4 handy ways triathletes use headlamps

Each triathlon challenge has its own unique set of challenges. Whether it is dealing with the waves in the swimming portion, the scorching heat radiating odd the tar during the running portion or the challenge of equipment and riding in a pack during the bike portion. With each challenge comes the need of specialized equipment.

Once challenge that rarely gets any publicity is the darkness. All the coverage of triathlons takes place in the bright sunlight, but much of the preparation takes place in the darkness. Triathletes should really consider a quality headlamp to light the way, here’s why…

           TRAINING
Most people work during the day, most of your training will be done during the evening and night. If you’re going to be on the road in the dark, you will need a way to see and be seen. Headlamps are a great option when training at night.

 

           RACE PREP
Triathlons don’t start at midday, so in order to get into the check-in, you’re going to have to get up early in the morning. That means racking your bike, getting your gear together and making your way in the dark. You can see where a headlamp would come in handy.

           FINDING YOUR WAY AROUND
Some race staging areas are well-lit, while some are not. Regardless of this, you’re going to have to deal with it. It is your responsibility to get your bike and gear to the right place, checking in and making your way to the start. Being able to see where you’re going will certainly help with that.

           RACING
Depending on your flight, you may or may not be racing in the dark. It goes without saying that bumbling around in the dark is not going to help you set a new personal record, so make sure you have a headlamp and a spare in your bag for the race.

Keeping your hands free allows you to prepare everything you need, from putting the rack on your truck and tuning your bike to lighting your way through the dark. The universal torch headband from Klarus is fully adjustable and made from a soft elastic material, which provides a comfortable fit. The Klarus head strap also takes a number of different size flashlights

Do you really NEED the world’s brightest flashlight?

When it comes to lumen output, more means better, right? Well, not really. The UltraFire 18T6-20000 for instance produces over 20 000 lumens. To put that in perspective, your average car headlight produces about 1500 lumens, so the 18T6 produces over 13 times that!

20 000 lumens is enough power to set paper on fire and even cause blindness. That’s not quite like staring into the sun, but it’s pretty close. The 18T6 has some serious cornea-melting power.

So, when will you ever need that much power? The answer is – probably never. It’s hard to think of a good reason why you would need to carry around a portable sun in your backpack, but you never know.

Regardless of why you would need it, there are practical things to consider as well.

These mega-flashlights make a lot of heat and as efficient as LEDs are, losing energy in the form of heat is bound to happen. In some cases, just the heat can set paper alight or even char wood. Battery life is also something that needs to be considered. In order to power a massive light that produces 20 000 lumens, you’ll need a battery the size of a backpack.

Rather than going for the most powerful, over-the-top flashlight in the world, why not instead choose a power flashlight that is also practical? Like the Klarus RS80, which produces 3450 lumens. 

Take a look through Klarus Light’s broad range of innovative, durable and powerful flashlights, these flashlights are guaranteed to be a great investment, even though their beams can’t start a forest fire!

You need these accessories to extend the use of your flashlight

Part of the fun of owning a tactical flashlight is the ability to accessorize. You can do that with any old cheap flashlight! There are a variety of flashlight accessories available that can extend the use of your light and none involve glitter or sequins decorations.

Bike Mounts

Do you enjoy riding your bike along the streets or trails after dark? Well then you need a way to light up your path to avoid any unfortunate accidents. A mount for your bike will allow you to clip your tactical flashlight directly to your handlebar – illuminating your path. Once you arrive at your destination you can simply detach your flashlight from the mount.

Headlamp Mounts

There are times when you need to use both hands, but still need to light up the dark. This is where headlamp mounts come into the picture. Headlamp mounts allow you to mount a small tactical flashlight to a headband and turn it into a hands-free flashlight.

Filters

Various filters will allow you to change the colour of the light emitted by your tactical flashlight. This can be especially important when you wish to preserve your night vision. Red, blue and green filters are available and each can have its benefits.

Remote Switches

A remote switch is essential if you plan to use your tactical flashlight in conjunction with a weapon. A remote switch allows you to activate the light with a slight amount of pressure with ever having to remove your hand from your weapon.

Picatinny Rails

A Picatinny Rail System will allow you to mount your tactical flashlight directly to your weapon. Installing a Picatinny Rail will allow you to quickly attach and detach your flashlight from your weapon in seconds.

Accessories are a way for you to personalize your tactical flashlight and make it the ideal tool for your chosen purpose.

For a wide range of tactical flashlight accessories, take a look on Klarus Light's website and place your order!

4 things to keep in mind when you’re searching for the perfect security guard flashlight

Security guards have a tough job, as do most jobs that include protecting people and property. It can be a cold, dark and repetitive grind punctuated by moments of adrenaline, chaos and excitement.

Because of the nature of the job, it is no surprise that security guards choose to invest a lot of money in their most valuable tool – the tactical flashlight!

Walking the rounds – Every security guard is familiar with this part of the job. It’s when you take the time to walk the perimeter of a lot or the interior hallways of a building to check on things. This is a general survey of the surroundings and for this you need a light that casts a large cone of light. A nice diffused cone of light that can illuminate a large area is ideal.

Interacting with people – In the course of your duties, you may be called to interact with people. Whether that is someone who just took a wrong turn, a group of drunken college kids or a potential dangerous threat, you want the ability to probably access the situation. A flashlight that is able to “dial down the power” is perfect. You want to have a clear view of the area but at the same time to want to be able to switch to a lower output so you don’t blind anyone.

Investigating disturbances – When you investigate a potential disturbance you need laser-like focus. You need to find the threat and assess the situation as quickly as possible. A light that offers a high lumen output as well as a tight cone of light is great for these situations. Anything over 100 lumens can be temporarily blinding, so if you’re looking underneath cars and behind dumpsters, shining that bright light can give you the time to subdue your target.

Depending yourself from an attack – Often security officers are advised not to engage with potential criminals. But, it rarely happens that the police get there on time to handle it. There might come a time when you need to defend yourself from an attack. Tactical flashlights are a great weapon; the strobe can temporarily blind and disorientate and the bezel can be used as a striking weapon.

At Klarus Light, a large range of tactical flashlights that meet the needs of the security professional are offered. Feel free to browse the website and look through the inventory before making your decision.

Headlamp vs Handheld Flashlight

Which one is better – a headlamp or a handheld flashlight? Well, they both have their pros and cons and they both fill unique rolls with some overlap, so there really is no definitive answer. It is up to you to make your own choice.

Let’s evaluate the headlamp vs handheld flashlight features and benefits to help you decide which one is best for your next adventure.

Headlamps

A headlamp is essentially a hands free flashlight. These flashlights come in a variety of shapes and sizes and are of varying quality – all allow you the ability to use both hands while still shining light on your focus area.

Pros

- Operates completely hands free
- Lightweight
- Durable
- Difficult to lose while running, swimming or after a fall

Cons

- Generally not a powerful as a handheld
- Must be clipped or affixed in order to be efficient
- You must turn your head to turn the beam of the flashlight

Handheld Flashlights

These are what come to mind when someone says the word “flashlight”. Handheld flashlights cover a wide range of styles and power levels. Because of their versatility, handheld flashlights are the go to option for a variety of professionals and hobbyists.

Pros

- Extremely versatile
- Ability to alter beam strength, length and type
- Ideal for tactical uses

Cons

- Easily misplaced
- Must be aimed and does not automatically follow gaze
- Does not stay attached in the event of a fall

Regardless of which one you choose, or if you choose both, make sure you are investing in a flashlight that will do the job consistency and well. Don’t buy a cheap flashlight that cannot perform when you need it most, rather invest in a flashlight that will do the job for years to come.

Browse through Klarus Light’s website for a wide range of durable, innovative and affordable flashlights!

Flashlight lumens – How does it impact your light decision?

Choosing the right flashlight is all the about the light, and the ability to choose the amount of light you get is a key feature of a high-quality flashlight. The amount of light a flashlight produces is measured in lumens, and some flashlights even have up to 3000 lumens. That’s great and all, but you don’t always need that much light.

Let’s take a look at the most common settings you will find on most tactical flashlights and their uses.

 

1 – 20 Lumens
This is about the power level of a flashlight you would use to read a book under the covers. It is ideal for finding your car keys at the bottom of your bag, walking outside to take the garbage out and yes reading a book under the covers.

10 – 25 Lumens
This is the default setting for most flashlights. It is powerful enough to accomplish most tasks and not be overpowering in a closed space. Most “emergency” flashlights have this level of output. This setting is perfect for those random power cuts.

36 – 60 Lumens
If you like to spend time in the great outdoors, this is the setting that you will use most often. It is perfect for finding your way around a campsite or lighting your way on a late night hike through the woods.

100 + Lumens
A light that generates this much lumens is considered a tactical flashlight. This is the amount of light police officers and firefighters use when they are called to a scene. A flashlight that emits over 80 lumens has the power to temporarily blind an attack. Looking for a durable, affordable tactical flashlight? Take a look at Klarus Light’s wide range.

1000 + Lumens
This is the type of light that search and rescue parties use. It has the power to light up a forest and even further. It is ideal for finding the lost, but it is unlikely that you will ever need this output. However, it is still good to have just in case.

In addition to the ability to choose lumen output, many tactical flashlights offer the ability to select alternative lighting modes such as the strobe and SOS mode.

Don’t settle for a flashlight with one setting; choose a flashlight that will provide the perfect amount of light in all situations. At Klarus Light, you can choose from a variety of different flashlights!

What is the best flashlight for your car?

What happens in the middle of the night when your car breaks down on the side of the road? When you need to change a flat tyre in a dark parking lot? Or when you lose your keys or phone between the seat and the console?

You’re going to end up fumbling around in the dark unless you have a flashlight handy. In that case, you have no problem getting under the hood, changing that tyre or finding your keys.

A flashlight is an essential part of any emergency preparedness kit; in fact, it is one of the most important items to have when roadside assistance is too far away to help.

But, what is the best flashlight for your car? Let’s look at what a quality emergency flashlight for the car possesses:

- Convenient Size
The ideal flashlight for your car is lightweight and small. You want a flashlight that can easily fit in your glove box or inside your emergency kit in your boot.

- Long Battery Life
Batteries eventually lose their charge, and there is no way to know when or how often you will need to use your emergency flashlight, but when you do use it, you want it to work without fail!

- Easy to Recharge
Ideally you want a flashlight that is easy to recharge, preferably one that can be charged directly from your car or computer. Even if your car doesn’t have a USB adapter, there are easy adapters that transform the traditional “cigarette lighter” into a powerful USB charging port.

- Durable
A cheap, plastic flashlight won’t survive the impact of a car accident. It might not even survive daily wear and tear in your glove box or boot. It’s very important for your emergency flashlight to work all the time.

- Bright
Have you ever turned on a flashlight that’s beam is so dim it’s almost useless? You definitely don’t want that to happen on the side of the road, in the dark! Make sure your emergency flashlight offers at least 250 lumens of brightness.

Take a moment to browse through the variety of high quality, durable yet affordable LED flashlight Klarus Light has to offer!