Daily Defense 1-19: Handheld Lights for EDC

Self-defense situations often occur at night or in low-light conditions. Bad guys tend to prefer to go about their business when it's not easy for you to see them. So a handheld light is an important part of your EDC / daily carry setup. Colloquially called "flashlights," we call them "handheld" to make the distinction from gun-mounted lights. Jeff's recommends getting a light that produces a MINIMUM of 100 lumens of output. Brighter is better, though typically that also means more expensive. If you can afford it, go for the brighter light. And this is another situation where size is important: the smaller the light, the more likely you are to be carrying it. The best, brightest light in the world won't do you any good if it's at home while you're walking down a dark alley! These lights usually run on one or two lithium ion batteries, though good-quality, powerful rechargeable lights are becoming more common. Most handheld lights are operated via a tailcap switch, while others have a button on the light body. Most lights come with a pocket clip that lets you carry them in a consistent, easy-to-access location. Should you carry your light with the bezel pointing up or down? Jeff has some advice on that, too.