Although they are an invention that can’t be surpassed, incandescent light bulbs were quickly pushed aside when it came to portable handheld devices that emit a directed source of light, such as flashlights. LED flashlights took the world by storm and the Light Emitting Diode took over the heat from the tungsten wires and reduced it, among other things. Along with the general purpose of hand-held flashlights, certain forms have been optimised for special uses. Head or helmet-mounted, hands-free flashlights are designed for miners or campers, and some can be used underwater like LED boat lights or even in flammable environments.
When it comes to making a quality led torch Australia manufacturers come at the very top. Undoubtedly, purpose matters if you want to get the most out of the item. Don’t worry about the overwhelming range of products you might encounter. If you figure out why do you need a flashlight in the first place, the choice will narrow itself down.
Tactical LED Flashlights
In order to design and provide you with the optimal tactical LED torch Australia manufacturers took charge of the tactical gear market and work relentlessly to improve the tools of those living a bit closer to the edge. But what is a tactical flashlight and how do you figure out which is best?
What Makes a Flashlight Tactical?
Although common definitions mention tactical lights in conjunction with firearms, tactical refers to performing certain specific and delicate operations, hence a tactical light is one that has added features and optimization. The added features include light intensity, shock resistance, reliability, weight, construction and battery life.
Tactical lights may have optional filters to produce coloured light, such as red light for emergencies or to repel bugs, and may emit infrared radiation for joint use with night vision equipment. Moreover, the combination of red and green light in a LED torch has proven efficient for medical procedures and operations in the war field.
What Makes a Good Tactical Flashlight?
Lumens are a measurement of the total light emitted i.e. brightness. Beam drop-off is the distance which the light can reach and provide sufficient visibility. IP is short for ingress protection, and it represents how protected the is flashlight from external factors. IP is followed by 2 digits. The 1st relates to protection from solids like dust while the 2nd stands for waterproofness.
If there’s an X instead of a number, it means that the flashlight hasn’t been tested for that “nuisance”. For protection from solids, the highest number is 6, while the highest value for the second number, representing protection from liquids is 8, meaning that the flashlight can be submerged in water deeper than one meter for more than 30 minutes. To conclude, the higher the lumens, IP and beam drop-off, the more competent the LED flashlights.
Additional features include proximity sensors, batteries with extended runtimes and a hard frame and body made from durable materials such as aluminium alloy, titanium combined with stainless steel, plus a redesigned raised tactical tail switch that comes with stronger magnetism. This allows a firmer grip and superior durability in even the harshest conditions.
For those who need to use it in the line of duty for directing traffic or marking a potential danger, a LED torch with a maximum of 1750 lumens and a maximum 360 metres beam throw will suffice. Also, 4 colour options (white, red, green and blue) allow additional use of night-vision protection and investigation.
Camping & Outdoor LED Torches
If you wanted to know the “do’s and don’ts” of camping preparations, going camping without a flashlight is a big no-no.
Why do You Need a Flashlight When Camping?
When the lights go out and the night sky turns up, magic is born. Nonetheless, the road to the bathroom is not paved with anything, so shining some light on it might be a good idea. What about that noise you heard? Could you get a good night’s sleep if you can’t tell what’s lurking around, or even worse, can’t scare off potential visitors? You need something extremely powerful and flexible, something that can illuminate both the great outdoors and your tent.
A spotlight beam is a narrow one, focusing on one point as the name indicates. A floodlight beam, on the other hand, can spread up to 120 degrees and can illuminate a larger space, flooding it with light. You can find a LED flashlight for sale featuring both options. Its 12 surrounding LEDs can put out both an 800-metre spotlight beam and a 14000-lumen floodlight beam.
Compact multi-use illumination tools that can easily be turned into a headlamp are great for camping. They are lightweight and even have rotational convenience. Weighing only 52g, they are ideal for jogging off-road, hiking and camping. Waterproof and made of aluminium alloy makes them strong and useful in most conditions. Moreover, there are even LED torches with a high-efficiency 365nm ultraviolet LED, perfect for revealing invisible stains, scorpions, minerals, and much more, making them suitable for both policemen on duty and curious or precautious campers, and last but not least, emergencies.
LED Flashlights for Home Use
There’s no place like home, not only due to warmth and sentiment but also due to familiarity and security. Still, there are places where the light doesn’t reach or moments when the power is out like storms and power outages, floods, fires, earthquakes, hurricanes etc. Having a LED flashlight within reach can do no harm and lots of good.
Look for simplicity when it comes to flashlights meant for your home. A 150-300 lumen output will do just fine and the beam distance like 60m is also satisfactory, unless you have an estate that’s bigger than average. The battery life and runtime are more important as no one knows how long the crisis will last. Turning it on & off hassle-free is important so all family members can use it with ease. A simple tail switch operation for momentary/constant on (2 modes) is easy for both the young and the old.
Pocket LED Flashlights
These are versatile and weigh only 30-50 grams. More importantly, they also feature simplified charging. An Every Day Carry (EDC) pen with an illumination feature and a bidirectional pocket clip can be attached easily to belts, pockets and backpacks. Furthermore, its flat magnetic tail can be attached to objects for hands-free lighting. Perfect for both adventures and duty patrol. It can deliver 4 levels of brightness with a single-click switch, from 5 lumens to 120 lumens. Its built-in rechargeable lithium-polymer battery, a charging indicator and a popular USB-C interface make sure you’re always charged and stress-free.
If you want a LED flashlight that ticks more boxes on the “What can a flashlight be used for” list, check the Baton 3 Olight torches. With a maximum of 1200 lumens, 166-metre throw and a staggering 20 days runtime due to their new wireless charging case, they are a perfect size and shape for any place and occasion.
Are Flashlights Good for Self-Defense?
Law enforcement can use flashlights as a non-lethal and non-violent way to disable a person of interest. This makes tactical flashlights the perfect tool for self-protection. To momentarily blind and disorient a would-be attacker for self-defence at night, 150 lumens will do, while during the daytime, you’d need about 300 lumens.