many people often regret taking them for their camping adventures.

For sufficient brightness, this model features CREE TLED bulbs with a total 1000 lumens for high settings, illuminating up to 500 meters. In low setting, expect around 400 lumens from a distance of 50 meters. There are two-side lights, a 130lm daylight white light on the left and a red signal on the right. This perfectly meets your specific lighting needs.

The spotlight is powered by a 3600mAh rechargeable battery, which can be charged by USB. In other cases, it can serve as a power bank for smartphones and mobile devices in emergencies. For effective power monitoring, it has a power indicator light, including four blue LEDs, which indicate your battery level. Always recharge the spotlight when the light drops to one LED indicating.

The Rayovac Sportsman 500 Lumen Spotlight is a sturdy spotlight ideal for those who admit are prone to dropping things off their hands. This spotlight has been tested and proved to withstand drops of up to 1feet. This isn’t a feature you will find in other standard spotlights. Backing this up is the over-mold rubber head, which provides excellent waterproofing properties.

To withstand drops and shocks, this spotlight’s lens and internals have been hardened. This makes it a good rugged companion if you are planning on venturing into the wild woods or rafting over rapids.

The bright LED light can beam up to 360 meters in the high beam setting and 130 meters in the lower beam setting. It is a battery-powered spotlight. Therefore, you will find it prudent carrying a couple of AA batteries when you go camping.

The Wasing Watt 1000 Lumens Rechargeable Spotlight is a perfect and convenient choice for camping and working outdoors. The spotlight comes with different levels of light and beams up to 1000 lumens.

For lengthy use, its battery can stay charged for up to 1months. It also has an in-built alert system that notifies you when the spotlight needs to be charged. Besides, it comes with four mode settings, which include the strong light, economic light, flashlight and emergency light.

Other amazing features of this rechargeable spotlight include an adjusted stand, which can be adjusted to various angles for ease of use and the ability to charge directly. You will also appreciate the fact that you will not need to carry around a separate cord. It also comes with a shoulder strap and a car charge.

The Coleman CPX Ultra-High Power Spotlight is one of the most sought-after spotlight worldwide. This is a perfect replacement for any of the spotlights you might want to replace due to low-capacity batteries. It is fitted with an ultra-high power CPX cartridge, one of the most powerful in this niche. It serves exceptionally well, but you can consider using D-cell batteries also.

The power produced by this spotlight is indirectly proportional to its size. It eliminates the need of having bulky and frustrating spotlights with its lightweight and powerful nature. It is compact and portable making it easy to transport and use. It also comes with a foldable handle.

The other outstanding feature of this spotlight is its beam distance. The Coleman CPX Ultra-High Power Spotlight comes with an impressive beam distance, with a 1300 feet full capacity distance. It comes with a deep reflector, which boosts the distance of the beam.

Emergencies such as earthquakes and tsunamis often strike without notice. A major consequence of these calamities, you will agree, is blackouts. However, the Cshidworld Emergency Flashlight is there to help you plan for such eventualities. It is a popular emergency flashlight with powerful 2400 lumen system.

The CREE TLED bulbs used in this spotlight are among the best. They are durable for up to 100,000 hours. They can also illuminate a distance of up to 900 feet. Like other spotlight models present, the Cshidworld Emergency Flashlight presents three operation modes. They include a high setting perfect for maximum illumination, a medium mode for modest illumination and a strobe light for low light intensity. Setting all the modes is quite simple.

There are many features which make this flashlight model among the best. One being its waterproof design which works well in outdoors. With this, you can be certain that rain and other elements won’t affect your use. The light’s cover is also comfortable and skid-proof that eases operations. This slims the risks of slipping while in use.

The Cshidworld Emergency Flashlight is a multi-purpose spotlight which can be used for various activities due to its versatility. It can perfectly be used for fishing, camping or walking your dog at night. It overally improves your quality of light.

Size & Weight​

The size and weight of the spotlight you buy is going to largely affect how well you use it in the field and the jobs it can be pressed into service for. The smaller torches are great for raccoon hunting, running hog dogs, and tracking wounded deer through heavy brush.

Gerber Myth Spotlight

If you’re going to get a small light to take with you when you leave the truck, this is one of the best. It’s small enough to take literally anywhere you go hunting, but still, plenty the most powerful handheld spotlight to use for tracking and identifying targets.

It’s made by Gerber, the knife guys that have been making some awesome hunting equipment in recent years. This is a perfect example. It is a brightest rechargeable spotlight that uses a rechargeable battery and three high powered LEDs to produce either 600, or 100 lumens of light.

This model includes everything you need to spotlight hunt, gig frogs or track dogs. It includes two chargers, one for the house, the other for the truck, and two filters for the light, one red and one green.

Browning is a legendary company that now makes just about everything a hunter could need short of a truck and a license. They market tons of different pieces of gear and it’s all good. This is an example of one of their pieces of kit that are well worth the money and extremely useful.

This is one of the only decent disposable batteries on the market. It is made from a very high strength plastic that is durable and seals up tight so you don’t have to worry about dropping it and getting it water logged.

It has a huge comfortable handle with a lanyard, and huge trigger to turn the light on. The top has two eyelets to lash the torch onto a tent or branch to hold for light. That light topping out at 82lumens.

Primos Bloodhunter HD Blood Trailing Light ​Sooner or later you’re going to need to trail a wounded deer. If it’s not you, it’s going to be your buddy who guts shot a pig at night or wounded a deer or a raccoon that you need to find.

Technology can be a huge asset to this and this is a great example, it’s a light with an optimized color to make blood stand out.

It seems trivial, especially if you’ve ever been on your hands and knees looking for blood like a CSI cop! However, need this once and you’ll have it in your pack forever more. This is brought to the market b the giants at Primo’s and is a LED spotlight made for finding blood.

It includes two power setting, one for looking for blood, and one for following trails that you’ve found. This saves power so you can take advantage of the Cree LEDs for as long as possible. They top out at 600 lumens and take cr12batteries that come included.

Brightness​ ​The throw of our light is important, but so is the clarity and color of the torch. You need a light that is powerful enough to identify the furthest target away you plan on shooting or identifying. It’s not simply enough to spot a target, you need to be able to identify it as an individual before you kill the animal.

Always buy a fixed focus bezel and make sure you follow laws on color and brightness regulations.

Do yourself a favor, buy LED. Not only does it use less power, have a brightest hunting spotlight, is smaller, lighter weight, and more compact, it’s much more rugged in the field.

You don’t have to worry about a bad hunt due to a broken or blown out bulb. LEDs are superior in a very way to bulbs and with prices coming down, there’s no reason to buy a bulb model.

Try and buy the most compact model you can Even if you’re buying a model for the truck or ATV, your arm will be less tired and be easier to maneuver with a smaller and lighter weight spotlight.

Power Cable​

Try and buy a model that includes not only a charging cable for the wall, but also for the adapter in your truck. Some companies won’t include it and you’ll have to buy a separate charger at a high cost if they offer it at all.

Take the time to make sure you have all the batteries, and chargers you need for a full night’s hunt.

ANSI FLStandards

Up until recently there has not been any kind of standard in the flashlight industry, the ANSI FLstandards even the playing field for all torch producers. Learning how to read the standards sheets put out by most manufacturers is important to help you find the best tactical flashlight.

Light Output : This is a Lumens rating that shows the total amount of light that comes out of the front of the flashlight.

Run Time : This is the amount of time it will take for light to get to 10% of its initial output. An example would be that if a flashlight started at 100 Lumens this is the length of time of continuous light that it would take to get down to Lumens.

Beam Distance : This is the measurement in meters of the distance at which the intensity of the beam reaches 0.2lux which is the approximated amount of light of a full moon on a clear night.

Peak Beam Intensity : Measured in Candela this is the brightest point in the beam. Where Lumens tell how much light is coming out of the light in total Candela measures how bright the brightest point of the beam is.

Impact Resistance : Measured in meters this indicates the height that you could drop a flashlight from onto concrete and it still work properly. The light can also not have any cracks or breaks in it. : There are three levels of water resistance that are found, those are IPX4, IPX7, and IPX: A flashlight with this rating has been tested to perform under the condition of splashing water. : A flashlight with this rating has been tested to perform submerged to meter for 30 minutes. : A flashlight with this rating has been tested to perform submerged deeper than meter for up to hours.

Why Would You Want To Carry A Tactical Flashlight

Aside from a pocket knife, the most useful tool that you could carry is a flashlight. Even if you are never going to use a flashlight for self-defense a quality torch can be used for countless things. Here are a few situations when having a good tactical flashlight would be nice.

Self-Defense

As mentioned earlier modern tactical flashlights are designed to give someone an advantage in a combat situation. The hard anodized aluminum can be used as a striking tool, many flashlights come with crenulated bezels that are shaped in a way that would help you to both break windows and faces. Also, just holding something in your hand will make your fists more devastating. Next, the high lumens make it so you can temporarily blind any would be attacker which could give you time to escape. If you mix together the ability to blind someone with the added striking force that you get from a tactical flashlight you have a dominating combination, imagine the devastation caused by hitting somebody in the face with the Surefire P2X Fury Defender. As a small warning though, if you are not a trained fighter it is always better to use the temporary blindness as added time to get away.

Identify Things In The Dark

This is the main purpose of any flashlight. If you have a flashlight with you you will have peace of mind that any dark alley or parking lot can be illuminated. Some of the lights that we have here can illuminate things over a football field away. You no longer need to worry what might be hiding in the dark.

Just Finding Stuff

I don’t know about you but I lose things all of the time, under the couch, under the bed, behind the desk, behind the dresser, etc… You know what I mean. You do not even know how many times you will be glad that you had a flashlight with you. Hey, a flashlight might even make it so you are not late for work when you are looking for your keys all over the place.

For the people that do not have time right now to read all of the material on this site, here is a quick and dirty summary of the top things to look for to ensure that you are getting a quality product. Some of you may have specific requirement that would make these tips change but for the general public and for the EDC enthusiast that is not a flashaholic these are some easy guidelines. : If you are buying a EDC flashlight how big can you comfortably have with you all of the time. Otherwise if you are not keeping it with you all of the time how much space do you have to store it? : Do you want disposable or rechargeable batteries? And, do you want a standard size battery (easy to find) or a special battery (more power)? : It takes at least 60-100 lumens to cause temporary blindness.

Durability : I would go with type III hard anodized aircraft grade aluminum with a LED bulb that is rated to at least IPXwaterproofing.

Tactical Handheld Flashlights

Handheld tactical lights are designed to be extremely durable, as they need to stand up to some of the harshest conditions. To ensure that they can stand up to the worst conditions most manufacturers are going to use weapon-grade aluminum for the body along with a textured grip. The better grip allows you to use the light as a striking tool without worrying about it slipping out of your grasp. Top quality handheld lights are small enough that they can be easily carried around for everyday use. The smaller size also allows you to easily operate the light with one hand leaving your other hand free for other tasks.

Handheld tactical lights are some of the brightest ones out there. Handheld tactical lights need to be bright enough to light up a dark room, but they also might need to temporarily blind a potential suspect.  A handheld tactical light is something that you want to be able to depend on at all times, you want to know that your light is going to work in a life or death situation.

SureFire G2X LE

The Surefire G2X LE was specifically designed to meet the needs of law enforcement officers, making it one of the better tactical flashlights on the market. The G2X LE is an improvement on the G2X Pro as it offers a higher lumen output than the original model. The G2X LE offers two output levels: high and low. High offers a blinding 400 lumens on the first click, while low offers 1lumens that requires two clicks. Highest setting offers users the maximum amount of light, while the lowest settings ensures a longer battery life from the CR123A batteries required to power the light.

The entire light is controlled via a dual-output tailcap switch. This is beneficial for those life or death situation that law enforcement often finds themselves in because it provides instant access to the brightest light when you need it most, giving you a momentary advantage. The G2X is as durable as it is useful as it is made from a Nitrolon polymer body that offers a secure grip. The light uses O-rings and gaskets to seal against moisture and dust, so it will work in any environment. The high performance LED used in the G2X LE is practically indestructible and its parabolic reflector improves the beams reach.

Nitecore P20

The Nitecore P20 features a CREE XM-L(T6) LED that has a peak beam intensity of 11,000 candelas with a throw distance of 68feet. This premium LED allows the P20 to offer users three different modes: tactical, general, and law enforcement, as well as a strobe mode. Each of the three modes provide different brightness levels allowing for this light to be effectively used in a variety of non-life threatening situations. While we do not recommend this light for life or death situations it does provide quick and easy access to the strobe mode via the strobe ready button.

As tactical lights are supposed to be easy to use Nitecore offers users a dual-switch tail cap, which is said to be ideal for tactical applications as it is designed for one handed operation. The top switch provides users with the ability to power the light on or off, as well as access the different modes. The bottom switch is the strobe ready button and a simply push provides you with instant strobe no matter what mode you were previously in. The Nitecore P20 can be powered by a single 18650 battery or two CR12batteries, what batteries used will affect the lumen output and runtime.

Tactical Pistol Light

As a tactical light you don’t want just any old pistol light, you want something that is durable. You need your pistol light to stand up to numerous bullets being fired from your handgun; you don’t want something that is going to fall apart after only a few rounds. Pistol lights can be mounted directly below the barrel or they can be mounted onto the side via an offset mount, which one you choose will depend on you. Pistol lights often come with a tail cap switch, but high quality ones will provide you with the ability to switch the tail cap switch for a pressure switch.

SureFire X300 Ultra

The SureFire X300 Ultra high performance LED is powered by two high-energy CR123A batteries that will emit 600 lumens for an hour and a half. The X300 Ultra features a newer mounting system that uses a T-slot mounting system with a T-slot mounting rail and tightening screw. This newer mounting system allows users to mount the X300 Ultra to both long guns and hand guns quickly and securely.

What makes the X300 Ultra the best tactical pistol light aside from its extreme durability is its ambidextrous switch that makes activation a breeze. The switch is now wider and shorter than you have seen on previous models, but it is still located at the rear of the light to allow for easy one-handed operation. Remote activation using a DG grip for handguns or a XT tape switch for long guns is also available.

Now if you are looking for a pistol light with a laser, but you really like the SureFire X300 Ultra you need to check out the X400 Ultra as it has many of the same features as the X300 Ultra, but comes with a red or green laser. You can also check out our Pistol Light Buyers Guide for our light recommendations for different sized pistols.

Streamlight TLR-HL

The Streamlight TLR-HL is a shining example of the high quality lights manufactured by Streamlight. The TLR-HL comes in three different colors and is constructed from machined aluminum with a black anodized finish. The light itself is completely sealed earning it an IPX rating of 7, which allows it to be used both indoors and outdoors. If you opt for the Streamlight TLR-HL and currently have a holster that allows for a light bearing pistol you will not need to purchase a new one, as the TLR-HL is constructed to fit into all light bearing holsters.

A CLED is powered by two CR123A batteries and can emit 800 lumens with a peak beam intensity of 15,000 candelas. With a pistol light how far the beam reaches is important and with the TLR-HL you will be able to see up to 800 feet away thanks to the concentrated beam provided by the TIR lens. The TLR-HL comes equipped to mount directly to any handgun with glock-style rails, but can also be mounted to Picatinny rails. The TLR-Hl is designed for hand guns but Streamlight offers a kit for long guns that must be purchased separately.

For those of you that prefer to have a laser light combo and you really like what the Streamlight TLR-HL is offering there is good news. Streamlight makes two other models of the TLR-they come with all of the same features and quality as the TLR-HL, but they have an added laser. The TLR-HL comes with a red laser, while the TLR-HL G comes with a green laser. You can check out our Best Pistol Light article for a more detailed review of those two lights.

Aimkon HiLight P5S

The Aimkon will fit on the majority of the subcompact pistols on the market, but it will also fit on several full sized pistols. The Aimkon HiLight P5S utilizes a quick release mount system to attach to your weapon. The P5S comes equipped with two distinct modes: constant on and strobe, as well as a red laser for aiming purposes.

While all of this might sound great we strongly discourage you from using the Aimkon HiLight P5S in life or death situations. Yes the pistol light is made to mount a on pistol, but that doesn’t mean you can rely on it for life threatening situations. The quality and durability is nowhere near the same as pistol lights made by SureFire and Streamlight. This pistol light is one that should only be used for target practice or even on airsoft guns.

Tactical Rifle Flashlight

Rifle flashlights are very similar to pistol lights; they are both designed to be mounted onto your weapon to provide you with light while keeping both hands on your gun. The difference between these two weapon lights is what kind of weapon they are mounted too. Pistol lights for the most part are designed to be mounted to pistols or handguns, although some of these lights feature kits that allow them to be mounted to long guns. Rifle flashlights are not designed to be mounted to the smaller guns, these lights are designed to be mounted to the longer style guns like rifles and they will typically be able to use a pressure switch.

One of the great things about rifle flashlights is that all of them currently on the market use LED emitters, so they usually exceed the minimum 50 lumens needed to disorient a person’s night vision. With lumens not being a concern the other things that you need to look at when selecting a rifle flashlight are how reliable the light is, how much output it has and what kind of beam distance it will provide, how easy it is to operate, and how small and lightweight the light really is.

SureFire M600IB Scout Light

The SureFire M600IB Scout Light ranks as the best rifle flashlight for a variety of reasons with its IntelliBeam Technology being one of them. This technology uses an intelligent sensor coupled with a microprocessor system to constantly evaluate the area where the beam is being aimed. Based on the data collected the light output will automatically be adjusted anywhere between 100 to 600 lumens enabling you to always have the right amount of light for the job you are doing. The M600IB is made from hard-anodized aluminum and utilizes a high performance LED that is considered to be practically indestructible. The light mounts onto MIL-STD-191rails using a thumbscrew mount.

The M600IB Scout comes equipped with a clicky type tail-cap switch. The clicky switch can be partially pressed down to use the momentary on feature or fully press the switch to activate the constant-on feature. Full tactical mode, which is a bright 600 lumens, is activated by going from off to on again within one second of each other. SureFire also minimizes the chance of accidental activation by shrouding the switch. Now the M600IB doesn’t come with a pressure switch, but you can purchase one separately and we strongly recommend that you do. For the M600IB we recommend the SureFire DS0Remote/Pushbutton Switch Tail Assembly.

Streamlight 8805ProTac Railmount 2L Gun Light

With the ProTac Railmount 2L you will be able to mount the light to ay Picatinny rails with its dedicated fixed mount, which is a fixed rail grabber with thumbscrew mount.  This specific light is a part of the Streamlight’s 6000 series, so like other lights in its series it is constructed from machined aircraft aluminum with an anodized finish. To add to its durability the ProTac Railmount 2L utilizes an impact resistant BOROFLOAT lens to protect the CLED that can emit up to 62lumens for a period of hours using two CR123A batteries. This light currently has two IPX ratings depending on what switch is used to control the light. With the tail switch the ProTac Railmount 2L has an IPXrating, while the pressure switch drops down to an IXP4.

The ProTac Railmount 2L utilizes Streamlight’s TEN-Tap Programming and provides users with the choice of three different operating modes. With the ProTac Railmount 2L users can choose high/strobe mode, high mode, or low/high mode. The strobe option is ideal for signaling for help or disorienting a potential attacker. The rifle light is controlled  via a multi-function tactical tail switch that is designed for one handed operation. The ProTac Railmount 2L also comes with a dual remote pressure switch that can be used in place of the tactical tail switch, as well as remote retaining clips.

Nitecore CGHunting Kit

One of the first things you need to realize is that no matter how amazing this light kit sounds, we do not recommend it for any kind of tactical situations. Nitecore does make high quality lights, but we feel that the NiteCore CGHunting Kit is more geared for playing rather than in life or death situations. One of the great things about this hunting kit is just how much stuff it comes with. Inside the CGHunting Kit you are going to find the light that provides users with green and white light, as well as a icharger, NL18battery, RSWremote switch, a tactical ring, lanyard, holster, car adapter, NFR40 Red Filter, weapon mount, and a survival keychain light.

The Chameleon CGlight offers users bright and focused dual beams. The white beam can reach up to 440 lumens for a distance of 62feet, while the green light can emit up to 18lumens for a distance of 55feet. The white light option offers users the choice between five modes, while the green light option comes with three different brightness levels. The CGoffers two special modes: strobe and emergency police warning light. The rifle mounting kit that comes with the CGkit comes with a rail mount and a barrel mount option, as well as a high clearance scope mount and a remote pressure switch. Whether you are using the dual mode switch or the remote pressure switch the light is easy to activate and the dual beams are controlled independently. The CGfeatures a power indicator light to alert you to battery power levels and will also remind you when it is time to recharge the battery.

Tactical Headlamp

Headlamps are a great choice for those who are looking for 100% hands free lighting. The main purpose of a headlamp is to direct the entire amount of light to a specific area, which is why the lamp of the light is usually worn in the center of the head. When choosing a headlamp the amount of lumens is going to tell you how bright the light is, but the beam distance is what you really want to pay attention to. The beam distance is going to tell you how just how far your headlamp is going to be able to produce useable light.

Another important aspect is the beam type. With head lamps you have three basic choices: flood, spot, or adjustable. Flood lamps are ideal for close up repair work or ordinary outdoor tasks. Flood lamps are used when light doesn’t need to reach long distances. Spot lamps are best for hiking, climbing, and other similar activities because the beam is ideal for lighting up things in the distance. Adjustable headlamps offer the best of both worlds, as they provide you with both a flood and spot option, so you have the right kind of beam when you need it most. For tactical use we feel that a headlamp must have a red light since red is the best color to retain night vision and many times you will use your headlamp just to read something quickly.

Tactical Night Vision

In this article we only cover two night vision devices: monocular and goggles. Monoculars are night vision devices that provide no magnification and use a single eye unit. In many cases these style of night vision devices are the most versatile of them all, as they can be worn on the head or even mounted to the front of a rifle scope. How monocular devices can be used will depend on the brand and model purchased. Goggles allow for both eyes to be used when viewing, but like monoculars they do not provide any kind of magnification. Goggles can be head mounted and come in two different styles. The first style is single image tube with two eye pieces, while the other is a dual image tube with two eye pieces. One of the great things about goggle style night vision devices is how natural they feel when you first start wearing them, they don’t take much getting used to at all.

Armasight Nyx-Pro Bravo Gen 3

Before we get too involved in looking at what the Armasight Nyx-Pro Bravo Gen has to offer we want you to know that this light meets our minimum requirements to be used in life threatening situations. In all honesty there are higher end products out there that far exceed what this one has to offer, in fact, the Gen of this same model is currently the best product available. The Gen meets minimum requirements for high quality tactical use at a little bit lower of a price, so we feel that it is a good fit for our review.

The Armasight Nyx-Pro Bravo Gen is an extremely durable and rugged bi-ocular night vision goggle. The Bravo Gen uses simple, but very reliable electronics and the highest grade optics to provide you with clear and bright images through night vision. The Bravo Gen can be 100% hands free if worn on the included flip-up head mount, but can also be a hand-held night vision device if you need to engage in long range observation. These goggles are powered by a single CR12or an ordinary AA battery that provides up to 60 hours of use. The goggles are water and fog resistant and come with easy to operate controls. The auto brightness feature and the built-in infrared illuminators are just an added bonus.

ATN NVM 14-Gen Monocular

What makes the ATN NVM 14-Gen the best tactical night vision monocular in our opinion is how versatile it is, as well as its amazing features. The NVM 14-can be used for a variety of different tasks, including driving and administering first aid, in addition to so many other things. With the NVM you can pretty much go about your normal daytime tasks, but in the dark. The NVM can be used as a handheld device, a head or helmet mounted device, or even mounted on a weapon. The NVM can be vertically adjusted by using the head straps; it can also offers a fore and aft adjustment. The NVM also offers objective lens focus and eyepiece focus.

The Automatic Brightness Adjustment system on the NVM 14-is a nice feature to have as it ensures that the IIT brightness level remains steady no matter the conditions. With the Automatic Protective System the NVM is able to control the current illumination automatically, plus the Monocular will shut off on its own if lx levels go higher than 100 to 300 lx within minutes. The NVM features a monocular optical system that is made up of an objective lens, an eyepiece, and an Image Intensifier Tube. The eyepiece itself is home to a red and green indicator light. The green light warns of excessive brightness, while the red is a low battery warning and a IR illuminator indicator.

ATN Spirit MP-Monocular

The ATN Spirit MP-Monocular is a perfect choice for night vision monoculars for those who are currently working on tactical law enforcement teams, as well as elite military personnel. In all honesty the Spirit MP-can also be used by ordinary citizens, but it is a something that is of high quality and is made for true tactical situations. The ATN Spirit MP-can be attached to a helmet or even a weapon, it can also be used as a head mounted device or a handheld device and is perfect for doing a variety of daytime tasks in the dark of night.The MP-is powered by a single CR123A battery that will allow you to effectively use the monoculars for a period of 60 hours before needing replacement.

One thing that the Spirit MP-offers is Total Darkness technology. This technology comes with a infrared light emitting source that is built into the monocular itself. This technology allows you to use the device even when there is a lack of ambient light. Like many other ATN models the Spirit MP-also comes with LED indicator lights, automatic brightness control, and a bright light cut off. Most IR laser aiming devices, as well as illuminating devices, are completely compatible with the Spirit MP-2, which only adds to its versatility. It is the advanced technology used in the ATN Spirit MP-that gives you the tactical advantage when using it in a tactical situation.

Other Tactical Lights

Most categories of tactical lights are focused on a style of flashlight, whether it is a headlamp, helmet mount, or goggle style light; they all look and act similar to a flashlight. All of the above mentioned lights are great tools to use in a variety of tactical situations, but sometimes you need something a little bit different to get the job done. In this section we want to introduce you to other tactical lights that you might find useful to have on hand.

One thing that you might notice based on the lights that we have chosen for this article is that tactical lights provide you with advantage during tactical situations. In some cases the burst of light helps disorient an adversary while other times the infrared light allows you to maneuver through a room without giving away your position or destroying your night vision. The lights included in this category of our article are no different. These lights provide you with a tactical advantage, but what advantage they provide will vary.

Brite Strike RID-3

The Brite Strike RID-is not a replacement for a flashbang, but they were designed by police officers to be a distraction and disorientation device. Brite Strike RID-doesn’t require any special training to use and they are an excellent alternative to flashbangs. One reason why they are such a good alternative to flashbangs is they can be used to gain entry into an unsafe room that contains flammable material.

Brite Strike RID-3s are small, lightweight ball balls that are expertly weighted to ensure they spin and wobble when they are tossed into a room. As the ball rolls across the floor or when it first hits the floor it will spin and wobble with its two white LEDs shining brightly. Once the ball stops wobbling and spinning the light will be facing up allowing the person in the room to be perfectly backlight. The spinning and wobbling light distracts the person in the room, giving you the perfect opportunity to make your move. Brite Strike RID-does not feature a strobe option, as you don’t want to be blinded by the strobe when you walk into the room. The spin and wobble feature works similar to a strobe without having any disorientating effect on you. Note, these do not strobe.

Beam Distance

Lumens are how we measure luminous flux which is the amount of light energy or power of the light in total that comes out of the face of the flashlight. High Lumens means that you have a powerful LED and a powerful battery. Flashlight producers like throwing the word Lumen around everywhere but it is not really as useful of a measure of light as Candela or Beam Distance for how the flashlight will perform. The most powerful tactical flashlights have really high lumens but it is dependent on the reflector on whether the light will shine a long distance or if it will light up the area close to the light.

Candela is the peak beam intensity or in other words the brightest point of light produced. Without changing the amount of Lumens the Candela can change dramatically since they are dependent on the beam angle which is controlled greatly by the reflector. The smaller the beam angle the greater the peak brightness with be (Candela). So you could have flashlight with a much less powerful LED producing a higher beam intensity and having a longer beam distance because it has a smaller beam angle.

As mentioned earlier when we described the ANSI FLstandards Beam Distance is the distance in meters that a light can go until it reaches 0.2lux which is the amount of light output by the full moon on a clear night. Just like Peak Beam Intensity/Candela the Beam Distance is very dependent on both the type of LED used and also the reflector. Flashlights can be designed to throw a long beam like a spot light or to light up a whole area like a light bulb in your house. Later we will talk about throw vs flood.

With all of that said, we will play by the manufacturers rules and decide how much light we need by Lumens. But, now that you are educated you can take the other ANSI measurements into account while searching for the best tactical flashlight.

700+ Lumens: This is getting really serious. This is the level of power you want if you need maximum brightness for your job but still need a small handheld light. Search and rescue teams or people that just want to show off get these kinds of lumens. There are handheld flashlights that go up to 7000+ Lumens these insane flashlights can make a tree 3-football fields away as bright as a christmas tree.

Flood Vs. Throw

These are two terms that you will hear about all of the time if you do much research in flashlights. A flashlight the has a lot of flood will illuminate a very large area but not very far. There will not be a defined beam but on overall brightness in the whole area. Torches that have a long throw have a very definite beam and you can light up something many yards away. Different lights are designed to be more floody or throwy, it is dependent on the design of the reflector and on the LED that is used. In general flashlights that are floody are better for close up activities and flashlights that have a long throw are for lighting up thing that are far away. You need to decide how far away you want to be able to see something and this will change the flashlight that you will want to buy.

Light Filters

Some flashlights come with light filters that you can put over the top of the flashlight so it will shine another color. Red is popular for night vision, blue and yellow are popular for seeing blood, and green does not spook animals while hunting and can not be seen from the side so you can preserve your location.

Dedicated RGB LEDs

You would use red, blue, and green led flashlights for the same reason as above but for some reason you might want them built into the flashlight. Having the built in LEDs makes it so you do not need to search for filters all of the time, but you will not be able to get the same level of brightness as you would in a light with a filter.

Holster

Some people like to carry flashlights is a separate holder on their belt, and some flashlights are too big to fit in a pocket. For this reason there are flashlights that come with holsters. Most flashlight holsters have a belt loop and then a Velcro flap that goes over the head of the flashlight.

Mounting Bracket

Do you need to put your light on a gun, some lights are dedicated gun lights and some handheld flashlights have adapters that will attach them to a gun. A light the is meant designed to go on a gun will fit more secure and have less movement, but having an adapter for a handheld light is both more versatile and cheaper.

Pressure Switch

If you want to mount your flashlights to a weapon some lights offer different types of switches. Many manufacturers offer pressure switches that replace the tail switch of a flashlight with a pressure pad so you can move the on/off button to almost anywhere else on the gun. These are particularly useful for long weapons so you can put a switch right next to where you would comfortably keep your hands as opposed to feeling around for the button on the flashlight.

Knurling

Do you want the surface of the flashlight to be knurled for extra grip or do you want it to be smooth. Knurling is when a pattern is put into the metal surface of the flashlight. Many people like the knurling in the metal but some do not and prefer smoother ergonomic features to increase grip.

Flashlights 10- Introductory Course

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The Streamlight is clearly designed for usage on boats and similar crafts, since it offers IPXwater resistance and an ability to float if dropped in water.

As far as power is concerned, this is a slightly different option when compared to the other more common lithium battery powered options. This rugged black and yellow colored spotlight is powered by alkaline batteries, the “C” size ones. You need four of them to keep light running for up to 8.hours. There is also an option of using a 12V DC power cord. The batteries are not included with the package.

As for the LED in use, it emits 2lumens at high beam and 20 at low beam. That should be more than enough in a nautical setting, especially when you take into account the highly effective, long range parabolic reflector on this spotlight. The rugger device has a tough polycarbonate body and lens designed to withstand severe impacts and shocks.

Cyclop Sirius 500 Lumen Handheld Spotlight

With a matte all-black finish and a pistol-grip replete with a trigger guard, this spotlight looks very close to a handgun if not for the unduly fat barrel that makes up the LED lights. And there are a lot of them too, with separate LEDs for different ranges.

As its name suggests the Cyclops has high power Cree LEDs taking care of the long range lighting while leaving weaker LEDs to handle the illumination when looking at nearer objects.That obviously implies that this spotlight has modes, off, long distance and short range lighting. The rechargeable battery offers hours of run-time on the more powerful Cree LEDs while the dimmer LEDs can last for around 1hours max on a full charge.

The battery is a 6V lithium polymer SLA with 2.5Ah. For more subtle usage, you even get a detachable red lens. And at 1.5lbs, this is a very lightweight and compact spotlight that is very easy on your hands.

Sirius Cyclops CYC 9WS Thor Watt LED Spotlight

Sirius spotlights tend to have a separate LEDs for high and low beam and this model is no different. It has Luxeon high power LEDs, three of them, for the high beam.

The weaker low beam functionality is handled six Nichia LEDs of a standard configuration. The high beams throws 300 lumens, which is a bit on the lower side when compared to the competition. But the high power LEDs are capable of producing adequate lighting for all but the most demanding users. The spotlight uses rechargeable batteries, and you get a home charging option as well as a car charging option, making this a fantastic choice for a flashlight to keep in your car, especially if going on long trips.

The grip is rubberized and easy to hold, and the gun-like trigger has an always on feature. The spotlight uses up all the battery in hours if used in high beam setting. There is also a discreet detachable red lens.

Requires AA batteries

With almost 750 lumens at high beam, this is one of the more powerful units we have reviewed.

But despite all that power, it weighs in at a measly 1.5lbs. The pistol grip has comfortable grooves that offer extra grip, and there is an excellent trigger lock for always on function. For power saving, you also get a dimmer light switch which reduces the light to 400 lumens.

This spotlight uses an in-built lithium ion battery pack capable of reaching full charge in hours. It will give you close to hour of run-time on high beam, and around hours on the lower setting. It can hold charge for up to 1months and can be charged using either AC or DC power sources.

Handheld Gadgets

As I walk along convention floors, I often notice cool little gadgets, from tools to lights to smoke devices and more. Each of these fits a nice little niche in our world of live events. Whether it’s a physical gadget, pressurized effect or an electronic device, we’ve compiled a few nifty devices we felt were worth a look this month. Read More…

Audience Lights

While stage lighting advances occur yearly, the art of lighting the audience is often overlooked. In today’s new arena and theater installations, the buildings are making it easier for touring LDs to control the house lights. The first series of audience blinders to become popular were the Mole Feys. Mole Richardson manufactured these various sized fixtures around the amount of DWE par 3wide bulbs that the user wanted. They were soon used on tours so touring acts could see their audience on cue. AC/DC incorporated over 100 of these on their last tour. Almost any bright light illuminating the audience from stage is now just called a “blinder.” Here’s a look at a bunch of fixtures lighting audiences these days. Read More…

Moving Lights with Framing Shutters

Framing shutters have been a part of ellipsoidal fixtures for as long as anyone can remember. They consist of four separate blades that can cut into the focal path and shape the beam of light. The shutters (blades) are spaced 90 degrees apart around the fixture and can be moved inwards and angled, allowing the light source to concentrate its beam on a particular area. With the advent of the Vari-Lite VL1000, we saw a moving light with electronic shutters for the first time. Now, framing shutters on moving hard edge and wash fixtures have become immensely popular. PLSN displays what’s on the market today. Read More…

Moving Beam Lights

Looking back, 200was a magical year for concert lighting. That was the year that Claypaky unveiled their highly successful Alpha Beam fixtures on a moving yoke, dedicated to the art of the tight collimated shafts of light. A year later, Elation kept the evolution of moving light fixtures moving with units that had a smaller footprint and tiny moving beam. As LED technology continues to sweep across the world of entertainment lighting, we’ve seen more single LED Beam models pop up in the last year. This month we present the latest and best beams on a moving yoke. Read More…

Searchlight requirements

The key requirements are sufficient range and spread to allow use as a portable searchlight, coupled with reliability and a long battery life. Preferably, there should be some kind of battery meter or warning lights telling us the battery is low and either needs recharging or replacing. Ideally, the lamp should float, which means it should also be waterproof: not for underwater exploration (which would put the cost up far too much), but for using in the rain or spray and taking the occasional dunking.

Those with disposable batteries can take either AA, D cells or a lantern battery, so there is a choice. All can be purchased as rechargeable batteries: chargers are now available which will run off AC mains or 12V, making them more convenient for onboard use. Similarly, built-in rechargeable batteries should be capable of charging from either a 12V cigar lighter-type socket or AC mains.

Some lamps offer different handle positions, pistol or suitcase grip, and some provide the ability to change from one grip to the other.

Duration of battery.

Additionally, our testers tried them out for convenience of operation and ease of holding. Our range test consisted of using the lamps at night and seeing how far we could spot an object in the water. We used a football suspended over the water as our target. For the battery duration we used a data logger coupled with a light sensor. This was able to plot a graph of light strength in lux against time (seconds). Thus we were able to see how the battery performed over time.

Blue Spot 30 LED

This rechargeable spotlight features an auto-discharge shut-off function to prolong battery life. Comes with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery: a red light flashes when the battery is low, then stays on when charging. When fully charged, a green light comes on. Charge time is approximately six hours, and it will operates for approximately three hours on one full charge. Supplied with mains charger only. The unit has a protection function which prevents the light being turned on while under charge.

ON TEST: The lightest lamp tested, and very much a handy spotlight with the shortest range. The lithium-ion battery charges quickly and a light warns when it’s time for a charge, but it has a fairly short duration. Useful wrist lanyard.

Draper 3W LED Rechargeable Spotlight

TEST: Moderate range, but good battery duration, light weight and reasonable charging time. The fixed handle and no stand limits flexible use.

Draper Expert 5W CREE LED waterproof 

The only fully waterproof lamp from the Draper range has a single CREE LED. The waterproof and shockproof ABS casing has an IP6rating so it is protected against dust and high-pressure water jets. The LED is powered by three AA batteries: range or duration time is not specified. With a fixed pistol grip and trigger switch, a second press puts the LEDs on a lower power, and a further press is required to switch the light off.

The switch can be locked in the on or off modes. A stand enables the light to be set at varying angles from horizontal to vertical. A wrist strap from the pistol grip and a detachable shoulder carry strap are provided.

ON TEST: The most popular lamp with testers, who liked its light weight, robustness, waterproofness, lockable switch and wrist lanyard. Commendable beam range and battery duration.

Draper Expert 6V 2.4W  

A 6V lamp with an impact-resistant rubber housing and a krypton bulb. A swivelling stand offers six positions between horizontal and vertical. The handle is of the open suitcase type with the micro on-off switch conveniently located for thumb operation when being carried. Powered by non-rechargeable batteries, either four D-type cells or a lantern battery. The D-type cells made it the heaviest lamp tested. No range or battery life specified.

ON TEST: Robust, weatherproof construction, very much the heavyweight on the test and with an unsteady stand. Good light range and a surprising battery life when fitted with extra-heavy-duty D batteries: the light reduced in intensity but was still useful up to 1hours. Water-resistant casing.

Unilite LED Floating lantern PS-L2

Only the Unilite lamps are designed to float in water with the beam upright. This one has passed the ingress protection standard with a 5category. A single LED puts out 200 lumens and is directed through a bi-convex lens giving a claimed range of 170m. The body has high impact resistance. Comes with a fixed suitcase-style closed handle and an attachment point for a wrist strap (not provided). Designed to take a disposable lantern battery (not supplied standard). A rechargeable lantern battery is available as an accessory with a suitable charger.

ON TEST: The second most popular lamp. Testers liked its waterproofness and robustness coupled with good range and long battery life.

Unilite Rubber Weather Proof LED lantern

Has a similar light specification to the Unilite PS-L2, but with an extra-tough synthetic industrial-grade rubber casing claimed to withstand a 1m drop. Floats with the light shining upwards, and has a claimed beam range of 160m and run time of five hours on a lantern battery. Also comes with a rear charging point for use with Unilite rechargeable lantern batteries. Handle is closed suitcase type: no pistol grip option. Rubber casing is high friction so it resists sliding, but when resting horizontally on its base, it will fall over on a slope of around 15°.

ON TEST: A robust, non-slip casing coupled with a good beam range and battery duration make this a worthwhile investment, though it is pricey and would benefit from not having the charging point access which creates a waterproofing weakness.

Rechargeable batteries versus disposable

Our four rechargeable batteries were either a sealed lead acid (B&Q Diall, Kingslite 3W LED) or lithium-ion (Blue Spot, Draper LED). The lithium-ion batteries have the advantage of a faster charge rate – typically five hours versus 1hours for the lead acid – and weigh less, but with a price premium. Both types require regular charging, so if left on a boat some sort of charging regime would require establishing, perhaps with a stick-on label to record charging dates.

The high current demand from halogen and tungsten bulbs gives a short duration. Here the LEDs really score, giving much more useful battery life whether with rechargeables or disposables. Disposable batteries can be purchased with different capacities, with a premium price on the long-life variety such as Duracell. Most manufacturers offer long-life and even extra-long-life cells. The unit price comes down when purchasing larger pack quantities.

D-cell and AA batteries can be purchased in rechargeable form, the majority now being Nickel-Metal-Hydride (NiMh). I use two in my Garmin 7handheld GPS and they will last up to six hours of continuous use before requiring recharging.

The situation we seek to avoid at all costs is the battery failing at a critical time in use. This is much less likely with LED bulbs. The advantage disposable batteries offer is the ability to quickly change to another set (providing you have them on board!).

A basic rundown on these uv black light torches 

Here at Glow Paint Industries we have a large range of black light torches from basic plastic body black light torches to more professional black lights that have a metal body. Most of our black light torches are powered by AA or AAA batteries. Image on the left is Budgies exposed to a UV Black Light At a Show Hosted By Don Burke. Note the Head and other feathers light up.

Handheld uv black light 365nm

This is not a black light torch but dose deserve a mention. This uv black light bulb is used in places where there is not power points available. This black light bulb is portable and can be powered by a 12V battery or a power pack. Comes with fitting for the bulb and hanging hook. Bulb can be replaced. Warning do not plug into 240 volt AC mains power.

Rating: ★★★★☆

This pushed our winner hard. Both are really bright, and we had to scrutinise their beam patterns repeatedly before giving the Ring the nod. Light aside, the Laser isn’t quite such a great all-rounder. A single rotating hook, albeit with a fierce magnet, ensures it can be easily positioned.

Rating: ★★★☆☆

While Draper’s 43080 is a slightly newer version of the 2436we featured last time, this rather similar Kennedy model appears exactly the same as before. Positioning is catered for by two rear-mounted hooks and magnets, plus a further strong version in the front-to-rear hinged base. But as with the Draper, the beam pattern is very centre heavy with a noticeable drop-off away from the bright centre circle, which means plenty of realignment to get the best of the light on the job. Despite the obvious similarity, it’s also a touch behind the Draper’s light output overall.

Extended Downrod

A non-standard downrod is used when the ceiling height is greater than feet. See our downrod sizing guide to determine which length you will need for your ceiling height.

A sloped application is intended for room where the ceiling slants at 3degrees or higher. The fan installs into the ceiling with the use of an adapter, like this Modern Fan sloped ceiling adapter.

Lastly, look for a ceiling fan with a blade span that matches the room’s square footage and height. If you choose a fan that is too small for the space, it will struggle to move air. If you choose a fan that is too large for the space, not only will be off putting, but it will waste too much energy.

Sizing Tips: Here are some additional dimensions to consider when you buy a ceiling fan a new ceiling fan.

CEILING FAN LIGHTS

To add lighting or not to add lighting, that is the question. Choosing a ceiling fan with lighting is a matter of personal preference. If you plan to install the fan in a space with good natural lighting or sufficient light fixtures, buy a ceiling fan without a light kit.

If the space could use a boost of general lighting, choose a ceiling fan with a light kit. Today’s fans offer a range of lighting sources, including halogen, fluorescent, and LEDs.

Fluorescent

Fluorescent light sources use 7percent less energy than incandescent light sources and have an average lifespan of 10,000 hours. Ceiling fans with CFL bulbs emit cool or warm lighting.

LED light sources consume very little energy and have an average lifespan of 50,000 hours. These ceiling fans with energy-efficient bulbs emit cool or warm lighting.

Antique Ceiling Fan Designs

Antique and vintage style ceiling fans complement traditional and vintage home decors. They often feature decorative filigree and scrollwork on the motor housing and blade brackets. Many light kits include a warm globe light. To achieve a vintage-inspired look, buy a ceiling fan that features an antique-style and pair it with American Empire furniture, floral prints and textiles, and warm brass and copper finishes. A warm pastel palette ties the space together.

Contemporary Ceiling Fans

Contemporary ceiling fans are a great addition to any modern and transitional space. The modern style ceiling fans feature clean lines, smooth metallic finishes, and minimal adornment. Buy a ceiling fan with a contemporary feel and pair it with casual contemporary furniture (avoid wood carving and adornments), natural textiles such as cotton, linen or wool, and chrome, nickel or stainless steel hardware. A bold color palette and geometric accents bring the look together.

Rustic Ceiling Fans

Rustic ceiling fans pair well with country, mission and western interiors. These rustic-inspired ceiling fans feature straight lines and dark wood finishes with homespun accents. To achieve this look, buy a ceiling fan with a rustic look and pair it with lodge-style furniture, checkered or striped prints, handmade accents, such as baskets, carved wooden bowls, and pottery, and hand-forged metal accents. Soft, muted colors, rough hewn wood and hand-forged metal accents round out this look.

Tropical Ceiling fans

Tropical ceiling fans complement coastal, island, and nautical home interiors. The island-inspired fans feature bamboo, natural palm leaf, and rattan blades with distressed wood finishes. To achieve this look, buy a ceiling fan with a tropical feel and pair it with rattan furniture, bright colors and natural patterns, tropical flowers and plants, and handcrafted items.

CEILING FAN EFFICIENCY & AIRFLOW

High airflow ceiling fans circulate more air and consume less energy than standard fans. These fans are ideal for garages, warehouses, and outdoor spaces, such as your patio and porch. When you buy a ceiling fan with high airflow you get an added bonus: high-airflow fans are known to drive away mosquitoes and other backyard pests.

Ceiling Fans with Remote Control

The handheld remote control offers the most convenience of all the fan control options. The lightweight and portable control operated within a 30 to 50-foot range, making it ideal for high ceiling fans and hard to reach places. Handheld remote control ceiling fans are also ideal for bedrooms.

Wall Control

The fan speed wall control option allows you to operate the fan speed, direction and lighting with the press of a button. The stationary remote has a range up to 40 feet, making it ideal for families with kids. A wall control is ideal for kitchens, dining rooms, living rooms and multipurpose rooms.

HID Off-Road Lighting Pros and Cons

The main advantage of HID (High intensity discharge) off-road lights is their incredible brightness. Top end HID lights will generally shine twice as far as a top-end LED in the same wattage range. While there is reason to anticipate LEDs getting brighter over time, HIDs will likely be the brightest option available for years to come.

The ABCs of Handhelds

Weight – Remember, you’re going to be lugging around a hunting light for the duration of your trip. While you might not think comfort is a big deal, carrying a heavy lamp will get old fast. Save your energy and make your hunt more enjoyable by choosing a lightweight coon hunting light.

Batteries – Batteries are bulky and uncomfortable to carry around, but you can’t use your light without them. If you don’t want to be stuck with a pocket full of batteries, choose a hunting light that has a reputation for long battery life.

Distance – Raccoons are skittish creatures that will do everything in their power to evade humans. A hunting light that has a weak beam means that you’ll have to get closer to your target to see it, and that will scare it away. Choose a hunting light that can shine a beam powerful enough to spot that raccoon hiding in a tree.

Brightness – Any experienced raccoon hunter will tell you that they’re excellent at hiding. Only a hunting lamp capable of putting out high intensity light will work for your hunting sessions.

LED coon hunting lights

LED lights are commonly used for headlamps, and are commonly made by companies like Bright Eyes lights. This style of coon hunting light comfortably attaches to your head and shines a bright beam at whatever you’re facing. It’s a great way to use hands-free hunting lights without feeling cumbersome.

This style light attaches to the scope of your rifle. They function similar to the standard handheld flashlight, except that many gun lights allow you to modify beam intensity and width. When buying a gun light, be mindful of its weight. A heavy object attached to your rifle could throw off your aim.

Handheld spotlights

The handheld spotlight is popular among the traditionalist who isn’t concerned with new hunting technology. Handheld lights are often very powerful and can easily spot a raccoon hiding high up in a tree, but they require a free hand to operate. This forces you to clip the light to your belt before you can shoot your raccoon.

Streamlight TRL-Game Spotter

Game Spotter is an excellent hunting light that’s lightweight and quite powerful. It puts out up to 150 lumens and is powered by two 3V CR123A batteries, and it’s able to last roughly two hours on a hunt. The product puts out a powerful green beam, which is easy on the eyes and excellent for hunting other animals besides raccoons.

The Game Spotter is an excellent coon hunting light for the money. It’s capable of putting out a beam that reaches more than 380 yards. It has been designed to fit many different guns and is easy to attach on nearly any rail.

Get Started Hunting

There are a number of types of lights that you can bring with you on your hunt. Each of them has their own strengths and weaknesses, which makes it impossible to compile a list of the actual best coon hunting lights. With that said, you want a light that is easy to use and powerful enough to spot a lurking raccoon. Finding the best light for you will take a little bit of time and experimenting.

Raccoon hunting is an exciting experience, and a good light can help increase your success rate and make the hunt much more enjoyable. Understand that no cheap flashlight will do. A good hunt can last between two or three hours, so you’re going to want a light that will last the entire duration of your hunt. Nothing will kill a raccoon hunting trip faster than losing your light source.

Before you spend money on an expensive coon hunting light, test a few out. As you prepare to go on your next raccoon hunting trip, ask your hunting buddies if you can borrow and test their lights.

A headlight for darker or faster commutes

Some cyclists prefer silicone-strap mounts, which can be simpler to attach to, and remove from, the seatpost. If that’s important to you, the Knog Blinder Mob V Kid Grid is a great choice. This thin, ruby-red taillight projects up to 4lumens—more than sufficient for most city riders—at a 45-degree angle that extends down the road while casting a wide beam around the rear wheel. However, this light is more expensive on a per-lumen basis than our top taillight pick and has a shorter battery life. Also, the small mounting latch can be tough to manipulate with gloved hands.

Cygolite Streak 450 and Hotshot 50 SL

For less than the usual price of our top headlight pick, you can knock out both your front and rear light needs with the Cygolite Streak 450 and Hotshot 50 SL set. While this pairing of a 450-lumen headlight and a 50-lumen taillight doesn’t offer the battery life or illumination of our top picks in either category, it accomplishes enough for the rider who sticks to streetlamp-lit streets or has a short commute. The batteries are advertised to run 100 and 200 hours, respectively, but those numbers apply only if you run the lights on their absolute lowest power modes, which aren’t adequate to light your way or signal your location to cars—we recommend sticking with the higher settings.

Pull Quote

In addition to using lights, ride in protected bike lanes when they’re available to you, and ride defensively when they’re not.

No matter what kind of light you’re shopping for, stressed Barb Chamberlain, you should be aware of what they can’t accomplish—namely, they can’t guarantee your safety.

So in addition to using lights, ride in protected bike lanes when they’re available to you, and ride defensively when they’re not. The experts I spoke with also suggested wearing fluorescent gear during the day and reflective gear at night.

Charge time

When you wake up and realize you A) forgot to charge your light and B) it’s nearly time to leave for work, you need a light that can juice up quickly enough to get you on your bike instead of the bus. Headlights tend to need between two and six hours to charge fully; I eliminated those that required five or more hours to reach a full charge. Rear lights usually take anywhere from 90 minutes to five hours to charge; most people charge their rear lights less often than they do their headlights, so I didn’t think that a long charging time was as much of a dealbreaker for that category.

Brightness

For the purposes of this guide, “visibility” refers to how well a driver can see a cyclist, and “acuity” refers to how well a cyclist can see the road. Good visibility, from your bike’s headlights and taillights, gives a driver enough time to safely react to a cyclist in the road at speed; good acuity, from your bike’s headlights, ensures you’ll see that patch of ice in the road in time.

In addition to the beam distance and flash pattern, a light’s overall brightness—how much light it can produce—is an important element of visibility and acuity. A good light needs to be strong enough to illuminate the road both day and night, but not so much that it blinds oncoming traffic. The brightness of a headlight is typically advertised in lumens, a measure of how powerful the light from a given source appears to human eyes.

Side lighting

One mistake many cyclists make when equipping themselves with “be seen” lighting is neglecting side visibility, experts told us. To boost rider visibility from all directions, some manufacturers have been adding cutout side windows, amber side lighting, or lenses that wrap around the sides of the light. The majority of the lights I chose to test offered one or both of these features.

Number of modes

Plenty of companies advertise their mode-packed lights as a way for you to set your beams how you want them—but they fail to include enough information to help you make that decision, especially for rear lights. If your light has 1different flashing modes, for instance, the difficulty of finding the exact mode you need at any given moment may well outweigh the relief of having just that right mode. And you’ll be hard-pressed to find a cyclist who feels like they could make an educated choice between a pattern with three-second intervals at 50 lumens, and a pattern with two-second intervals at 40 lumens. Also, if you need to switch quickly between modes—say, you see oncoming traffic and need to adjust your lights so you don’t blind anyone—you definitely don’t want to take a long time to find the right mode.

With this in mind, I eliminated lights with more than seven modes if they required you to run through all of them in one cycle, as well as lights with more than modes if they had two separate mode menus.

Weight Of The Light

For a better hunting experience, it is crucial to have a best coon hunting lights. The light weight of hunting lights makes it easy to carry them around. This renders you to use less energy and use it in a jiffy, which will give you more time to hunt properly.

On the other hand, if you carry a heavy light, you are going to end-up making yourself tired sooner and eventually halting the hunt.

Battery Life

Having the right battery in your light indeed is a prominent factor in the successful hunting game, especially when you are on long stretches during the night. You certainly don’t want your lights running out of the battery when you are about to snip on your target.

Also, it can be threatening to your security in the dark areas. So, go for the battery which is light in weight.

In addition, it should have a large capacity to ensure a longer illumination during the hunt. Sometimes, it happens that the lights are not used for a long time and this makes the battery to get discharged beyond the safety levels. Keeping this thing in mind, a battery is also required to have a longer shelf life.

Handheld Lights

These lights need to be light weight, as it will be difficult to carry the extra weight around when you are constantly upholding your weapon. Generally, the handheld lights have both red and white colors.

Handheld lights are mostly water proof so that they can be used during rough weather. One of the demerits of this light is that once the coon is spotted, it takes a work to place the lights meticulously and align your weapon to take the shot.

As a result, the coon gets to the woods in ambush and runs away. Handheld lights are better to carry when you have a weapon like a  pistol which can be operated with only one hand.

Gun Mounted Light

Using this light gives the flexibility of mounting them on different weapons like pistols and rifles. It allows the hunter to aim more accurately because he doesn’t get tired and distracted by carrying any extra weight.

By using this light coons can directly be aimed and shot instantly before they run away. This Light can be attached at the top of the gun or under it.

Hybrid Flashlights

It can be used in a multiple ways. This light can be handheld and can be mounted on your rifles by using a special adapter bracket. This light is generally heavier than the other lights and can make the hunter go uneasy in taking the right aim for longer durations.

Disadvantages:  Battery issues  Switches off suddenly

This is a product of the Orion hunting light family. The M30C comes in two color variants – red and green. These are LED based lights are an indispensable bright tool for hunting at night and go really far. This product is equipped with three premium quality Cree XP-Ecolor LEDs which is a long range hunting spotlight.

These three LEDs together emit 700 lumens and the projection range is 37yards. These two qualities enable the user to spot games much easily and target more accurately.

This product has three variable brightness settings which can be changed by simply turning the light head. The last set brightness level stays even after the light is turned off – memory feature. High performance batteries are used to power the lights which are rechargeable.  The light is equipped with a smart charger and complete charging kit. The charging capacity of the rechargeable batteries is 500 times. The material used to manufacture the batteries is environment and wallet friendly.

Weak battery cas

This is a product from Ulako. It is comparatively a smaller, lighter and cheaper product than the other two and many other in the market. It is only green in color and the output is 350 lumens. The visible range is beyond 100 yards. This product has two type of switches – one at the tail, another a pressure pad type for instant flash.

It is made up of the alloy consisting majorly aluminum. The light can be mounted on standard waiver rail. It is completely adjustable by screws and nuts. It has a shock absorbing ability with a ring diameter of 2mm. The beam covers almost the entire area while shooting at a considerably long distance, considering the size of the product.

The battery is designed optimally for peak performance during the game. The battery is rechargeable with a capacity of 2600 mAh. The light can be used for about 4.hours when the battery is fully charged.

Each product is thoroughly tried and tested by the company for best performance and long life. The light is waterproof, allowing to hunt in an all- weather condition. The company claims a record in customer satisfaction with this product.

Buttons get jammed

This product by Kohree is strong and light weight. The LED used is CREE XML Uwith an illumination range of 70000-80000 lux. The power wattage is W and has got a battery capacity of 11000 mAh. The color of light is red, as it does not scare away the prey. The battery can be recharged more than 500 times.

The average charging time of the battery is about 1hours. This product has modes of brightness which allows the light to last for hours at maximum brightness and 20 hours at lowest brightness.

The product is water and explosion proof, which makes sure an all-weather, all-purpose guaranteed successful game. There is a provision of AC/DC power charging mode.

This light can easily project up to 300-400 yards at the target. It has a lumen value of about 700-900. The light beam is crisp and tight, which helps it to project up to long distances. The product has a high customer satisfaction rate and the quality is maintained. It gives a great competition to other lights with same capacity but for a comparatively much higher price range.

RED Vs Green LED Hunting Lights

This is the most asked question when you tend to buy the coon hunting light. People get confused about the selection of the color of the light. The answer to this question doesn’t support any specific color. Both the colors have some pros and cons. Hence, both colors are used mostly on the basis of individual choice.

The lights illuminate in the form of a beam that runs parallel to the gun barrel. The beam appears as a small dot on the target, which helps the hunter to aim and take the shot.

Red light doesn’t affect your personal eyesight in the night as compared to other lights. This will help you to hunt for the longer time in the night. Moreover, red light is the most calming color which doesn’t make the prey feel threatened and hence the prey does not run away while the hunter is taking the shot.

Also, red light reflects more visibly from the animal’s eyes to spot the prey easily. But in some cases, the red light is not visible on the dark animals, so this renders the hunter to go close to the animal and put his life on the risk.

Now talking about the green light. The human eye catches the contrast of green color more easily. This helps to spot the dark animals easily as compared to red light. But green light generally makes the animals feel uneasy and this result in the running away of the prey or attacking the hunter before the shot has been pulled.

In addition, green light is not good for the human eyes in the night vision.

As we have discussed that both the colors have their preference, but one can make the use of both the colors by turning them on just before lowering your rifle i.e. just before taking the shot. This doesn’t let the coon go spooky and a successful shot is pulled.

 

 

 

 

How to save up to 86%? Here is little trick.

You must visit the page of sales. Here is the link. If you don’t care about which brand is better, then you can choose the handheld spotlight by the price and buy from the one who will offer the greatest discount.

 

 

Final Word

First of all thanks for reading my article to the end! I hope you find my reviews listed here useful and that it allows you to make a proper comparison of what is best to fit your needs and budget. Don’t be afraid to try more than one product if your first pick doesn’t do the trick.

Most important, have fun and choose your handheld spotlight wisely! Good luck!

So, TOP3 of handheld spotlight

 

 

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