Our Rating
Summary:
4.1
How many times have you stood outside, clicking away at a tail cap, trying to get your flashlight onto the right setting? With just a little too much pressure, you end up turning the flashlight off or receiving some other result. The SureFire R1 Lawman has an effective solution for this problem: you become the programmer. This premium tactical flashlight offers a user-programmable tail cap, allowing the head switches to provide three different light levels or a strobeif you prefer.
Here are some of our other findings from our evaluation of the SureFire R1 Lawman.
#1. The two lower light levels are more useful than one might think. At the highest setting, the SureFire R1 Lawman is able to provide 1000 lumens. The medium setting gives you 150 lumens, while the low setting offers 15 lumens. This makes it a versatile tactical flashlight that can be used in almost any environment.
#2. It runs on two different power sources. When you purchase the SureFire R1 Lawman, you’ll receive a lithium-ion battery that will need to be charged. You also have the option of running this flashlight on rechargeable 123A cells if you prefer, though we did notice about a 50% drop in lumens levels when using the alternative energy source. This tactical flashlight also includes a power gauge so you can quickly see how much life is left in the flashlight.
#3. This flashlight is virtually indestructible. The LED emitter is probably the toughest component on this flashlight. It has a strong impact rating and it features O-rings and gaskets that help to keep out dirt, dust, and moisture. When the microprocessor regulation is included as well, the running time and light level outputs always seem to be maximized.
#4. The tint of the light doesn’t always seem to be a cool white. At times, there seems to be an almost green tint to the flashlight beam with this particular flashlight. It only occurs at the highest setting and it doesn’t always happen. We excluded environmental factors and changed out batteries and even cleaned the lens, but the tint issue was still there. Not a deal-breaker by any means, but something to think about.
#5. There’s something you need to know about the running time. When using this flashlight on the high setting, the running time rating is listed at 1.75 hours. To achieve this rating, the output stays above 50 lumens. That’s a big difference from 1000 lumens. If you run this flashlight continuously, you’ll notice a slow and steady drop in the beam strength that is available. We found the medium setting, though just 150 lumens, was a better primary setting to use.
If you’re looking for a lighter, but still bright, tactical flashlight to meet specific needs, then the SureFire R1 Lawman is definitely an option to consider. If you can work around the minor issues this flashlight brings to the table, you’ll find it to be a useful tool that you’ll be using for years to come.
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