The Surefire Revolution
In years past, I have seen Surefire flashlights in the hands of many police, military, fire, and medical professionals who have repeatedly extolled the countless virtues of these devices. Often noted was their ability to perform under the most adverse conditions as well as an overall attention to quality in both the design, and the manufacturing process. Even though they already sported a stellar reputation, I still often wondered what these lights had to offer that others could not. I have also been curious as to how useful they would be for the average kayaker, particularly in a touring/expedition scenario. Well, the nice folks at Surefire kindly sent me a test subject in order to help determine the potential of their products in this constantly evolving sport.
Construction:
The G2 LED flashlight is composed of a heavy-duty Nitrolon polymer body with a removable aluminum bezel/lamp housing. It is powered by two lithium CR123 batteries which are accessed through a threaded, push-button tailcap that provides momentary-on, or may be twisted clockwise to provide constant light. Both the bezel and tailcap are sealed with lubricated O-rings for water-resistance. My initial impression of the light when I first pulled it from it's package was that it was very well made. There was nothing out of place or unfinished which would indicate poor craftsmanship or quality control. Everything about it exuded perfection.
Performance:
This little powerhouse, as with many of Surefire's products, is deceptively small considering the overwhelming amount of output it can produce. LED technology has grown by leaps and bounds over the last few years, and the G2 LED is an excellent example of what you get when this exponential growth is harnessed in a durable, waterproof housing. At 80 lumens, the G2 LED is actually brighter than its incandescent counterpart and predecessor, the G2. The beam cast by the LED, however, is noticeably more diffused (as is typically the nature of LED lights) than the crisp punch of a Xenon bulb. Overall, however, I found the beam size and throw to be absolutely ideal for my needs.
Field Testing:
During a recent backpacking trip, on a moonless, mist-soaked night along the Northern California coast, the G2 pierced through the moisture surprisingly well to illuminate a pair of foxes playing in a ravine about 30 yards below our campsite. They actually seemed a bit distracted by how bright the light was that shined down upon them. Impressive, to say the least. Thus far the light output has been exceptionally bright and useful.
After proving itself in the brightness category, the robustness and waterproof integrity of the housing also needed to be taken into consideration. Now, as some of you may know, I am a big fan of things that are not only water resistant, but are capable of being submerged, without any ill effects. I have tested many "waterproof" items and found that some manufacturers are a bit optimistic when it comes to their product's ability to survive underwater environments. To see how it would hold up, I turned the light on, and tossed it from a standing position into a small stream where it bounced off a few rocks and landed in about 6 inches of water. After inspecting it for any damage, I did it again. It didn't even flinch. There weren't even any noticeable scratches or dings. I must admit that my test pales in comparison to those which I have seen on Youtube where they blow one up with several pounds of C-4. Needless to say I am satisfied in knowing that the G2 is both durable and waterproof.
For me, perhaps the biggest bonus of this light is the runtime: up to 12 hours on one set of batteries! The fact that it uses lithium 123a batteries is icing on the proverbial cake, as it also means less power drainage from extreme temperature fluctuations and a long-term shelf storage capability that is far superior to that of alkaline batteries. After about 2 hours of continuous use, there was a very perceptible drop in brightness. The light output decreased quite noticeably, to a level that was still useful, but only about half the intensity as before. This is to be expected with many regulated LED lights and is designed to provide predictable performance (versus a steady decline with unregulated LED's or incandescent bulbs) as the batteries are slowly discharged. It was a bit of disappointment, however, that I was no longer able to turn night into day with the simple press of a button.
Practicality:
OK, so we've pretty much established the reliability and performance of Surfire products, now comes the final question: Is this light useful for kayaking and kayak touring? Well, it's difficult for most handheld flashlights to compete with the versatility of a good headlamp. However, there is really no substitute for the power offered in a small package, such as the G2 LED, when it comes to the ability to illuminate things that are too far away to be reached with a conventional headlamp. Or the ability to signal other watercraft (or even aircraft in a rescue situation) when visibility is hampered by foul weather. Accordingly, I see considerable potential for this sort of tool when it comes to multi-day tours and expeditions. For me, it's reliability alone makes a convincing enough case to consider Surefire a mandatory piece of adventure equipment. Unreliable lighting products are responsible for taking large portions of my sanity in years past.
Unfortunately, thus far I have not had the opportunity to test this light on a multi-day tour. I have several trips planned over the winter, about which I will certainly write on this blog. Be sure to check back and look for updates on new product evaluations in upcoming articles.
Final Notes:
As with most quality outdoor gear, the payoff is really in the long-term viability of these lights. Beyond the initial investment, they will pay for themselves quickly as you find yourself going for months or even years without buying new batteries. Also, it's quite a comfort to know that you won't be stuck trying to change a bulb in the dark (try it sometime, you'll see what I mean). In addition, I think it would be wise to invest in the lanyard system (available as an accessory) as an extra measure of convenience and safety if you plan to take any handheld flashlight on the water.
I'd really like to get some feedback from anyone out there on Surefire products and whether or not you'd be interested in these lights for yourself. Please use the comment feature at the bottom of this post, or the store contact email on our website:
http://www.penguinpaddlers.com/ and let me know your thoughts.
See you on the water!