Choosing The Best Tactical flashlight for your needs

Experienced professionals know the importance of selecting the best equipment, and selecting the best tactical flashlight is no different. In making your light selection, there are plenty of factors to be considered. What works best for one situation may be inappropriate for another. Not all tactical flashlights are created equally so it is important to map out your needs and choose a light that can handle the tasks.

Once you've defined exactly what unique conditions and the environment you will be using your light then you can lay out the features necessary. For example - Does this light need to mount to a helmet, fire arm, wrist bands etc? You can quickly eliminate products that are not a good fit for your particular use. Your requirements will vary depending on how you intend to use the light. If you are a search and rescue professional not only will you be needing the ability to operate the light hands free, but you will need a waterproof light as opposed to water resistant tactical light.

After you understand your mounting specs for the intended use, determine brightness and how large an area necessary to illuminate. Tactical flashlights come in a variety of beam types that determine how much light is dispersed to how wide an area. They range from a narrow beam that is concentrated, to a wide beam that leaves a larger light pattern. Every environment can require different lighting configurations and some lights offer variable lighting patterns all withing the twist of the switch. The other tactical flashlight lighting pattern factor is the brightness of the light given, this is represented in lumens. The more lumens , the more light.

Not enough can be said about the importance of batteries in your decision. There are many types of batteries used by various tactical flashlights. They range from traditional alkaline in sizes from AAA to D to Ni-Cad and Lithium batteries to rechargeable batteries. The key things to contemplate with regard to batteries are their life, their cost, and how much weight they add to your light unit. A light that uses several D cell batteries will obviously weigh much more than one that uses a couple of AAA batteries.

Another factor in your decision is ease of operation. This includes such things as simple as the activation switch. How easy is the flashlight to turn on and off. Can this be accomplished with one hand, is it silent? If the switch is too hard to operate one handed then the tactical flashlight does you no good or may even get you killed. When you consider the light that best meets your needs, you might also think about a backup light to use in case of a problem with your primary light.

Durability of the the tactical flashlight should be of primary concern. Fire fighters, Police, and Military use require a flashlight capable of enduring extreme conditions. Look at what the light is made of to see if it will meet your needs. Also check to see what type of the life expectancy of the unit you intend to purchase. If you are using you Tactical flashlight on a daily basis, then you will want to select one that has comes with a proven life expectancy.

When you begin your research, you will find lights every imaginable size, beam, brightness and battery combination, making selecting the best tactical flashlight a rewarding use of your time. As always with any quality piece of equipment take your time and spend the amount necessary to ensure a product that will last.