Feyachi sent me their new right angle rechargeable flashlight, the FL-46. Right angle flashlights are not new. The design was boy scout and military standard since before WWII. Right angle flashlights can be attached to the wearer’s chest, backpack straps, or pocket to illuminate while allowing wearer both hands free.
The box that the FL-46 comes in is a little fancier than Feyachi’s normal packaging, with a pull drawer. The flashlight comes with a nylon holster, USB-C charging cable, and user manual. The charging port is located under a plastic sliding panel at the base. The FL-46 can be stood on its tail and attached to your pocket or strap with a metal double-direction clip.
The controls are basic, with a silicone clicky button at the right angle bend. Pressing turns turns it on and each tap cycles through its modes: On>High>Strobe>Off. Pressing it for over 1 sec. will also turn the flashlight off. The FL-46 lacks mode memory or momentary on.
In my testing, the “Regular” on mode output more than its stated 300 lumens by over 50%. It’s “High” mode was just above to its stated 500 lumens. Fully charged, the unit had a run time in excess of 400 minutes. It dimmed considerably after the first hour but stayed in a candlelight dim output well past the 300 minute mark when I had to cut the test due nightfall and the lack of light for the camera to read my timer.
If this light has just too many flaws for me to recommend it. It lacks mode memory and a means to lock out the strobe mode. Furthermore the plastic dust cover for the charging port leaves the light at only IPX4 water resistance; a glaring oversight for a “tactical-style” flashlight for it not to be rain-proof. This light might be better suited for workshops, repairmen, or mechanics.
I recently reviewed the Monstrum Raider X1 weapon light. I got an early look at a prototype at Shot Show 2023. Back then, they didn’t even have a name for it but I was struck by their claim that it could output 2000 lumens. I was eager to test this claim, and thankfully Monstrum came forward and sent me both an X1 and an X2 to evaluate.
Like the X1, the Raider X2 comes in a compact box containing the light and a M-LOK/Picatinny rail. The weapon light is made of 6061 aircraft grade aluminum which feels quite durable and solid. It recharges via a covered USB-C port at the rear of the wedged shaped body.
Unlike the wedge shaped X1, the X2 has a straight lower profile shape. There is a small cut out in the body that allows the light to function as a hand stop, preventing your hand from moving forward which is useful as a safety feature for bullpup or short barreled rifles and shotguns.
An single activation button is located on the left side of the body. A press turns the unit on in its high output mode. Pressing the button cycles the flashlight from high, to low, to off. Keeping the button pressed for 5-6 seconds activates the strobe mode.
In my testing, I measured approximately 1650 lumens; which not as bright as the 2000 claimed. The shortfall may be because new batteries take a few cycles to reach maximum performance? The X1 I tested had a higher 1850 lumen output despite having the same internal components.
The Raider lacks momentary on or mode memory; two features I consider to be vital for a modern weapon light. This control scheme was standard for weapon lights 15 years ago and for those that are used to this scheme may be a selling point but not for me.
What is a selling point is it’s performance and durability. Monstrum states that it has a 60 minute run time on high mode. Fully recharged, my X2 ran for 70 minutes, with a gradual drop in brightness.
The Raider X1 did fail one of my tests: I found the unit did not meet to IPX6 rating it claims. I hit it with a high pressure water hose at various angles for about 15-20 seconds. A few minutes later, I found that moisture beads appeared behind the lens and lifting the silicone charging port cover, I found water weeping out of the port.
I left the unit outside in the sun for a few days to dry it out. After checking the charging port for moisture, I tried charging it up again and it appears to be working normally. While water getting into the unit is failure, it’s recovery from its wet condition may be a positive.
My friend Tony works in maintenance for the MTA (New York City’s Subway system), a job where a flashlight is vital to inspect trains, tracks, and just check under seats and dark spaces. He uses the a Mini-One flashlight as a backup at work and swears by it for its small size, affordability, and reliability. He sent me a Jetbeam Mini-One as a gift and while not to seem ungrateful, I still thoroughly tested as I do with any other flashlight.
Keychain flashlights are not a new. I fondly remember owning a AA powered Disneyland keychain light that ran a small incandescent bulb. But today’s rechargeable LED powered flashlights are brighter than some AA powered tactical lights from a dozen years ago.
I’ve been reviewing more compact keychain EDC lights recently, but Mini-One stands out for its stainless steel construction. The Mini-One’s polished metal surface gives the flashlight a higher perceived value than the comparably priced OLIGHT I1R (and with twice as brightness). The unit recharges via USB-C port kept water-tight with a silicone plug cover.
A single tap on the silicone button activates the main CREE illuminator and a double tap activates the body panel lights. This is where I find fault in the design. A single tap could accidentally occur in your pocket when attached to your keychain. On one occasion, I pulled out my keys and found the light was on; who knows for how long. I would have preferred that the main CREE activate with a double tap and the side light with a triple tap to avoid this potential problem.
Another disappointment was in the light output. The packaging claims 500 lumens max. In my testing, my flashlight managed approximately 300 lumens. Jetbeam should have lead with that number, which is twice the output of an OLIGHT I1R but instead seems to have opted for inflating numbers like many budget light brands.
If you can get past the controls and the middling light output and controls, I can say that the light is well built. It survived my IPX-8 water immersion test and had a run time in excess of 1.5hrs. For a light smaller than my pinky, that was laudable.
This is the first product I can’t recommend due to dangerous construction. This little flashlight sliced open my thumb while testing it. This EDC is unusual in that the head of the tube has a 45º cut which allows the head to swivel into a 90º position. Unfortunately, the edges of that 45º cut were left razor sharp by the factory.
I really wanted to like this budget EDC flashlight. It has is USB-C rechargeable with set of side LED lights for signaling and use as a table top lamp. In addition, it has a magnetic clickey tail allowing it to be wall or overhang mounted as a work light. In my testing it met the 500 lumen output it claimed and had a runtime just over 100 minutes on high mode.
The factory just didn’t take into consideration that the tube cuts need to be ground down. Perhaps they were kept sharp for aesthetic reasons but they are a safety hazard. I contacted the original Amazon seller NGOKPYD. If you’ve been injured by this product let me know. I don’t plan a class-action lawsuit, I’m just curious. This EDC is stil available elswehere online under the brand name BORUIT.
In the contest to make the smallest, brightest, EDC flashlight, the Fenix E03R isn’t the smallest or the brightest but this keychain sized flashlight offers a bit of both while being perhaps the most durable. This all-metal bodied flashlight looks like it feel straight out of the Star Wars universe. It is about the size of a car alarm remote fob (actually smaller than mine).
The light activates by pressing the activation button for about 1 second and immediately release upon activation. While on, tapping the button changes the brightness mode (4 levels). Pressing the button for longer than 1 second activates the red LED which has a constant and blinking submode. Tapping the button once shows you the battery charge level by the color of the illuminated ring around the button.
Tapping the button twice causes the battery illumination ring to slowly pulse; tapping in this mode switches colors from red, green, and cycling between both. The amount of light cast by the ring is very dim (less than 1 candela). It looks only bright enough to help locate the light in the dark, I’m not convinced this lighting mode has much utility in the real world?
In my lumen test, I recorded an output of 440 lumens on highest brightness which is well within the margin of error of the 500 lumens Fenix lists for the E03R. Fenix claims the light is IPX6 water resistance which I tested and confirmed. Fenix also claims the light has a runtime of 1hr and 20minutes on high; in my test it exceeded that mark by 18 minutes.
The light met all of its specifications and felt so solid in my hand, that I decided to give it a rare durability test out of curiosity. I ran it over with my SUV, twice. The flashlight survived without a dent (well more like a bunch of small scratches) but somehow the pressure activated the flashlights ‘lockout’ mode where the light doesn’t turn on when the button is pressed. The activate or deactivate lockout mode, simply keep the button pressed for 3+ seconds.
The E03R’s main drawbacks are in its controls. I don’t like having to turn on the unit in white light before it switches to red light mode which could spoil your eye’s natural nigh-vision. And the units 1/2 second press activation seems insufficient in preventing accidental activation in your pocket.
But overall I like this light a lot based on performance with those small caveats with the controls (which I have nitpicks with Fenix other lights). This is the Version 2 of this light and perhaps they can address this in a future Version 3.
The contest Prize will be chosen from all entries submitted from May 21, 2023 through May 27, 2023. Entries must be received no later than 12pm EST on May 27, 2023.
2. Take a screen shot of the channel screen showing you have subscribed/followedand email it to me
3. Email me with the Subject:May 28 Contest • Attach the JPG or PNG screen shot • Include your full name and ship-to address in the email (so I can confirm you live in the US or Canada)
4. BONUS: Share this with a friend and get them to enter the contest too. Ask them to reference your name and email address in the body of their message ie. “My buddy johndoe@gmail.com clued me into the contest”, and I’ll award you an extra-bonus entry to the contest. It’s important that they reference your email so I can easily look up your entry. Each friend that subscribes and refers to you in their email will earn you another bonus entry for a maximum of 10 entries (including yours).
NO PURCHASE IS NECESSARY TO ENTER. YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING DO NOT INCREASE WITH A PURCHASE. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.
1. Eligibility
Void where prohibited by law. Must be legal resident within the USA or Canada. Moondog Industries employees, subsidiaries, affiliates, suppliers, advertising and promotion agencies, employees’ immediate family members, are ineligible participate in the contest/giveaway.
Entrants must be willing and able to appear on YouTube to discuss the contest and post images of the prize on their social feed should they win the contest.
2. Sponsors and Platforms
Moondog Industries (known as the SPONSOR) is a video Edutainment producer and game promotor based in San Francisco, CA. YouTube, TikTok, Rumble, and online video platforms (known as PLATFORMS) are not SPONSORS or in any way affiliated with the contest or content.
3. Agreement to Rules
By entering your contest, participants agree to abide by the SPONSOR’s Official Rules and decisions. The SPONSOR retain the right to refuse, withdraw, or disqualify entries at their sole discretion. By submitting an entry, the participant agrees to accept the decision of the SPONSOR as final and binding.
4. Entry Period
Contest email entries must be received between: 12:00pm EST 21 May 2023 and 12:00pm EST 27 May 2023
5. How to Enter
This contest requires your skill in navigating your phone or computer controls to screen capture an image of the following YouTube channels/Social Media accounts. Subscribe or Follow and make a screen capture of those pages showing a greyed out Subscribe button or indicator that your account is Following that page. Send a screen capture image file of any of those sites to contest@moondogindustries.com . One entry per person or per Social Media account. Fraudulent methods of entry, photo retouched, or other methods of circumvention of the rules may result in the SPONSOR invalidating a participant’s entries.
6. Prizes
Winner must be able to receive the prize by e-mail or by physical mail. Prize may be substituted at the sole discretion of the SPONSOR. Acceptance of the prize grants SPONSOR permission to use the Winners entry, name, and likeness for advertising, promotion, and trade without further compensation or remuneration unless prohibited by law.
7. Odds
Odds of winning is dependent upon the number of eligible entries received.
8. Selection and Notification of the Winner
The winner will be chosen at random by the SPONSOR from among the entrants that demonstrated the skill to navigate the electronic entry and have met the minimum requirements. Winners will be contacted via the email used to enter the contest no later than December 31, 2023.
SPONSOR are not liable for the winner’s failure to receive notification of winning if he or she provided a wrong email address or if their email security settings caused your prize notification to go into the spam or junk folder. If a winner does not respond within 24hrs of sending a notification, the SPONSOR will select an alternate winner. Receipt of the prize is upon the condition of compliance with federal, state, and local laws.
9. Rights Granted by the Entrant
The SPONSOR, upon submission of an entry into the giveaway or contest, has the right to use the participant’s submission, voice, likeness, image, statements about the contest, etc., for publicity, news, advertising, promotional purposes, trade, and so forth, without any further notice, review, consent, compensation or remuneration.
Participants shall defend or settle against such claims at their sole expense, and shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the SPONSOR from any suit due to damage of or by the prize.
10. Terms & Conditions
The SPONSOR reserves the right to modify, suspend, cancel or terminate in the event that non-authorized human intervention, a bug or virus, fraud, or other causes beyond your control impact or corrupt the security, fairness, proper conduct, or administration of the contest/giveaway.
11. Limitation of Liability
Entry into this contest constitutes the participants agreement to release and hold harmless the SPONSOR and PLATFORMS, subsidiaries, affiliates, employees, etc., against all claims liability, illness, injury, death, loss, etc., that occurs directly or indirectly from participation in the contest or use/misuse of the awarded prize.
12. Disputes
As a condition of participating in the promotion, the participant agrees to resolve all disputes with an arbitrator designated by the SPONSOR in the state of California, without resorting to any form of class action. Entrants waive all rights to punitive, incidental, or consequential damages, and waive all rights to have damages multiplied or increased.
13. Privacy Policy
Participants agree to abide by all privacy and NDA laws in the State of California and any federal laws of the United State of America.
14. Winners List
Participants may request a list of winners by submitting a request in writing to Moondog Industries for up to 30 days after the contest ends.
15. Social Media Platform Rules
Winners will agree to post a photo of the prize on their social media channels in such a way as does not violate any rules of that platform. The winners also agree to appear for an interview where they will discuss the prize and its performance. If there are functional problems with the prize, the winner agrees to make a good-faith effort to resolve all issues with the SPONSOR prior to posting reviews or opinions about the prize.
16. Affirmation of Acceptance of and Agreement to All of the Official Rules
By entering the contest, the entrant has affirmatively reviewed, accepted, and agreed to all of the them.
The contest Prize will be chosen from all entries submitted from May 15, 2023 through May 20, 2023. Entries must be received no later than 12pm EST on May 20, 2023.
2. Take a screen shot of the channel screen showing you have subscribed/followedand email it to me
3. Email me with the Subject:May 21 Contest • Attach the JPG or PNG screen shot • Include your full name and ship-to address in the email (so I can confirm you live in the US or Canada)
4. BONUS: Share this with a friend and get them to enter the contest too. Ask them to reference your name and email address in the body of their message ie. “My buddy johndoe@gmail.com clued me into the contest”, and I’ll award you an extra-bonus entry to the contest. It’s important that they reference your email so I can easily look up your entry. Each friend that subscribes and refers to you in their email will earn you another bonus entry for a maximum of 10 entries (including yours).
NO PURCHASE IS NECESSARY TO ENTER. YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING DO NOT INCREASE WITH A PURCHASE. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.
1. Eligibility
Void where prohibited by law. Must be legal resident within the USA or Canada. Moondog Industries employees, subsidiaries, affiliates, suppliers, advertising and promotion agencies, employees’ immediate family members, are ineligible participate in the contest/giveaway.
Entrants must be willing and able to appear on YouTube to discuss the contest and post images of the prize on their social feed should they win the contest.
2. Sponsors and Platforms
Moondog Industries (known as the SPONSOR) is a video Edutainment producer and game promotor based in San Francisco, CA. YouTube, TikTok, Rumble, and online video platforms (known as PLATFORMS) are not SPONSORS or in any way affiliated with the contest or content.
3. Agreement to Rules
By entering your contest, participants agree to abide by the SPONSOR’s Official Rules and decisions. The SPONSOR retain the right to refuse, withdraw, or disqualify entries at their sole discretion. By submitting an entry, the participant agrees to accept the decision of the SPONSOR as final and binding.
4. Entry Period
Contest email entries must be received between: 12:00pm EST 15 May 2023 and 12:00pm EST 20 May 2023
5. How to Enter
This contest requires your skill in navigating your phone or computer controls to screen capture an image of the following YouTube channels/Social Media accounts. Subscribe or Follow and make a screen capture of those pages showing a greyed out Subscribe button or indicator that your account is Following that page. Send a screen capture image file of any of those sites to contest@moondogindustries.com . One entry per person or per Social Media account. Fraudulent methods of entry, photo retouched, or other methods of circumvention of the rules may result in the SPONSOR invalidating a participant’s entries.
6. Prizes
Winner must be able to receive the prize by e-mail or by physical mail. Prize may be substituted at the sole discretion of the SPONSOR. Acceptance of the prize grants SPONSOR permission to use the Winners entry, name, and likeness for advertising, promotion, and trade without further compensation or remuneration unless prohibited by law.
7. Odds
Odds of winning is dependent upon the number of eligible entries received.
8. Selection and Notification of the Winner
The winner will be chosen at random by the SPONSOR from among the entrants that demonstrated the skill to navigate the electronic entry and have met the minimum requirements. Winners will be contacted via the email used to enter the contest no later than December 31, 2023.
SPONSOR are not liable for the winner’s failure to receive notification of winning if he or she provided a wrong email address or if their email security settings caused your prize notification to go into the spam or junk folder. If a winner does not respond within 24hrs of sending a notification, the SPONSOR will select an alternate winner. Receipt of the prize is upon the condition of compliance with federal, state, and local laws.
9. Rights Granted by the Entrant
The SPONSOR, upon submission of an entry into the giveaway or contest, has the right to use the participant’s submission, voice, likeness, image, statements about the contest, etc., for publicity, news, advertising, promotional purposes, trade, and so forth, without any further notice, review, consent, compensation or remuneration.
Participants shall defend or settle against such claims at their sole expense, and shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the SPONSOR from any suit due to damage of or by the prize.
10. Terms & Conditions
The SPONSOR reserves the right to modify, suspend, cancel or terminate in the event that non-authorized human intervention, a bug or virus, fraud, or other causes beyond your control impact or corrupt the security, fairness, proper conduct, or administration of the contest/giveaway.
11. Limitation of Liability
Entry into this contest constitutes the participants agreement to release and hold harmless the SPONSOR and PLATFORMS, subsidiaries, affiliates, employees, etc., against all claims liability, illness, injury, death, loss, etc., that occurs directly or indirectly from participation in the contest or use/misuse of the awarded prize.
12. Disputes
As a condition of participating in the promotion, the participant agrees to resolve all disputes with an arbitrator designated by the SPONSOR in the state of California, without resorting to any form of class action. Entrants waive all rights to punitive, incidental, or consequential damages, and waive all rights to have damages multiplied or increased.
13. Privacy Policy
Participants agree to abide by all privacy and NDA laws in the State of California and any federal laws of the United State of America.
14. Winners List
Participants may request a list of winners by submitting a request in writing to Moondog Industries for up to 30 days after the contest ends.
15. Social Media Platform Rules
Winners will agree to post a photo of the prize on their social media channels in such a way as does not violate any rules of that platform. The winners also agree to appear for an interview where they will discuss the prize and its performance. If there are functional problems with the prize, the winner agrees to make a good-faith effort to resolve all issues with the SPONSOR prior to posting reviews or opinions about the prize.
16. Affirmation of Acceptance of and Agreement to All of the Official Rules
By entering the contest, the entrant has affirmatively reviewed, accepted, and agreed to all of the them.
The contest Prize will be chosen from all entries submitted from May 7, 2023 through May 13, 2023. Entries must be received no later than 12pm EST on May 13, 2023.
2. Take a screen shot of the channel screen showing you have subscribed/followedand email it to me
3. Email me with the Subject:May 14 Contest • Attach the JPG or PNG screen shot • Include your full name and ship-to address in the email (so I can confirm you live in the US or Canada)
4. BONUS: Share this with a friend and get them to enter the contest too. Ask them to reference your name and email address in the body of their message ie. “My buddy johndoe@gmail.com clued me into the contest”, and I’ll award you an extra-bonus entry to the contest. It’s important that they reference your email so I can easily look up your entry. Each friend that subscribes and refers to you in their email will earn you another bonus entry for a maximum of 10 entries (including yours).
NO PURCHASE IS NECESSARY TO ENTER. YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING DO NOT INCREASE WITH A PURCHASE. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.
1. Eligibility
Void where prohibited by law. Must be legal resident within the USA or Canada. Moondog Industries employees, subsidiaries, affiliates, suppliers, advertising and promotion agencies, employees’ immediate family members, are ineligible participate in the contest/giveaway.
Entrants must be willing and able to appear on YouTube to discuss the contest and post images of the prize on their social feed should they win the contest.
2. Sponsors and Platforms
Moondog Industries (known as the SPONSOR) is a video Edutainment producer and game promotor based in San Francisco, CA. YouTube, TikTok, Rumble, and online video platforms (known as PLATFORMS) are not SPONSORS or in any way affiliated with the contest or content.
3. Agreement to Rules
By entering your contest, participants agree to abide by the SPONSOR’s Official Rules and decisions. The SPONSOR retain the right to refuse, withdraw, or disqualify entries at their sole discretion. By submitting an entry, the participant agrees to accept the decision of the SPONSOR as final and binding.
4. Entry Period
Contest email entries must be received between: 12:00pm EST 30 April 2023 and 12:00pm EST 13 May 2023
5. How to Enter
This contest requires your skill in navigating your phone or computer controls to screen capture an image of the following YouTube channels/Social Media accounts. Subscribe or Follow and make a screen capture of those pages showing a greyed out Subscribe button or indicator that your account is Following that page. Send a screen capture image file of any of those sites to contest@moondogindustries.com . One entry per person or per Social Media account. Fraudulent methods of entry, photo retouched, or other methods of circumvention of the rules may result in the SPONSOR invalidating a participant’s entries.
6. Prizes
Winner must be able to receive the prize by e-mail or by physical mail. Prize may be substituted at the sole discretion of the SPONSOR. Acceptance of the prize grants SPONSOR permission to use the Winners entry, name, and likeness for advertising, promotion, and trade without further compensation or remuneration unless prohibited by law.
7. Odds
Odds of winning is dependent upon the number of eligible entries received.
8. Selection and Notification of the Winner
The winner will be chosen at random by the SPONSOR from among the entrants that demonstrated the skill to navigate the electronic entry and have met the minimum requirements. Winners will be contacted via the email used to enter the contest no later than December 31, 2023.
SPONSOR are not liable for the winner’s failure to receive notification of winning if he or she provided a wrong email address or if their email security settings caused your prize notification to go into the spam or junk folder. If a winner does not respond within 24hrs of sending a notification, the SPONSOR will select an alternate winner. Receipt of the prize is upon the condition of compliance with federal, state, and local laws.
9. Rights Granted by the Entrant
The SPONSOR, upon submission of an entry into the giveaway or contest, has the right to use the participant’s submission, voice, likeness, image, statements about the contest, etc., for publicity, news, advertising, promotional purposes, trade, and so forth, without any further notice, review, consent, compensation or remuneration.
Participants shall defend or settle against such claims at their sole expense, and shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the SPONSOR from any suit due to damage of or by the prize.
10. Terms & Conditions
The SPONSOR reserves the right to modify, suspend, cancel or terminate in the event that non-authorized human intervention, a bug or virus, fraud, or other causes beyond your control impact or corrupt the security, fairness, proper conduct, or administration of the contest/giveaway.
11. Limitation of Liability
Entry into this contest constitutes the participants agreement to release and hold harmless the SPONSOR and PLATFORMS, subsidiaries, affiliates, employees, etc., against all claims liability, illness, injury, death, loss, etc., that occurs directly or indirectly from participation in the contest or use/misuse of the awarded prize.
12. Disputes
As a condition of participating in the promotion, the participant agrees to resolve all disputes with an arbitrator designated by the SPONSOR in the state of California, without resorting to any form of class action. Entrants waive all rights to punitive, incidental, or consequential damages, and waive all rights to have damages multiplied or increased.
13. Privacy Policy
Participants agree to abide by all privacy and NDA laws in the State of California and any federal laws of the United State of America.
14. Winners List
Participants may request a list of winners by submitting a request in writing to Moondog Industries for up to 30 days after the contest ends.
15. Social Media Platform Rules
Winners will agree to post a photo of the prize on their social media channels in such a way as does not violate any rules of that platform. The winners also agree to appear for an interview where they will discuss the prize and its performance. If there are functional problems with the prize, the winner agrees to make a good-faith effort to resolve all issues with the SPONSOR prior to posting reviews or opinions about the prize.
16. Affirmation of Acceptance of and Agreement to All of the Official Rules
By entering the contest, the entrant has affirmatively reviewed, accepted, and agreed to all of the them.
NexTorch is a flashlight and tactical accessory company that most consumers aren’t aware of. Primarily its because they primarily market to law enforcement, military, and first responders. And they’re German, preferring to promote themselves more by reputation than advertising.
NexTorch’s new TA30C is a tactical light outputs 1300 lumens with a rechargeable lithium battery. While these specs are pretty standard for flaghship tactical lights, what sets the TA30 apart from the category is its controls. Instead a memorizing a series of tailcap clicks or side button taps, the TA30 has a clear and intuitive control ring on the tail with power level symbols.
What isn’t as obvious from the photos but you can perceive when holding NexTorch flashlights, is the quality of their materials, construction, and thoughtful design. The TA30 can also sport a tactical carry ring that functions like an accessory handle and “brass knuckle” in melee. Unlike some gimmicky metal rings, their carry ring is made of polymer and can break away to reduce the risk of injury to the user if the flashlight is caught or trapped.
This practical design extends to their NEX security baton. This steel baton telescopes from a foot long steel rod and extends to 28″. It can accessorized with a 4 section cross-guard designed to defend the user from blade wielding assailants (England much?)
NexTorch is designed in Germany but produced in China to lower costs. Their products are priced at a premium compared with mass market Chinese brands like Olight and Fenix. But are still only half the price of comparable SureFires tactical lights.
Streamlight is one of the oldest makers of EDC and weaponlights. This year marks their 50th Anniversary and at SHOT Show this year, I got a chance to see some of their new products. They’ve updated their ProTac flashlight line with version 2.0 models that all output 2000 lumens for over an hour. Unfortunately they accomplish this using a proprietary high capacity battery which may be a deal-breaker for some but most will still work with standard sized lipo batteries but with a lower light output.
One of the most interesting products I saw was their Pocketmate, a 300 lumen keychain mini-light which really was literally shaped like a key.
These flashlights are available through my Amazon Affiliate links
