Would you use a modern flashlight in a reasonably rough job or not? CONCRETE BELOW!!!

[Ragnar66]

I use all of my lights and have tried the ones listed below for Police work.

I work in an extreme environment that really can push the limits of any equipment. I am constantly in the rain and around saltwater to the point that people take special precautions to stop vehicle rust and bikes etc are usually inside or heated.

I am on an island surrounded by mountains, ocean,lakes,rivers,sandy/rocky beach,mud and really anything else that the environment has to offer including pavement and the usual suburban surroundings. My job includes general police work, marine policing, quads patrols, search and rescue, emergency response to extreme weather scenarios (tsunami , high wind damage etc), collisions and of course sitting in front of a computer and being an armed secretary.

Above all it is DARK here. Often zero artificial light and heavy cloud cover. So many scenarios where flood, spot or both are required.

I have used Sunwayman, Klarus, Mag, Surefire,Niteye,Nitcore,Jetbeam,Fenix,Malkoff,HDS,Crelant,Deerelight,Eagletac, Saabluster mods, First light, Macs and probably a few more.

To keep it short I have found most stand up very well to the punishment and have only returned 1 light and replaced only 1 part. I have retired a few into the ocean, passed quite a few on to cops that are grossly underpowered.

My every day work lights include 2 surefire on my duty belt.
A small RRT-01 clipped to my vest.
In my duty bag, 3d Mag with xml malkoff, TK 75, Tn31s (Saabluster),Innova fluorescent for arsons, body fluid etc, First Light tomahawk (to be replaced by the le verson)
HDS 200 on my keyring
Eagletac MK2 with the 3 filters.
Green lazer
Night vision


Anodizing lasts way longer on the surefires, and mags, the eagletac and klarus get nicked up pretty quick but no performance issues.

SO over all I think most will stand up to it.....but many will not look the same.

 

[SimulatedZero]

I buy my lights to use them. I went through a phase where I was extra rough on my TK15 just because I wanted that broken in/ used look to it. Nothing too rough mind you, just a couple times where it may have been set up to fall is all... Anyways, I ended up not needing any help beating it up as just using it at work has done that for me. The bezel doesn't look quite as bad as shooter's does, but the body looks like it may be a bit more beat up than his. And despite my absolute best efforts, it looks like my TK22 will be joining the TK15 in the beat up category pretty soon. I think that trying to keep your light looking nice is a good goal, so long as it doesn't interfere with your use of it.

As a side note, I agree with your feelings on the TK75 being a little more fragile than the smaller lights. As stated above, its size and proportions are a major part of that. I carried a TK41 around work with me for quite some time and it ended acting funny in the end. I only dropped it a couple of times, but the electronics started acting flaky ever since then.

On the other hand, Fenix makes some really, really tough lights too. How tough? I let you know as soon as I'm done sawing through this D-Cell Mag to test out how durable the ano is. :devil:

 

[Swedpat]

Here is the light I especially intended to be used for rough job. Not a beauty so it doesn't matter if it becomes scratched.
Good knurling for good grip also with gloves on.

Solarforce L2r with Malkoff M31LL dropin. Simple and reliable. Stable output for several hours also with alkalines.

 

[RBH]

My mag led's get bounced off of concrete all year long in my millwright business.

 

[jabe1]

I consider them to be tools. I take care of them, and am careful, but expect damage at some point.

Most of my EDCs are SS, which cuts down on the damage chances, and the larger lights can handle some drops.

I have yet to mar a SS Peak.

 

[xcbike72]

I guess I'm in the "they are tools" camp, as I'm curently using my RRT-21 as my go to light in my work as an electrican.

 

[Bullzeyebill]

Three more FORMAT posts deleted that were counterproductive to the topic of this thread.

Bill

 

[YAK-28]

i do take them to work and use them daily. most of them get a lanyard so there is less of a chance of them falling out of my reach. i do aquire dents and scratches, but i try not to use them as hammers(yet).

 

[Burgess]

Wouldn't bother me so much,
if * I * was the one who caused the dents and scratches.


But, if it was a Careless Damn Fool who caused them . . . .



_

 

[Oztorchfreak]

I guess I'm in the "they are tools" camp, as I'm curently using my RRT-21 as my go to light in my work as an electrican.

That is what I like to hear, an opinion of another Sparky.

I was using the Jetbeam RRT-21 for about 6 months but then it started having switch problems.

Jetbeam sent me another switch on two occasions.

I went to use my RRT-21 after using my Klarus XT11 for a week and often found that the RRT-21 batteries had gone flat if I had not locked it out.

This problem arises due to the high standby current flattening the batteries if I had forgotten to lock-out the RRT-21.

It seemed a bit of a nuisance having to remember to do that after every use.

I finally dropped the RRT-21 and ever since I have used my Klarus XT11 without any problems at all.

Would you feel comfortable using a Fenix TK75 or similar light up in the roof of many houses or under the floors?

I would love to have it with me as it is a lightweight, very powerful and versatile light to carry out the tasks normally undertaken as an Electrician but I still take my trusty Klarus XT11 with me as always.

I don't think I could handle seeing my TK75 get damaged at work.

The TK75 is a great light to use for walks at night or around the house and on camping trips.

When I go away on holidays I have found that the TK75 and the Saab modded TN31 are a really good combination and both lights can fit in my pockets if need be.



CHEERS

 

[Oztorchfreak]

LOL

I disagree about a big light not having to hold up to that much of a beating...as, at least in search and rescue work, etc...when it IS used, it IS under harsh conditions.

When you DO drop a big light, its own mass and momentum cause much more force to be proportionally inflicted. So if you drop your AAA edc, say 3' to concrtete, weighing mere ounces at most, it doesn't land that hard...force = mass times acceleration and all that.

If you drop a Fenix TK70 3' to concrete, weighing a few pounds...it hits HARD....and the potential for damage is greatly multiplied.

I dropped a Thrunite TN30 on Monday, I was climbing around in a building that had been whacked by Sandy down at the shore, and dropped the darn thing about 5' onto concrete. It was off when it fell, and I was worried when I picked it up and hit the switch, half expecting it to not light/work. Well, it worked, and had a scratch, it hit on the edge of the bezel, bounced and rolled a ways...but nothing to get excited about. I was relieved the lens was OK. IE: It held up well. It was its FIRST drop, as I JUST got it a day or so before that.

I've dropped the TK70, SR90 and others, and they held up fine. None of them had to survive more than ~ 5-6' onto anything hard though...that height down though, or higher than that, but onto ground or the water....ow, yeah.

The smaller ones HAVE survived longer falls, but, I EXPECT them to, as, again, the same fall just is not as hard for a lighter light.

This sounds like a good subject to send in to MYTHBUSTERS to see if a smaller compact EDC light takes more punishment before failing than would a larger and much more expensive flashlight like my TK75, TK70, SR90 or TN31.

It seems like the bigger heavier lights would sustain more damage in a fall than a smaller EDC light would.

Is this really the case and if so how will designers ever be able to protect their larger flashlights apart from wrapping them in foam rubber when in use.

In the Olight M20 extreme torture test video the Olight M20 sure takes a pounding.

Link to Olight M20 torture test.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6WSPKuunCI

Could anyone imagine using a TK75, SR90, TN31 or any of their own larger flashlights in that test and what do you think would be the results after doing so?

Do smaller EDC flashlights handle rough treatment better than the larger and heavier ones and why?



CHEERS

 

[Oztorchfreak]

i do take them to work and use them daily. most of them get a lanyard so there is less of a chance of them falling out of my reach. i do aquire dents and scratches, but i try not to use them as hammers(yet).

I could see a Maglite full of batteries being used to hit a nail in or hammer something into place.

I could not ever imagine me doing that sort of thing with my Fenix TK75.

A few dents and scratches would be ok in my trade as an Electrician.

At work if I ever took my TK75 with me it would certainly be used with the lanyard attached to it or holstered onto my belt.

Maglites have always been the "one to beat" as far as being a heavy duty and reliable light goes.

Usually all that happens after some abuse to a Maglite is that the incandescent lamp gets broken.

It is very easy to change a lamp that is usually kept in the tail cap, if you can remember to always put a spare lamp back in there after you use the spare.

I thought that the bigger 4 x D Cell Maglites were being phased out of use mainly due to many Police using their trusty lights as a "self defence" tool and the following legal issues that inevitably followed such use of a Maglite.

I see a lot of Police in Reality TV shows now using a much brighter flashlight than a Maglite to actually use in finding an assailant rather than just keeping it mainly as a baton.

Does anyone know what most states in the US have done in relation to the use of Maglites being used "on duty" and what flashlights have been given the go-ahead to replace them?

Do any CPF members think that the Fenix Tk75 or any other flashlight of similar size, light output and price would make a good flashlight to be used by Police and Security Guards etc?

What would be the pros and cons of Law Enforcement officers using a Fenix TK75 or any other similar modern flashlight on duty where these lights would be regularly taken into scuffles with them?




CHEERS

 

[jorn]

I drop my aaa lights all the time on the tile floor. Never a problem. When i get a new one, i drop in on the floor some times on purpose to se if it will survive my clumsyness haha I also dunk them. I like to bring a little aaa light when spearfishing/freediving. I think it's better to find out right away what the lights can take. I dont consider it as any torture. Only one aaa light has been killed this way. A pos cqg died the first day in my ownership. This was so bad buildt that i expected it to die if it hit anything. Dont miss it.

My big malkoff hound dog rolled off a shelf when i was cleaning yesterday. Lense got a tiny crack on the outer edge.. No doubt, a big light makes a big bang when it falls.

 

[TEEJ]

Yeah, its just physics. No mystery, no mythbusting required...."the bigger they are, the harder they fall" is a pretty well accepted principle.

 

[Oztorchfreak]

I use all of my lights and have tried the ones listed below for Police work.

I work in an extreme environment that really can push the limits of any equipment. I am constantly in the rain and around saltwater to the point that people take special precautions to stop vehicle rust and bikes etc are usually inside or heated.

I am on an island surrounded by mountains, ocean,lakes,rivers,sandy/rocky beach,mud and really anything else that the environment has to offer including pavement and the usual suburban surroundings. My job includes general police work, marine policing, quads patrols, search and rescue, emergency response to extreme weather scenarios (tsunami , high wind damage etc), collisions and of course sitting in front of a computer and being an armed secretary.

Above all it is DARK here. Often zero artificial light and heavy cloud cover. So many scenarios where flood, spot or both are required.

I have used Sunwayman, Klarus, Mag, Surefire,Niteye,Nitcore,Jetbeam,Fenix,Malkoff,HDS,Crelant,Deerelight,Eagletac, Saabluster mods, First light, Macs and probably a few more.

To keep it short I have found most stand up very well to the punishment and have only returned 1 light and replaced only 1 part. I have retired a few into the ocean, passed quite a few on to cops that are grossly underpowered.

My every day work lights include 2 surefire on my duty belt.
A small RRT-01 clipped to my vest.
In my duty bag, 3d Mag with xml malkoff, TK 75, Tn31s (Saabluster),Innova fluorescent for arsons, body fluid etc, First Light tomahawk (to be replaced by the le verson)
HDS 200 on my keyring
Eagletac MK2 with the 3 filters.
Green lazer
Night vision


Anodizing lasts way longer on the surefires, and mags, the eagletac and klarus get nicked up pretty quick but no performance issues.

SO over all I think most will stand up to it.....but many will not look the same.

Your post was really good and it gives all of us a very good look into the life and times of flashlights that really do get used as tools and not just "shelf queens" as many of us collectors do.

When you use a TK75 or similar flashlight as part of your kit when on duty please tell us how good a light such as the TK75 has been in actual use and the reasoning behind your choice of it?

I think the combination of a Fenix TK75 with Saabs modded Thrunite TN31 is very hard to beat as I have noticed in my nightly walks around the block and on holidays in the bush etc.

Until recently when I bought my TK75 I always carried both the TK70 and the Saab modded Thrunite TN31 with me on walks at night especially in the bush.

That Saab modded TN31 is just a crazy thrower as is usual for any flashlight that Michael (Saabluster) mods.

I would usually carry my Klarus XT11 in my back pocket for shorter range use.

I also like to carry a HDS 200 flashlight that can handle some really heavy duty usage and is very reliable as well as some of my heavy duty Surefire pocket rockets.

My final backup pocket light is my AAA powered ITP A3 EOS flashlight that I have found to be really reliable for years now carrying it on my keyring.

Thanks for giving us all a valuable overview of what a guy in Law Enforcement needs and uses his flashlights for.

Are you still allowed to carry a Maglite like the 3D or even the 4D and 6D lights?

Would you still use a Maglite 3D flashlight very often when you really need a light to see well with given the other much brighter alternatives that you already own?

Has the Maglite Magcharger been phased out nowadays by more modern alternatives that can still be recharged so easily and also stand up to the harsh environments that Police come across regularly?

I would have thought that LE officers would have preferred a flashlight that sits in a cradle to recharge as a must so they would be well assured that the flashlight would work well every time and for long run times when taken out of the cradle for Police work.

Most flashlights even now do not have any feature that lets the user know what runtime is left in the light to indicate when a battery change is needed.

Would Police and other LE officers be ok with taking out the Li-ion batteries and changing over to a freshly charged set of batteries in the middle of doing their work and recharging the flatter batteries?

Do you have to pay for your flashlights or do you get one or more issued to you as part of your essential needs just like a gun would be provided to you in carrying out your official police duties?

If you are provided with any lights without cost to you which lights are they?




CHEERS

 

[dougie]

Oztf, in the UK it is highly likely that the use of something on duty (in any of the emergency services) which hasn't been specifically issued or approved for use would render the person using it open to litigation or disciplinary action in the event of an accident or complaint. Most Police, Fire and Ambulance Services have policies in place which forbid the use of equipment which hasn't been approved or issued and in most cases these policies exist for good reason. As you mention some LEO/Police agencies forbid non approved flashlights specifically because of the risk that they are used in place of a baton etc offensively or even in self defence. In the UK I'm not aware of any court cases which have involved a complaint against a police officer or other emergency worker for causing personal injury by temporarily blinding a person by using a very bright flashlight or strobe in their eyes but am confident that the application of such a technique from a non approved flashlight would render the operator liable to being accused of assault and or litigation for personal injury. The obvious accusations being headaches, eye trauma or even an epileptic episode. As a paramedic the rules on what you can and can't use on duty are pretty prescriptive and whilst a small belt carried flashlight is tolerated the risk of a ban becomes very real if someone were to misuse or even unintentionally cause harm to a person through negligence or accident. With the increase in lumens from small one and two cell flashlights now getting ever more brighter it is in my opinion only a matter of time before something like that happens. As the TK75 is marketed as having a use for SAR it is conceivable that they might be purchased for or by a agency/service for that use but I can't see it having any other application for a LEO/Police Officer unless it was used in very limited way and has met with departmental approval.

 

[TEEJ]

LOL

Too many departments buy duty lights based upon the cheapness per case, not the performance.

There are many with memories of sweeping a dark place with an el cheapo plastic lights...and hearing the constant taps of the gun against the light to make it go on again.

 

[Oztorchfreak]

LOL

Too many departments buy duty lights based upon the cheapness per case, not the performance.

There are many with memories of sweeping a dark place with an el cheapo plastic lights...and hearing the constant taps of the gun against the light to make it go on again.

It all boils down to "YEAH GREAT LIGHT BUT WHAT WILL IT COST THE DEPARTMENT"?

"A flashlight is a flashlight" springs to mind as a comment made by many of my bosses when I was doing a lot of building maintenance work.

I think some LE officers would have to carry some of their own gear as their bosses are sometimes too tight to buy something better that would help in keeping their staff alive.

There always seems to be somebody around to take your place in virtually every occupation.




CHEERS

 

[nbp]

Modern lights are pretty tough, and withstand quite a bit. I DON'T DO SHELF QUEENS!! Use your lights, that's why you bought them! I EDC lights from McGizmo, Mac, Muyshondt, and Dark Sucks. Are they expensive? Heck yeah, but they are tough and I trust them to work every day. What's the point of having great lights if you don't use them? I don't abuse my lights, but they get used, and by extension, they get dropped and bumped through such use. Just last week I accidentally launched my McGizmo Haiku into the asphalt driveway. Picked it up, worked just fine. No dents, dings, problems, nothing. Buy a well made light and don't worry about it. If you use your light in the situation for which you bought it, and it can't handle it, then you bought the wrong one. Get something different. If you own the right light for the job but you don't use it out of fear of scratching it...well that's just silly.

And if you really need a tough light, just get something like an HDS, Surefire, Malkoff, Elzetta, etc. Here I dropped my Surefire G2L from 60 feet onto concrete and it still worked.

 

[passive101]

I'm with nbp on not buying shelf queens. I'd rather have a durable light that can take a pounding outside.