The days are getting shorter again.
Do you sometimes feel unsafe at night, or have to go through dangerous areas in the dark? Do you want something to help protect you, but don’t want to have to deal with pepper spray, mace, or a weapon? Would you like more options if you are ever attacked?
There’s a simple tool that is not only good for all those things, but is just handy to have for other reasons. Best of all, you can take them anywhere, even into banks and office buildings!
I’m talking about a tactical flashlight.
You’re walking to your car after a hard day at work. Your eyes are a bit bleary, your back hurts, and all you can think about is your favorite Netflix show that’s waiting for you at home.
You hear a sound from between a couple of cars. Someone is there!
The light in the parking lot is bad – maintenance still hasn’t gotten to it. But you know you aren’t alone.
Is Brad, the creep who kept texting his undying love even after you told him “not jus tno, but hell no” and blocked him? Or is it the robber you’ve heard about at break, the one who’s been trying to get into cars? Or is it just a buddy, trying to freak you out?
You don’t know.
Something jumped out of the dark at you. You turn, bring your hand up. Your thumb flicks the button at the base of your tiny flashlight, its intense beam pierces the night…
…revealing a stranger’s face, who is now bringing his hands up to shield his eyes from the blinding light. You hear the clank as something heavy, maybe a tire iron? hits the ground. Taking advantage of the sudden distraction, you run back to the building, to call the police or maybe that tough chick who’s always well armed.
Tactical flashlights come in small versions, pocket sized, often with specially reinforced bezels so you can use them to make strikes if the bright flash of light isn’t enough to help you escape.
Look for one with 400 lumens or better. Mine has different settings so you don’t use up the battery very fast if you don’t need the ultra-bright setting. I like it a lot, it’s made by Fenixfire. I bought it on sale of course but have been very pleased. It looks kind of cool and lightsaber-y.
Whatever your choice in flashlight brands, look for a flashlight that is either rechargeable or uses rechargable batteries. Immediately reject anything that uses AA or AAA batteries. It won’t be powerful enough. The kind that these flashlights use can be expensive, better to be able to recharge them.
Look for a flashlight that has a button on the tail cap rather than on the side. If you are going to use it as a striking tool, this will come in handy. Also avoid glass lenses unless they are tempered. Also, if you ant something small, do your internet searching with the keyword “EDC.” EDC, or EveryDay Carry flashlights have to be tiny and robust.
Here is an article all about tactical flashlights. The most important thing is to note that you need to be prepared to move quickly. Even the brightest light won’t hinder an attacker for long, you need to get out of the situation or fight back as quickly as possible. However, a small, powerful flashlight can get you out of more than one sticky situation without permanently harming anyone…
… and they can be great to find things in the dark, too.
Mindflight 