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HDS Systems/Ra Lights EDC Executive Flashlights Video Review

storl — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 17:56:02 +0000

The last post showed you the EDC Tactical lights from HDS Systems and this one is going to talk about the EDC Executive line. Unlike the Tactical series, the Executive models have a flush button that allows you to tail stand the lights. They also have a shiny pocket clip, a silver stainless steel bezel, and a slightly different interface where momentary operation and strobe are not activated by default.

The Executive lights still feature the same burly construction and ultra durable components as the Tactical lights, so the differences are mostly aesthetic. Peep the video below if you need some help deciding between the two.

HDS Systems/Ra Lights EDC Tactical Flashlights Video Review

storl — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 22:52:51 +0000

The HDS Systems (formerly Ra Lights) EDC Tactical flashlights are some incredibly tough little illumination tools featuring burly bodies, thick stainless steel bezels, hardened lenses, customizable interfaces, and a whole lot of other premium features. HDS is still a small US company, so you can call and talk to the owner who is also the designer, customer support, and pretty much everything else for the company. The lights have four different modes, all of which can be programmed to a dizzying array of options. The Tactical versions have black bezels and clips and have a protruding switch that keeps them from tail standing but makes then easier to activate in return. They also have momentary activation programmed in by default, which is something that I like to have over the default Executive programming.

Watch them in action:

Surefire M3LT Combatlight Video Review

storl — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 22:33:16 +0000

The Surefire M3LT Combatlight is the company’s first high output LED light and it is an impressive start. The light has two outputs, 400 and 70 lumens, giving you the flexibility between lighting up objects hundreds of yards away or dropping the output for closer objects and better battery life. Keep in mind that Surefire’s lumen ratings are way understated, so 400 lumens from them is the same as double that from the other companies you have seen us mention.

The M3LT uses the same two stage type switch as the LX2, A2L, and similar lights. Press a little for the lower output and all the way for the higher output. The M3LT has probably the best looking beam I have seen on a high output light thanks to its TIR lens that collects and projects the light in a super smooth and even beam.

Watch the ultra exciting (OK, that depends on how exciting you find flashlights to be) video below:

ThruNite P60 Style Drop Ins Video Review

storl — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 22:18:22 +0000

Surefire makes some great lights, but their rigorous testing means that sometimes their LEDs are not the brightest on the market. Several companies make drop ins meant to replace the P60 size bulbs or LEDs that are in the 6P, G2, and many other lights, but ThruNite makes some of the best we have found for a really reasonable price. They have three versions, one that has three modes for 2 cell (battery) lights, one that has three modes for 1 cell lights, and one that has one mode for 2 cell lights. The three mode versions work in lights that came with only one mode from the manufacturer thanks to some advanced circuitry that switches modes when you turn the light off and on quickly.

The drop ins are great for upgrading your LED lights to the latest and greatest LED, but really shine (brilliant wording, I know) when they replace incandescent bulbs that like to eat batteries, burn out after a short use, and generally be a pain in the rear.

Watch the video below if you want to see how you can upgrade your sorry old light:

Surefire E1B Backup 110 Lumen LED Flashlight

storl — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 20:27:15 +0000

Surefire doesn’t just make lights intended for tactical or hardcore military. They also make lights that are perfect for a pocket, briefcase, or sissy man purse. The Surefire E1B Backup is Surefire’s answer to a pocket light. The E1B is compact enough to carry in the pocket but still bright enough to light up objects 100 yards away with easy. The light has two levels of output, 5 and 110 lumens (increased from 80 on the original), that are selected by either turning the light off and on or lightly pressing the button without clicking it all the way. These two outputs will cover most of your needs, allowing you to view up close items without burning your eyeballs on low and also lighting up creatures that go bump in the night on high.

Watch it put a light 20 times its size to shame:

Surefire Saint & Saint Minimus Video Review

storl — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 19:57:17 +0000

One of these days I’ll post something that isn’t a flashlight video review, I promise.

The Surefire Saint and Saint Minimus headlamps feature the same rotary switch interface as the Titan T1A, making them some very easy to use and versatile headlamps. They both have the same output and general specs, but the Saint has a battery pack on the rear of the unit that gives it a significantly longer battery life than the Minimus version. The headlamps have an optic that produces a great beam with a perfect balance of wide area illumination and throw.

OBSERVE THE LIGHTS IN ALL THEIR GOODNESS:

Surefire U2 Ultra LED Flashlight Video Review

storl — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 19:55:10 +0000

The Surefire U2 Ultra is a slight departure from Surefire’s normal philosophy of less is more. Instead of the one or two output levels of most Surefire lights, the U2 has six levels of output, giving you between 2 and 100 lumens for almost any lighting task. The modes are selected by twisting a ring below the head, similar to the JETBeam Raptor or Fenix TA lights. The action is silent though, unlike the JETBeam or Fenix models, so you can switch modes without alerting others in a tactical situation. Or, in my case, I can switch modes without having my dog hear, since he is a ninja stealth master.

Watch the U2 and its stealthiness:

Surefire Titan T1A LED Flashlight Video Review

storl — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 19:44:09 +0000

The Surefire Titan T1A is the light that pushed me over the edge to become a Surefire dealer, so it was the first thing I put on my opening order from them. The light has probably the coolest interface I have seen, a rotary switch that makes the light brighter as you turn it further. This sounds simple and the concept has been around in home lighting and other applications for decades, but Surefire is one of the first flashlight companies to incorporate it into a handheld flashlight. Since the light does not have a traditional switch to take up extra room, the T1A is also a compact little bugger.

Check out the video below to see what the Titan can do:

Surefire E2DL 200 Lumen Flashlight Video Review

storl — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 20:03:01 +0000

Surefire has been going through their line of lights and increasing the outputs to make them rival the latest and greatest lights from other manufacturers. One they recently did was the Surefire E2DL, increasing the output to 200 lumens. The light also has a super low secondary output of 5 lumens. Those two outputs will cover most of your illumination needs, making the E2DL a great light to carry in your pocket or pack on a daily basis.

Switching between the two modes is simple. Turn the light on or press for momentary activation of the high output. Turn it off or let the switch go, then turn it back on for the low output. If you repeatedly turn it off and on, you can keep on switching between the two outputs.

As with all LED lights, you will not have to worry about replacing bulbs like with your average incandescent light. Batteries are also not as much of a worry, thanks to the super efficient circuits and LEDs in most modern lights. The bezel on the light has some aggressive scalloping, which will take a good size chunk out of someone’s face if you decide to use it as a weapon. The bezel also helps you to know if the light is on if you set it down on a flat surface, but that doesn’t sound nearly as hardcore as flesh removal.

Here it is in action:

Surefire G2L LED Flashlight Video Review

storl — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 19:58:03 +0000

The G2L is one of Surefire’s most popular flashlights. It has a super simple interface, lightweight polymer body, solid output, and is a much lower price ($69 retail) than their average light. If you are looking for a simple, durable light, then the G2L is a great choice.

Want to see it in action? BAM, here you go: