Recently we’ve been seeing a lot of advertisements for tactical flashlights online. There have been some amazing claims made about them. Supposedly, some of them can emit light for thousands of yards, blind attackers long enough to give you time to escape, and are extremely durable. But is this really true? Our society is one that has been taught to question and investigate, so if you’re curious about just how well these military grade flashlights supposedly work, read on.

Is It a Scam?

Well…that depends. This, of course, is not the most ideal answer, but it is the most truthful. There are some lights that have been made that function incredibly well as tactical lights. If you are a fisherman, hunter, camper, hiker, or just a cautious citizen in need of a light that provides great clarity, you’ll be able to find it. However, if you do decide to look for a light, you need to be very careful about what product you decide to buy. Some products being sold online have been found to be scams created by manufacturers that prey on people’s belief in military grade equipment. They know that the public reveres the military as having some of the best equipment available and take advantage of it by falsely advertising their products as being military grade.

What Makes a Product Military Grade?

To be approved by the military, a product must be submitted through the Defense Supply Center in Columbus, Ohio (DSCC) and put on a list of qualified products. In addition to having to go through a difficult approval process, products are also tested thoroughly and their manufacturing and laboratory sites are audited by the DSCC. You may be starting to see why it is so difficult for products to make it onto an approved military grade list. Many of the flashlights currently being advertised as being military grade are not, and never have been, on this list.

How Do I Spot the Scam?

There are a lot of advertisements out there and you want to make sure that you don’t get persuaded by the wrong one. To make sure you don’t fall for any false advertising, you’ll have to do some fact checking.

Don’t Rely On Company or Association Recommendations

A lot of people look on a company’s webpage to see if they are certified for any awards or backed by any association before buying a product. While this is a good idea, many crooked businessmen are taking advantage of it by creating fake associations solely for marketing purposes. When looking at the company in question, run their name, as well as the names of their associated companies and supposed certifications through the Better Business Bureau. You’ll be able to check to make sure that they are real companies with good ratings.

Make Sure Their Advertisements are Believable

Sure, we’re being given some amazing technology these days but some things really are too good to be true. Most false advertisements can be spotted thanks to the immense over exaggerations they tend to make about their products. For instance, the headlights on a really great car can project light up to 700 ft safely, so you know that it’s extremely implausible for a flashlight to be able to shine light for thousands (notice the implied multiple with that) of feet. As long as you read carefully, you should be able to sort out the good from the bad!