# Defensive flashlights? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 14, 2016, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defensive-flashlights/771941 "2016-11-14T06:30:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2016, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defensive-flashlights/771941/21 "2016-11-16T12:34:51Z")
> [@Me\_Billy](#): > > Yes, get a 3 or 4 “D Cell” Maglite. One whack on someone’s head with that and problem solved. Security guards like these flashlights. If hauling around a big clunky flashlight is your bag you might try a [Tigerlight](http://tigerlight.net/collections/series-ii/products/series-ii) if you’re willing to spend the dough. It’s big, 1000 lumens, plus it has a pepper spray attachment. If the light and spray don’t blind the bag guy you can hit him over the head with the thing. Fun part is explaining to everyone why you carry a big clunky flashlight everywhere you go. ---
**Author:** ![IBuildEm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f475e1/32.png) [@IBuildEm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IBuildEm)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2016, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defensive-flashlights/771941/22 "2016-11-26T19:42:03Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > If hauling around a big clunky flashlight is your bag you might try a [Tigerlight](http://tigerlight.net/collections/series-ii/products/series-ii) if you’re willing to spend the dough. It’s big, 1000 lumens, plus it has a pepper spray attachment. If the light and spray don’t blind the bag guy you can hit him over the head with the thing. > > Fun part is explaining to everyone why you carry a big clunky flashlight everywhere you go. > [@Me\_Billy](#): > > Yes, get a 3 or 4 “D Cell” Maglite. One whack on someone’s head with that and problem solved. Security guards like these flashlights. > [@pkbites](#): > > Hey, I cam e on in '82 and retired after 25 years and then took a gig with another agency, first part-time now full time. In another 10 years I’ll be able to collect a 2nd pension 🆒! > > And I, like a lot of old timers, don’t carry one of those huge ridiculous lights anymore. We used to call them collapsible flashlights ('cause if you smack someone with it they’ll surely collapse! It’s a joke, lighten up.) > > The current array of little flashlights are amazing! Bright as the sun, rechargeable batteries last much longer than in the past. They fit on the rail of a pistol. Plus they are much lighter and easier to carry than the big D cell lights. You wouldn’t believe how much we have to carry on our belts now. On top of the usual equipment we now have to carry CPR face masks and just recently have been mandated to carry a tourniquet. It has to be on our person, not in the squad. I’ve run out of room for all this shit. > > A decent “defensive” light IMHO is the ASP [USB](https://www.copquest.com/asp-tactical-usb-baton-light-friction-loc-batons_21-1185.htm) light. It’s only 100 Lumens but you attach it to a baton. I have one as a back up light. It is barely bigger than the standard cap on the end of an expandable baton. The sound of a baton cracking open has an intimidating effect. > [@Clothahump](#): > > That is a excellent discussion on the effect of stress on people. That’s why I like my [Maglite.](http://maglite.com/shop/maglite-3-cell-d-led-3rd-gen-flashlight-968.html) Bright enough to blind, solid enough to whack, and no fine motor skills involved in turning it on. > [@running\_coach](#): > > Being Batman shows you’re prepared. So does having a towel. > [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](#): > > Just having a flashlight is good defense. It shows people that you are prepared. You might also have a knife or a gun. > [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > That practice is going away as all the old-school cops from the 80s retire. > [@Bullitt](#): > > I don’t always carry that but I do almost always carry one of these, [it’s like a tactical pen, with a hard point, but it instead is a flashlight](https://www.google.com/search?q=tactical+pen+flashlight&client=safari&hl=en-us&prmd=sivn&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiE1rui1KnQAhXsx1QKHe1kAkoQ_AUICCgC&biw=1024&bih=672#imgrc=UWPll8Nz_XaL8M%3A). That against the breastbone or other places would send a sharp message It’s TSA approved, too (so is the E2D). > > You can usually carry these into museums or ballpark stadiums or other places where they screen with metal detectors. > [@swampspruce](#): > > I’ve got a Klarus X11GT I use in my emergency bag and use Cr123 batteries, which does lower the output slightly. I do like it but as noted in the above article if I was going to use it in a purely defensive aspect I’d (did) practice double tapping the “panic” switch repeatedly before I’d bet my life on it. > The other light I have in the car is an [Nitecore MT40](http://flashlight.nitecore.com/product/mt40) which is big enough to use as a club/escrima stick in a pinch. It throws plenty of light as well. > [@Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](#): > > I have the same one. It’ll blind someone quite easily, and you can give someone a very stern message to go away by placing that metal tip firmly and suddenly against their breastbone. > [@Whiskey\_Dickens](#): > > There are a ton of [bat-shaped flashlights](http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200594133_200594133) on the market. > [@Bullitt](#): > > I have the small [Surefire E2D Defender](https://www.google.com/search?q=surefire+flashlights+defensive&client=safari&hl=en-us&prmd=svin&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjZ-5iGiqnQAhUWS2MKHR-VAa8Q_AUICSgD&biw=1024&bih=672#hl=en-us&tbm=isch&q=Surefire+E2D+Defender&imgrc=RXffX_o6u3PaYM%3A). > [@SigMan](#): > > I have a Nitecore P36 LED flashlight, a little bigger than a 2D cell model. Probably won’t make a good club except it has a heavy heatsink head. Runs on 2 x 18650 Lion batteries and puts out 2000 lumens. Super bright and have a strobe function so it’ll do tricks on an aggressor. > [@mixdenny](#): > > The OP is probably referring to the flashlights with the strobe mode. They flash at full output several times a second. They are very disorienting. I don’t even like to be behind mine when I try it, just the reflection off the walls bothers me. > > Dennis I’m looking for something that attaches to a belt, something relatively compact that packs a lot of power ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2016, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defensive-flashlights/771941/23 "2016-11-26T19:52:47Z")
> [@IBuildEm](#): > > I’m looking for something that attaches to a belt, something relatively compact that packs a lot of power An elegant [weapon.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightsaber) ---
**Author:** ![SigMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@SigMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SigMan)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2016, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defensive-flashlights/771941/24 "2016-11-26T20:05:02Z")
> [@IBuildEm](#): > > I’m looking for something that attaches to a belt, something relatively compact that packs a lot of power Oh, you mean this? 😛 [https://s25.postimg.org/ovrfvmilb/S5030930.jpg](https://postimg.org/image/kmmptgfbv/)[gif image hosting](https://postimage.org/) ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2016, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defensive-flashlights/771941/25 "2016-11-26T23:23:29Z")
You could always carry an [old-style camera flashgun](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Dn6ZEer3XpY/Thuu288s0NI/AAAAAAAAGZw/u4_jtzJXuj0/s1600/PH-47-F+Face2.jpg) using a superbright bulb. Looks like it could double as a club. Might be useful if you run into [Raymond Burr](https://thehitchcockproject.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/rear-window8.jpg) in a bad mood. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2016, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defensive-flashlights/771941/26 "2016-11-27T00:20:11Z")
> [@SigMan](#): > > Oh, you mean this? 😛 **Sig** Man carries a _Glock_? :eek: :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![SigMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@SigMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SigMan)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2016, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defensive-flashlights/771941/27 "2016-11-27T00:45:17Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > **Sig** Man carries a _Glock_? :eek: :dubious: Yeah, I used to have a Sig. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2016, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defensive-flashlights/771941/28 "2016-11-27T00:53:54Z")
> [@SigMan](#): > > Yeah, I used to have a Sig. :rolleyes: You’re allowed to use you sig once per thread. :eek: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defensive-flashlights/771941.md?page=1)