Saturday, August 14, 2010

How To Choose The Best Flashlight For You


What are the most efficient flashlights available today? With so many choices out there, how do you find the best fit for you? Here are a few suggestions that should help you make the decision of which flashlight fits your needs best.

Personal Flashlight or Tactical Flashlight.
You need to decide between a personal flashlight or a tactical flashlight. Your environment and situation will help dictate the best fit for you. Do you need the flashlight to be waterproof? Generally a tactical flashlight means it is much more durable than a personal flashlight. It usually has a strobe and or can be used as a weapon in a life or death situation. A tactical flashlight needs three basic things: reliability, easy use, and mission specific features. Do you need an extremely durable flashlight or will a cheaper model work for you?

Size
The size of a flashlight is something you should consider. For those who are always busy or for those who have limited space, you might think about choosing the more condensed size. They are easier to carry around and you can quickly remove them from a bag or pocket. Be sure that the size does not compromise the efficiency of the flashlight.

Type of Light
What lighting technology so you prefer? There two most basic types of flashlights are LED flashlights or Incandescent flashlights. Incandescents are are gas filled lamps used for high performance. LED stands for light emitting diodes. LED bulbs are very durable and longer lasting. If you want the more impressive light, you should consider LEDs. LED's are far more durable as they do not have fragile parts inside. Most of them are also shatter-proof so they can still work even if you drop it. LED lighting also boasts much longer battery life and longevity of the bulb. This means there is less maintenance required and much more reliability

Type of Power Supply
What type of power supply is most convenient for you? Many flashlights use standard batteries such as Double A, Triple A, D and C cell. Flashlights that use this type of power supply can be expensive and frustrating if you run out of new batteries. It is much more convenient to just purchase a flashlight that uses rechargeable batteries. Rechargeable flashlights will save you money over time. There are also solar powered flashlights, but you will still need to recharge solar energy flashlights. This could be a great choice if you do not have access to a charging station.

Read The Reviews
When you finally think you have made a choice, make sure to read some reviews. There are many free flashlight reviews available on the internet. These reviews can be very helpful in helping you find the flashlight that works well for your needs. Don't base your choice purely on review sites alone. Sometimes manufacturers pay those review sites. You also want to read reviews from customers just like yourself. Someone who has actually purchased that model. Choose brands that have been rated highly as they typically tend to undergo more quality manufacturing.Flashlights can be very convenient to have on hand. You can use them in your home, garage, car, workplace, RV, boat, etc. You can use them in an emergency situations. Flashlights can also be used as a self-defense weapon. This is why choosing the most trustworthy flashlight is necessary. You want it to be reliable when you need it the most. You want to choose something durable, reliable, easy to handle and easy to use (especially under stress).