Tactical flashlights are essential tools for information gathering, navigation, identification, control, and communication in low-light environments. While lumens have traditionally been the primary focus for flashlight performance, factors like candelas, hotspot, and light color significantly impact the effectiveness of a tactical flashlight in critical situations.
Until recently, a flashlight's quality was often determined by its lumen output, with a 1000-lumen flashlight being considered high-quality for tactical purposes. However, the emphasis has shifted towards beam intensity and candela ratings, as they play a crucial role in providing efficient and quiet operations in low-light scenarios.
While other flashlight companies produce high lumen flashlights with a lot of light flood, INFORCE focuses on delivering the best beam intensity in its class, making their flashlights ideal for specific tactical situations such as self-defense. An INFORCE light can function as a nonlethal deterrent, since its 10,000 candela beam intensity can cause flash blindness in either low-light or even daytime conditions.
When used tactically in low-light situations, such as searching and navigating through buildings, speed, efficiency, and stealth are vital. Clearing a building meticulously with an attached flashlight can be time-consuming, but it is crucial for safety. However, the brightness of a flashlight starts to diminish the moment it is activated, making it essential to conserve battery life. Using a tactical flashlight's momentary mode to briefly flash an area helps avoid providing an easy target to potential opponents. Moreover, being cautious while approaching dark areas with a flashlight is essential to prevent alerting potential threats to your presence.
The size of your flood is determined by your flashlight’s lumen count. High lumens determine a larger area of flood. The brightness of your hotspot, the area at the center of your flashlight beam, is determined by your candela count.
Although candela ratings and hotspot sizes are significant factors in flashlight performance, flood plays an essential role as well. A balanced flood ensures a broader area is illuminated, allowing for better situational awareness. While a bright hotspot is useful for identifying specific threats, flood ensures you have a comprehensive view of your surroundings.
In high-stress situations, correctly identifying threats is of utmost importance. Making a knee-jerk reaction and shooting someone without verifying the situation can have severe consequences.
The INFORCE Wild 2's high candela count ensures that shining its light on a subject inflicts a painful and bright experience, causing them to turn away. This intensity effectively disorients potential threats, buying valuable time for both self-defense and identification. Furthermore, the flashlight's powerful beam leaves the subject unsure whether they are facing an ordinary flashlight or a weapon, adding an element of surprise and advantage in dangerous situations.
The emphasis on lumens in tactical flashlights has shifted, and shooters who wish to prioritize power should focus on high candela counts and beam intensity in their next tactical flashlights. INFORCE flashlights exemplify the importance of these factors in delivering efficient and effective tactical tools for information gathering and threat identification. Balancing flood and hotspot further enhances the flashlight's usefulness in diverse scenarios, ensuring safety and success in low-light environments. When used responsibly and with proper training, these advanced tactical flashlights can become valuable assets for individuals and professionals alike.