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Guide

Flashlight Buyer's Guide

Lumens, candela, throw, runtime—what actually matters when choosing a tactical light.

The Bottom Line

A quality flashlight is the most-used piece of "tactical" gear you'll ever own. You'll use it 100x more than any knife or tool. Don't cheap out on the thing you use daily.

Understanding the Specs

Flashlight marketing is full of inflated numbers and meaningless specs. Here's what actually matters and what's just noise.

Lumens

What it is: Total light output—how much light the flashlight produces.

What matters: More isn't always better. 1000 lumens is plenty for 95% of tasks. Beyond 1500, you're generating heat and killing battery life for minimal real-world benefit.

Sweet spot: 500-1000 lumens for EDC, 1000-1500 for duty use.

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Candela (Throw)

What it is: Peak beam intensity—how far the light reaches with usable brightness.

What matters: High candela = tight, throwy beam. Lower candela = floody, wide beam. Neither is "better"—it depends on use case.

Rule of thumb: Outdoor/search = high candela. Indoor/close work = lower candela, more flood.

Runtime & Battery

18650 vs CR123A: 18650 rechargeable cells are the modern standard. Higher capacity, rechargeable, cheaper long-term. CR123A are backup/emergency only.

Runtime claims: Manufacturers measure runtime until 10% output. Real-world usable runtime is usually 60-70% of claimed numbers.

The Tier System

Duty Grade ($100+)

Professional-use lights built to MIL-SPEC or equivalent. Bomb-proof construction, proven track records, warranties that matter. These are "trust your life to it" tools.

Community Picks: Duty Grade

  • SureFire EDCL2-T — The gas-pedal switch is tactical perfection. 1,200 lumens of focused throw.
    Primary Arms |Brownells |Amazon
  • Modlite PLHv2 — The enthusiast's choice. Insane throw in a compact package.
    Primary Arms

Sweet Spot ($50-100)

Best value tier. You get 90% of duty-grade performance at 50% of the price. Diminishing returns above this level for most users.

Community Picks: Sweet Spot

Budget ($20-50)

Good enough for the car, the junk drawer, or lending out. Not what you bet your life on, but solid performers that punch above their weight.

Community Picks: Budget

  • Streamlight MicroStream USB — Disappears in a pocket. Rechargeable. Good enough for 90% of tasks.
    Brownells |Amazon

Features That Matter

  • Tail switch vs side switch: Tail switch for tactical use (momentary on). Side switch for everyday convenience. Some lights have both.
  • Momentary activation: Essential for signaling or tactical use. Press for light, release for off.
  • USB-C charging: Modern standard. Avoid proprietary charging unless you're invested in that ecosystem.
  • Lockout mode: Prevents accidental activation in your pocket. Critical for EDC.
  • Reverse polarity protection: Won't fry if you insert the battery wrong. Most quality lights have this.

Features That Don't Matter

  • Strobe mode: Tacticool theater. In reality, it disables you as much as the threat.
  • 15 brightness modes: You need low, medium, high. Maybe moonlight. That's it.
  • "Unbreakable" claims: Everything breaks. Focus on warranty and repairability.
  • Lumen wars: Past 1500 lumens, you're just making heat.

The best flashlight is the one you carry.

A $30 light in your pocket beats a $200 light in your drawer.

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