It’s a dark, rainy Saturday evening. My family is all secured in the car as we head downtown to the hockey game. Our car, a 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix, looses power and sputters to a stop.
I steer it to the side of the road, we are not in a great area so I am thankful I have my Glock 19 by my side. Being the man of the house it is my responsibility to get out in the wet cold air and attempt to fix the car.
The hood of the car provides little shelter from the cold rain and blocks most of the ambient light. I can’t see well enough to fix the problem and the only light I have is mounted to my Glock. Hmmm, not a great option but currently my only option.
No one is going to stop and help if they see I have a gun in my hand. Law enforcement will probably be alerted and show up with their weapons drawn. Not an ideal situation. I need an every day carry flashlight. Weapon mounted lights are cool and have a specific purpose, however most of the time I just need a light not a gun.
Ten years have passed since that dark wet night and I have gone through several small flashlights looking for the perfect one, I am not sure if what I want exists.
I was talking about my issues with flashlights with a good friend, he then handed me an ASP Dual Fuel Tungsten. I was familiar with the ASP brand as I had used their batons for years in my career as a Sheriff’s Deputy. I could not take his so I waited patiently for mine to arrive. When It arrived I didn’t even wait until I got home to open the box. The ASP Duel Fuel Tungsten is a small handheld rechargeable flashlight with the ability to also use two CR123A batteries.
Opening the box I was surprised at everything the light came with. Not only do you get a carrying case, you also get a wall charger, cigarette lighter adapter, retractable USB chord, and a case for the rechargeable battery when your using the CR123A batteries. The clip allows you to carry it light up or light down however you choose. I typically like to carry mine in a pocket with the light facing down so I can quickly put it into use without fumbling with it.
“Warning, do not purposely look directly at the beam as it is blindingly bright” should be printed on the box. The Tungsten puts out a lot of light. A light that bright is awesome when searching a large outdoor area at night. It lights up every bad guy hiding area perfectly, however I am not always searching for bad guys. Occasionally I need a light while inside the house, or in the car when checking some paperwork real quick. In these cases a lower lumen light is better suited. Luckily the Tungsten gives out a moderate 450 lumens. It is bright enough to light up a small area yet not bright enough to blind you permanently when you use it in a small confined space.
Features:
• Body offers a secure grasp with the spiral grooves
• Durably built from Aerospace Aluminum
• Light is O-ring sealed for maximum protection against water
• Reversible and detachable pocket clip provides multiple ways to carry your flashlight
• Includes ASP’s Limited Lifetime Warranty
• Package Includes:
o 1 x 18650
o Battery Storage Case
o Retractable Charging Cord
o Wall Adapter
o Car Adapter
o Removable Pocket Clip
o Zippered Ballistic Travel Case
Specifications:
• LED: CREE XPG2 LED
• Power Source: 1 x 18650 (Included) or 2 x CR123A
• Brightness Outputs (Using 1 x 18650):
o 425 Lumens with a 2.5hr run time
• Impact Resistance: 2 meters (6.56 ft.)
• Dimensions:
Length 5.75″ 146 mm
Diameter .91″ 23.11 mm
Weight 4.24 ounces 120 grams
(with batteries)
System 3.4 volt
I am tough on my equipment. To make sure this light would stand up to my lifestyle I froze it in my meat freezer for 48 hours. I was awe struck when it performed flawlessly. The ASP Duel Fuel Tungsten has earned its spot as my every day carry light.
