The conversations began with total light output and the temptation to go too bright.
…in indoor environments, high-output lights produce backsplash against walls and other reflective or semi-reflective surfaces.
This can actually reduce the amount that the user can see the opposite of what a flashlight is for.
The author cautions that a weaponlight with excessive light output could dazzle both you and the attacker and even wash out that red dot from a supplementary aiming laser.
Andy Skoogman, executive director of thePortable Lights American Trade Organization(PLATO) agrees.
A common problem in the wider consumer market today is too much output, he said.
Ultimately, its better to have any flashlight versus none at all.
Today’s tactical flashlights can be small and discrete enough for everyday carry with ease.
Matthew Noble, the companys lead gear designer cautions that, Too much can be blinding.
Indoor/CQB intensity is much less compared to an outdoor search and rescue style.
Counting Photons
Candlepower was the first standardized relative gauge of an artificial light output.
In 1948, candlepower was abandoned as the unit of luminosity emitted by an object.
Scientists in England concocted the unit of measure in 1860.
It wasnt a wax surrounding that wick, either.
It was material from the head of a sperm whale holding it upright.
Don’t discount the EDC versatility of rechargeable flashlights like this Scribe penlight from ASP. It is discrete at the office and provides plenty of light when needed.
That standard of measurement changed several times since then, and in 1948 the candela replaced it.
It remains a valid measurement system, though rooted in the 19th century, Skoogman said.
For purposes of flashlight output comparison it is not very useful today.
High-output flashlights can generate a substantial amount of heat if run continuously.
Hess company takes a more full-disclosure approach.
5.11 Tactical eagerly provides the measurement.
This is the best way to ensure that a flashlight will perform as advertised.
The heart of a modern flashlight is the LED. Gone are the days of low-powered incandescent bulbs. Today’s lights use brighter, more efficient light emitting diodes (LED).
They also fall victim to that inverse square law we all snoozed through in physics class.
The math gets dizzying, fast, but loftier minds have done the calculations.
Lumens and lux lead the way.
Quality companies are easy to differentiate from the snake oil corporations when you understand the specifications used to describe flashlight performance.
These are different metrics for measuring light, according to Skoogman, who broke them down into laymans terms.
Lumens is a measure of the total amount of light leaving a source, regardless of where it falls.
Flashlight manufacturers use lumens as an objective measure to compare products and give consumers some guidance.
Taylor concurs lux isnt an easily understood yardstick.
As the distance between a light source and the object of illumination increases, the overall lux decreases.
A lumen is a measurement of the light output at the source.
This measurement is made directly at the bezel of the light.
So, you gotta focus on both measurements to evaluate overall brightness.
Overlooked Ingredients
A sub-par lens can compromise performance and even cloud with age.
The too often overlooked reflector plays another key role, and neither of the critical components get much attention.
Both are critically important to a lights overall performance, Taylor said.
Streamlight uses a variety of lens and reflectors depending on the software.
Skoogman explained, The geometry of the reflector diameter, depth, etc.
determine the beam pattern…and the resulting throw.
Other optical systems that are widely used include a number of variations on the TIR optic.
Then theres that burning sensation when you grip cheap LED flashlights left on too long.
Heat dissipation and metal thickness is important, Noble noted.
Also throttling the lumens to ensure the light body isnt too hot to handle.
Understanding the terminology and standards is critical, along with buying tactical lights that have met ANSI/PLATO FL1 standards.
They are reflected by labels and mentions on the companys website, in marketing materials or on packaging.
There is limited space on the latter, though, so dont expect to always appear on the box.
The experts offered some additional tips to remember before your next purchase.
If it sounds too good to be true, look elsewhere, Noble added.
The lumen rating and battery quantity/pop in are really important.
We view flashlights as critical safety devices, and therefore urge consumers not to skimp.
Reliability, durability and performance are worth investing in.
