One of the pieces of gear that has become essential these days is a good flashlight that can double as a tactical torch as well.

Now, tactical is a word that quickly brings to mind images of tacti-cool mall ninjas, buying one useless gadget after another. After all, most of us grew up without such a piece of gear.

Still, how many of us have owned, with pride, a Maglite, carried a mini Maglite or Solitaire in a pack or pocket, and usually put it to good use?

Yet, compare the puny old Solitaire to a Fenix LDO1 with a Q5 Cree emitter like the one I mentioned in a previous article, and you’d think it somehow got here from outer space or traveled back from the future.

Today’s LED technology has advanced in ways that put those beloved old dinosaurs we held in high regard to shame.

Brighter, much more durable and tougher,  with amazing battery run times.

This means possibilities that where unthinkable before: Several times the amount of runtime, tougher light emitters, different output modes that adapt to each need, turbo modes that can be used in defensive applications to blind an attacker or use it as a tactical torch along with you concealed carry handgun.

The same flashlight, being carried every day as part of your every day carry (EDC) gear, could be used in an emergency or survival situation, in many cases providing more than 24 hours of light in low mode.

A similar concept applies if you use your light on daily basis for work or camping. The low mode is usually enough and greatly extends the batteries runtime.

1) Ruggedness and Durability: This is typical of most LEDs. Remember Maglights with their spare bulbs in the tail cap? LEDs last for years and are much more shock resistant, so they tolerate impacts and general abuse much better.

2) Brightness and modes:  For defensive and tactical use you want at least 80 lumens or more, with a good focused bright spot. For emergencies and everyday use you’ll value runtime more than brightness in most cases, 10-15 lumens is enough. Different modes are a good addition to a Tactical light that may end up fulfilling other roles in an emergency.
A strobe mode and SOS mode might be desired if you see yourself venturing to places where you may need to be rescued.

3) Battery Availability: Sometimes you don’t have much to choose from. All you have is a battery you scrounged out of the remote control or some other appliance, or the old guy manning the gas station in the middle of nowhere only has AA batteries, and that’s it.

It’s better to stick to common batteries. AA are the most popular with AAA close behind. Still, 123A lithium batteries are becoming more and more popular and carrying a couple spares in a small container will make this less of an issue. Even though AA are more common, 123A offer more power for tactical uses.

4) Single cell: This is something I also take into consideration. Your last match, your last round of ammunition to hunt your meal… your last battery. If your flashlight requires two you’re out of luck, but if it runs on a single cell you’re good to go.

5) Size and switches: The smaller the better, but a small cylindrical tube is preferred. Small, practical and drops comfortably into a pocket. While a twist on/off mechanism is more durable, a tactical light should have a tailcap switch as well.

6) Throw vs Flow: While good flow is essential in situations where you want ambient lighting, throw is better for defensive and tactical use. Get a light that balances both the best or adjust to your most probable scenario and needs.

7) Upright standing position: This is an advantage in some situations where the lights gets used as a candle. A flashlight pointing to a white ceiling reflects light back spreading it in a  greater surface for better room illumination. Many Fenix products take this into account.

Fenix products are an excellent value for the price, and if you can afford to spoil yourself a bit, Surefire lights are the best money can buy in state of the art flashlight technology.

Some Suggestions:

SUREFIRE L1 LumaMax

SureFire E1B Backup

Surefire The T1A Titan

Fenix L1D

Fenix PD20

Fenix P1D-CE Premium Q5

Fernando Aguirre

It doesn’t occur very often but it does happen:

You’re in your home doing whatever it is you’re doing and you hear a noise downstairs or in the next room.

Someone broke in. You know someone did. You were sure the other 20 times and always found a logical explanation for such noise, but this time you clearly hear footsteps and it isn’t Christmas so you know its not Santa. (now that I think about it, even if it is Santa, I’d shoot the weirdo full of holes for breaking into my home)

It almost always works that way: When SHTF, all you’ll have with you is what you have on you at that time, and what’s inside your head.

Doesn’t matter if you have a General Electric Gatling gun in your war room, right now you don’t have anything unless you happen to be carrying your handgun as you should, or you have a gun accessible in every room.

A gun in every room, man that sounds paranoid. But you know what? even that isn’t enough.

In this case it would help but its not the final solution. The final solution is carrying your gun with you. It should be glued to your pants, unless you are buck naked, you should have your handgun on you. OK, that’ sounds even more paranoid, but I’ll admit I’ve even taken my handgun hidden in a towel when going to the pool. How that for paranoid?:-)

It always revolves around the same subject: The unexpected, the + C undetermined factor mathematicians know exist.

Same happens with life man, everyday there’s a +C for each of us.

People that suffer tragedies or accidents, none knew what was coming.

They would have called in sick if they had known.

As I mentioned several times and we get to see often, people get attacked by criminals when they least expect it. I insist on being extra aware when going in and out of your car/garage because I know for a fact that those are particular dangerous moments criminals take advantage of.

But there’s others too. People have been caught of guard in their backyards, while in the pool, mowing the lawn or having a BBQ.

Why not? It’s a moment when you are vulnerable, it makes a lot of sense. Don’t count on getting targeted when going to the range with several guns handy. That happened to me once but come on, what are the odds? Bad guy left empty handed by the way, but with no extra holes in the body, so it was a good day for both of us.

Crime is a problem. It will continue to be a problem and sticking the head under the sand isn’t my thing.

Conceal a gun in every room? Some people do that but it not only increases the probability of accidents, you end up with several unsecured firearms yet don’t have one with you at all times.

The solution is simple folks: Carry the thing. Get used to it being a part of your pants, and yet not feel weird, paranoid or enjoy life any less in any way, still, doing so armed.

Liking guns helps a lot, it’s not so much of a burden to carry it, but it’s still about being consistent.

Eventually it’s like your watch, folder or wallet. It just stops bothering.

Now, when you’re sleeping is a particular moment of vulnerability, and what people don’t know is that most house doors can be kicked in with a solid frontal kick. You don’t need SWAT, just an average door and a person of medium build who can land a solid frontal kick.

Drop into the mix the usual small homes and apartments people live in, and you have an intruder on you within seconds.

Besides, you’re asleep, your vulnerable and slow to react.

Your gun (loaded) and your flashlight should be ready to grab right away. If there’s time, body armor is a huge life saver but takes a few more seconds to put on. Sometimes you have those seconds and use them to put on armor, sometimes you don’t.

Going from fully asleep to awake and alert within a second can be achieved. It’s all about mindset, not just saying mindset but actually thinking about jumping out of your bed and going for the gun as you go to sleep. When a sound wakes you up, you fall back to that last thought and react quick.

And remember, you’re not paranoid if they really are out there to get you.

Good night people.

Fernando Aguirre