Today’s Coast Super Bowl matchup is between two of our finest LED headlamps. On one side, we have the HL5 LED headlamp; on the other, the HL7. Both make for a top-quality LED headlamp, but only one can win today’s game.
Headlamps provide all the hands-free flexibility you need when hiking, camping or even fixing a car. But there are various factors that come into play when we compare these two excellent headlamps. To begin, let’s look at the basic stats of each headlamp: (more…)
In honor of the Super Bowl, we’ve decided to pit some of our top LED flashlight models against each other to see how they compare. Today’s Coast Super Bowl matchup will be between the HP5 and the HP14 LED flashlights.
Occupy Wall Street began with a tent among the trees. Admittedly, the tent was surrounded by hundreds of others, and the trees were in Zuccotti Park, in the financial district, but the point remains: The people who are “occupying” Wall Street – and Portland – are living in the urban wild, with no connection to local power utilities for electrical needs such as lighting.
Whether participants in the Occupy movement realize it or not, portable LED light products – such as LED flashlights and lanterns – provide the perfect solution to their lack of power. Here’s why: (more…)
If you’re shopping for an LED flashlight to take out into the wilderness with you, it’s important to choose a model that can withstand getting a little wet. While many manufacturers may claim their flashlights are waterproof, however, there’s no way to tell whether those assertions have any truth – unless you choose an LED torch that’s been tested according to the voluntary FL1 Standards.
The FL1 Standards provide guidelines for how LED flashlights are tested and rated, so consumers can make accurate comparisons between models. By choosing a torch that has been rated for water resistance according to the FL1 Standards, you can rest assured that the product will deliver on the manufacturer’s claims. If the FL1 Standard logo is missing from your LED flashlight, then it’s impossible to validate how its water resistance was tested.
B
ecause LED light technology is developing so rapidly, consumers are hard-pressed to keep up. This leads to many common misconceptions about LED flashlights. For example, earlier LED light bulbs gained a reputation for producing a cold, bluish-white light. While this may have been true a decade or so ago, today’s LED flashlight models are capable of producing a wide variety of hues for various applications.
As anglers and sportsmen discover the benefits of colored LED light for outdoor use, more and more of them are taking advantage of colored LED flashlights. The following is a look at some of the most common LED light colors and how they’re used.
When buying an LED flashlight, people want to know how long they’re going to work. Because LED light bulbs are so durable and energy-efficient, they tend to last much longer than other types of bulbs; some manufacturers claim their LED flashlights have a life span of many thousands of hours. But how far can you really believe such packaging claims?
It helps to understand how a flashlight is tested when determining the life of its LED light bulb. LED flashlights are typically tested in two ways: first to see how long the product works, and then to see how well it works during that time. As a result, LED flashlights typically receive two life span ratings – rated life and lumen-maintenance life.
Shopping for a quality LED flashlight can be difficult. If you’re going to lay down money for a decent torch, you want to make sure you’re getting the best value for your buck. Yet it’s difficult to cut through the clamor of manufacturers’ packaging claims and narrow down which LED flashlights truly do deliver on their promises.
Fortunately, many LED flashlight manufacturers have chosen to adopt the American National Standards Institute’s FL1 Standards for flashlights. These voluntary standards were developed in 2009 to give consumers an accurate and objective basis for comparing different flashlight models. With easy-to-read logos displayed prominently on the flashlights’ packaging, the FL1 Standards allow you to quickly and easily compare flashlights based on several key features.
When the shortest day of the year came this year, we here at COAST have a reason to celebrate. Coinciding with the Winter Solstice, December 21st is also National Flashlight Day!
Flashaholics and flashlight appreciators alike, take time to rejoice and make use of your LED flashlight from COAST today. Brave the night with your trusty flashlight in hand and celebrate. Make a light painted photograph, enjoy a winter trail run, or take advantage of this holiday season for a night time get together with family or friends.
