And I’m not sure that these flashlights would be rugged enough.
How do you train someone in flashlight usage? What I’m imagining: Heres your flashlight, batteries and charger. It comes with a manual, but basically you press the button and it turns on. There are different ways you can press the button for different modes. Use it at home to become familiar with it.Charge the batteries every night.
Quote from: Pablo O'Brien on April 22, 2018, 12:57:51 PMHow do you train someone in flashlight usage? What I’m imagining: Heres your flashlight, batteries and charger. It comes with a manual, but basically you press the button and it turns on. There are different ways you can press the button for different modes. Use it at home to become familiar with it.Charge the batteries every night.It is more complicated, if one has to arrest, fight or shoot suspects in a dark forest, in extreme weather-conditions. And advanced flashlights can come with a complicate user interface.
characteristics:- sufficient battery-capacity- highly shock-proof and water-resistant- good safety-glass- preferably good user-reviews- not too expensive, since flashlights can break, and police-budgets may be tight- sufficient throw and spill (bright hot-spot plus some widely scattered light), or adjustable beam-width (AKA focusable)- good customer-service and warranty (for repair and spare-parts)
I don't think reading specs on a website is really too useful compared to actual use from experience in the real world and this list of light specs is not a place I would start to look if I were a Cop in need of a light?
In my part of the World the Police seem to focus on Simple,Practical and Available over anything else and it is not difficult to understand why.Mag, Streamlight,SureFire are the obvious choices I think for all of these reasons but Streamlight & SF mostly offer pricier models than many just starting out may be able to justify too?
If looking for a Rechargeable model then these 3 offer rugged proven units that seem to be in use everywhere and are sort of a standard around here from what I can tell overall.
Mag in particular still offers up to 6 or 7 cell lights I think which could offer pretty extreme run times as well as other defensive advantages that smaller lights might not for some tactical situations.
What I would try to stay away from are offshore options with more than 2 modes and many moving parts and complicated switching interfaces.
Also, a 3000lm light will not be portable enough for every day use. Toting it around for a possible search in a forest every now and then doesn't justify that. And if it is portable enough, it will not have enough juice to keep the light working for an entire search.
From what I understand, you want a super powerfull tactical light with alot of rings and bells for as cheap as possible but with an outstanding waranty service.
A S&R light is NOT used to check car documents and passports or vice versa.
Quote from: Mechanickal on April 22, 2018, 02:15:32 PMA S&R light is NOT used to check car documents and passports or vice versa. Most flashlights I mentioned in the list "Very bright, light-weight, affordable flashlights" can do both, thanks to their different light settings. Did you check the specs and review-videos on those?
True, but like I said, while a small, portable flashlight can be used to check documents AND have a high lumen output for long range lighting, the battery pack will nowhere near last as long as a dedicated searchlight. Given the small size, overheating will be an issue as well, causing smaller lights to have a time limit on their full power setting.
Given the small size, overheating will be an issue as well, causing smaller lights to have a time limit on their full power setting.
Also keep in mind that reviews on Amazon can be writen by the brands themself, while Youtube reviewers might have gotten the light for free in change for a positive review.
what is your intention?
Quote from: Mechanickal on April 22, 2018, 09:08:00 PMwhat is your intention?I try to inspire an informed discussion, where police-agencies can find objective facts, arguments, opinions and product-suggestions, to support their selection process. This can be useful, since technologial developments go very fast, and budgets are often tight.
Quote from: ezdog on April 22, 2018, 04:46:27 PMI don't think reading specs on a website is really too useful compared to actual use from experience in the real world and this list of light specs is not a place I would start to look if I were a Cop in need of a light?One could find and compare user-reviews of the mentioned flashlights, via Google, Amazon, Youtube, etc.Quote from: ezdog on April 22, 2018, 04:46:27 PMIn my part of the World the Police seem to focus on Simple,Practical and Available over anything else and it is not difficult to understand why.Mag, Streamlight,SureFire are the obvious choices I think for all of these reasons but Streamlight & SF mostly offer pricier models than many just starting out may be able to justify too?Maglite, Streamlight, Surefire and Led Lenser offer much lower specs for the same money, than the brands that I have mentioned. And I am not convinced that these expensive brands are much more sturdy or higher quality, comparing user-review-scores and review-video's. Quote from: ezdog on April 22, 2018, 04:46:27 PMIf looking for a Rechargeable model then these 3 offer rugged proven units that seem to be in use everywhere and are sort of a standard around here from what I can tell overall.I guess times are changing.Quote from: ezdog on April 22, 2018, 04:46:27 PMMag in particular still offers up to 6 or 7 cell lights I think which could offer pretty extreme run times as well as other defensive advantages that smaller lights might not for some tactical situations.Carrying a 4D Maglite or even heavier with NiMh-batteries, is for many officers not preferable anymore, over carrying a smaller flashlight with lithium batteries. Esp. if they also carry an expandable steel baton, taser, pepperspray, spare mags, bullet-proof vest, bodycam, smartphone, multi-tool, first-aid-kit, gloves, tactical boots, etc. And sometimes a rifle or heavy riot-gear. Quote from: ezdog on April 22, 2018, 04:46:27 PMWhat I would try to stay away from are offshore options with more than 2 modes and many moving parts and complicated switching interfaces.IMO it is important, that the user-interface is logical, easily understandable and well-trained.
I know and have talked to several Police about this and to a man they are not really interested in the things you think they are.Maybe the ones that you know are but like I said before the light is just another tool for them and the more simple the less training and more intuition the use is overall. If they will spend more or their own personal funds for a light it is to get simple and bulletproof not new and unproven .
Man, this guy likes cops
Can we start a thread on 'Which Body Cam they should wear'? This seems to be much more of an issue at stakes here...
When I first read the O.P. initial question here I had to wonder exactly what the motivation was for it overall?I figured he was a new officer maybe and was looking for a light for duty use.But then it just seems to get weirder from there?
This guy is hilarious. As someone who spent much of his army service seconded to a police anti terrorist unit, honestly Rico, please stop trying to speak for the police. They know what they need, they know what they want and most of the time they don't have the budget for either exactly and make do with what the department can afford or already bought last time they could squeeze the gear through the budget. What individual police people buy themselves is based on their own choices. This kind of mall ninja fantasising is rather annoying to the people who have done this for real.
Hey you guys stop knocking him! I like his posts... they're entertaining!!!
I have to agree with Fuzzy and Pabs - If you don't want to get involved in the thread for whatever reason, feel free, but if you do want to contribute please be as respectful as the OP has been, despite all the insults.