Monday, April 21, 2008

Thank you for participating in our “Member Tested and Recommended Products Program.” The 120T Flashlight has been tested and recommended by the members of the National Tactical Officers Association. Your overall score was a 4.7. The NTOA Member Tested and Recommended logo may be used solely on the specific product that was tested.
NovaTac, Inc.
120T Flashlight
Overall Score: 4.7

TESTER
Tested by a police officer from New York
Individual Score 4.63

I recently tested the NovaTac EDC 120T LED Flashlight. At first look, this flashlight doesn't look like much, especially at only 3-1/4 inches long. The features far outdo the size. Utilizing only one - 3 volt, lithium battery, this light produces the same 120 lumens as another company's light with three of the same batteries, and three times larger in size. Another great idea of this light is the automatic brightness reduction feature. This feature automatically reduces the brightness of the light in increments to let you know the battery is weakening and needs replacement. I would like to let you know how long a battery will last under normal usage, but I have not been able to run one out yet. No more sudden light failures that is common with lithium batteries. Additional features include 3 preset brightness levels with single button control. The brightness levels include 120 lumens, 10 lumens, and .3 lumens. Also, at any brightness level you can immediately utilize the preset strobe feature by simply holding in the tail cap button, and shutting it off by releasing it. The strobe is very powerful and leaves a lasting impression on the eyes for several minutes. The preset brightness levels are achieved by "clicking" the tail cap button once for 120 lumens, twice for 10 lumens, and three times for .3 lumens much the same way you would "click" a mouse on the computer. The light comes with a removable clip to allow you to carry on your duty belt, or in a pocket, or on a tac vest with MOLLE attachments. This light is an excellent primary light for duty, vehicle searches, building searches, or general use (EDC stands for Every Day Carry). It could also be a good back up light for tactical usage should your primary weapon light go down. It also comes with a new flashlight technique that is called the Thorpe Technique. I would not do it justice by attempting to describe it, but I would suggest going to Novatac.com and looking it over. I tried it with several tail cap activated flashlights, and can only get it to work with this one mostly because of the short length. Anything longer and the light tends to be off target. I am not advocating the technique...I'll let you judge for yourself. I had a lot of difficulty with my style of grip and being able to activate the light, so I will stick to the older techniques when the time comes. All in all this is a pretty awesome light in a tiny package, and chock full of features all controlled by the tail cap button. Additionally, this light took a lot of abuse. After being kicked around, and dropped on just about every hard surface I could find, as well as being used on every shift I worked, it never failed to operate, and is still working on the first battery! I would recommend it to any officer for patrol or tactical usage. Stay Safe.

TESTER
Tested by a police officer from Virginia
Individual Score 4.69

was asked to review the NovaTac120T Flashlight.
When I got the NovaTac120T (120T) LED Flashlight I was really impressed. The 120T is simple, small, and packs a punch. The 120T puts out 120 lumens from a single LED diode, and it puts that out! It has an aluminum housing that is very light weight and strong. The 120T runs about $180.00.
The 120T is the perfect size for my work. I am a plain clothed Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) and have always wanted to carry a tactical light. But most are too bulky or they turn on in your pocket and burn you. The 120T is what I have been looking for, something to throw in my pocket and go. It runs extremely cool, it does generate some heat but not that is too noticeable when compared with runtimes and heat of other tactical flashlights.
The 120T has several modes: 120 lumens, 10 lumens, .3 lumens and Strobe. On full power the 120T is as bright as and brighter than my Surefire 910 weapons light. On the 10 lumens the 120T puts out enough light for covert movement, either attached to your primary weapon or by itself. The .3 lumens was great on surveillances in when looking for stuff in my G-Ride or writing in the dark without lighting up the interior of my vehicle. During a lull in one of our surveillances I had another team with NVG’s (night vision) look at my vehicle from 100 meters away and they could not see any noticeable light coming from my vehicle, except when the LED was pointed in their general direction. The Strobe is the final mode and works quite well, just don’t look at it.
In typical LE fashion I started to strobe my fellow LEO’s to verify the effect the strobe mode, and was met with starry eyes and then a little anger, I’m sure they would have beat me if they could have seen me! The strobe is a useful mode that allows the user to quickly disorient subjects as well as walking up sleeping/non-alert motorist on the midnight shift.
To use the 120T, all you have to do is push the rear cap/button like a mouse, one click on at full power, one click for on then two clicks for 10 lumens or on click for on and three clicks for .3 lumens. To use it as a momentary light just push and hold the cap/button to turn on and release to turn off. To use the strobe all you have to do is click once to turn the light on and then push and hold the button to activate the strobe. The directions that come with the light better explain it than I can.
The 120T is 1” in diameter and 3 1⁄2” in length, a very small package with a really big bite. The 120T takes one (1) 123 battery, which I have been using for the T&E period and still have not been able to kill, though I have started to see a little decrease in the power. I have switched out the batteries and found that it was due to the use of the first battery.
The 120T comes with a single O-Ring, used for shooting with the light and a belt clip. I found the O-Ring helped a little for firing your handgun in low light shooting situations and the belt clip holds the light to your MOLLE vest, vehicle visor/molding and belt securely.
The only down fall of this light is the how the belt clip is attached to the light. You have to remove the tail cap and carefully work the belt clip ring around and away from the waterproof O-Ring that seals the light and the tail cap. If you are not careful the O-Ring will tear though a quick trip to my local Mega Home Store fixed that for $.10.
In all, this is now my favorite light. I use it everyday, carry it with me constantly, it has become a vital piece of my daily equipment load out. I highly recommend this light to any team, investigator, uniform or operator. I have retired my Surefires and only use this light now. It has proven to be tough, light and bright, everything I need in a light. This light is at home in tactical entries, search warrants, surveillances and for home improvements. I have used plenty of lights that more expensive and aren’t half of the light that this one is, I highly recommend the NovaTac120T flashlight.

TESTER
Tested by a police officer from Illinois
Individual Score 4.79

I was selected to review the 120T Tactical Flashlight from NOVATAC. The flashlight is a high performance LED light with 3 brightness levels, 120, 10, and .3 Lumens. It also has a disorienting strobe function. The light comes with a rubber O-ring (to use if you don't have a weapon mounted light) and a pocket clip. Most importantly, it includes easy to follow instructions.
When I first opened the light, I installed the O-ring, clip and battery and started to "play" with it. I was real impressed with the brightness of this "little" flashlight. At just over 3 inches in length, 1 inch in diameter and weighing slightly over 3 ounces, it packs a punch. At first I read the instructions for the companies EDC 85 and EDC 120 model lights and thought operating the light would be a real pain especially in a high stress encounter. I then realized my mistake and began to follow the right instructions for the 120T. After no more than 15 minutes I had the sequence to change from 120 Lumens to 10 to .3 and the strobe function down pat. The changes are all made by clicking or pressing and holding the tail cap switch. The first click turns the light on, from on, 2 clicks lowers the power to 10 Lumens and 3 clicks lowers the power to .3 Lumens. To activate the strobe (which can be done from any power) you simply press and hold the switch. The tail cap switch is designed so that it can be easily used with a handgun and has an instruction guide included.
I used the light on duty and in training and have not ran into any problems with it except for the clip. It is too short to fit over my duty belt so I ended up with it in my shirt pocket. The light has been dropped and gotten fairly rain soaked without any ill effects.
The strobe function is awesome. If you have not had the opportunity to use one, you must. The strobe is very bright and disorienting. In training in darkened rooms I was able to clear the distance (aprox 18ft) between me and the "bad guy" without out him knowing exactly where I was or what was happening. I was also able to get "hands on" in a fairly lit room before they could re-act. The "suspect" said he knew that I was moving but could not tell where because of the strobe light.
I strongly recommend this flashlight. It makes for a perfect back-up light, although I use it more than my primary now.
Member Tested and Recommended Program