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Long Range Flashlights

2022 Reviews ➤ Top 4 Throw Flashlights for Emergencies: Compact, Bright, and Reliable

Last Updated August 13, 2022 By James Levinson

best throw flashlights 2022

🔦 Our Top Choices🔦

We’ve reviewed some of the top throw flashlights on the market this year, but which one is the absolute best?
If you need the brightest long throw flashlight (Portable Sun?🌞 )

  • ThruNite Catapult V6

If you need a compact and lightweight pocket thrower flashlight:

  • NITECORE P12

Throw flashlights can be a vital survival or tactical tool. And if you’re using it for these purposes, you want to make sure you have the best flashlight money can buy. We’ve done all the hard work for you and compiled a list of the best throw flashlights for 2022

What is a Throw Flashlight?

What is a throw flashlight? Long beam distance compared

In essence, “throw” refers to the distance of the flashlight’s beam. Flashlights that have good throw characteristics typically have narrow beams that can illuminate objects off in the distance. In some cases, the beam can illuminate objects hundreds of feet away. There’s even a record holder for the longest ever flashlight throw

Flashlights with good “throw” are often referred to as “throwers” or “long throw flashlights”.

What makes these flashlights unique is that they don’t necessarily illuminate the area close to the flashlight (like how a lightbulb lights up a room). Instead, it throws out a concentrated beam of light to illuminate objects far away. It’s the distance, not the area, that’s most important.

Throw flashlights can be used for:

• Survival
• Tactical purposes
• Self-defense (it’s possible to temporarily blind someone with the flashlight’s bright beam)

Now that you know what a thrower flashlight is, let’s take a look at the best flashlights on the market.

The Best Throw Flashlight for 2022 | Top 4 Picks

1. Streamlight 88047 ProTac HL 3

streamlight protac hl3 tactical flashlight long throw

Looking for the longest throw flashlight? The Streamlight ProTac HL3 may just be the right flashlight for you. With 1100 lumens and a 379-meter (approx. 1,243 feet) beam, this is easily one of the brightest tactical flashlights on the market. Many also consider it the best long throw flashlight around.

The ProTac HL3 offers three brightness levels: high, low and strobe. On low, the flashlight outputs 35 lumens and its beam distance is 69 meters. The strobe setting boasts a 1.5 hour run time.

Designed for serious users, this is a multi-function flashlight that allows for one-handed operation, removable pocket clip and an anti-roll face cap (Overall very good EDC Flashlight) . It’s powered by three lithium batteries that have a shelf life of 10 years.

 

ProTac HL3 SpecificationsStreamlight 88047 ProTac HL 3 Flashlight with White LED and 3-CR123A Lithium Batteries, Black2

• 50,000 hour lifetime

• Features an aircraft grade aluminum housing

• Gasket-sealed glass lens with anti-reflective coating

• Waterproof to one meter for up to 30 minutes

• 1-meter impact resistance


2. NITECORE P12

NITECORE P12 FLASHLIGHT 1000 LUMENS 2015 VERSION throw flashlight

NitecoreP12 offers a maximum output of 1000 lumens. It uses a CREE XM-L2 LED and boasts an impressive throw distance of 232 meters (about 761 feet). Its peak density is 13,500cd. This flashlight runs on 18650 battery or two CR123

VIDEO | Nitecore P12: Light Test

Nitecore P12 Specifications

• This flashlight boasts the longest run time on our list of up to 520 hours on lowest setting.

• Waterproof (two meters submersible).

• Side switch interface allows for one-handed, easy operation and displays battery life.

• Stainless steel clip.

• Memory function stores your preferred brightness setting.

• Anti-reflective coating; clear mineral glass.

• Impact resistance of 1.5 meters.


3. Nitecore P16

nitecore p16 tactical flashlight long throw

 

The Nitecore P16 isn’t quite as powerful as the P12, but it’s a close second. This model features a 960 lumen output with Cree XM-L2 T6 LED.Using patented digital optics technology, this flashlight boasts a flawless long range beam with a maximum distance of 289 meters (about 948 feet).

Like the P12, the P16 is intuitive and smart. It features four brightness levels: high, medium, low and lower. The selected mode is memorized – even after you turn off the flashlight. Strobe and SoS functions are also included.

VIDEO | Nitecore P16: Light Test

Nitecore P16 Specifications

• Maximum 520 hours of runtime

• Mode switch allows for easy access to the flashlight’s function

• Titanium plated stainless steel clip

• Power indicator displays battery life

• IPX8 rated waterproof (up to 2 meters)

• 1.5-meter impact resistance


4. Sunwayman T20CS

 

Sunwayman T20CS Cree XM-L U2 Long Throw Side Switch LED Flashlight, Black

On Turbo, the Sunwayman T20CS features a 658 lumen output and maximum beam distance of 276 meters (about 912 feet). The T20CS isn’t as bright as the other flashlights on our list, but its long throw is impressive.

This Sunwayman model features three constant output modes, a turbo mode, SoS mode and a strobe mode. Turbo mode boasts a runtime of 68 minutes and requires two CR123A batteries.

The three constant output modes are high (476 lumens;2.5 hour run-time), medium (92 lumens;11 hour run-time) and low (18 lumens; 82 hour run-time).

VIDEO | Sunwayman T20CS: Light Test

SunwaymanT20CS Specifications

• CREE XM-L U2 LED that boasts a 50,000 hour lifetime

• Side switch for easy mode selection

• Constructed with aircraft-grade aluminum alloy

• IPX8 rated waterproof

• Tempered glass lens that’s scratch resistant


Long Throw Flashlight Buying Guide

If you’ve never owned or used a thrower flashlight before, you may not know what to look for when buying one. There are a few important things you want to consider when looking at different models:

Beam Distance

flashlight beam distanceThrow flashlights are known for having long beam distances. Most people assume that the longer the beam is, the better the flashlight is. But that’s not always the case. It really depends on what you’re using the flashlight for. If you’re only buying a throw flashlight to monitor activity in your yard, you may not need an extremely long throw.

beam distance throw flashlight fl1 standardTake the ProTac HL3 (listed above) for example. It features a beam distance of 379 meters. That’s about 1,200 feet. This a great option for security or tactical, but it may also be practical in survival situations. But if you’re using it to monitor activity in your yard, it may be impractical. A shorter beam distance will probably suffice.

The bottom line: choose a beam distance that’s appropriate for your flashlight use.


Lumen Output

flashlight lumen outputThe lumen output is also important. The higher the lumen, the brighter the light. In most cases, brighter is better – especially with throw flashlights. Chances are, you’ll be using your thrower flashlight outdoors. And you’re going to need all the help you can get if you need to illuminate long distances.


LED Lifetime

Another thing to consider is the LED’s lifetime. Some LEDs boast a 50,000 hour lifetime. This means you could leave the flashlight on for 2,083 days straight before the LED would die out. That’s more than efficient for any use. Just about every throw flashlight will list the lifetime of the LED in the product description.

The throw flashlights listed above are the best on the market with high lumen outputs and boast impressively long beam distances. No matter whether you plan on using it for survival or tactical purposes, these models are the most reliable and brightest you can buy.

The Science Behind Long Throw Flashlights

Last Updated November 28, 2020 By James Levinson

long throw flashlight science

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  

parabolic reflector for throw flashlightThe 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.

The Longest Flashlight Throw Ever: Record Holder

Last Updated November 28, 2020 By James Levinson

longest flashlight throw ever

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

klarus xt12gt throw flashlightThe 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.

DIfferences Between a Throw Flashlight and a Flood Flashlight

Last Updated November 28, 2020 By James Levinson

spot flashlight vs throw flashlight comparison

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.

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