5.11 TMT L1 Flashlight, 212 Lumens, Black
I have been looking for an EDC flashlight for a while. My list of requirements:
- Length of 3-4. I don’t wear gear on my belt, so the flashlight has to go in a pocket with other EDC gear. It has to be small enough to fit in the pocket and not take up all of the room, yet big enough to have some power to it.
- High Lumen count, preferably over 100. I want to be able to disorient someone if needed, by shining a very bright light in their eyes.
- Sturdy construction; it has to stand up to an occasional drop from Mr. Bumblehands.
Here are the specs for the 5.11 TMT L1 Flashlight
Product Specifications:
· Length: 3.9” (99.4mm)
· Max. Diameter: 1.1” (26.7mm)
· Body Diameter: 1.0” (24.3mm)
· Product Weight: 2.1oz (59g)
· Weight w. Battery: 2.6oz (75g)
· Aerospace Grade Aluminum
· CR123A Duracell® Battery Included
· Regulated Circuit for Maximum Output
· Cree® XP-G LED
· Gold Plated Contacts
· Intelligent Switch w. High/Low/Strobe
· Momentary-On Switch
· Rotary Dial Lock-Out Switch
· Stamped Metal Pocket Clip
· Black TPR Soft Touch Anti-Roll Ring
· Break-Away Lanyard Included
· Water Resistant Construction
My Take:
Pros
- Length of 3.9” This flashlight is the perfect size for me, fits perfectly in my fist and doesn’t take up my entire pocket. While it does fit great in my pocket, it’s about half an inch too short to use as a striking implement.
- At 173 lumens this flashlight is incredibly bright. I decided that if I was going to depend on this as part of my self-defense tool kit that I needed to try it on myself first. I had my wife shine it in my eyes in a well lit room. It was darn bright but it alone wouldn’t stop any threat. A quick flash in the eyes would be enough of a distraction to allow a strike. I haven’t tested this at night, but my guess is that if one’s eyes were adjusted to the dark, this would be much more effective as a distraction. The dim setting is sufficient for most normal flashlight use, while the bright setting would be helpful in some and overkill for others.
- While I haven’t dropped the light yet, the design and construction create a very sturdy feel.
Cons
- I would prefer the clip higher on the frame so that less of the light stuck out of the pocket.
- The cost of this flashlight is a bit high.
I have looked at many tactical flash lights. Prices range from $50-$200 and this light is in the $70 range. While this flashlight does meet every requirement I had, I had a hard time justifying spending that much on myself, so I put it on my Christmas list. Because it met all of my requirements and is high quality I am going to give it 4 stars.
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