Flashlights Made in USA: Overviews and Product Spreads
::Over a dozen American flashlight companies are outlined in this mega-feature
Many thanks go out to Joel Garner for rounding up the flashlight companies in this feature, as well as for research into the “USA Factor” of each maker and some in-the-loop info. There are so many great lighting makers, I thought it appropriate to corral them into one major overview, as to make all info and product images easily comparable. These are in no particular order, but as new companies are added, they will appear at the top of the list with a date of amendment.
July 1, 2012:
Maglite
Huge variety of flashlights with LED or incandescent varieties, from tiny models to jumbo 6-Cell D sizes. Assembled in the USA with domestic and foreign components. Anthony Maglica is extremely committed to domestic manufacturing, and has been since the beginning.
I have had great experience with my Mini Maglite (incandescent version) – an extra bulb came neatly tucked away within the unit, the beam was focusable in a variety of angles, and a cool perk was that the head could double as a base while it is in “candle mode” – great and versatile for camping. And it’s small and light enough to grip between your teeth for hands-free lighting.
http://www.maglite.com/
http://www.maglite.com/Mag_commitment.asp
INFORCE
Weapon-mounted tactical flashlights can also be dis-mounted using a quick rail clamping lever. Units are designed for military and law enforcement personnel – they are fiber composite, waterproof, and come in black or desert sand colors. They have variable output, strobe options, and white or IR illumination. One model comes with secondary colored LEDs for red, blue, or green colored light. Assembled in the USA with domestic and foreign components.
INFORCE lights qualify as American-made under the Buy American Act.
http://www.inforce-mil.com/
Elzetta
High-end, ridiculously tough tactical lights for military or law enforcement.
Elzetta proves their wares in the toughest environments. In one torture test, a flashlight is held underwater, dismantled and reassembled under water – and all contacts, lights and components still work! Another video demonstrates using the Elzetta to literally hammer dozens of nails into two 2x4s with the flashlight head! The light doesn’t even flicker during this demonstration.
Their website claims they are made using American materials, and that they are Made in USA.
HDS Systems
Some of the best, toughest lights in the world. Multiple brightness options with a simple twist of the rotary control… even with the single button click models. Customizable brightness settings for each level. Single button “clicky” and rotary tactical flashlights. For engineering purposes, these flashlights are tested by repeatedly dropping from 6 meter height onto concrete, pavement and rocks for over an hour – after this abuse, the glass lens remains intact and the light still functions normally.
These one-D-cell-sized models look similar at first, but each has different features for various field applications (some with strobe, some with warm color temperatures, etc.. Accessories such as holsters and clamps are available too.
Assembled in the USA with domestic and foreign components, qualifying for American-made under the Buy American Act. Their statement on it can be found in the FAQs.
Tektite
Various models ranging up to depth of 1000 feet, featuring double o-ring seals, machined from stock aluminum, sporting specialized optics that focus into 10 degree beams. Products include infrared and visible light strobes, scuba and diving lights, lanterns, runway lights and helicopter strobes, and specialty lights for forensics, CSI and medical applications.
Tektite has a huge selection for each category, as well as an array of clips, loops, straps, headbands, cases, wands, kits, bulbs and parts. Assembled in the USA with domestic and foreign components. Qualifies as American-made under the Buy American Act.
http://www.tek-tite.com/
http://tek-tite.com/home/usa.php
Underwater Kinetics
Products for dive, sport, industrial, utility, fire applications using LED or XENON lamps. Most lights include options for hands-free clamps for hats and helmets. Lights feature a thermal recovery system that recycles heat into the battery by way of an internal heatsink to produce longer lasting output. Optics provide efficient beams with little “spill light”, and many models can be custom printed with your name or logo.
Assembled in the USA with domestic and foreign components. They do not mention the Buy American Act, but they’d likely qualify for it.
http://www.uwkinetics.com/why-uk/made-in-usa
Bright Star
An innovator in high-performance lighting for industrial safety, fire and rescue, petrochemical, transit and utility industries. They introduced the classic plastic industrial flashlight in the 1950s. We used these camping back in the day and they were extremely tough. Assembled in the USA with domestic and foreign components and they are very dedicated to obtaining many American components.
SureFire
Military-grade and law-enforcement grade lights. Flashlights, headlamps, weapon lights, and helmet lights with visible light and infrared – great detail photos and demo videos on website. Made with hard anodized aluminum with extreme resistance to abrasion and corrosion. Assembled in the USA with domestic and foreign components.
Various holsters, clamps, diffusers, batteries and carriers available too:
LazerBrite
Submersible lights, versatile and lightweight by means of a very interesting modular kit – you start with the core, then add components such as dome light, outer tube, then connect to a magnetic mount or lanyard or loop end. Definitely more than assembled in the USA. Check out their great statement on it:
“Made proudly in the USA. 12 American manufacturers from 8 different U.S. states provide the custom components for our lights, accessories and packaging. Trusted by the United States Military; LazerBrite lightens the loads of our troops while providing efficient, versatile and reliable light.”
Laughing Rabbit, Inc.
Super reliable micro-lights. “The leader in micro light technology” –Visible light, ultraviolet, infrared, and multiple color light options. Tons of accessories, clamps and bands make the lights super-versatile for any environment or applications –even all night rave parties. They can even be customized and printed with your logo for very desirable company schwag.
A customer testimonial gives a great use for the military or any night ops – he connects the micro blue light to his zipper pull, and when using paperwork in the dark (maps, info etc.) the light will fluoresce any yellow highlighter used on the paper. (Might also be cool to highlight zippers on bags, would be worth a try!)
Some of their lights are assembled in the USA with domestic and foreign components, and they make it very clear which ones these are on their Website.
The circuitry in the Photon Micro-Light II Pro is American, but the Photon Freedom Micro’s is imported. Nonetheless, even the Freedom does contain American components, and has assembly here.
“LRI is committed to always providing the brightest, highest quality LED products on the market.”
http://www.laughingrabbitinc.com/
First-Light USA
Chest or hand-mounted tactical flashlights for hands-free lighting during mission-critical applications in law enforcement, military or combat medical situations (or if you are running night ops to dump your old couch at your neighborhood 7-11 dumpster). Assembled in the USA with foreign and domestic components. They are committed to sourcing parts and supplies from American-based vendors whenever possible.
http://www.first-light-usa.com/
Insight Technologies
Not only weapon-mounted visible and IR lighting, but also laser aiming, high-end night vision and electro-optical systems. The assembly, as well as the majority of components, are domestic. Probably out of my price range J
http://www.insighttechnology.com/insight
Malkoff Devices
Flashlight designer and manufacturer, also specialize in modifications for LED Flashlight models, drop-in LED lamp assemblies for Surefire, Maglite and Elzetta.
The majority of the components are American, but be sure to confirm American-made before you buy… the site could use better US labeling.