Tactical or Practical, which do you use most

[bykfixer]

I carry a "tactical" flashlight in my pocket regularly, but day to day I use a "practical" flashlight by far more often as between 15-50 lumens suits my needs 90% (or more) of the time.

So far I haven't needed my tactical light for it's tactical features but it's better to have it and not need versus need it and not have it.

How about you?

 

[idleprocess]

Practical. I need to walk dogs, navigate in the dark, or light up a workspace some 99% of the time. Flood with double- to low triple-digit lumens generally does it. On the occasion I need to light up something further away, it's generally only some 30m distant.

If I need tactical, I've got the hogleg with a weapon light affixed.

 

[PoliceScannerMan]

Practical, most of my lights start on low. The rare night out with the wife, I'll have something tactical to pair with the CCW.

 

[Olumin]

Why not both? I always carry a MDC with VME M61WLL. Single mode forward clicky 80lm. If I remember correctly $urefire defined a tactical flashlight to be over 60lm back in the day.
I will often also supplement that with an MD2, which is without doubt tactical.

I will also carry a Zebra SC5c II from time to time, or a SF titan plus, which fall on the practical side of things.
Over time Ive come to like single mode forward clickies with moderate but well regulated outputs & I suppose those also happen to fall into the tactical category.

 

[bykfixer]

In about 2015 a young police officer and I were discussing flashlights one day in mid day sunshine on a concrete parking lot. A condition that probably had my retinas squeezed down about as small as they get. I had never seen a SureFire 6P in person at the time.

He said "I still use this" and whips out a 6P from a holster and zapped my eyeballs with it from about 5 feet away. I was seeing spots for a while after. So yeah, in the right situation 60 lumens can be of tactical use.

 

[Olumin]

I carried the Zebra a lot when I first got it, but now a few months in, im back to grabbing the MDC. Its just more intuitive, quick and easy to use. It also fills out my hand better then any other light I own. Ive found 80 lumens to be almost never too bright or dimm, at least indoors. I still occasionally experiment with using a Lumens factory E-head and incan module, but have generally found it to be too focused (& therefore too blinding) to use up close.

I still like the zebra for its sub lumen outputs, but in a pinch I can always just cup my hand over the mdc to reduce its light. I suppose what I want to say is that a tactical flashlight can very much also be practical, as for me the mdc is the most practical light I own.

 

[Megalamuffin]

I like to carry two lights so I have one of each and the idea of a backup light is good in general. I often carry two tac lights and use one for regular stuff.

Does it still count as a tac light if it’s output is behind the times compared to newer lights? For example an incan e2e is a dated tac light, and the 60 lumen bulb is great, but it’s nowhere close to the overwhelming brightness of the current 1000 lumen e2d.

 

[orbital]

+

Carrying a small multi-mode light, you can do practically anything.

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Probably my most used light of all time is my D25LC2 (eagletac 18650 twisty multi-mode)
really small for a 18650 light.

Have a couple of them, including one that's new in box.

 

[Hooked on Fenix]

I carry a Nitecore E4K. Most use on 2, 50, and 320 lumen settings, but if I need a tactical light during use, I just hold the button while on and it bumps it up to 4400 lumens for short tactical bursts. Most situations, that’s a good compromise for me between tactical and practical.

 

[aznsx]

+

Carrying a small multi-mode light, you can do practically anything.

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Probably my most used light of all time is my D25LC2 (eagletac 18650 twisty multi-mode)
really small for a 18650 light.

Have a couple of them, including one that's new in box.

I assume you're referring to the 'Tactical' variant of the D25LC2 with a normal "forward" (momentary/maintained-on) tailswitch like this one:

D25LC2 Tactical

www.eagtac.com

If so, I'd agree that it does come pretty close to being practically a 'do-all' solution that can meet most (tactical / miscellaneous) needs, and off hand I can't think of another 1x18650 light that duplicates its interface.

I agree that while we once had to make a choice between lights to meet those different needs, in 2022 they can be covered nicely with a single model light. For that matter, my Elzetta Alpha can cover most of my needs, albeit with only 2 output levels and controlled with tail rather than head rotation - but that covers me for practically all my basic needs honestly. We may need two for N+1 redundancy, but they needn't be different, and in some respects it's better if they aren't much different in terms of their basic operation. For 'N+1' to work, they technically both need to be able to cover the same basic primary functional need(s) or it's not true redundancy.

 

[parang]

I realized tactical is not my style. I slowly sold my black on black knives. My flashlights are mostly black, but lack typical tactical features and that aspect never plays a role when buying one.

 

[Emmet R Doad]

Streamlight micro stream rechargeable (formerly AAA) in shirt pocket every day at work. Handy in ceilings or hunting a light switch down a hallway. Hiii Lee practicle.

 

[bykfixer]

Practical, most of my lights start on low. The rare night out with the wife, I'll have something tactical to pair with the CCW.

When the Mrs and I go out for a stroll we carry Maglites (usually set on the lowest setting) and backup wrist strap lights with kubatan ability. Ya never know when a mean dog is running loose.

 

[Jean-Luc Descarte]

Practical. My most carried lights are tube lights like the by a wiiiiide margin because they're so convenient and slim. I only take my "P60 module" style tactical-ish torches when I need the throw, and even they are not set up tactically. I trust having awareness and sound judgement more than any tacticool widget these days.

 

[Msf]

Practical. Usually one that comes on in low, has good runtime on medium for long walks, and can easily fit in a front pants pocket so it’s always with me.
However, I admit to preferring that those lights also give fast access to high, such as an HDS.

 

[vicv]

I guess I’m not sure what is meant by practical or tactical. I usually have an H-A aviator in my pocket. I will have to use that to walk my dog at night as well. But I also may bring out a 6P with a 10 white 3.7 V bulb in it. Or a six de maglite xenon. Or another one with a more powerful bulb. Which one of those are tactical and which one are practical? They all use throwy incandescent beams. Which is obviously my preference. I also will sometimes, if I’m in an LED type of mood, will bring out my 3CML 50 LX. Usually on the 20 lm eco-mode. Or sometimes I will bump it up to the 100 lm low. And I very much enjoy my polystinger on low. Which is also around 100 lm. These are both throwy lights. And both come on in high so would probably be considered tactical.

 

[Rickajho]

Practical. The fewer features the better.

 

[vicv]

Isn't fewer features a tactical setup? Simple on off is pretty tactical

 

[orbital]

I assume you're referring to the 'Tactical' variant of the D25LC2 with a normal "forward" (momentary/maintained-on) tailswitch like this one:

+

Referring to the twisty version called D25LC2 'Mini' by eagletac,, been discontinued for several years.




I'd like to see any manufacturer make a 21700 twisty light,,, switches wear out.

 

[Megalamuffin]

There’s also a few lights (like the surefire edcl1-t or a malkoff with hi/low ring) that have a great blend of practical and tactical without sacrificing the dead simple operation a tac light should have. This is my favorite type of light.