Hunting Field Test - SureFire L1 LumaMax LED Flashlight Dual Output Beam

Archieved Hunting Product Field Test
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SureFire's L1 LumaMax LED Flashlight - with Dual Output Beam

Let's start this field test report with SureFire's own words: "Constructed of aerospace grade aluminum with a rugged military specification hard-anodized finish, and powered by a single lithium battery (10-year shelf life), the L1 LumaMax features a one-watt LED (Light Emitting Diode) and the extended runtime typical of LED flashlights. The L1’s digitally controlled two-stage switch allows the user to choose either a low-output beam for close-up work or a high-output beam for full power applications -- simply depress the tailcap switch halfway for the low beam, continue depressing to activate the high beam. Twist the tailcap to achieve constant light on either beam setting." ... "The L1 produces useable light for up to 50 hours on the low-beam setting; high-beam runtime is approximately two hours." ... "can continue to produce negligible light output for over 50 hours".

Although SureFire's L1 LumaMax is available in numerous light colors including white, blue, red, and green - the L1 LumaMax flashlight sent to me came with a blue light. I must admit I was initially confused. I had expected the red color as game animals would be unable to see the light as I moved into and out of my hunting positions at the no-light and low-light conditions of pre-dawn and post-dusk. What possible value would a blue light have for a hunter?

SureFire's catalog gave me the answer. "When maintaining night-adapted vision is important ... a subdued red or blue light is better." Pleased blue is like red in low light conditions but more importantly "Following up a mortally hit animal can be easier with a blue light because blood is easier to see under blue light."

Now that I understand and appreciate. This past season I had the opportunity to track a blood trail for a hunter who had just creased a deer with his arrow (kind of like a shaving cut), something we didn't now at the time. It took three hours to follow the blood trail 75 yards through the brush, primarily because the ground was sprinkled with little red-brown leaves the size of a drop of blood. Sure would have been nice to have a light that enhanced the drops, making them stand out from the leaves.

Okay so I'm sold on the value of the color blue. But what about animals being able to see blue light? Could it be that I can sneak into my blind using a blue light without being seen? I'm not sure. But the subdued color of blue instead of bright white has to be an improvement.

Why not just get a filter - red, blue or green - for a $10 pocket flashlight instead of the SureFire L1 LumaMax at a cost of about $125? The answer is in the question. If I chose the $10 pocket flashlight with its dark spots and rings in the beam of light and added a filter I'd have the same light I had when I was in the U.S. Army - a marginal light to begin with - made nearly useless by the addition of a filter. And with or without it would only have a single level of light output.

This is where SureFire's L1 LumaMax really shines. First the quality and purity of the light is amazing. No dark spots or rings on low beam or high beam. The low beam level is perfect for close in work, like getting settled into your hide or blind. The high beam on the other hand is much brighter then you would expect, easily illuminating everything within ten to fifteen yards. Great for short to medium distance work when you don't want to compromise your night vision, such as in and around camp or moving down a trail.

Like the L4 LumaMax the L1 has accessories available including a holster and spare lithium batteries - a must addition for your back pack. There are numerous other features in this flashlight I haven't covered in this report so I encourage you to visit SureFire's web site.

Thanks to SureFire I can now replace two lights I always carry. My small key chain red light on my hunting vest, and my Mini Maglite® carried in a vest pocket. SureFire's L1 LumaMax with Dual Output Beam is my new light of choice to travel in my hunting vest.

Phil Whittemore - International Hunter & Angler
President, BlueWaterBigGame.com, LLC

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