Today, I’m going to share with you the ultimate guide to high intensity discharge flashlights, or HID flashlights for short. These are not your ordinary flashlights that you use for camping or reading in the dark. These are powerful, bright, and durable flashlights that can light up a large area, start a fire, or even blind an attacker. Sounds impressive, right? Well, let’s dive into what makes HID flashlights so special and how to choose the best one for your needs.
Contents
What are HID flashlights?
HID flashlights are a type of gas discharge lamps that produce light by creating an electric arc between two electrodes through an ionized gas. Electrodes, gas and metal salts (for some HID lamps) are hermetically sealed inside a special arc discharge tube made from quartz or sintered alumina. The gas can be xenon, mercury vapor, sodium vapor, or metal halides. The metal salts help to increase the intensity and color of the light.
HID flashlights are different from LED flashlights or incandescent bulb flashlights in several ways. First of all, they are much brighter than both LED and incandescent flashlights. They can produce up to 100 lumens per watt, while LED flashlights can produce up to 50 lumens per watt and incandescent flashlights can produce up to 15 lumens per watt. This means that HID flashlights can illuminate a larger area and reach farther distances than other types of flashlights.
Secondly, HID flashlights have a longer lifespan than both LED and incandescent flashlights. They can last up to 50,000 hours, while LED flashlights can last up to 10,000 hours and incandescent flashlights can last up to 1,000 hours. This means that HID flashlights are more reliable and cost-effective in the long run.
Thirdly, HID flashlights have a higher color temperature than both LED and incandescent flashlights. They can produce light with a color temperature of up to 6,000 Kelvin, while LED flashlights can produce light with a color temperature of up to 5,000 Kelvin and incandescent flashlights can produce light with a color temperature of up to 3,000 Kelvin. This means that HID flashlights have a cooler and whiter light that is closer to natural daylight.
However, HID flashlights also have some drawbacks compared to other types of flashlights. One of them is that they are more expensive than both LED and incandescent flashlights. They can cost up to $300 or more, while LED flashlights can cost up to $100 or less and incandescent flashlights can cost up to $20 or less. This means that HID flashlights are not very affordable for most people.
Another drawback is that they are heavier and bulkier than both LED and incandescent flashlights. They require a large battery pack and a ballast to power the arc discharge tube. They can weigh up to 2 pounds or more, while LED flashlights can weigh up to 0.5 pounds or less and incandescent flashlights can weigh up to 0.3 pounds or less. This means that HID flashlights are not very portable or convenient to carry around.
A third drawback is that they have a longer warm-up time than both LED and incandescent flashlights. They need about 10 seconds or more to reach their full brightness, while LED flashlights need about 1 second or less and incandescent flashlights need no time at all. This means that HID flashlights are not very responsive or flexible for sudden situations.
How to choose the best HID flashlight?
Now that you know what HID flashlights are and how they differ from other types of flashlights, you might be wondering how to choose the best one for your needs. Well, there are several factors that you need to consider before buying an HID flashlight. Here are some of them:
- Brightness: The brightness of an HID flashlight is measured in lumens, which is the amount of light emitted by the flashlight. The higher the lumens, the brighter the flashlight. However, brightness is not everything. You also need to consider the beam distance, which is how far the light can reach in meters. The higher the beam distance, the farther the flashlight can illuminate. You also need to consider the beam pattern, which is how wide or narrow the light spreads out in degrees. The wider the beam pattern, the more area the flashlight can cover. The narrower the beam pattern, the more focused the flashlight can be.
- Battery life: The battery life of an HID flashlight is measured in hours, which is how long the flashlight can run on a single charge or set of batteries. The longer the battery life, the more reliable the flashlight. However, battery life is also affected by the brightness level, the beam distance, and the beam pattern. The higher the brightness level, the shorter the battery life. The longer the beam distance, the shorter the battery life. The wider the beam pattern, the shorter the battery life. You also need to consider the battery type, which is what kind of batteries the flashlight uses. The most common battery types are lithium-ion, nickel-metal hydride, and alkaline. Lithium-ion batteries are rechargeable, lightweight, and have a high capacity. Nickel-metal hydride batteries are rechargeable, durable, and have a moderate capacity. Alkaline batteries are disposable, cheap, and have a low capacity.
- Durability: The durability of an HID flashlight is measured by how well it can withstand impacts, water, dust, and heat. The more durable the flashlight, the more resistant it is to damage. However, durability is also affected by the material, the design, and the quality of the flashlight. The most common materials are aluminum, stainless steel, and plastic. Aluminum is lightweight, strong, and corrosion-resistant. Stainless steel is heavy, tough, and rust-resistant. Plastic is cheap, flexible, and shock-resistant. The design of the flashlight can also affect its durability. Some flashlights have rubber or silicone coatings to enhance their grip and protection. Some flashlights have knurling or grooves to improve their handling and stability. Some flashlights have o-rings or gaskets to seal their joints and prevent water or dust from entering. The quality of the flashlight can also affect its durability. Some flashlights have high-quality components and craftsmanship that ensure their performance and longevity. Some flashlights have low-quality components and craftsmanship that compromise their functionality and durability.
- Features: The features of an HID flashlight are the extra functions or options that the flashlight offers besides its basic function of producing light. The more features the flashlight has, the more versatile it is. However, features are also affected by the purpose, the preference, and the budget of the user. The purpose of the flashlight can determine what kind of features are needed or wanted by the user. For example, if the user needs a flashlight for hunting or tactical purposes, they might want a flashlight that has a strobe mode, a red filter, or a pressure switch. If the user needs a flashlight for camping or hiking purposes, they might want a flashlight that has a lantern mode, a green filter, or a tripod mount. The preference of the user can determine what kind of features are liked or disliked by the user. For example, some users might prefer a flashlight that has a tail switch over a side switch for easier operation. Some users might prefer a flashlight that has a memory function over a mode switch for faster access to their favorite mode. Some users might prefer a flashlight that has a digital display over an indicator light for more accurate information on their battery status or brightness level. The budget of the user can determine what kind of features are affordable or expensive by the user. For example, some features might require additional accessories or components that increase the cost of the flashlight. Some features might be exclusive to certain brands or models that charge higher prices for their flashlights.
What are some of the best HID flashlights on the market?
Now that you know how to choose the best HID flashlight for your needs, you might be curious about some of the best HID flashlights on the market today. Well, there are many HID flashlights available from different brands and models that vary in their specifications and performance. However, based on our research and experience, we have selected some of the best HID flashlights that we think you should check out:
- Acebeam K70: This is one of the most powerful HID flashlights on the market today. It can produce up to 2,600 lumens of brightness and reach up to 1,300 meters of beam distance. It has six brightness levels and two special modes (strobe and SOS) that can be accessed by a side switch and a tail switch. It uses four 18650 lithium-ion batteries that can provide up to 75 hours of runtime. It is made of aircraft-grade aluminum with an anti-reflective coated lens and an orange peel reflector. It is waterproof up to 2 meters and impact-resistant up to 1 meter. It comes with a holster, a lanyard, two spare o-rings, and a user manual. You can read our full review of this flashlight here.
- Emisar D4: This is one of the most compact HID flashlights on the market today. It can produce up to 4,300 lumens of brightness and reach up to 200 meters of beam distance. It has four main modes (low/medium/high/turbo) and four sub-modes (moonlight/candle/bike/flash) that can be accessed by a side switch and a tail switch. It uses a single 18650 lithium-ion battery that can provide up to 150 hours of runtime. It is made of aluminum with a glass lens and a smooth reflector. It is waterproof up to 2 meters and impact-resistant up to 1 meter. It comes with a pocket clip, a lanyard, two spare o-rings, and a user manual. You can read our full review of this flashlight here.
- Garrity flashlight: This is one of the most affordable HID flashlights on the market today. It can produce up to 1,000 lumens of brightness and reach up to 200 meters of beam distance. It has three modes (high/low/strobe) that can be accessed by a side switch. It uses three AAA batteries that can provide up to 5 hours of runtime. It is made of aluminum with a polycarbonate lens and a textured reflector. It is water-resistant and impact-resistant. You can read our full review of this flashlight here.
- HaloXT tactical flashlight: This is one of the most versatile HID flashlights on the market today. It can produce up to 1,000 lumens of brightness and reach up to 200 meters of beam distance. It has five modes (high/medium/low/strobe/SOS) that can be accessed by a side switch and a tail switch. It uses two CR123A lithium batteries or one 18650 lithium-ion battery that can provide up to 20 hours of runtime. It is made of aircraft-grade aluminum with an anti-scratch coated lens and a textured reflector. It is waterproof up to 2 meters and impact-resistant up to 1 meter. You can read our full review of this flashlight here.
- PflexPro flashlight: This is one of the most customizable HID flashlights on the market today. It can produce up to 2,000 lumens of brightness and reach up to 300 meters of beam distance. It has three modes (low/high/turbo) that can be accessed by a side switch or a tail switch. It uses one or two lithium-ion batteries that can provide up to 100 hours of runtime. It is made of aluminum with an anti-reflective coated lens and a smooth reflector. It is waterproof and impact-resistant. You can read our full review of this flashlight here.
- Magpul flashlight mount: This is one of the most useful accessories for HID flashlights on the market today. It can mount your flashlight onto your rifle or shotgun for better aiming and illumination in low-light conditions. It is made of polymer with steel hardware and fits most Picatinny rails. You can read our full review of this mount here.
In conclusion, HID flashlights are powerful, bright, and durable flashlights that are ideal for outdoor activities, law enforcement, military operations, or emergency situations. They are different from LED flashlights or incandescent bulb flashlights in several ways, such as brightness, lifespan, color temperature, price, weight, size, warm-up time, etc. However, they also have some drawbacks compared to other types of flashlights, such as cost, portability, responsiveness, etc. Therefore, you need to choose the best HID flashlight for your needs based on several factors such as brightness, battery life, durability, features, etc. Some of the best HID flashlights on the market today are Acebeam K70, Emisar D4, Garrity flashlight, HaloXT tactical flashlight, PflexPro flashlight, etc. You also need to consider some useful accessories for HID flashlights such as Magpul flashlight mount.
I hope you found this guide helpful and informative. If you have any questions or comments about HID flashlights or any other lighting devices or products, feel free to leave them below. And don’t forget to check out our other articles about flashlight reviews here and other categories on this website.