Sometimes less light is more than enough and more light is less than optimal. Other times, more light is more advantageous. That's why Surefire designed the dual-output L1 and L2, so you can have more or less light, but always more or less the right amount of light.
Need a little? Press lightly on the switch and get subdued lighting for closer work or navigation. Need more? Press harder for maximum power, an impressive 65 lumens (over 3 times the light of a typical 2-D cell flashlight) for the L1 and an awesome 100 lumens (five times that of a 2 D Cell torch) for the L2. Either model can be locked at either output level by rotating the tailcap, twist a little for low output or all the way for maximum output.
Utilizing lower output levels not only helps preserve your night adapted vision, it helps preserve batteries. The L1's extremely efficient LED can run for 16 hours on a single battery at low output and up to 1.5 hours at is higher setting. The L2 is no slouch on runtime either, At its low output setting it runs for up to 18 hours! One hour at its maximum.
Both the L1 and L2 are compact, rugged, weatherproof, and built to last, but the L1 isn't simply the baby brother of the L2. While the L2 features a sharp beam and wide angled surrounding beam produced by a fixed-focus reflector, the L1 sports a tightly focused beam from its TIR lens. And if white light isn't what you are looking for, the L1 is available in a night-vision-friendly red, for a less noticeable light signature.
What goes into a Surefire LED Torch
There is a lot of buzz about light emitting diodes (LEDs) and for a good reason. LEDs allow runtimes that were previously unattainable on a single set of batteries. When it comes to longevity, they are in a class by themselves, the thousands-of-hours class. That is because they are a solid state device, no filament to burn out or break, no gas or liquid components, no glass to break. Just a semiconductor chip that converts electrical energy into light, which it disperses through a tough, clear polymer covering.
LED output levels are approaching, even surpassing in some cases, those of incandescents. But for raw lighting power, Surefire’s three, four and six battery incandescents are still the way to go. However, and incandescent lamp becomes particularly useless if the power level drops below the amount of energy required to make its filament glow white hot. An LED, on the other hand, continues to function at power levels below its maximum output level. Which means an LED will continue to run – albeit at lower and lower output levels. So you get more useful light for a longer period of time with an LED flashlight than with an incandescent.
Not all LEDs are created equal. They can vary greatly in quality, even supposedly identical LEDs made at the same facility. Surefire uses only the finest, highest quality LEDs in its illumination tools. They are electronically controlled for maximum efficiency, focused by a reflector or Total Internal Reflection lens for a perfect beam, and housed in a rugged, weatherproof, knurled aerospace grade aluminium body that keeps the elements out and your flashlight in hand.
