For many years the best tactical flashlight was reserved only for law enforcement, military, and very, very dedicated preppers with deep pockets.
Today, a good, high-quality tactical flashlight is an important tool, not just in every toolbox, but in every home and every car.
And with the plethora of options to choose from, it’s important to know what to look for, in order to be sure that you got the best tactical flashlight … i.e. quality for your money, and not some cheap knockoff.
In this article, I’ll share with you tips on the most important things you should look for and what to avoid.
1: What’s the tactical flashlight made of?
There are many manufacturers of tactical flashlights.
Some make good, quality ones. The others, cheap knockoffs made of plastics.
You might be tempted to go with cheaper options because “a flashlight is a flashlight,” right?
Well, not quite. They’re not the best tactical flashlight.
You’re not buying an ordinary flashlight. You’re buying a reliable source of light in a situation where it’s essential to have an uninterrupted, intensive light – power outage, hunting, hiking, traveling at night, etc.
The last thing you want is for your tactical flashlight to break if it falls, or to stop working with no reason.
To avoid that, make sure that the tactical flashlight that you’re looking for is made of aircraft grade aluminum alloy.
Do not try to find a plastic equivalent. It’s not worth it.
2: How many lumens does it produce
A lumen is a unit in which we measure the brightness of the light. The more lumens your tactical flashlight has the brighter the light it emits.
Some would say that 300 lumens of light is enough. But considering the use of a it, I’d suggest you look for 1,000 lumens for the best tactical flashlight .
That way you can be sure that you’ll have a tactical flashlight bright enough for every situation.
3: Is it waterproof and shock resistant
The last thing you want to happen is to lose your source of light because your tactical flashlight fell into a puddle. Or because there’s too much rain.
And you certainly don’t want it to stop working because it fell on the ground.
Check the specs before buying and make sure the one you’re considering IS actually waterproof and shock resistant, which are essential to making it the best tactical flashlight.
4: Does it have an SOS mode
This is probably one of the most important features that makes for the best tactical flashlight option.
Eventually, you’ll end up in an emergency situation, and you want to make sure that you’re going to be found.
What SOS Mode does is this: it emits a regular, continuous, steadily signal so the help can find you. You don’t need to push the button until your thumb is numb. Just select the SOS Mode and leave the flashlight.
Look for this feature. It can be a life-savior.
5: Does the manufacturer stand behind its product
As I already mentioned, there are many manufacturers of tactical flashlights on the market.
Some make high-quality products. Some make cheap products and are open about it.
But some make cheap products and try to push them as high-quality ones. To avoid being scammed, make sure that the manufacturer gives some kind of warranty and, ideally, a money-back guarantee.
This way you’re protecting yourself, because you can return the product if it’s not as advertised, or in addition replace if it doesn’t work as it should.
In the end, why should you trust in their product if they themselves are not trusting its quality.
And there you go.
Some of the things listed here might be obvious, some of them not. All in all, you now have a clearer picture of what to look for, what to avoid, and how to be safe when you’re buying your the best tactical flashlight.
Stay safe.
P.S. I get a lot of messages from people asking me which tactical flashlight I use and recommend. Personally, I use Internova’s Guardian 1300XL. It fits all the criteria listed above. And with the price point of just $59.99, it won’t break your bank. You can check it out on Amazon here.