Surefire flashlights are as American as apple pie and baseball, and is most likely a household name for any flashlight enthusiast. Recently, Surefire has decided to expand its market of flashlights into the realm of headlights, with their brand new Maximus headlight.
Using an internal rechargeable battery, the Surefire Maximus can produce up to 500 ANSI lumens from it’s high-power LED, the Maximus headlight is designed to handle extreme conditions, and the ramping function interface to control a custom lumen output combines ruggedness with luxury for a fine quality light. The Maximus has been designed to rotate up and down to 90 degrees, allowing the light to be directed in any specific way as necessary by the user of the light itself.
While performance is important to the user of the flashlight, comfort can also be a big issue, and having a sweat-filled headband can ruin the appeal of any headlight user quickly. By using the Breathe-O-Prene forehead pad, the Maximus is placed comfortably on the user’s head, and actually wicks away moisture from the pad, which will keep the forehead virtually dry and will keep the pad from smelling.
For a rechargeable headlight produced by the biggest name in the flashlight world, the Surefire Maximus sets the standard for all high quality headlamps.
As stated previously, Niteye has a wide range of flashlights that fits the needs of any flashlight user. Regarding the tactical flashlight division of Niteye, there are a few variations of the T series lights, in which there is a unique characteristic that makes each light stand out from the other.
What makes the Niteye TS20 stand out from the other T series lights is its simplicity. By only using a tail switch to turn the light on/off and a side switch to access the modes, the TS20 is a perfect light for those that are looking for a simple interface that can easily be used either on a rail mount or as a stand alone light.
The TS20 uses a CREE XM-L U2 LED that is powered by two CR123′s or a single 18650 battery to produce 650 ANSI lumens, packing a lot of lumens into such a small body. Unlike the TF25′s over-sized head, the slimmer profile of the TS20′s body allows the light to be mounted easily to a wide array of weapons, and it has been designed to handle any type of recoil or drops.
All in all, if you’re looking for a light like the TR20, but something with an easier interface, the Niteye TS20 fulfills all of the requirements for any tactical flashlight user.
It’s easy to say that Klarus is one of our favorite brands at the store, and most of us actually carry or own some type of Klarus light. When it comes to a quality build that’s reliable and incredibly easy to use, we will always recommend Klarus as one of the best. That is why we’re excited to see that they have just released the new RS11: a 620 lumen flashlight with a few tricks up its sleeve.
The new RS11 is Klarus’s first attempt at creating a light with a charging port, which comes in very handy for those looking for a light to keep in a car or truck, since there is no need to purchase a separate charger to charge the batteries (keeps the light and battery in one convenient package). Since the charging port is located in the back of the light, the infamous dual switch interface has been moved towards the head of the light, and has a bit of a different interface (similar to the ED10 pressure switch for the XT11). At the head of the light, Klarus used a more aggressive bezel to protect the lens of the light, that is also very efficient as a defense tool to thwart off any attackers. The light has three modes (low, medium, high) and a strobe that can be accessed via the secondary switch.
As a rechargeable light, this one has been very impressive so far, and is very versatile and easy to recharge anywhere, which makes it a good light for any commuter.
Sunwayman has always been known for making very innovative lights with a rotary that allows a custom lumen output, making them ideal for those that do not like to have a light with limited settings. This is why the Sunwayman V10R Ti was so popular amongst flashlight users: it was a lightweight EDC light with a titanium body that had an integrated Magnetic Control System (MCS) ring.
Recently, Sunwayman did a re-vamp with all of their lights by introducing the new CREE XM-L U2 LED into most of the models, which included the V10R. Now known as the Sunwayman V10R Ti+, this flashlight has a few new upgrades. For instance, the light has been given the new XM-L U2 LED, a more efficient emitter that can produce up to 500 lumens from a single 16340 battery (190 with a CR123). A heavy duty pocket clip has been added to the light as well, so those that stressed about the previous model sitting too deep in the pocket can now breathe easily, knowing that it will remain in a fixed location and can be reached easily. Instead of keeping the rubber switch, Sunwayman upgraded the V10R Ti+ with a new titanium switch, which gives the light an executive look, and still has the full function of the original switch (they also included the rubber switch for those that would like to have that one instead).
With these new upgrades making the V10RTi+ an even better light, it’s no wonder why so many people love to carry this light on their person.
As an up and coming flashlight company, Niteye is becoming well-known for their magnetically ramping lights: ranging from the monstrous 2000 lumen EYE30, to the tactical TF series. Now, Niteye has released their pocket-sized EDC light that can produce up to 500 lumens with an XM-L U2 LED: the Niteye EYE10.
Using only a rotary to control the interface of the light, the EYE10 allows the user to pick a custom lumen output, and clicks to ensure a hold on the mode (also can be used to count how many clicks to get to your favorite setting). With the lens and LED protected by a stainless steel bezel, the head of the light is reinforced for any kind of impact, and can also double over as an aesthetic appeal to the light. By relying on only using the ring, the tail of the light can be used to attach a lanyard or key chain ring, that makes the light very versatile and easy to grab. It can also be used as a tail stand light, which does come in very handy for power outages, or for a main light while in a tent or car.
The Niteye EYE10 is a fantastic pocket light with a solid ramping ring to control the output, and a sleek design gives the light an executive look.
Nowadays, there seems to be a lot of flashlights that have the ability to use two separate battery types, and for an EDC light the feature does come in very handy. However, most of these lights tend to have an extender piece that needs to be attached, and if it ends up getting lost, then the light is limited to one battery type, leaving you in the dark (no pun intended) if you need to use the other battery type. Zebralight saw the issue with this design, so when they released the SC80, they actually designed the adapter piece to be placed inside of the light so that it never needs to be removed from the light. The brass piece allows the SC80 to run either a CR123 with an output of 220 lumens, or AA (preferably Sanyo Eneloop rechargeable) at an output of 200 lumens. While the internal battery adapter is unique for the Zebralight selection, the user interface remains the same as the rest of the product line, and the quality build is impeccable (just ask Casey what happened to his SC30). All in all, the size of the light makes it a great choice for an EDC light, along with its adapting brass insert and the incredible lumen output.
When Fenix upgraded the PD20 and PD30 to the PD22 and PD32 respectively, they only found it fair to make the same upgrades to the small AA cell-powered flashlights as well. Therefore, the Fenix LD10 and LD20 have been upgraded to the LD12 and LD22 with all new dual switch operation and an anti-roll body design, but still has the same reliability as its predecessors. The LD12 is an ideal light for those that are looking for something compact, while the LD22 is for those that are looking for a solid EDC light that has a little more firepower, all while using the conveniently available AA battery cells. With a single AA, the LD12 can produce up to 115 lumens and the LD22 can produce 190 lumens from the XP-G R5 LED, and include four different modes with an easy to learn interface using the side switch. Both lights do come with a removable pocket clip, which allows the light to remain still and quickly accessible while in the pocket, or attached to another location.
Headlights come in very handy for any situation that requires light and the ability to operate the light hands-free to ensure an easy flow of work with little interruption. While the Spark SD52CW and NW seem like the average headlight, they stand out from their competitors by going an extra measure: a magnetic attachment accessory that allows the light to be placed onto any magnetic surface, allowing the user of the light to use the beam as a background light. The incredible amount of flood allows a well-lit area, which is ideal for searching around the campsite or illuminating a large area for a working space. While known for its flood, the SD52 series has the ability to attach a reflector to the head of the light, shifting its primary ability from flood, to a considerable amount of throw that can be used to illuminate longer distances. The SD52 series headlights are powered by two AA alkaline batteries that produce an impressive 300 lumens (the light can also use two lithium-ion 14500 batteries, which will increase the output of the lights significantly).
As the newest and brightest light from their production line, the Olight X6 Marauder is an incredibly portable and powerful light. Powered by an external battery pack that is contoured to the curve of a hip, the Marauder can produce up to 5000 lumens through its six CREE XM-L LEDs. Compared to other lights this powerful, this Olight stands out from the rest thanks to its ability to dissipate heat through its contoured body below the handle. This light is ideal for those in search and rescue operations, as it does have the ability to be powered by a 12v car battery, extending the run time of the light while maintaining its maximum brightness. The light comes standard in a protected case and exterior battery pack (car battery adapter coming soon).
Almost every flashlight company on the market has at least one flashlight that is dedicated to be used for tactical purposes or to be weapon-mountable. As for the Sunwayman company, the T20CS is a greatly improved predecessor of the tactical line that has proven its worth. Using a CREE XM-L U2 LED, the Sunwayman T20CS can produce 658 ANSI lumens that will be sure to light up targets near and far. A rubber tactical ring has been placed closer to the tail of the light to allow easy one-handed access to turn the light on/off, while the secondary switch on the side allows the user to cycle through the modes or to use as an instant kill switch. The standard one inch diameter body allows the T20CS to be mounted with any standard flashlight mount, and it has been designed to handle intense recoil. Even though it can be used for tactical purposes, the light is small enough to fit into any pack, making it perfect for EDC or in a bug-out bag.
