At last I've found the time to complete this review! As I said in my first impressions thread, this product is targeted to law enforcement. However, this light sits in my nightstand when not in my belt, and it's quite well suited for EDC as well. Without further ado, here is my full review (and first review) of the Tactical Impulse LE-1 flashlight and its accessories. I will add to this if I discover anything new...
Specs from the Manufacturer:
Form & Exterior
Because the light is designed for law enforcement, its size is a bit larger than other popular lights outputting the same if not more lumens. However, Its size allows it to be used as a tool and for it to be tucked up under an arm for note taking. The large head size also allows you to have a mean grip on the flashlight, and keeps the light from being too hot to handle. It has a very solid feel, and I see no deficits in workmanship. The entire light can break apart: The central 'control unit' with the electronics, LED and head switch is the only section that is completely sealed along with the tail-cap. The shaft is also just about 1" in diameter, so it can be mounted in 1" gun mounts.
LED & Optics
The LED looks the XML, but maybe someone can confirm that. The lens is shatter resistant glass at 1/16th of an inch think per the manufacturer, and it has an excellent anti-glare coating. Since the head is big, the reflector has a massive amount of surface area for focusing. However, the reflector has a very pronounced orange peel texture. For law enforcement, the beam pattern is perfect in my opinion. I have made many interior sweeps with this light, and the massive amount of peripheral coverage is phenomenal. The only drawback is obviously, throw. This light is going to light up everything in its path very well within approximately 75-100 yards. That isn't say you can't see it past that, but for all intents and purposes this is not a 'throw' light. Again, for law enforcement, it lights up accident scenes, houses (inside and out), cars, etc. extremely well.
Switch
The switches are very unique (head & tail), and I have yet to feel a switch like it. Maybe one is out there, I just haven't seen one. It is a digital switch that has a tactile break halfway through the switch throw. So, as you are pushing the switch in, you feel a slight click or pop, and then you continue to push the switch in to feel the full-click upon full depression. At the halfway tactile break, you perform you momentary activations and mode changes (more below). It takes the guess work out of how far you need to depress the switch to activate momentary.
UI
The UI is by far one of the things I love the most. It is simple to learn and use, and the logic doesn't rely on timing rules. For example, some lights must be in a mode for 2 seconds to be stored into mode memory. Such is not the case with the LE-1.
So, first things first… Both switches work the same way – True one-handed operation. Half presses activate momentary. Full-click keeps the light on. While the light is ON, half presses change the operating mode from HIGH, MEDIUM, LOW or STROBE. A full-click will turn the light off. By default, the light will turn back on in HIGH mode. If the light is programmed to use mode-memory, the light will turn back on in the last mode it was in. So, if you turned the light off in STROBE mode, you can do a half press to momentarily activate in STROBE. What's cool is you can do that very quickly 5 times in a row and it is going to stay on STROBE (no timing rules).
With the LE-1, a rapid double-click goes to HIGH mode, not STROBE like most lights. I must say that I find this very useful when employing mode-memory. Especially for law enforcement, having a fast way to turn the light on HIGH is more important than accessing STROBE. The mode-memory allows you to do a complete search using momentary activations in LOW mode so you don't blow your adjusted night vision. Then, if you need light, and lots of it, you just need to double click.
Battery & Charging
The battery is your standard IC protected 18650 3100 mAh battery with a flat top. The battery sits in a plastic battery holder that has a spring on the top and bottom. There are spring loaded gold contacts on both ends of the holder in different configurations, but both deliver positive and negative power connections to each end. It appears that the numerous contact points are there for redundancy, as there is really only a need for two. This feature of the battery holder is important when it comes to the Traffic Baton and Size & Life Extension Pack discussed later.
The LE-1 has two charging rings that meet the charging contacts on the Cradle Charger. The LE-1 also has a groove around the neck that allows plastic clasps in the Cradle Charger to hold the flashlight in place while charging, and the flashlight does not have to be lined up to charge. The cradle charger also has a bay to charge a naked 18650 battery. Also, the DC car or AC home charger connect to the base via a twist-lock connection.
Traffic Baton
The traffic baton is an accessory that attaches to the tail-end of the LE-1 in place of the tail-cap switch. The contacts on the battery holder meet the contacts on the underside of the traffic baton to deliver power. The traffic baton has a power switch which makes the baton flash in STROBE or keeps in on constantly. The clear section is made out of some kind of very tough acrylic type material with red striations in the middle. While the traffic baton is being used, you can also use the head switch on the flashlight to use the main light as well.
Size & Life Extension Pack
This is an accessory that adds an additional 18650 battery to the mix. It has a removable end-cap that allows the battery to be secured inside, and the contacts on the underside of the unit meet the contacts on the battery holder. Once it is screwed on, the entire light does have a very solid and well balanced feel to it.
Holster
The holster, although a little bulky, is very cool. Basically, the light is somehow knows when it is holstered. I'm not sure what the 'sensing' mechanism is, but the light wirelessly knows when it is holstered, and the holster does not take batteries. If you holster the light when it is turned on, the light will automatically cut off. Plus, the light cannot turn on in the holster by pushing the switch. For law enforcement, this is a huge plus. It is quite easy to turn your light on when sitting in your car.
The holster also has plastic clips that lock into the groove on the flashlight to keep it in place. The retention is not that strong, in fact, I think it could be a bit stronger. However, it does its job of keeping the light in the holster. It has an adjustment bar that can fit small belts or duty belts up to 2.25" wide. The light holder section rotates around the belt attachment piece 360 degrees.
Specs from the Manufacturer:
- Lumen Output – HIGH: 595 lm
- Modes – HIGH(100%), MEDIUM (50%), LOW (20%), STROBE (100%)
- Runtimes – HIGH: 2.1 hrs., MED: 4.58 hrs., LOW: 12.2 hrs.
- Construction Material: Aluminum
- Reflector: Faceted Aluminum
- Lens: 1/16" Impact Resistant Glass
- Battery Type: 3100 mAh Rechargeable Li-ion
- Length: 8.38"
- Weight w/Battery: 11.6 oz.
- Bezel Diameter: 2.13"
- Water Resistance: IPX8 (Submersible)
- Impact Rating: 2 M
Form & Exterior
Because the light is designed for law enforcement, its size is a bit larger than other popular lights outputting the same if not more lumens. However, Its size allows it to be used as a tool and for it to be tucked up under an arm for note taking. The large head size also allows you to have a mean grip on the flashlight, and keeps the light from being too hot to handle. It has a very solid feel, and I see no deficits in workmanship. The entire light can break apart: The central 'control unit' with the electronics, LED and head switch is the only section that is completely sealed along with the tail-cap. The shaft is also just about 1" in diameter, so it can be mounted in 1" gun mounts.
LED & Optics
The LED looks the XML, but maybe someone can confirm that. The lens is shatter resistant glass at 1/16th of an inch think per the manufacturer, and it has an excellent anti-glare coating. Since the head is big, the reflector has a massive amount of surface area for focusing. However, the reflector has a very pronounced orange peel texture. For law enforcement, the beam pattern is perfect in my opinion. I have made many interior sweeps with this light, and the massive amount of peripheral coverage is phenomenal. The only drawback is obviously, throw. This light is going to light up everything in its path very well within approximately 75-100 yards. That isn't say you can't see it past that, but for all intents and purposes this is not a 'throw' light. Again, for law enforcement, it lights up accident scenes, houses (inside and out), cars, etc. extremely well.
Switch
The switches are very unique (head & tail), and I have yet to feel a switch like it. Maybe one is out there, I just haven't seen one. It is a digital switch that has a tactile break halfway through the switch throw. So, as you are pushing the switch in, you feel a slight click or pop, and then you continue to push the switch in to feel the full-click upon full depression. At the halfway tactile break, you perform you momentary activations and mode changes (more below). It takes the guess work out of how far you need to depress the switch to activate momentary.
UI
The UI is by far one of the things I love the most. It is simple to learn and use, and the logic doesn't rely on timing rules. For example, some lights must be in a mode for 2 seconds to be stored into mode memory. Such is not the case with the LE-1.
So, first things first… Both switches work the same way – True one-handed operation. Half presses activate momentary. Full-click keeps the light on. While the light is ON, half presses change the operating mode from HIGH, MEDIUM, LOW or STROBE. A full-click will turn the light off. By default, the light will turn back on in HIGH mode. If the light is programmed to use mode-memory, the light will turn back on in the last mode it was in. So, if you turned the light off in STROBE mode, you can do a half press to momentarily activate in STROBE. What's cool is you can do that very quickly 5 times in a row and it is going to stay on STROBE (no timing rules).
With the LE-1, a rapid double-click goes to HIGH mode, not STROBE like most lights. I must say that I find this very useful when employing mode-memory. Especially for law enforcement, having a fast way to turn the light on HIGH is more important than accessing STROBE. The mode-memory allows you to do a complete search using momentary activations in LOW mode so you don't blow your adjusted night vision. Then, if you need light, and lots of it, you just need to double click.
Battery & Charging
The battery is your standard IC protected 18650 3100 mAh battery with a flat top. The battery sits in a plastic battery holder that has a spring on the top and bottom. There are spring loaded gold contacts on both ends of the holder in different configurations, but both deliver positive and negative power connections to each end. It appears that the numerous contact points are there for redundancy, as there is really only a need for two. This feature of the battery holder is important when it comes to the Traffic Baton and Size & Life Extension Pack discussed later.
The LE-1 has two charging rings that meet the charging contacts on the Cradle Charger. The LE-1 also has a groove around the neck that allows plastic clasps in the Cradle Charger to hold the flashlight in place while charging, and the flashlight does not have to be lined up to charge. The cradle charger also has a bay to charge a naked 18650 battery. Also, the DC car or AC home charger connect to the base via a twist-lock connection.
Traffic Baton
The traffic baton is an accessory that attaches to the tail-end of the LE-1 in place of the tail-cap switch. The contacts on the battery holder meet the contacts on the underside of the traffic baton to deliver power. The traffic baton has a power switch which makes the baton flash in STROBE or keeps in on constantly. The clear section is made out of some kind of very tough acrylic type material with red striations in the middle. While the traffic baton is being used, you can also use the head switch on the flashlight to use the main light as well.
Size & Life Extension Pack
This is an accessory that adds an additional 18650 battery to the mix. It has a removable end-cap that allows the battery to be secured inside, and the contacts on the underside of the unit meet the contacts on the battery holder. Once it is screwed on, the entire light does have a very solid and well balanced feel to it.
Holster
The holster, although a little bulky, is very cool. Basically, the light is somehow knows when it is holstered. I'm not sure what the 'sensing' mechanism is, but the light wirelessly knows when it is holstered, and the holster does not take batteries. If you holster the light when it is turned on, the light will automatically cut off. Plus, the light cannot turn on in the holster by pushing the switch. For law enforcement, this is a huge plus. It is quite easy to turn your light on when sitting in your car.
The holster also has plastic clips that lock into the groove on the flashlight to keep it in place. The retention is not that strong, in fact, I think it could be a bit stronger. However, it does its job of keeping the light in the holster. It has an adjustment bar that can fit small belts or duty belts up to 2.25" wide. The light holder section rotates around the belt attachment piece 360 degrees.
