The Tactical Flashlight Evolution

Incandescent bulbs are a thing of the past for tactical flashlights. They break too easily and the light output is too “dirty.” When LED assemblies first came into the tactical light market a couple decades back, 65 lumens was considered bright and the minimum level of light output for a tactical light. Thanks to technology evolution, LED assemblies that push 500+ lumens are available and the general consensus now is that there’s no such thing as too much light. The balance to be found exists between light output and battery life. While we’d all love to have a 500-lumen light that lasts for twelve hours of run time, that’s just not realistic. We might have to settle for a 200-lumen light that runs for twelve hours. Realistically speaking, we’re never going to need our flashlight on for our full shift, non-stop, so how about a 300- to 350-lumen light with a battery that can last four hours of steady use? That same light/power partnership, if the light use is managed properly, should easily last for several shifts.

An added benefit of LED lamp assemblies is that the power delivery controls are usually digital circuitry that enables added functionality besides on and off. The circuitry first controls the power flow to the LED assembly to prevent it from overheating and regulates the power flow to provide a more reliable even level of light. Beyond that, having that digital circuitry can enable such functions as:

• Adjustable light level output
• Strobe or flashing output
• Programmable initial on light output
• Multiple switching/control options

For about the past two decades, since the original Surefire Institute and the follow-on BLACKHAWK Gladius flashlight demonstrated the potential of a strobing light as a behavior modification tool, strobe lights have been in vogue. It is quite common now for a flashlight to have an operational button that will move the light through high power to low power to strobing, occasionally changing the order dependent on perceived market need. A strobe function can be a powerful tool with two caveats. First, the strobe must be the proper frequency and second, the operator has to be trained in the use of it. With improper use, a strobe light can have as much of an effect on the user as it does on the target.

Obviously, weight is always a concern when we’re adding something to our gun belt and when we look at the need for two flashlights the concern for weight doubles. A good tactical handheld light in today’s world should only weigh a few ounces; less than a half pound for sure. Whether it’s a thin-walled aluminum-bodied light or one of polymer construction, having the weight below four ounces isn’t usually a big challenge given the size limits.

A tactical handheld flashlight should measure no more than eight inches.

Given the desirability of a rechargeable power system, the docking system comes into question. It is far more convenient not to remove the batteries to recharge them, so if the flashlight can be recharged without having to do so, it’s a more desirable design. If the light isn’t rechargeable then extra batteries must be available for an officer during any given shift. Lithium batteries are fantastic for having a long shelf life but under certain circumstances can be hard to find, and when you do find them, they can be expensive. Today’s LED technology empowers the use of common AA batteries as a power supply with the restriction that they won’t last as long as their lithium cousins, but they cost far less and are more widely available.

Earlier we mentioned the digital circuitry that empowers multi-function light options and another growing technology is making that potential convenience / control feature even stronger: blue tooth connectivity. Some “programmable” lights require you to read the manual and figure out the proper sequence of button pushing to program your light for initial power, high/low limits and more. Thanks to blue tooth tech and smart phone apps, now there are lights on the market that can be programmed from your smart phone. Such apps not only let you control programming for your light but allow you to check battery levels as well.

A cost that can’t be measured

Of course, as mentioned at the beginning, all this new light output, power and programming convenience comes with a price. A quality, high performance, programmable tactical light can easily cost around $200. The question that comes to mind then is this – If you’re going to experience any low or no light situations in the course of your duties, and if there’s an 80 percent chance that any lethal force encounter you have will be in such an environment, are you willing to invest the $200 as a potential life insurance policy?