It’s the spooky season. You’re in a horror movie. The jock archetype just told everyone to split up after the creepy house’s entrance just closed and locked seemingly by itself. Everyone is in a different room and you of course decide to investigate the basement to reset the totally unguarded power breaker box. You fumble in your pockets just as that ominous noise from the back of the basement room starts to get closer.

Hastily, you pull out that dollar store keychain light that flickers conveniently for the incoming jumpscare scene. It holds a light dimmer than the wax candle being held by the relatable down-to-earth girl protagonist. You just barely see the monster as it leaps out and sinks its teeth into your jugular. You try to formulate your last words and claim this movie's PG-13 rating’s single, one allowed expletive for yourself.

Realistically, if we were all living in a horror movie it’d probably end in 30 seconds because none of us wants to go meet squatters in abandoned crack dens or go investigating every noise in the bush alone at night. But if we were forced to live out the tropes, I’d want my death to count for something and force the director to really spend on special effects by showing all of the monster from hundreds of feet away. I’ll skip the cheap suspense build up. Instead, give me a handheld sun.

What makes a good handheld light?

This is a question that needs to be prefaced by your environment. Do you want a searchlight to identify and blind unfriendly beings in the dark? Or do you want something less blinding to be able to read labels and find small objects up close? You know my answer but not everyone needs their everyday carry light announcing their presence with a light tower contest. Some people may appreciate having a lower output mode.

A high candela light is needed to push through the photonic barriers you may encounter in urban and suburban outdoors as well as indoor environments. If you’re using the light to scan that suspicious noise or demonic growl in the dark, a good candela rating with sufficient throw will suit your needs.

Flood is typically something that weapon lights want to avoid and opt for a focused intense beam, however some flood may be desired for situational awareness if you’re looking to observe primarily what’s around you. Keep this in mind if you will be carrying both a weapon mounted light and a handheld light at the same time. It might be a good idea to have different lights that are specialized in their roles.

Additionally, the familiar customer service and warranty that comes with many big names associated with stress-tested weapon mounted light assures that if you can dish out abuse more than thousands of SCAR muzzle blasts then you’ll have your light replaced in no time. Make no mistake, the lights that will be mentioned are those built to last and perform.

What’s more important: Candela vs Lumens?

Lumens describes the distance traveled by a candle light, one square foot. Two lumens describe the light projected from having two candles set a foot away from each other. So a layman’s term question when asking how many lumens is desired can be rephrased into “how far do you want your light to reach?”.

But light that reaches something doesn’t necessarily mean it’s light that will bounce back and reach your eyes. While a candle’s light can shine on an object 5 ft away, it is extremely dim and hard to see the object as there isn’t much candle light bouncing back. The bare minimum to positively identify a target can be quantified as 3 ft away from the candle, one lux.

lux = candela • square radian • meter-2

Candela is not oftentimes advertised as much as lumens, but it is important that the light’s candela is sufficient enough to capitalize on the throw it has.

How bright should an EDC flashlight be?

Here is a simple chart, using the previous formula, for the candela needed to illuminate a subject at 1 lux at various distances in meters:

A light can advertise being able to reach even further despite not having a candela rating that’s appropriate. Although they aren’t necessarily wrong, it does the user no good to squint at a dim silhouette visual of a subject (less than 1 lux).

What is Thyrm’s Switchback Technique?

I was once told that I needed a handheld light alongside my CCW. I found this advice odd as my G19 was already home to a TLR-HL 1, moreover I had below average baby sized hands that needed as much grip on the gun as they could get. Having to give up a conventional grip to be able to hold a light while shooting seemed impractical compared to a pistol mounted light.

Thyrm’s switchback technique offers a compromise: being able to use a handheld light alongside a pistol mounted light without sacrificing a proper handgun grip. Using a shaped ring mount on any regular sized handheld flashlight, the switchback ring allows the user to wear their flashlight as a ring supported by the knuckle and thumb. When the user wants to use the supportive hand to shoot, they simply resume a standard handgun grip without having to stow away their light.
This allows a seamless transition between searching for targets and getting into proper shooting form. Additionally, the switchback offers a way to clear areas without having to worry about muzzle flagging something that you care about.

For carbine and rifle users that shoot with a vertical foregrip, the switchback is an excellent application to search for targets without having to constantly use your main weapon as a primary searchlight.

Check out the Thyrm Switchback available for $19.99.

Cloud Defensive MCH

The EDC Mission Configurable Handheld’s performance currently outclasses every domestically made handheld light in its humble dimension of 3.975” length and head diameter of 1.20”. Both sizes of the MCH are each available for $219.99 in black, clear anodized, flat dark earth, olive drab green. The surface is finished with standard type III hard coat over a 6061-T6 aluminum body. Its IPX8 water resistant rating certifies the MCH for submersion of over 30 meters for 24 hours.

Cloud Defensive’s smallest EDC light can be used to positively identify an object with a clear field of view at 200 meters away. If you’re looking for a pocket sun that can serve additionally as a dimmer administrative light, the optional dual output feature gives the MCH a beam that’s sufficient for illuminating your close immediate surroundings.

To toggle between the low output mode and default mode is simply a push of a button and requires no battery switch.

The MCH comes with a Thyrm Low Profile Clip, but the Switchback can be added separately.

MCH EDC: 18650 Battery

The everyday carry’s default output mode has the followed ratings:

• 40,000 candelas
• 1,400 lumens
• 120 minutes of battery life

Its low power setting are as followed:

• 4,000 candelas
• 140 lumens

MCH EDC: 18350 Battery

Using the smaller 18350 rechargeable batteries, you get:

• 35,000 candelas
• 1200 lumens
• 35 minutes

With the lower output mode:

• 3,500 candelas
• 120 lumens

For users with bigger hands or simply don’t mind handling an extra inch of the MCH, the full sized MCH HC gives a boost in battery life and performance.

MCH HC: 18650 Battery

The bigger high candela variant of the MCH has the following ratings on default output:

• 71,000 candelas
• 1100 lumens
• 150 minutes of battery life

The MCH HC also comes in a dual output option:

• 7,000 candelas
• 110 lumens

MCH HC: 18350 Battery

In conjunction with a 18350 battery the MCH HC is toned down just like the MCH EDC:

• 63,000 candelas
• 950 lumens
• 50 minutes

In its low output mode with the dual output feature:

• 6,000 candelas
• 100 lumens

Can I buy Cloud Defensive MCH heads separately?

Yes. If you’d even like both sizes, you could simply buy the MCH in either size and purchase the other sized light head standalone. However, the MCH HC gives far better performance and battery life without trading much in portability so if you have to go with only one then the choice isn’t too hard.

Should you change your mind about the MCH within 30 days of purchase or manage to damage it with regular use, Cloud Defensive will honor their 30-day money back guarantee as well as their lifetime warranty.

Surefire Fury-DFT

The Fury-DFT is one of Surefire’s long running staple lights, updated to accept CR123A batteries as well as 18650 batteries, offering versatility and performance in classic Surefire reliability for $224.00. For a priority on performance the included 18650 rechargeable batteries will do best, however with the prevalence of CR123A batteries it doesn’t hurt to still have options.

With two stacked CR123A batteries…

• 18,400 candelas
• 1,100 lumens
• 75 minutes of battery life

With an 18650 battery…

• 25,200 candelas
• 1,500 lumens
• 90 minutes of battery life

Lengthwise the Fury measures 5.6” and has a bezel diameter of 1.39”. The knurled surface provides a nice texture for gripping on a body built to last a long time. For constant-on, fully press the tailcap switch. For a momentary-on, lightly press.

Surefire EDCL2-T

Hailing from the legacy of the EB2 Tactical, the EDCL2-T features a dual output capability to switch between a situational administrative light and a mid-range tactical light. Unlike the high performance lights fed with 18650 batteries, the EDCL2-T runs only on CR123A batteries. The body is equipped with a two-way retention clip, allowing it to be clipped in either direction, without obstructing the user’s grip on the knurled surface.

On its high output mode…

• 11,300 candelas
• 1,200 lumens
• 60 minutes

On its low output mode…

• 5 lumens
• 60 hours

If you’d like an edc light that will last for years and well into the post-credits scene the EDCL2-T is available for $179.99.

Surefire Stiletto Pro

Surefire takes their stiletto’s distinct body and upped it a notch with the Stiletto Pro available for $233.00. Now sporting a new MaxVision Beam reflector, the Stiletto Pro holds a higher output in lumens and candelas. Like its predecessor, this edc light bears three modes of output for the user to switch between a beam to fit a variety of tasks from administrative use, situational awareness, and searching.

High

• 5,100 candelas
• 1,000 lumens
• 60 minutes

Medium

• 300 lumens
• 90 minutes

Low

• 25 lumens
• 23.5 hours

Integrated Batteries

Stiletto Pro uses an integrated lithium-ion battery meant to be recharged rather than replaced with a fresh battery.

From Polymer to Aerospace Grade Aluminum

The original stiletto housing consisted of a rugged polymer body weighing in at 2.8 oz. Its latest iteration of a bigger hard coated aluminum construction, sitting at 4.5” lengthwise, holds the promise of even greater durability weighing in at 4.0 oz. Additionally, the body’s clip has been updated to a reversible clip to sit on a belt with the head facing either direction. The Stiletto Pro retains the IPX7 water resistant rating.

While the Stiletto and Stiletto Pro’s shape makes gripping the light intuitively easy to manipulate and stow away, it is worth mentioning that the lack of a cylinder shape makes the Stiletto lights incompatible with a Thyrm Switchback ring. Keep this in mind if you intend to use the Stiletto Pro in conjunction with a weapon.

Modlite Handheld OKW 18650

Modlite takes their popular flagship weapon mounted light and converts it to handheld use with the Handheld OKW-18650 Light Package for $309.00. The fully potted OKW light head is renowned for its intense concentrated beam, with little spill, that is able to really throw over significant distances to positively identify subjects and even blind them. From the new slimmed generation of Modlite’s head to the tailcap, the OKW-18650 is 5.375” long with a 4.25” diameter head.

• 69,000 candelas
• 680 lumens
• 75 minutes

With the 18350 battery you receive a 4.25” lengthwise body with 1.19” diameter head. However, the battery runtime lasts 35 minutes.

Modlite Handheld PLHv2-18650 Light Package

One caveat to the OKW is a really tight, intense center circle within the beam. While this is great for lighting up that subject over the horizon, it disrupts the even dispersion of light within the beam especially at close ranges. While the PLHv2 head isn’t able to throw as much as the OKW light head, it is a solid do-it-all for most engagement distances. The Handheld PLHv2-18650 Light Package is within the same ballpark as the OKW for $309.00.

• 54,000 candelas
• 1350 lumens
• 75 minutes

This is a better light for situational awareness, but if you really want the throw of the OKW there’s no harm in buying both light heads (other than the financial repercussions to your checking account of course).

Protect yourself in the dark with Modulus Arms

It's been a pretty wild year for tactical handheld lights and while we're big fans of all these companies, don’t just blind the threat. Be able to shoot back. Browse our jigs and 80 lowers to get started with a home defense build today!