Product Test No. 90: 5.11 Tactical

What would you say if someone told you there was a flashlight that floats on water, lasts for two hours and fully recharges in 90 seconds? My response was actually quite simple: prove it!

I seem to have quite a collection of flashlights, yet the curiosity got the best of me and I knew I had to have one. When it arrived I was impressed by the beefy look and feel of this LED flashlight, but I was still skeptical that it could fully charge in 90 seconds. So I put it in the charger for a full week and then one day I turned it on to see how long it would go. It eventually went out after two and half hours of being left on. So I immediately put it back in the charger, got out my stopwatch and watched for the indicator light on top to notify me that it was charged. At 86 seconds it was fully charged and ready to go. But I questioned if it had enough juice to be left on for another two plus hours so I tried it again. Sure enough, it lasted for over two and half hours of continual use after just being charged for less than 90 seconds. To say I was impressed would be an understatement.

The lightweight flashlight gets its brilliant LED light using ultracapacitors instead of batteries. I had to look it up, but discovered that ultracapacitors are used in windmills and other long-life electronics because of their reliability, ability to store energy and lack of performance fade.

Constructed of bulletproof, high-strength polymer, the water-resistant casing is fully sealed against the elements with solid construction. It's no wonder that it was created to meet the demands and reliability of law enforcement and rescue teams.

You pay for technology advances, but if you think of it as buying the last flashlight you'll ever need, the $169.99 price doesn't seem so bad. Reviews from others on this Light For Life flashlight on the website are all solid, which is a good indicator that this product is the real deal. I had to see it for myself to believe a flashlight could really go from dead to fully charged in 90 seconds and I'm now convinced this is a perfect tool for boaters when you need a reliable light source and you don't have a lot of time to waste.

-Brady L. Kay, PDB Editor

Tool: 94
Portable: 10/10
Function: 48/50
Comfort: 20/20
Wash/Care: 10/10
Price: 6/10

www.511tactical.com
866-451-1726