FLASHLIGHTS
SCOTT SMITH
5.11 TACTICAL One of the most innovative lights on the market is 5.11 Tactical’s Light for Life. It’s available in a large size, the UC3.400, and a smaller size, the PC3.300. Both get their charge from a highoutput capacitor, much like those found in a camera flash. The difference is that the flash dumps its light all at once. The Light for Life slowly dissipates its light, giving you at least an hour’s worth of runtime. Both lights can be fully
charged in 90 seconds. Unlike traditional batteries, the ultra capacitor allows you to leave the Light for Life on its charger without diminishing the capacitor’s ability to recharge and hold that charge. With a 50,000hour LED light and capacitor that can be charged thousands of times, these lights will outlast most of us on duty. www.policemag.com/freeinfo/22340
BLACKHAWK I like BlackHawk's Legacy L6P because of its polymer body. This material makes the light more durable and not as cold to the touch in the winter. The body also has nice big checkers for a good purchase in all conditions, with or without gloves. And to prevent the light from rolling, its tail cap and light bezel have seven sides. Other notable features on this 90lumen LED light include its operation and its two- to three-
hour runtime. The Legacy’s tail cap is a two-stage button; simply push for momentary, and push until it clicks for constant on. Th is set-up requires only gross motor operation and can be easily operated with either hand. Attention to these details shows why BlackHawk is a leader in tactical gear including duty lights. www.policemag.com/freeinfo/22341
BRITE-STRIKE Brite-Strike Tactical Illumination Products is a company that is built by cops for cops. A couple of patrol officers started it to build lights with features cops need and want. The company’s Tactical Blue Dot 198 light is sized small enough to fit in the palm of your hand or comfortably in a pants pocket. Yet it’s long enough to be a last resort impact weapon— which is when the light’s crenulated tri-strike crown on each
end can come in handy. The Blue Dot 198 is rechargeable can be had with a couple of versions of end caps: high/low/strobe, or momentary/high output, both with an output of up to 198 lumens. This allows you to decide what will best serve your needs. And each Tactical Blue Dot comes with a lifetime warranty, a ballistic nylon holster, and an AC Battery charger. www.policemag.com/freeinfo/22342
FIRST-LIGHT USA First-Light USA’s Tomahawk can be had with just a white light, a strobe, multi-color (red/blue or red/green), multi-color strobe (the red/blue is for LE only), or a night vision version. To activate the Tomahawk you depress the horseshoe-shaped button. For the multi-color in red/blue, if you want the red or blue lights use the two front buttons. The right button selects the color, while the left button sets the
brightness. When the colored lights are on, the white light can be operated by pushing the horseshoe button. When the light is attached to your belt or vest with its clip, you have hands-free use. A finger loop even allows you to use the Tomahawk while shooting. I found it works well using a traditional twohanded shooting grip. www.policemag.com/freeinfo/22343
INFORCE/EMISSIVE ENERGY One of the most innovative lights I have seen is the Inforce Color Police LED. Using carbon fiber for its body drastically reduces weight without sacrificing durability or toughness. You can use the Color Police LED as a bright white light with momentary and constant on or an alternating blue/red light in slow or fast mode. It can serve as a standard light or as a signal light when setting up a highway 30
checkpoint. To switch between these modes you simply rotate the tail cap. The red/blue will automatically activate, and the push button switches to white light. The light is also small enough to carry in a pocket or on a duty belt, and it will run for two to 72 hours with an output of 11.5 lumens to 225 lumens. www.policemag.com/freeinfo/22344
Police Recruit Fall 2010/Winter 2011
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