The Best LED Flashlights for Gloved Hands

February 20th, 2012

G30 LED FlashlightDuring the cold winter months, we tend to keep our hands covered with gloves when we’re outside. Of course, this keeps our hands warm, but it can also make it difficult to handle certain objects. For instance, using a cell phone, flashlight or even just holding a cup of coffee with gloves on can prove challenging. However, in the case of LED flashlights, some of these glove-induced difficulties can be avoided if you choose the right type flashlight – or opt for an LED headlamp instead.

With that in mind, the following is a look at some of the more glove-friendly LED flashlights and headlamps for winter weather:

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Why Every Winter Storm Emergency Kit Needs a Flashlight

February 17th, 2012

Power OutageYou can never have enough LED flashlights, even if you’re not an avid spelunker, hiker or camper. A trusty LED flashlight comes in handy in many different situations, even if you’re just looking for lost items around the house. This is especially true when it comes to emergency situations; for example, during a winter storm or flood.

Now that winter is in full swing, the following are a few reasons you should not underrate the importance of keeping a few LED flashlights in your storm emergency kit. Even if you already have a flashlight in the garage or kitchen drawer, it’s a good idea to keep a couple of LED light sources with your emergency supplies so you’ll always have one close at hand. It is better to be well prepared ahead of time than have to scramble in the dark for a light source when you really need it!

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Factors that Affect an LED Flashlight’s Run Time

February 15th, 2012

Reactor by Kristoffer M.C.When you’re on an extended trip in the backcountry or facing an emergency, rationing becomes an essential survival practice. This means rationing food, water and even the battery life on your LED flashlight. Without the ability to carefully control and monitor how much precious light you’re using, you could end up in the dark before help – or the next town on your journey – arrives.

Battery life, also known as run time, can vary widely between LED flashlight models. Thanks to the relatively new ANSI FL1 flashlight standards, many manufacturers now use standardized testing methods to accurately determine the run times of their LED flashlights. However, there are other factors – some external – that can influence an LED flashlight’s battery life. It’s important to consider these conditions when you’re in a situation that requires careful rationing of your resources.

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How to Say Happy Valentine’s Day to Your Outdoor Enthusiast

February 13th, 2012

Multi-Tool LoveJust because Valentine’s Day occurs during the heart of the winter season doesn’t mean you can’t start looking forward to hiking and camping again when those warmer spring and summer days return. Indeed, in some parts of the world, Valentine’s Day is considered the first sign of spring.

This year, consider some helpful gadgets for your outdoor-loving significant other – such as an LED flashlight, folding knives or multi-tools. An LED flashlight may not sound like a romantic gift, but keep in mind that the gesture is a way of honoring your loved one’s hobby and letting him or her know you understand how important it is.

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LED Cathedral Lights up the Streets of Ghent, Belgium

February 7th, 2012

Luminarie de Cagna #1Michelangelo, eat your heart out: The temporary LED Cathedral in Ghent, Belgium may not have a laboriously frescoed ceiling, but its dazzling 55,000 LED lights illuminate an entire street in a cacophony of color.

The giant colonnade, reaching a height of 91 feet at its peak, blends Romanesque and Renaissance architecture and is constructed of wood covered with thousands of LED lights. It’s the creation of Luminarie De Cagna – an Italian, family-owned lighting and illumination business established more than 80 years ago – for Ghent’s recent Light Festival. It was lit by joining LED lights together to make massive curtains, which were then draped over the structure.

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Super Bowl Ad Redux: LED Headlights as Bright as the Sun

February 7th, 2012

Did you all catch the Audi commercial that aired during Sunday’s Super Bowl? The luxury car manufacturer touted its innovative LED headlights as bright as daylight and thus vampire-killing. The LED lights used in Audi’s LED headlamps produce the closest recreation of daylight available (5500 Kelvin).

Audi first incorporated a full-LED headlight design in its R8 model in 2008 (read our original Audi R8 LED headlamp post). The LED light design is combined with features like a high-beam assistant that detects the headlights of oncoming traffic and the “rear lights of other road users and responds by varying the position and width of the LED headlights accordingly” (for more visit LED Magazine).

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Does Cold Temperature Affect LED Flashlight Performance?

February 6th, 2012

Morning chillDog mushers, oil riggers, fishermen – these are the types of people likely to use LED flashlights in extremely cold conditions. Indeed, all three of these occupations are plentiful in Alaska, where it’s not unusual for temperatures to drop to -50 degrees Fahrenheit, or even lower. Furthermore, some parts of Alaska see as few as five hours of daylight around the winter solstice, so LED flashlight performance can be very important.

In these situations, special precautions must be taken to ensure one’s equipment functions properly. Extreme cold causes many types of machinery to fail, and LED flashlights are no exception. As we explain below, there are several culprits for poor LED flashlight performance in cold conditions. Fortunately, by understanding how cold impacts the science behind LED flashlights, you can often prevent any drop in performance – a helpful trick indeed, even if your work conditions aren’t quite as cold as those in Alaska. Read the rest of this entry »

COAST Product Super Bowl Match-Ups: LED Pocket Pliers Multi Tool vs. Micro Tool Box Multi Tool

February 3rd, 2012

Pocket Pliers vs. Micro Tool Box Multi ToolsWho will win today’s Coast Super Bowl matchup between our top multi-tools, beloved by hikers and handymen everywhere? On one end of the field, we have the ever-reliable LED Pocket Pliers Multi Tool; at the other end we have the versatile Micro Tool Box Multi Tool. Both of these multi-tools are loaded with various gadgets, and each is constructed from 400 series stainless steel.

Purchasing a multi-tool can be confusing, as consumers can easily become overwhelmed by all of the bells in whistles available on some of today’s models. The important thing when selecting a multi-tool is to identify which features are most important for your intended use. The touchstones of any quality multi-tool are utility and efficiency. The more gadgets a tool has, the heavier and bulkier it is – which means more isn’t always better.

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