A final technical consideration for a flashlight is its lumen level. Lumens are the measure for how bright a light appears.

For the most part, the 50- 80 lumens range is perfect to see things in the dark. But for self-defense, I usually prefer the 150-180 lumens range, possibly even more.

When picking a flashlight, several key questions should be considered. If you address these questions while researching your light, you'll end up with one that's better suited to your personal needs and likes.

The first question you should consider is the size of the flashlight. Will the flashlight be able to be worn or carried easily without getting in the way of my normal routine? For this reason alone, I tend to not carry the biggest flashlight I can find. There are plenty of pocket-sized lights that are powerful.

The next question is about getting your hands on the flashlight. Will I be able to access it quickly and in the dark without needing to look for it? This might seem like common-sense, but I've seen it overlooked many times.

Another question has to do with function. Does the light have a good track record of being used in the situations I'm planning to need it for? I wouldn't want to take a two dollar key chain flashlight with me in a very dark forest with a lot of obstacles. There's just not enough power to the light to show me the things I need to see, and there's almost no range to them.

Range is another very important consideration. How far I can see with my light is not the same as the distance my light can be seen by someone else. I need to consider the target I make when I turn on my flashlight as much as I need to consider my need to see around me. Again, training and practice are the best ways to compensate for these situations. There are methods that can help reduce risk while using a light in a dangerous situation, but you need to learn these techniques from an experienced instructor.

If I need the light to produce a large amount of light, will it be enough to stun or blind someone for an instant? Again, I look for the capability to hit that 150 or higher lumens range, but I also try to pick one that doesn't ALWAYS operate in that range because sometimes I just need a flashlight.

Does the flashlight have the ability to be turned on and off VERY quickly? I tend to lean toward pressure buttons here; if I'm adding pressure it's on, and if not, it's off - pretty simple.

Does it have the ability to remain on at the level of light I need? Again, sometimes I need a flashlight to just be a flashlight. If my pressure button doesn't also have a way to turn the light on and leave it on, then I tend not to use it.

Will the light function as a light? More to the point, will this tool actually prove useful when I need it? Will I be able to adjust the beam, the brightness, and the features quickly and appropriately for a given situation. One of my friends told me of a time when he was a young police officer. He chased an assailant up a tree, and with five other officers there, he pulled out his new flashlight that simply drowned out all the other lights around him. He told me that he learned "that the man with the brightest light is apparently the one in charge."

Does the light have other 'special' features? There are some lights that have little beveled edges around one end or another. These can easily be used for self-defense. I think it's worth mentioning them, but I usually tend to use a flashlight as a flashlight. If I have to hit someone, I'll find something harder and more clumsy; rocks or chairs work great. However, when there's nothing else available, it's nice to know I have the option if needed. Lasers can also be found on some lights, but lights with this option usually are made to be mounted on a firearm. Since many who carry a flashlight will not be carrying a firearm, and weapon mounted lights are a special topic, it is beyond the intended scope of this article to consider laser options.

Is the flashlight simple enough to actually use without activating a 'special' option by accident? Some lights have strobe options that are disorienting to attackers, but strobing light can also cause the same disorientation in the user. I distinctly remember trying to do a low-light pistol course, and my strobe option kept turning on when I was trying to make my shot. Strobes are great for signaling or disorienting someone, but when I'm trying to make a shot with my pistol, it tends to disorient me instead.

With flashlights, as with any other item that has a high failure rate, if you carry one... carry two. For items that can fail you, it's always a good idea to have a back-up. I actually carry two flashlights on me, or I have one nearby that will be easily accessible perhaps in my vehicle or in an outside pocket of my pack that I can quickly find.

Some people want to know what flashlight I prefer. I tend to like lights that are LED, have a thumb pressure control switch with the ability to leave the light on somehow if I choose, and have at least two settings - one around 50 lumens and the other around 180 lumens. I would rather spend a little more money on exactly what I want, knowing it'll be around for a long time, rather than just get something inexpensive that I might have to replace too soon. Many manufacturers offer a wide variety of lights. I suggest that, as you research and choose a light that meets your needs, you also ask whether others who have similar needs and requirements choose the brand that you are considering.

As with almost every piece of equipment that's out there, always keep in mind that the more time and thought you put into it, the better choice you'll make. Most important of all is once you have your light, practice with it the way you're going to have to use it when the time comes. Low light training classes are an entire course by themselves at nearly every self-defense style training school in the world. Training and practice are the essential keys to having self-confidence in potentially dangerous situations whether it is the use of flashlights or any other tool or weapon. As the flashlights differ in style, some of them include highly developed features, such as electronically managed output regulation for reliable high output, as well as highly proficient multiple level brightness control, which lets the customer to change the power of light as needed; for example hunting at night require softer amount of light than while camping. This element is often used by both military and search rescue during the war and regular training. In the recent years, Eagletac tactical flashlights are often bought by the ordinary people for camping trips, night hunting, and paintball games in the dark.