Review: Tom Bihn Guardian Dual Function Light

It has happened to me three times: the power in my hotel has gone out. The first two times, I wasn’t prepared. By the third time I had started carrying a small flashlight. It was about 6 inches long, took two AAA batteries and was heavy.

Lately, I’ve been carrying a Mighty Bright Carabiner Flashlight

They’re decent, lightweight and the light was okay, but they didn’t last very long and were not rechargable.

Then I found the Tom Bihn Guardian Dual Function Light.

This light is made in Canada for use by the military and law enforcement. It comes with either  a white or red bulb cover and includes both a belt clip and a lanyard with a swivel hook. It’s just over 1 inch all around and weighs a mere 0.7 oz (20g). The light can be seen for up to 3 miles.  You have the option of a steady light or a flashing one. To create either mode, it’s necessary to turn the batteries over. (CR 2032)

The uniqueness of this light is the ability to keep it close and hands free. You can use the belt clip to attach it to your belt or strap of your messenger bag or backpack.

Or,  you can use the lanyard and clip it to an internal “O” ring to use as a bag light or to let it hang freely outside the bag should you need to use the light and keep your hands free. 

Having the flashlight conveniently clipped to your bag makes it easy when you need it most…in the dark. No fumbling for a light. And that’s important.

I wish Tom Bihn would make both the white and red lenses available, so they can be interchanged, rather than be forced to buy two separate flashlights

For only $20, and a weight under 1 oz, this is my new go to light travel flashlight.

(Tom Bihn suppled the Guardian Dual Function Light for review.)

(Frank II)

Comments

[Monte L. Steiger]

If you have this neat little light clipped to the outside of your bag isn't is going to get beat to pieces?

[Frank II]

How harsh do you treat your daybag/messenger bag/laptop bag? I'd be more concerned with it falling off than being beat to pieces.

That's why I prefer the lanyard "connect" method. You can always just put it back into the bag.

[Monte L. Steiger]

That's a good point, just put it back in the bag. Now if you have a bag like the Duluth Pack Portfolio that I'm using now there are two zippers that close the opening at the top, but I suppose you could tuck the light into the outside pocket.

My bags arent treated harshly, but they are not babied either. They obtain a well worn look before I move on to the next one. The cotton canvas and leather of the Duluth bags losses the newness very quickly from being stuffed under seats, etc. They can be machined washed also.

Back to flashlights, I really like the little Pak-Lite I bought from CCrane.

[Austin]

I still prefer a more conventional flashlight. I splurged a couple of years ago for the American made Arc-AAA http://arcflashlight.com/arc-flashlights.shtml Not the brightest around but more-or-less indestructible, waterproof and guaranteed forever. There are a number of considerably less expensive alternatives available. The little Maratac http://www.countycomm.com/aaa.html is also well regarded on the flashlight forums. Fenix lights are also liked by many, but I've also heard some reliability complaints about there products.

[Austin]

That would be "their' products. Duh.

[Monte L. Steiger]

Austin, Don't worry, I do that too. Usually my wife catches it and says something like, "And you used to edit thesis and dissertations?".

[Andrew]

Easy to make typo's here, no spellcheck alert (never thought I'd say that...surely it can't be my Boomer eyesight).

Nice thread a while back on compact travel flashlights and I will again plug the Fenix E01 and Fenix L0D/ LD1 versions at $10 and $30 respectively.

For a bag-contents light you can't beat my recent Dollar Tree store find--a 1-ounce keychain light, runs on inexpensive coin batteries, amply bright for digging around in a bag and general inflight/hotel uses, clips on inside the bag, silver color for easy locating in low light, and hey, it's $1.

[Austin]

Good Dollar Tree find! I'm afraid I've been drawn into the vortex of high end lighting (among other vortexes-damn!). Another key-ring size AAA I forgot to mention is the 4Sevens Preon 1. It retails at $37, but is on sale (black finish) for $28.99 at http://goinggear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=14_129_138&products_id=469 Add coupon code spring11 for another 10% off.

When I heard stories of people stuck in Japanese hotels without electricity after the tsunami, I felt a tiny bit more justified for spending this kind of money for a tiny (but powerful) flashlight.

[Jeff Mac]

Hey Frank, how secure is the light when you are clipping it to the strap? I like this approach but I would be nervous about knocking it off...

[Frank II]

I leave the flashlight attached to the lanyard which itself it clipped onto one of the "o" rings in the bag. I then clip the flashlight and lanyard onto the strap. This way, if it comes off the strap, it's still attached, via lanyard, to the bag. (I forgot to add this photo.)

If you don't have an "o" ring, which more and more bag manufacturers are adding to their wares, but have a key fob, you can turn it into an "o" ring by attaching a key ring found in almost any hardware store.

If your bag has neither, see if there is anything you can clip the lanyard to while the flashlight is attached to the strap.

Don't worry about the flashlight coming off the lanyard....it's not going to happen. When I wanted to detach them for the photo, it took me over a minute to do it.

If you're having trouble understanding this, let me know and I'll take some photos to explain.

[Paula S]

I have this light from LL Bean....
http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/47316?feat=62036-ppxs&dds=y

I like this type of flashlight, I can clip it on my bag but I prefer being able to wear it on my head (as designed), it leaves me hands-free and seeing where I'm going in an emergency situation.
Most powerful beam of light I've ever owned....and great for reading in bed.

[Andrew]

This began as a bag-light thread, but if the concern is emergency lighting while traveling to locales where blackouts are likely, for a couple of ounces and $20 or so you can pick up an excellent multi-mode headlamp for hands-free navigation. Black Diamond for instance is in the middle of its annual model year closeout, available at most of the outdoors outfitters.

[Hank]

That very same eGear Guardian light is half the price at amazon, and available in many more colors.

http://www.amazon.com/eGear-Guardian-Function-Signal-Light/dp/B0009NZNT6/ref=pd_bxgy_sg_img_b

[Frank II]

Actually Hank, there are two differences between the light Tom Bihn sells and the one you point out at Amazon:

1) I've been told there are two models...a consumer one and one made for the military/law enforcement. The latter one is stronger and more durable. That's the one Tom Bihn sells while the one on Amazon is the former.

2) The one Tom Bihn sells includes the lanyard which helps attache it to many things.

[Hank]

Frank II, you missed something.

1) You say one is stronger and more durable. Do you plan on stepping on it? Are you trying to say one has thicker plastic? Who told you that where we can verify what you are saying?

2) At Amazon, under 'Product Features', it states it comes with a 'Removable clip' which would help it attach to many things also.

[Frank II]

Hank...

1) From the Tom Bihn website:

"Made in Canada to military/law enforcement specifications (not to be confused with the Made in China consumer version)."

2) The "belt clip" is part of the light itself. It can be removed. Tom Bihn adds the lanyard and extra swivel hook.

I'm not here to promote one company over another. If two products are exactly the same and one can be found cheaper, I'd tell people to go to the place where it's cheaper.

The FTC is very strict when it comes to truth in advertising and truth in blogging. If a U.S. based company claims something online, they must be able to prove it. If not, they can be fined very heavily.

I gain nothing by pointing out the difference with the two lights except knowing I have related truthful information to the reader.

[Hank]

Truth is what everyone wants. I would also like to note that the Tom Bihn version comes with the lanyard. There is no documentation on what you say is a 'made in China' version not meeting the Canadian military specs. Both online listed features/specs are identical.

[Fun Travel]

I am the sort of person who think that redundancy means safety.

I bought a small key chain light and two small flashlights, all rechargeable, at the dollar store.

If their beams are to be in the right position, they need to be held.

I have lived in severe weather (wind, rain, snow, thunder storms, tornadoes) and earthquake countries.

I also take public transports, in winter, that means at night.

When the Guardian Light was first offered, I ordered one immediately.

The strength of the components, compared to cheaply made alternative was immediately evident.

It get stuffed in my bags, plopped in the counter, dropped inside my bike helmet when there is a tornado watch.
I wear it during tornado warnings or when I need to read a map or anything else in a badly lit area such as a commuter bus stop. In this manner, it can be used as a head light, a lapel or shirt pocket light.


In the interest of fairness, I followed the link provided by Hank.

eGear is the manufacturer and they use different distributors. (nice to know that there are different colors) :)

I choose Tom Bihn, because in the addition to the clip, there is a lanyard and hook attached to their light.