Outdoor

3 Steps to Recognising a Good Torch

April 15, 2021 — by Richard Dawson

Humans have always looked for ways to bring light into darkness in every sense of the word. This is what essentially flashlights are – a way to lighten your way even in the darkest places, regardless of the situation. An artificial light that can guide you through the night can offer saving grace in many different scenarios, even some life-threatening ones. In other words, whether you are hiking through rough terrain, night hunting, repairing your vehicle on the side of the road or simply looking for the fuse box, working a search and rescue job, most people can benefit from owning a good quality torch.

Everyone has a smartphone nowadays and most of us have been using them as a torch to walk through the dark or to find something under the couch. And while that is a great and very helpful option, nothing beats a reliable flashlight that can throw a strong light for tens or even hundreds of metres.

If you are searching for torches for sale, there are several things to take into consideration in order to choose the best one for your needs. Flashlights come in different types, sizes and strengths. Different types use different light sources, are made of various materials and use different batteries. This means that regardless of your reasons for wanting a torchlight, there is an ideal model out there for you.

torches

1. Learn about the Light Output and Light Source

The light output refers to the intensity of light that comes out of the flashlight torch and is generally measured in lumens. The more lumens the flashlight can put out, the brighter the beam, and what you choose depends on your particular needs. Generally, a flashlight that can put out somewhere between 800 and 1200 lumens is great for most people. If you need an even more professional and more powerful option, like a flashlight for night hunting or diving as a part of camping equipment or your safety gear for hiking, a job like a firefighter, police officer, or any type of search-and-rescue job, etc., you may want something much stronger. The beam distance, or how far the torch will be able to throw the light is one of the things you need to think about, and unless you need it for your job, a throw of anything between 10 and 200 metres is enough for most people.

When it comes to the light source, nowadays there are flashlights that use very high-quality LED lights. These flashlights are reliable and resilient, and they are a great investment because LED lights are highly energy-efficient and they last much longer than other lights. Furthermore, they produce more light and less heat, and they use less power to produce light, which means that they are easy on the batteries. This also makes them the most environmentally sound option out there.

torches battery

2. Learn about the Battery

There are many different types of flashlights, and one way to categorise them is according to the batteries they use. Flashlights either use rechargeable or disposable batteries. Disposable batteries are a good choice if you aren’t too dependable on your flashlight and if you aren’t going to use it all the time. The main advantage of disposable batteries is that they are also cheaper and you can buy them almost anywhere.

However, if you are someone who is often in a situation where a flashlight is needed, or if a flashlight is part of your gear for your hobby like hiking, camping or hunting, or if you need one for your job, then rechargeable batteries are a better choice. Even though disposable batteries are cheaper, if you use your flashlight frequently, you’d have to buy new packs all the time, which means that you’d end up spending much more money. So, the initial bigger investment is much more cost-effective. Disposable batteries also aren’t a good option for use in extreme temperatures, which is why they wouldn’t perform well in some situations where you might need them.

waterproof torches

3. Learn about the Different Features

If you are looking for torches for sale, your budget will be a very important factor in narrowing down your choice. However, regardless of your budget limits, try to invest in the best quality possible. Like with all other tools you are buying, you need to make sure that you choose a highly durable and reliable option. Depending on why you are looking for a flashlight and what you’re going to use it for, you can find torches with some incredible qualities, such as waterproof torches, torches with high impact resistance, etc.

You can also look for features you may find useful while using or carrying your flashlight, such as pocket clips, which will allow you to attach the flashlight to your belt, low light modes for when you only need a little light, high Colour Rendering Index, etc. Furthermore, you can buy different torch accessories to get even more out of your flashlight – colour filters, holsters, battery chargers, etc.