Vandalism is a scourge of society that can strike at any time. As passionate as we are about high-quality tools and lights, we’d be crestfallen if that incredible new LED flashlight or rugged multi-tool was stolen out of our vehicles. To protect these and other precious items from being snatched out of your car or truck, follow the tips we’ve gathered below.
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For those of us in the LED industry, the transition from incandescent lighting to more energy-efficient bulbs seems to be plodding along at a turtle’s pace. As of January 2012, just 6 percent of lights in the United States have been converted to LED lights. Fortunately, a veteran-friendly initiative is working to change all that – while benefiting America’s veterans in the process.
If you’re like us, you prefer to be prepared whenever possible. Understanding the jargon surrounding a particular product, for instance, allows you to make more informed consumer choices; when you know how power tools are rated, you can more easily select the best model for your needs and price point. With such educated shoppers in mind, we’ve created two highly informative eBooks that will bring you up to speed on the ins and outs of the products we’re passionate about – namely LED flashlights, multi-tools and tactical knives.
The first title in our library of eBooks is A Flashaholic’s Guide to LED Flashlights. This is the perfect quick read for understanding the ANSI FL1 LED flashlight rating standards. You’ll learn how many lumens you actually need according to your intended use of the torch. Run time, light output, impact resistance and other features are illuminated in our guide. You’ll also gain insight into what makes a truly long-lasting, durable, high-quality LED flashlight.
We are proud to announce that COAST Products has received attention from another leading tool website. Recently, Tool-Rank.com has featured our products in two separate articles – one suggesting items to include in an emergency kit, and another highlighting the Rapid Response knife as a Tool Rank Editor’s Pick.
In the emergency kit article, the author suggested using the Bosch Click & Go System as a housing for a 72-hour post-disaster kit. This emergency setup is intended to assist a family in the days just following a disaster, during the lull before federal emergency services kick in. As we saw with Superstorm Sandy, families often have to fend for themselves in this time period, and a 72-hour kit is a lifesaver in this situation. Tool-Rank.com included four COAST products in the kit: the HP7 LED flashlight, the HL7 LED Headlamp, the Rapid Response knife, and the 2-LED Pro Pocket pliers.
Tactical LED flashlights are the perfect self-defense tools because they have no lasting effect. One blast from a tactical LED flashlight is enough to temporarily disorient and therefore halt any questionable character in his or her tracks. This means you can feel fairly safe walking alone at night with an LED flashlight. If a problem arises, you can surprise an attacker with the beam – and if it turns out your use of LED light was a mistake, you can apologize and move on, knowing any effects will fade in a matter of minutes. Indeed, police officers and military personnel are trained to use this humane weapon first, by shining their LED flashlights in the eyes of suspects to gain a moment of threat assessment.
The Coast Products team has been buzzing lately about the newest additions to our product line: rechargeable LED flashlights. The A9R is a slim, rechargeable inspection LED torch, perfect for anyone who uses an inspection light during the workday. At the end of the shift, it’s easy to power up the A9R; just plug it into a recharging “cap,” which plugs into a standard wall outlet. We’ve also developed a couple of full-sized rechargeable LED flashlights: the A22R and the A25R, two powerful torches with several different charging options.
Designing each rechargeable torch taught us a lot about what to look for in an emergency LED flashlight. Having thoroughly researched the rechargeable emergency LED flashlight field, we can vouch that the following elements are the distinguishing features consumers should look for when in the market for a rechargeable light.
For mechanics, home inspectors, firefighters and police, a professional use LED flashlight is part of the everyday work uniform. Firefighters use LED lights to see their way through burning buildings. Police officers use LED flashlights during roadside inspections and arrests. And mechanics and inspectors use LED lights to peer far into the crevices and crannies of engine blocks and crawl spaces.
Today we’re focusing on two LED flashlights that were designed for professional use: the A9 LED penlight, a favorite among inspectors as it is slim enough to tuck into a shirt pocket, and the HP3 Focusing LED Inspection Light, popular among mechanics as its beam may be focused into a high-power spotlight beam with a surrounding halo of usable light. To help you choose between these two similar LED lights, we’ve compared some of their major characteristics in the handy table below. (more…)
Troops can’t afford a spare hand to carry an LED emergency flashlight. And what with nighttime maneuvers, the need for portable, consistently bright light becomes clear. America’s latest military engagements have been especially demanding of reliable light. As former Marine Geoffery Ingersoll explains, “In Afghanistan, even in Kabul, electricity is not a guarantee, and when it gets dark, it’s really dark. An LED headlamp will make sure you don’t go falling into a hole.” For all of these reasons, an LED headlamp is critical to mission success. If you’re in the market for a military-grade LED headlamp, read on to learn what features you should prioritize.
1. Lightweight. Troops must be mobile and light on their feet – but they also must carry everything for survival on their backs. So every opportunity to lighten up is greatly appreciated. A military-grade LED headlamp should therefore be lightweight – like our HL4 model, weighing in at a mere 4.4 ounces.
