Things to consider when purchasing an LED

We’ve touched on some important things here before like how many lumens you need, what a good household flashlight looks like, etc. But I still felt like there was more to touch on as far as guidelines for purchasing a good flashlight goes. Each person will have varying needs, so here are some traits to consider that will help you determine what the best flashlight is for you.

Beam Distance

Often, flashlight packaging will declare the product’s beam distance in meters. This can help you determine which light to purchase, depending on your needs. If you’re just going to use the light to work on your car, you probably don’t need a light with a beam distance of 200 meters. If you’re going to use it while you’re out camping, however, you might want a light with a farther beam distance to help you see more of your surroundings at once.

Light Output

Believe it or not, light output (lumens) is not always related to beam distance. There are some lights out there that have impressive light outputs, but not very good beam distances. While these traits might be perfect for some situations, they would be less than favorable in others. Make sure to look at the beam distance in addition to light output so you know what you’re getting before you buy a new flashlight.

Run Time

Make sure to take note of how long the light will run. This can make a difference depending on your typical usage and preferences. If you don’t like to change batteries often, get a light with a longer run time. If you’re going to be using your light often or for long periods of time, it might be a good idea to get a light with long-lasting battery power, as well.

Type of Light

For most situations, a simple flashlight will suffice. They come in a wide range of sizes and weights, so it’s often easy to find one to fit your needs. However, headlamps are also extremely functional. They are handy for situations when you need your hands free, like when you’re working on your car, or when you’re trying to find something in your tent at night. Lanterns can also be useful depending on the situation, so nail down how you will be using your light to help you determine which one will be best for you.

Durability

Durability will not be a huge determining factor for everyone. However, if you’re primarily using your light for rough, outdoor use, you will want a more durable light. Often this type of flashlight will be more expensive because it needs to be made of good materials to hold up to abuse, but it’s something to keep in mind.

Miscellaneous Things to Consider

Many lights have different brightness settings. If you’ll have a need for multiple brightness levels, you might want to get a similar light. Also, as with most things, you get what you pay for. Just something to think about.

Looking at the traits above will help you to know what you’re getting before you buy it, and to find the flashlight that fits your needs.

Make sure to check out all of the awesome LED Flashlights at Blade HQ, and let us know if you have any questions.