Long Range Flashlights

What is a Long Throw Flashlight 

A long throw flashlight is a light which provides a strong beam over a long distance, unlike flood flashlight models that are different and which light up the area around the light, a long throw flashlight is designed to allow the user to see a longer distance rather than lighting up a room. An example of a long throw flashlight that you may have had some experience with would be a stage spot light, a spot light directs a strong beam of light onto a designated area or person. Even though the light beam is strong it doesn’t light up the area it is being used and the light is focused onto a single point, this makes it great for situations where the user requires sight over long distances such as on a night time walk where it is important to be able to see in front of you. 

There is much discussion when it comes to which kind of throw flashlight is the best and I would argue that it comes down to the situation that you require it for, long throw flashlights are specifically designed to make the light travel in a strong beam over a long distance. Many other flashlights are limited to lighting up the area around the light to provide lighting in the area of the user, this is useful in an event where you require room lighting but may not be suitable where long distance lighting is required. As long throw flashlights are better suited to situations where the user needs to see far out in front of them, it is important that you select the correct flashlight for your specific situation in order to make sure you can see properly.

How Do They Work ? 

Long throw flashlights, like the one used to make the worlds longest ever flashlight throw, rely upon the focus of the LED within the parabolic reflector, the light beams are magnified meaning they travel over long distances in the direction that you point the flashlight in. The LED within the flashlight isn’t actually that powerful when used alone, but when it is combined with the parabola you will find that the light is extremely strong and precise in terms of direction. The lumens within the flashlight are particularly narrow which is why these kinds of flashlights don’t really light up the area around the user, the light density is stronger than that of a normal light so instead of spreading to light up a room it shoots in one direction.  

If you want to test how strong a specific long throw flashlight is then I would recommend that you shine the light at something which you know the distance between yourself and that object, to compare between other flashlight devices simply shine them all at the object and look at how far each of the lights can reach. Whichever flashlight shines on the object the brightest would be the best model in terms of brightness and the distance the light can travel.  

The great thing about flashlights like this is they can be run from everyday AAA batteries, even though the light strength is so high on these devices they only require standard 1.5 volt batteries as you only need enough energy to power a simple LED. It is the reflector which allows such a strong beam to be generated so you are able to use batteries which are easily accessible, affordable and lightweight, making a long throw led flashlight one of the most practical models you can buy. 

Parabolic Reflectors  

The science behind long throw flashlights is heavily reliant upon the inclusion of parabolic reflectors within their designs, a parabolic reflector is used to project different kinds of energy such as sound and light rays. The reflector is made from a mirrored material in a circular shape, this unique design has been developed to reflect the light waves to become as strong and bright as possible. When it comes to long throw flashlights the inclusion of a parabolic reflector means that low energy consuming LED’s can be focused through the reflector to create a beam that is significantly stronger. This means that flashlight users are able to have access to extremely bright flashlights without being reliant on a strong power source, as these devices only require standard AAA batteries. Long throw flashlights are not only functional and accessible but also very affordable.

If you are someone that is in the market for a new flashlight, you may have found yourself discovering differences that you didn’t even know existed. One of the main differences that you will find when trying to purchase a new flashlight is whether or not the flood or a throw flashlight. The two kinds of flashlights differ based on the way they emit light. A flood flashlight will emit soft light to its immediate area whereas a throw flashlight will emit a beam of light to a contained area.  

If you are looking into purchasing a throwlight, you want to make sure that you purchase the farthest throwing flashlight possible. The flashlight market is extremely overpopulated so it is easy to be distracted by a long list of throwlights that aren’t powerful or worth the price.  To help with your search for the best throwlight, it is important that you educate yourself on what qualities a powerful flashlight has.

What is a flashlight throw?

A flashlight throw is basically the distance that a beam of light will travel to emit light from a flashlight. You can read more about the science behind a long throw flashlight here. You can determine the distance that the beam of light has travelled simply by looking at where the beam of light ends. If you want to test how long your flashlight throw is, you will have to follow several steps.  

First of all, to truly be able to test the distance that a throw flashlight can reach, you will need a lot of space. Depending on the brand, a throw light can travel quite a long distance. If you are in a small area while testing the throw of your light, you will not get an accurate result as you will be limited to the space that you are enclosed in. Due to the nature of throw lights, you don’t have to be worried about them being ineffective when outside as they emit concentrated light and so you will be able to still get a clear view of their throw distance, even if it is light.  

How do you measure throw?

The way in which a flashlight throw is calculated is actually incredibly straightforward. To calculate a throw, you simply point the flashlight at a far out location and physically measure the distance that the light has travelled. 

Now that you know what a flashlight throw is and how to calculate its distance, you may be wondering just how powerful a flashlight throw can be.  We were also interested in this information and so have looked into it and made a flashlight beam distance comparison between manufactured throw flashlights and have come across a flashlight that is capable of reaching a record breaking throw distance. 

Klarus XT12GT – 603 meters

The Klarus XT12GT flashlight offers an impressive throw distance of 603 meters. This LED flashlight is a fond favorite of throw light enthusiasts and is capable of reaching impressive distances while also emitting powerful light. This is one of the latest models released by Klarus and because of this it consists of some of the best features available right now. The reflector that enables the flashlight to reach long distances is longer and smoother in this model, which means the beam throw can reach some impressive lengths. No other flashlight on the market can match the throw capabilities of the Klarus XT12GT , this is due to the fact that it can deliver up to 1600 lumens of light, which makes its light appear stronger. 

Though this is the longest flashlight available to purchase on the market, throw flashlights can be modified quite easily through changing reflectors and also improving their battery power.

The world of lighting equipment is more diverse than you may think. We are no longer limited to using just a standard flashlight as there is a long list of lighting options available to us. Like with any part of life, the same tool doesn’t always do the job for all circumstances. Because of this, if you are in need of a light source there are plenty of options available to you .  

If you need a torch for general purposes, you can usually expect to choose between two types. You will most likely need to choose between a flood flashlight and a throw flashlight. But how do both of these flashlights work and what differences do they have? 

What are flood and throw flashlights?

Flood Flashlight

Flood flashlights are probably the lights that you are most familiar with. The way that they work is partially explained in their name, they work simply by lighting up the area that surrounds them. This makes them ideal for tasks where you need to light up big areas, so for basic household tasks like taking a trip to the basement.

Throw Flashlight

A throw flashlight operates with a condenser lens and is used to light up precise areas. A throw flashlight won’t light up its surrounding area and will instead light up wherever you point them towards. This makes them ideal for if you need to do any repairs or highlight specific small areas and so are favored by workmen. 

What difference do they have?

Area Covered

The main difference that there is between the two kinds of light is the distance that they both cover.

A flood flashlight has a large diffuse area, which means that flood lights will cover a wider immediate area. This means that they are more practical for creating a large light source, so if you are trying to complete a task in a dark room, you will benefit more from the use of a flood flashlight. The light that is used in a flood flashlight is non directional, which means a larger area of soft lighting will be emitted. This results in the surrounding area being lit, but not in an intense way- making them comfortable to use as a general light source.  

The way in which a throw flashlights covers space is quite different. A throw flashlight will cover a more concentrated area than a flood light due to a normal of its structural factors. The center spot of a good long throw flashlight is smaller and stronger than that of a flood flashlight. This means that depending on where you aim the light, the intensity of the light will be stronger in the middle and diffuse slightly towards the outside.  This makes these lights perfect for tasks that require you to focus on a specific area, and are much better for illuminating objects at a further range.

Distance

One way in which the two kinds of flashlight really differ is through the distance that they can cover. As previously stated, floodlights are used more to cover the immediate area, whereas the appeal of throw flashlights is that its beams can reach quite far distances. In fact, the longest throw flashlight is capable of reaching distances of 603 meters. Due to the reach that these lights are capable of, they are regularly used for beacon-esque tasks by their users. 

Intensity

Another big difference between a flood flashlight and a throw light is the intensity of light that you can expect from each.  

As previously stated, flood flashlights have less intensive light, making them appropriate for use up close. Due to the nature that they are used in, the intensity of a floodlight is usually not too powerful. However, this is not the case for a throw light.  Throw lights have a lot more engineering put into them, which usually includes a precision lens and reflector. Due to this, they are not only able to cover a larger distance, but they also appear to be much brighter.  This is because the shape of the lens, which makes the distribution of the light differ substantially from the way in which flood flashlights distribute life. This makes the light appear stronger and more intense.