Choosing a tactical flashlight for police work

Tactical flashlights are called tactical for a reason – namely, because they are used for tactical forces. One of the larger segments of the tactical flashlight consumer market is comprised of police officers.

Police officers need a quality, powerful and dependable tactical flashlight. It’s not an option for them. It is a requirement.

So, what features does a tactical flashlight possess that are important to a police officer?

High Lumens Output

Tactical flashlights for police officers need to be bright – and being able to adjust that brightness level is certainly a plus. In most cases, a flashlight with a lumen output of 100 is suitable for most tasks; however, there are instances where a police officer will need to conduct a search and rescue operation, in these cases, an output of 200 lumen or more is necessary. That is why the ability to change total output is a necessity for some officers.

Throw (or Beam Distance)

Throw is typically measured in meters. You can find the throw length on the packaging or in the specs list found in the product details section. Some tactical flashlights have multiple throw lengths listed – depending on if they have variable power capability. When considering throw, it’s important to consider the primary use of the flashlight. If your primary patrol area is residential you will not need a throw length as long as those who patrol a rural area.

Run Time

Police officers shifts can sometimes be 12 hours or longer. With such a long time away from a charging station, it’s important that your flashlight have a long battery life. Battery life is measured in hours – as it should be. This is measured by turning the flashlight on and measuring the length of time it takes the beam output to drop to 10 percent of its peak.

Impact Resistance

Police work can be a dangerous job, and there’s a pretty good chance that you will get knocked around a bit during the course of your duties. For that reason, you need a flashlight that can take a licking and keep on ticking. Impact resistance is measured by dropping the tactical flashlight from a set distance – measured in meters – six times. The maximum distance the flashlight can be dropped without losing functionality or showing any physical cracks is its impact resistance.

Waterproof and Water Resistance

There is a difference between waterproof and water resistant. A waterproof tactical flashlight can survive a complete immersion in water. Water resistance means it can continue working after exposure to splashing – say rain. If you work near water, investing the extra money to acquire a tactical flashlight that can survive a full immersion is a good idea; if not, it’s just a nice feature to have.  The best way to determine how resistant to water the light is, is to check the IPX rating.

Size and Weight

Police officers are required to carry a lot of gear. Given the amount of weight you will be carrying on your belt, a lighter flashlight can often make the difference between a footsore night and an easy one. There is a tradeoff. Lighter flashlights do not perform as well when used as an improvised baton. For that reason, smaller-pocket sized flashlights are normally carried by detective and larger flashlights are carried by those who expect to have several interactions with potentially dangerous suspects daily.

Take a look at Klarus Light's wide range of exciting, practical and innovative LED torches. They're known as the best fl;flashlights for general and professional purposes.

Finding the Best Flashlight for the Construction Site

If you work in construction – either as a builder, architect, designer, installer or inspector – you know that your most important possessions are your tools. With a set of well-maintained, quality tools you can find work in any corner of the world. They signify that you are a craftsman. They prove you know what you’re doing and can be trusted on a job site. Without them, you’re just another day labourer.

Those in charge of the construction of homes and work spaces know the importance of quality tools. So, if you’re willing to pay a lot of money for a hammer or a drill, you should be willing to do the same for a quality flashlight for the construction site, right?

But which one? Well, let’s look at a few tasks that you might use a flashlight for on the construction site and maybe we can figure it out.

Reading Plans in the Early Morning Hours

Work often starts early on the jobsite, and in order to proceed in an orderly and effective manner, you need to make a plan. That involves reading plans. A quality flashlight with the ability to mount a diffuser (a lens that spreads the light out) will help you read your plans and formulate a work strategy. You also want a flashlight that has adjustable beam strength.

Take a look at the Klarus ST12

Inspecting Progress

Depending on the job, the structure could be almost completed before the power is turned on. That doesn’t mean you don’t need to inspect the progress of your workers. This often means going into those dark nooks and crannies yourself. Take a light that is strong enough to light up a room, but not so bright as to be overpowering.

Take a look at the Klarus XT15

Building or Installing

If you work in plumbing, electrical wiring or HVAC installation, you know that you often have to work in a crawl space or other badly lit spaces. Having a light that can be affixed to a wall or mounted via a head strap – like a head lamp – make working in these spaces much easier.

Take a look at the KLARUS Torch Headband/ Head Strap that can be used with the Klarus ST12 and the Klarus ST2C

So, given these three situations, you need a high-quality flashlight that allows you to select beam strength, is compact enough to work in tight quarters and can possibly be mounted to a headband or hard hat. Also, consider the environment you work in, investing in a light that is tough enough to take being jammed in a tool belt full of steel tools or dropped from a height every now and again would be the smart choice.

So, where can you find the perfect flashlight for the construction site? Take a look on Klarus Light’s website, there is a wide variety to choose from. Fortunately, they offer a variety of LED flashlights that will meet your needs and exceed these requirements.

Understanding a flashlight’s beam strength and length

When choosing a tactical flashlight, it’s common for people to be attracted to the variety of features offered by manufacturers of high-end flashlights. The look of a tactical flashlight can be a powerful marketing tool, but when it comes time to put cash down on the counter, most people realise that functionality is far more important than extras and appearance when it comes to making a wise investment.

Most people are concerned with two things – other than price — when deciding what flashlight to purchase: How much light the flashlight will generate and how far the beam will reach.

Light output is measured in lumens. Beam length is measured in metres.

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When Evaluating Beam Strength…

As mentioned, beam length is measured in lumens, but what is a lumen? The practical definition involves the use of a birthday candle. If you held a birthday candle 30cm away from your face, the light generated by that birthday candle would be equal to one lumen. This definition is a little easier to relate to for most people.

A flashlight with a 20 lumen output is suitable for reading a book. A flashlight with a 60 lumen output is perfect for lighting a dark trail. In most cases, a 100 lumens is all you will need for most purposes (police officers flashlights typically have a minimum output of 90 lumens). Anything above 100 is normally only necessary for a search and rescue situation – it’s a nice option to have, but isn’t necessary for daily use.

When Evaluating Beam Length…

Beam length is measured in meters, but it is more involved that just marking the very last point where the light is still visible. Beam length is marked at the point that the light emitted is equal to that of the light generated by a full moon on a cloudless night. There may be multiple beam lengths listed as flashlights with variable lumen output can have multiple beam lengths. In most cases, a beam length of 50-100 meters is more than adequate. Anything greater – like a 400m beam length – is normally only useful during search and rescue operations.

Make sure you understand a flashlights beam length and strength before investing in a tactical flashlight.

What makes a tactical flashlight… tactical?

If you have spent any time at all researching high-quality flashlights, you’ve seen the term “tactical flashlight” more often than you can count. In fact, this formerly descriptive and specific term has become so overused; it has almost lost all meaning.

So, if everyone is using “tactical” to describe any flashlight with a black finish, what is a true tactical flashlight? What characteristics must a flashlight possess to earn that title? What makes a tactical flashlight…tactical?

There are a few features that every tactical flashlight will possess, in one form or another.

High quality – You won’t find a tactical flashlight in the clearance bin, it is a quality investment that will last you for years to come.

Variable modes – A tactical torch must have the ability to cycle between different brightness levels and modes of operation.

Easy to use user interface – This flashlight is designed for dark, dangerous and intense situations, so it makes sense for it to have an easy to use interface. Most tactical flashlights have a tail cap switch, but side switches are also common.

Interruption modes – The ability to quickly access either a high intensity beam or a strobe light is what is known as an interruption mode. This will allow you to disorientate or blind an attacker.

High max lumen output level – Not all situations call for a 300 lumen beam, but if a flashlight doesn’t offer a max lumens output that is in the hundreds, then it’s probably not a tactical flashlight.

Tough and durable construction – You’re probably going to use your tactical flashlight in less than ideal conditions so you need it to work even at the worst of times. Quality tactical torches use aero-grade or anodized aluminium.

Carrying options – Easy access to your flashlight is a tactical requirement. Many proper tactical flashlights will come with a high-quality holster, or an integrated clip that makes it easier to deploy and harder to lose.

Weapon mount compatibility – Tactical flashlights are designed to be used with a firearm. If you have to use duct tape to mount your torch on your weapon then it’s definitely not a tactical flashlight. Always make sure your tactical flashlight is compatible with your preferred mounting method.

Browse through Klarus light’s wide variety of different tactical flashlights and find the best light that suits your duties and adventures.