At first glance, we really weren’t sure what to think of the new-for-2018 SureFire Guardian flashlight, but after putting a very short amount of time behind it, it’s now become our new go-to for a handheld. The Guardian rechargeable flashlight ($179) features both 12mm diameter and 19mm diameter beams, with low, medium and high settings for each. The 12mm beam puts out 15 Lumens for 62 hours on low, 300 Lumens for 4.25 hours on medium and 1,000 Lumens for 2.5 hours on high, with a maximum range of 105 meters.
The 19mm beam outputs 15 Lumens for 60 hours on low, 250 Lumens for 4.25 hours on medium and 800 Lumens for 2.5 hours on high, with a maximum range of 227 meters. An ultrasonically welded body and charging port cover to keep out the elements no matter how nasty the weather gets. Other features include five pre-programmed profiles that offer various output configurations (including the auto-adjusting output IntelliBeam mode), a rechargeable lithium polymer battery that powers both beams and includes a USB-C connector for taking a charge and also to charge small devices at 5 Volts with a current range of 1.5-2A (0.5A from a USB 2.0 source). It’s one of the most convenient, light weight, bulletproof and eminently adaptable lights we’ve used to date. See the 2018 On Target Editors’ Choice Award winning Guardian at your outdoor retailer, or contact SureFire; Tel.: (800) 828-8809; Web: www.surefire.com