Firelight by Rugged Inc.
I first became aware of this light on kickstarter and was rather intrigued with the idea. In all honesty I wish I had thought of it! The Firelight incorporates a powerful 450-lum light that has a 10+ hour run time, with a high resistance wire element much like an electric stove coil. The tail cap unscrews to reveal the sting of this heavy duty light. There are two terminals with two holes opposite that hold the element, to use it pull the element out carefully and insert into the terminals and push and hold the red button, very soon the element will be glowing red hot easily igniting properly made tinder.
The body of the light is made from aircraft grade machined aluminum, nicely knurled for a good grip. The butt cap is a stainless steel screwed onto the light allowing for the driving of stakes or thumping the occasional idiot. In the kickstarter video 16 p nails were driven thru a 2×4 and the light still worked. The bezel is crenulated for working up tinder or for defense. Shoving them into to palm of your hand and twisting will make you realize it would work to dissuade a thug.
The controls are a very simple two button setup, a red one that will run the igniter under the screw on buttcap. The second is black single push on and off. There are no multi-function features or other power robbing gee wiz gadgets on this workhorse of a light.
The Firelight isn’t a small keychain light, what it is a very well built extremely tough silicon sealed, steel butt caped, waterproof, USB rechargeable, very bright, fire starting beast of a flashlight that I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend to anyone.
The only thing that I would like to see added to this light would be a few flats machined into the bezel to inhibit rolling on a hard surface.
I’ve been carrying and using this light for about 6 months now and it does truly have a 10 hour run time! I am getting about 10 hours and 15 min, quite impressive. It is bright enough to cast a circle of light in the high beam cast of my Crown Vic Interceptor headlights. The tail of the light has started a few fires so far and it works well, impressively well. Paper goes quick, as does finely shaved wood.
The full kit comes with a solar battery and two cords in addition to the flashlight and two igniters. I fully recommend this light to anyone. It can be had at Rugged inc.
MSRP: $159.95
Material: Aircraft grade aluminum
Colors: Black, silver, and red