A high-quality military flashlight offers numerous features that make it an essential item for self-defense. A military grade flashlight offers more features than a standard version, but there are 7 essential features for the device to be considered ideal for self-defense including:
1. Bright, Blinding Light
A flashlight for self-defense should produce at least 120 lumens on the brightest setting. Anything over 300 lumens is not necessary. In the darkness, this kind of brightness will blind and disorient an attacker temporarily, which gives you enough time to defend yourself.
2. Self-Defense Utility
Interrupting your attacker using bright, blinding life can literally save your life. However, a military grade flashlight should take self-defense a notch higher by incorporating features like a crenulated bezel for striking. It is a sharp, jagged bezel that will ruin your attacker’s day if you get a strike to the throat, face, or any other soft spot.
3. Hard, Durable, Aluminum Casing
A military grade flashlight should have a hard, aluminum casing with plastic or rubberized reinforcements around the back end and neck. It will provide you with a weapon to be used after you have blinded the attacker with the bright light. The great thing about aluminum is that it never rusts and holds up against drops, impacts, scrapes, and bumps it will likely undergo during its lifetime.
4. Waterproof
Attacks don’t only happen when the weather is good, so it is important to be able to use your military grade flashlight in all kinds of weather for self-defense. A waterproof military flashlight keeps working even when it is raining or when it is dropped in a pool of water.
5. Carrying Options
Easy access to your military flashlight is a definite must in case of an attack. A flashlight designed for such situations and environments will typically come with a high-quality holster. Many of them actually have an integrated chip that makes the flashlight harder to lose and easier to deploy.
6. Flash Settings
Bright light is sometimes not enough to get people’s attention, especially when under attack. A flash setting that offers staggered or strobe light pulses is more likely to be noticed and help you get the attention that you need. It is usually the third setting on most tactical flashlights and you can use it when in need of assistance.
7. Weapon Mount Compatibility
Military flashlights are designed to be used in conjunction with a firearm. Sometimes, it means holding the flashlight in one hand and gripping a weapon in the other. However, most people prefer mounting their lights to the barrel of their weapons using a mounting system. The important thing is to ensure that your chosen flashlight is compatible with the mounting before investing.
The Bottom Line
The best self-defense military flashlight should have some essential features if it is to be an effective tool for preventing and responding to attacks. The 7 features discussed here are what you need to look for when investing in a flashlight for self-defense.
