Tactical Flashlights: Tacticool or Practicool?

[Echo40]

I've never been much for anything with "Tactical" in its name because its generally just marketing hype targeting Mall Ninjas and Suburban Commandos which offers little in the way of tangible value or practical application.

However, while shopping for a new Flashlight I have repeatedly been exposed to a variety of so-called "Tactical Flashlights" which although they are most definitely aimmed at wannabe operators with their primarily Black, Camo, FDE, and Gray color schemes, molle-compatible holsters, and jagged "strike bezels" on the head, they do appear to have some more tangible, practical features hidden beneath their tactical appearance such as waterproofing, drop resistance, shatter-resistant lenses, and long battery life.

As a result, one of the Flashlights I have been taking a hard look at is an example of a Tactical Flashlight; the ThruNite BSS V4. It has a ridiculously aggressive strike bezel on it, but fortunately it's threaded on and can be easily removed by hand. It seems to be a great Flashlight underneath all of the tactical fluff, Compact, USB Rechargeable, 2500+ Lumines, takes one 18650 or two CR123 batteries, decent battery life, waterproof, impact-resistant, comes with a holster, belt clip, and lanyard for multiple carry options, and isn't too expensive.

Now I'm beginning to question my stance on Tactical Flashlights. Sure, I'm not about to start carrying one everywhere I go as a backup self-defense weapon or anything silly like that, but I can see using one like any other Heavy Duty Flashlight, and won't be quite so quick to write them off as complete gimmicks with no tangible value or practical application.

 

[Doug M.]

I have a bunch of Surefire flashlights. I carry a two cell all the time, day or night. Most of the three cells are on or for rifles, although I do have one or two around the house for lighting up the yard when the dogs are agitated.

 

[Eric300]

It never hurts to have a decent white light available and ready when you need one. 'Tactical', or otherwise. There's plenty out there to choose from for just about any application.

 

[SMSgt]

Labeling something tactical is almost a sure way to get me to look for something more practical. Overused and beaten to death.

 

[StakeOut]

I've custom build a lot of my flashlights.Parts,chargers and Lithium Ion batteries sourced from Mountain Electronics LLC in Utah
Almost all originates in China.

 

[sigp220.45]

There's a Maglite in my truck somewhere and my phone has a flashlight, so I'm covered.

 

[demkofour]

As a police officer, I was often referred to being a gadget guy, but not a gimmick guy. That being said, in uniform and plainclothes assignments, I ALWAYS had an illumination device at hand.
As a retired cop, I always have a flashlight of some nature at hand. It's sort of like always carrying a reload and having a spare tire in the trunk.

Surefire used to be my choice, and I still have several, but as of late, I have bought and used a lot of Olight products.

 

[Old cop]

Hang a tactical label on something and the keyboard commandos grab for their wallets.

 

[StakeOut]

If you need batteries and chargers I recommend the 18650 Battery Store

 

[Smoke]

My last year at the FedEx Warehouse I did an informal survey of every cop I encountered. I asked what kind of flashlight they had. Every single one (City Cops UCCS and the Sheriff's Deputies) carried some kind of Surefire. Looking back I should have asked the EMS guys and I should have done a Knife survey. I did some further research and found that the only Police Supply store (Gall's) in town only sold Surefire. I don't recall any of them carrying anything that could be described as "Tactical" .

I carried two Fenix lights for most of my "Career" a RCO5 and a UC35. Fenix has a really good reputation and I never felt like I didn't have enough light. Neither one has any "tactical" features.

Now that I'm retired I carry the RC05 whenever I leave the house.

 

[Laketime]

I'm an old school Dinosaur, I carry a box of wooden matches to light my way around.

 

[Baxter6551]

I EDC an Olight i5t powered by one AA battery. Awesome little light. Replaced a Surefire Backup I carried for 10 years. I've worn out tail cap rubber covers on both and both companies send you a new tail cap free of charge. The i3t powered by one AAA is also an excellent light. They are much more reasonable priced than Surefire. I also have some Streamlights. No experience with any other brands.

 

[snubbyfan]

Dunno if it's "tactical" or not but I like it, it goes with me everywhere I go and carries great just clipped to my pocket.

 

[pistolpete10]

Tactical everything, flashlights, tactical knives, tactical bras, tactical bikinis, tactical blah, blah, blah. I'm kind of tired of tactical if you can believe it.

 

[snubbyfan]

Just for fun I Googled "tactical cigar lighter" and found this,
The Xikar Tactical 1 Cigar Lighter.

 

[.455_Hunter]

My EDC includes a pocket clip ~100 lumen (AA or AAA) flashlight. It gets used multiple times per day.

 

[GregG]

I also buy a lot of parts to assemble lights from Mountain Electronics, but you can buy a decent light for a fair price from other places.

For an everyday pocket light I've settled on the following:

Runs on a single 1850 battery

Single LED emitter from Cree that puts out about 1200 lumens (at the emitter) when set on high.

Driver board based on the 7135 chip. I have yet to have a 7135 chipped board fail on me, and all of my lights take hard drops onto concrete.

 

[fatcat3]

what ever lifts your skirt. me i'm too lazy to lug around any more than i have to. do keep a flash light in all the cars

 

[Baltimoreed11754]

Been buying T25 OLIGHT's for a bunch of years. It use cheap AA batteries. Wore out a couple, lost a few. Need a couple more.
Just looked and they are discontinued, darn. I'll have to poke around to see if I can find any nos.

 

[sigp220.45]

My cop kid does carry a Fenix light of some kind. He works the second shift (swings) so he starts in the daylight and gets off at night. Its bright enough to give you brain damage.

 

[mtgianni]

I like these. They take a single AA battery and will run for a full 8 hours if left on, less if you turn it off and on. That should get me off the mountain in the dark. I give them away as gifts.
If my life is threatened, a light is not my first choice of a response.
[ame]https://www.amazon.com/Handheld-Flashlight-Tactical-Adjustable-Zoomable/dp/B01FTNY3ZK/ref=sr_1_12?crid=8SUMLNOGTY9F&keywords=aa+battery+mini+zoom+lights&qid=1644854531&sprefix=aa+battery+mini+zoom+lights%2Caps%2C147&sr=8-12[/ame]

 

[John_M52]

Save a few $ and get a streamlight protac HL. But Surefire is #1

 

[Miami_JBT]

I carried Surefires as a cop, my long guns had Surefires and did my duty pistols. Now, I still carry a Surefire. My ancient E2 LED Defender.

 

[sipowicz]

A simple strike bezel makes most lights tactical and it doesn't add any real size or weight so I like having in on a carry light.

 

[JM4151]

Dependable Flashlights_

I am a retired LE officer with 35 years of service. I don't think that you can beat Streamlight. They will take a beating and continue to function. They have a lifetime guarantee, not one like some of the new fly by night flashlight companies have that go out of business after a year or two and they are $50 to $100 cheaper than the Surefire lights. The old SL 20 used be be found in 90% of the police cars in the country for a reason. They are made in the USA in Norristown, Pa. They have all different sizes and light strengths. Look them over.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Been carrying a single AAA in my pocket for about 20 years...... it's always there and gets used daily.

Vehicles and bags all have Maglight XL50s...50- 200 lumens 7-25hr run time... still small enough to stick in a pocket.... three easy to find AAA.

 

[Echo40]

I've actually looked at the Streamlight Pro-Tac a few times because I like that it's priced competitively with Chinese brands despite being made in the USA, but unfortunately they're not that bright compared to the competition and are for the most part only available in darker more "tactical" colors, and being an old Maglight guy, I like my Flashlights to be in brighter colors so that they're easier to find in the dark.

I'm an old school Dinosaur, I carry a box of wooden matches to light my way around.

Get with the times, man! All the other Dinosaurs are at least carrying Zippos by now!

 

[Bloody Sunday]

I really like my Olight Warrior Mini - lasts a long time between charges and is just the right size and will clip on to my hat if I need handsfree. I prefer a handheld light over weapon light as it's more useful in more situations.



I need a light, day or night every single day.

 

[Borderboss]

I always carry an O-Light with me, usually in the same method that I carry my EDC (fanny pack, carry vest, etc.) I've found them handy to have sometimes, but never for tactical reasons, at least not yet.

 

[John_M52]

The streamlight protac HL (I have a few of them) is extremely bright and I think come is < $100 with USB recharge. Ten tap programming but I always leave mine in bright, strobe, low. Searching a car at night for goodies that the driver hid under the seat in the bright setting is way to bright. Sometimes you have to cover the lens partially with a finger to "dim" it. I see they have a smaller equivalent pprotac hl-x but you have to remove the battery to charge it. Not a fan of that and the larger size makes a nice fist load.