One of the hardest parts about purchasing flashlights is how many different kinds of flashlights there are, such as EDC, Tactical, Hunting, Compact, Flood, Headlamps, and many more. With all of these different choices it can be almost impossible to know what kind of flashlight to buy. In many cases the flashlight you purchase can be used for a wide variety of tasks, such as an EDC light, but some lights are designed for a more specialized purpose. With that in mind it is important to understand the purpose behind the different kinds of lights so that you can select the one that is the best flashlight for you. It maybe the brightest flashlight world or maybe a small yet still very bright flashlight. Here are some points to help you with your purchase.
EDC Lights
If you are new to the flashlight world an EDC flashlight is a flashlight that you can carry with you everywhere you go. An EDC light is designed to be used in a variety of situations, including self-defense and power outages. If you decide to purchase an EDC light you want to find one that you can carry with you no matter where you go, so you need to look for a light that is small enough to fit inside your purse or pocket. You also want to find one that is durable enough to be used every day, as well as for self-defense if needed.
Headlamps
For those of you that are looking for something to use while outdoors that doesn’t require you to hold a light at all times a headlamp is an ideal choice. Headlamps feature adjustable straps so they can fit over a variety of helmets or heads. With headlamps you don’t have as many choices as you do with flashlights, but there are still plenty of different ones to choose from with different options, such as filters, dual lamps, etc. Headlamps are preferred by hikers and hunters as it frees up their hands for use in aiming or climbing.
Keychain
As the name suggests these flashlights are ones that will easily hook onto your keychain allowing you to always have a light at your fingertips. These lights are very similar to EDC lights, but they are often a lot smaller in size because of the smaller places that they will go. Every keychain light comes with a key ring loop, but it is something that you will want to replace to ensure it is a sturdy one.
Pistol Light
This type of light is one that mounts to the front of a pistol to allow you to track where your gun is aiming. Pistol lights are nothing like tactical flashlights, they are an entirely different class as they cannot be used as a striking device as easily. Some pistol lights are only meant to be mounted, while others can serve as a mounted or handheld light depending on your needs.
Penlight
Penlights are very thin and as the name suggests they look very similar to a pen. Penlights can be carried in pockets or anywhere else you carry a pen. With pen lights you have two different categories, ordinary penlights and medical penlights. The difference between the two is the medical ones are specifically designed for the medical field and they offer lower lumens and will not burn the eyes.
Police/Law Enforcement
One of the biggest difference between police/law enforcement lights and other flashlights is the quality of the lights. Lights manufactured for law enforcement are a higher quality light because of how much they are relied on. If their light fails to work properly, it can literally put that officer’s life on the line. These lights also differ from other tactical lights in their special features, such as the ability to immediately access the brightest setting or even the strobe feature.
Survival/Hunting
Aside from EDC lights this is probably the most popular type of flashlight currently on the market. As the name suggests these lights are designed for survivalists or hunters. The lights are a quality light that are built to withstand repeated use in the outdoors. These lights often come with extra accessories, such as filters or different color LEDs, to improve their use in the outdoors.