Light Beats Darkness Every Time
It was once said that light beats darkness every time. I can’t argue with that statement. I see people carry a gun or a knife for self-defense but when I ask them where their handheld light is or if they have practiced with their light, I normally get a "No" or "ya a little" or even better “I have a gun mounted light so I don’t need too”. So my question is, can you search for danger before it happens without violating safety rules or the law?
In a set of fundamental standards that I have students shoot, in order to measure strengths and weaknesses, I have them shoot one-handed and find that they can’t hit their target at 7 yards in no wind under perfect conditions in the daytime. I tell them that it is one of the most important drills to practice and shoot due to the fact that while in a critical environment/incident they will probably be holding a light or moving a loved one out of the way. Then they come back at a later date and work the drill again with the same results. We as humans, like to practice things we are good at, instead of working on the things we suck ass at. It makes us feel all warm inside even know we go on with sucking at our own weaknesses. I will hop off this soapbox for now since really, this is about flashlights, why, and what….
I travel as part of my job as well as for pleasure. Many times I am unable to carry a firearm or a knife especially when flying. Depending on the type of travel and how long I am going to be gone, or international travel, it is not even an option to check a weapon such as a knife or a firearm. So my number one go-to for self-defense and preservation of life is a solid flashlight. And more than one. You know the old saying "one is none and two is one". Well, I normally have at least 2-3 handheld lights as well as a headlamp for those times where I need to use both hands in order to complete a task and don’t want to hold my 1-inch diameter flashlight in my mouth for an extended period of time. If that is what you like to do, as far as holding a cylindrical object in your mouth for a few minutes, by all means, do so, to each his own.
I normally carry a primary light and a back-up and all others go in my man purse or backpack. Although my Petzl e+Light headlamp goes in a pocket most of the time. While on the job I always carried two handheld lights on my body along with a weapon-mounted light (Rifle/Pistol), not until the end of my career did I begin carrying a headlamp on my person, but I recognized the importance of it, so I started a few years ago. A good friend and internationally experienced dude with ForeBellum recently stated “You don’t need a light until you do.” He couldn’t be more correct and yes even in the daytime hours, we are in and out of structures all of the time and they have dark holes and dead space that we need to look at for threats or potential threats.
Over the years, more than 2 and a half decades of real-world operations, both MIL and LE, I have carried and utilized many different light sources. The first one was issued to me in Marine Corps Boot Camp and we called it the Moon Beam. It was a great piece of kit with different colored lenses for different environments, and missions, and was L-shaped. You Mil folks from the 80s and 90s can relate. Then the small mag lights (that really sucked but were good to go back in the day), as well as the 3D-Cell lights (Heavy and bulky as shit) but you could beat the shit out of someone with it.
Since then, there have been leaps and bounds with technology as with everything else. LED, Lumens, weapons mounted, etc., etc. I have used all of the high-end brands, from SureFire, Streamlight to two-dollar lights. I currently own backups that I paid $5 on sale, at Harbor Freight. They are better than what I spent $160 on back in the day and comparable to a top name brand that cost $20+ per light, and the on/off switch lasts longer. The only thing I found that I needed to do was to add some Gorilla super glue to the pocket clip of the cheaper lights and they last longer. So, The big question is why a light? Let’s make this simple for us stupid people.
Why Carry a handheld?
Like the title states Light Beats Darkness Every Time… So what is it useful for?
Search for and discriminate danger/Identify threats or potential threats in dark holes where evil lurks.
Blind an adversary (Day or night). and get away or overwhelm and dominate.
Intermittent weapon system (striking/blunt force). If you hammer fist an adversary with a flashlight, well it’s going to freaking hurt. So imagine blinding them, day or night, then delivering a solid hammer fist to the temple area, face, or head. OOuCH!!!! Mother F%$Ker!!!! Then move to safety whatever that may be.
Illuminate your front sight under low light conditions, I don’t give a shit if you have night sites or not, you still need to discriminate and see your sights.
With all the above being said you must develop and practice an easy system for searching without pointing your muzzle (gun light) at something that your not willing to destroy (2nd safety rule) and have a seamless transition to a striking or shooting platform.
Why Carry a Headlamp?
Because they are handy as hell and when you need one you need one…..
Working on a stranded vehicle which I have recently had to do. Without the hands-free application of a headlamp, it would have been more stressful than needed to be and much harder to do the repairs that needed to be done.
Conducting medical within a critical environment. Those of you who understand what needs to be done during critical trauma care, just don’t have enough hands to do what we need to do in order to save lives. Unless you're an Octopus or a carnival freak. Now in low light conditions and utilizing a handheld only, well it is nearly impossible. So let’s free up a hand.
Cooking on the grill at night. You need hands-free in order to see that the meat is done.
Going on adventures, trail running/mountain biking at night, hunting, traveling abroad, etc. You always need a hands-free light.
Marking your location-
Most quality headlamps have a strobe setting in multiple colors which is perfect for marking your location for link-ups with friendlies, LE, etc. within a critical environment as well as marking a location for search and rescue if stranded or wounded on an of grid adventure.
My preferred lights and the most juice for the squeeze.
So over the years as mentioned above, I have utilized many different lights. As we all know that LE and Mil dudes/chicks get paid piss poor money for what they do and in order to buy a solid, reliable, quality flashlight sometimes gets put on hold due to price. As well as we get sucked into all of the big named brands like SureFire, Stream Light, Gladiolus, 5.11, etc. I know I was one of those guys. But a quality flashlight and headlamp is not an option, it is a must for what we do, whether you are LE, MIL, Security, or an armed or unarmed citizen. I say again, It is a must!! and as said earlier it is my go-to piece of kit for self-perseverance and defense.
I want to get the most juice for the squeeze, so I look at all of the options. Like I have said I have used all of the big named light sources out there and you pay for names many times. Some are great and I haven’t had issues with them, others I have had just as many issues as cheap brand lights.
In the mid-2000s while running warrant operations, I was introduced to a new brand by the name of FENIX. It was a good light for way cheaper than the SureFire that I was using at the time. While conducting slow clears of a structure during that time a solid handheld, as well as a weapon light, was critical in enhancing survivability. My primary light cost me $160 dollars at the time and was a fixed 120 lumens and my pistol mounted light cost $165 and was maybe 80 lumens. Technology has come a long way. So, I continued to try and find quality lights that held up to and endure everyday use. I used rechargeable as well as C123 fed lights. It wasn’t until about 3 years ago while working at CSAT- Combat Shooting and Tactics, that I picked up a FENIX UC35 rechargeable from the pro shop that has hooked me on their lights. I liked it so much that I armed my wife, who is on the job still, with a FENIX PD35 . It is honestly the best light for the price (the most juice for the squeeze) that I have found. anyway. I will continue to use my trusty Petzl headlamp until it is done and then replace it with a FENIX headlamp.
I will mention weapons mounted lights while I am here.
Rifle-I use a standard handheld light, mounted on a rail held by a cheap scope ring (Like Wal-Mart style cheap), yes I am a cheap bastard, but my light has never fallen off in over 17 years with thousands of rounds and hundreds of operations. I still like when I show up and all of the Gucci gear guys look at me funny. I don’t give a $h!7 cause it works and has been proven operationally.
Pistol- I continue to run a Stream Light TLR-1 because I am holster broke and it hasn’t failed me yet. I have been running the same light operationally for nearly 8 or 9 years, or something like that, the years begin to blend. My TLR-1 is still working fine with the occasional lens cleaning.
Bottom Line-
I don’t really care what you have, as long as you have a quality light that works within your price range. No matter if you are a gun toter or not. If it is cheap, carry multiple, but have a light source. I still advise on a quality dependable light and your back-ups can be a little cheaper. I found that FENIX is the most juice for the squeeze and I like the way the beam isn’t super concentrated and has an easy one-handed adjustment between four settings plus a strobe. Stream Light is my go-to for pistol mounted lights. There are others as well, but I am only talking about lights I have personally utilized under adverse circumstances and a budget. As far as a headlamp, get a lightweight small light unless that you can stuff in a pocket. Again Petzl and Fenix make a quality lightweight small light. If you need a bigger brighter one for a specific mission in life they both sell one. GET A LIGHT AND CARRY A LIGHT, ALWAYS. Light Beats Darkness Every Time!!!!
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Wilkie
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