Glow-in-Dark Flashlight

[Richard S]

I make it a practice to keep a tactical flashlight on my nightstand along with a laser-sighted 1911 in "Condition One." Although I always try to place both in the same positions to reach them in the dark, the other night at the cabin something awakened me and the tac light was not to be found in its usual location. As a result, I had to turn on the bedside light to locate it, thereby violating at least two rules, one of which was to ruin any night vision I might have had. 

As it turned out, the noise that had awakened me was simply from a small tree limb being blown onto the cabin roof by a sudden rain storm. Still and all, the experience of not finding my tac light where it should have been in the dark caused me to reconsider my options. I settled on adding a Task Force Aluminum Glow-in-Dark ("GiD") Flashlght (#0002813) to the gear on my nightstand. This thing is not a tac light by any means, producing only 22 lumens from 9 LED bulbs, but its outside case is covered in a bilious green material that glows softly in the dark. I figure that if my tac light ever again gets moved from its usual place at night, I'll be able to find it by using the GiD without lighting up the entire room.

[Robar233]

Richard,

 I know I have seen glow in the dark self adhesive tape some place. Actually just googled it go to www.tapebrothers.com.  I would go back to your true tactical light with the tape on it. 22 lumens does not a tactical light make my friend. 100 should be minimum with a strobe option as a nice feature too. This way you can blind whatever goes "bump in the night" followed by a double tap of .45ACP if need be.

 Robar233

[Richard S]

Robar:

Thank you for that link. I hadn't seen that product before, but a roll of Ultra Premium Glow Tape is on its way to my door.

That little GiD was just an idea to help me find my tac light if it went missing again. I currently prefer a SureFire Z2-S LED CombatLight Single-Output LED with Strobe throwing 160 lumens.

Thanks again for the link. That tape should do the trick.   

[AmmoToad]

Richard,
This is very useful information....didn't occur to me that I'd might not be able to find my flashlight, should it be knocked over or something.  And Robar233, great info on the glow tape.  Thanks both of you for this posting...good stuff...

[tracker]

Can one have too many flashlights or guns? Here is one I bought recently at a high grade hardware store that is quite impressive at a reasonable cost. I wouldn't go so far as to call it a tactical light because it requires the index finger rather than the thumb to activate it but at 220 lumens and bells and whistles--not too bad. If you don't like made in China that is another story. The adjustable beam and magnetic handle end  just add to the features.


http://www.nebotools.com/prod_details.php?id=83

[AmmoToad]

Nice one Tracker... I was in a class a few years ago, one of those "what do ya do" type training situations in a classroom...  An ol' timer came in and talked about always being prepared.  He talked about an article he had read where a guy was traveling on a business trip and staying in a hotel where there was a power outage in the middle of the night...the guy in the story had a flashlight, and by virtue of that, he by default became the one in charge.  In a blackout, the person with the flashlight is in charge...I always travel with a flashlight, and consider it an important tool.

[kjtrains]

Excellent looking light, tracker!  Thanks.   Great price!

[Richard S]

Tracker:

That  #5557 NEBO REDLINE is certainly a lot of light for a reasonable price. Even if it is made in China, I think I'll add one to my collection. As you note, one can never have too many flashlights or guns.

AT:

Thank you for your kind remarks. Being unable to place my hand on that tac light in the dark at the cabin last week was one of those "Oh, ****!" moments that keep me believing in "Murphy's Law." Robar223's information about the glow tape was news to me and was gratefully received.  One thing I admire about this Forum is the enormous reservoir of experience and information available from the members. I've been around the track more times than I care to remember, but it seems that I am always learning something new and useful on this site.

Like you, I also travel with a flashlight (or two, considering Clint Smith's admonition that, "Two lights are one; one light is none"), and I always have a light on my belt or in my pocket. One of my in-laws used to rag me about being a modern-day Diogenes, "wandering the world with a lamp searching for an honest man." That all changed one night when his truck stalled on a back road and he called me for a jump start. When I arrived I asked him if he had a flashlight. "No," he responded. Whereupon I produced mine and retorted, "It would appear that I have finally found an honest man."  (Revenge is best when cold!)