When shopping for a flashlight, weapon light, or any other illumination tool, a device's lumen count is often made out to be its defining statistic, much like mileage is when evaluating a car. But what exactly is a lumen, and how does it translate to real-world brightness?
What Is a Lumen?
In technical terms, a lumen is a unit of measurement for the total amount of visible light emitted by a source in all directions. Think of lumens as a way to gauge brightness: the higher the number of lumens, the brighter the light. Unlike watts, which measure energy consumption, and candelas, which measure the intensity of light in a specific direction, lumens focus purely on the light's overall output.
To better grasp the concept, let’s put some context around these numbers with real-world examples.
How Bright Is Bright?
-
100 lumens: Equivalent to a small household flashlight or a standard candle lantern. Enough to illuminate a small campsite or read a map in low-light conditions.
-
200 lumens: Comparable to many entry-level bike lights, providing sufficient brightness for navigating darker streets or trails.
-
300 lumens: Matches many mid-range handheld flashlights. Bright enough to light up a room or create temporary disorientation when directed at someone’s eyes.
Now, let’s see how INFORCE lights compare:
-
400 lumens (WML White/IR): Comparable to about 40 candles burning together or two 60-watt incandescent bulbs. Ideal for close-to-midrange scenarios, it provides sufficient illumination for indoor or confined spaces without causing glare or visual fatigue.
-
500 lumens (WILD1): Comparable an average car headlight on low beam. This brightness level offers versatile use for both indoor and outdoor applications, from room clearing to signaling in low-visibility conditions.
-
1100 lumens (WMLx White Gen 3): Comparable to a car’s high beams. This level of brightness is perfect for open outdoor environments, searching large areas, or creating maximum disorientation in high-stakes scenarios.
Why Lumens Matter
Understanding lumens helps you choose the right light for your needs. Higher lumens are great for long-range visibility and outdoor use, but they can be overkill for tight spaces or low-light stealth operations. Conversely, lower lumens are sufficient for close-range tasks and conserve battery life.
INFORCE designs lights with real-world applications in mind, providing options for every mission and environment. Whether you need the precision of the 400-lumen WML White/IR, the versatility of the 500-lumen WILD1, or the sheer intensity of the 1100-lumen WMLx White Gen 3, there’s an INFORCE light to illuminate your path.
With the right understanding of lumens, you’re better equipped to make an informed decision—and never be left in the dark.
To shop INFORCE flashlights, click here.