Tips for using a flashlight or head lamp for the first time

You purchased a new flashlight or head torch! It's a fantastic asset that will make sure you'll never be left in the dark again. We have a few tips to get you off to a great start straight away.

Let's immediately try it! Or not?

You unwrapped your flashlight or head torch. Read the manual. Time to put it to the test! But hey, it doesn't work? And you did put in the battery. There are multiple reasons why it might not work.

Sticker on the battery

It happens to the best of us. The battery cap which protects the back of the included battery is still in place. Remove it. Problem solved! See here how you can remove it.

The battery is not charged

These days many flashlights are enhanced with a battery. These batteries, however, are not always (fully)charged upon delivery. This differs per brand and flashlight. Before you try out your flashlight it is therefore wise to charge the battery. As such you know you make the most of your flashlight. Do check beforehand how you need to charge the battery and which type of cord or charger you need.

Properly secure everything

To ensure that the light will work properly, it is wise to secure all parts equally. Some flashlights that include a battery are slightly loosened to prevent them from accidentally switching on during transit.

If you have a light with a tactical ring, this also needs to be tightened properly. Sometimes, it may seem as if a light is defective because both the head and the tailcap are properly secured, but the tactical ring is causing trouble. It can sometimes be a little loose, meaning that you can position the tailcap tightly against the ring, but not properly against the body. Therefore, always check whether the ring is properly secured before tightening the tailcap.

A head torch is usually a little less complicated. Some head torches are enhanced with a built-in battery with a body that cannot be opened. Other head torches, however, are enhanced with a casing for the battery that can be opened. For these types of lights the instructions are the same as for flashlights. Check to see if it contains a battery cap, check to see if there is a battery, properly secure it.

The Waterproofness of your flashlight

Besides the functioning of the light, proper tightening also has an impact on the flashlight's waterproofness. Many lights are splashproof or can even be temporarily submerged. But then it does need to be properly secured! Of course, this doesn't only apply to cylindrical flashlights or head torches - for lights that come in different forms, it is always important to carefully check whether charging flaps and battery compartments are properly closed.

Responsible use

Ok, so you fully charged your flashlight and it functions. These days LED flashlights are incredibly powerful. They provide a lot more light and shine much further than the halogen and incandescent lamps that were common up until a few years ago. In many cases, a compact flashlight can come close to the light output from a car headlight. Not to mention hefty floodlights with a range of more than a kilometre!

That is why it is important to use your flashlight or head torch wisely. Never shine it directly into someone's eyes, and beware of using it near highways. You could quite easily dazzle motorists with such a strong light. Which is of course something you want to avoid.