I have been looking at those smaller, more compact flashlights for my bug-out-bag and all around household use. Some folks might call these, —tactical flashlights.
Maybe you’re shopping around as well. I recently picked up a little $12.95 flashlight on Amazon that had over 12,000 customer reviews. The J5 Tactical V1-Pro Flashlight, The Original 300 Lumen Ultra Bright, LED 3 Mode Flashlight. You probably can’t go wrong buying one with so many positive customer reviews.
Check out the current price, information, and other customer reviews here on Amazon.
Overall, it’s not a bad little flashlight, it’s very bright. It is everything the Amazon landing page describes.
But, it does have one drawback that might be annoying? It is for me anyway. The feature list describes the flashlight as having high-low-strobe settings. More specifically, it goes like this:
– off – click – bright – click – off – click – dim – click – off – click – strobe – click – off – click – bright – click – off – click – …
You get the idea, there could be lot of clicks getting back to your desired setting.
A hole for a lanyard or to attach a length of paracord would be a nice feature to add.
So how does it perform? Well, there is the ANSI/NEMA FL 1-2009 Flashlight Basic Performance Standard that can guide our evaluation. The ANSI Standard a practical way to make “apples-to-apples” comparisons among different flashlights.
How does it perform?
But, the J5 Tactical V1-Pro Flashlight website does not offer much information in ANSI/NEMA FL 1-2009 Flashlight Basic Performance Standard terms other than say it generates 300 lumen, which is a measure of light output. The website landing page also says it will shoot a beam of light 600 feet. In my own unscientific tests, with a fresh Duracell copper top alkaline AA battery, it does just that, maybe even farther than 600 feet?
As the Amazon page said, it does not come with a battery.
ANSI/NEMA FL 1-2009 Flashlight Basic Performance Standard
The ANSI/NEMA FL 1-2009 Flashlight Basic Performance Standard offers other useful means to compare flashlights where the J5 Tactical V1-Pro Flashlight website or Amazon webpage does not comment.
First, the peak beam intensity, which measures the brightest part of the beam when optimally focused. No info here on the J5 Tactical V1-Pro Flashlight website or Amazon webpage.
Second, the J5 Tactical V1-Pro Flashlight does offer a way to focus the light beam by adjusting the distance of the convex plastic lens from the LED. It is a rather coarse adjustment, either pulling or pushing the lens end. There is no fine tuning twisting adjustment.
Third, the J5 Tactical V1-Pro Flashlight does not have any refractive materials around the LED to help focus and direct the light out through the lens. Another drawback if you ask me, a lost opportunity for additional illuminating power.
Lastly, it’s not all about the lumen. The flashlight optics focuses the light into a tight beam.
J5 Tactical V1-Pro Flashlight Comparison
In comparison to my fullsize Maglite 4-Cell D incandescent flashlight with a set of year old Duracell copper top alkaline batteries, the J5 Tactical V1-Pro Flashlight performed about the same when the light beam was aimed and focused to a far off tree line. Those far off trees appeared to be illuminated equally with either flashlight.
The fullsize Maglite 4-Cell D incandescent flashlight, in ANSI/NEMA FL 1-2009 Flashlight Basic Performance Standard terms, is rated at 98 lumen with a beam distance of 267 meters, has a peak beam intensity rating of 17900cd, water resistant, with a run time of 9 hours and 30 minutes.
The J5 Tactical V1-Pro Flashlight website does say the flashlight is water resistant. It does have rubber O-rings that seal up the end-cap and the lens. Can you submerge it? Try it you’re self and let me know!?
J5 Tactical V1-Pro Flashlight replacement O-Rings
Need to replace an O-ring? Once that O-ring is worn or broken, it is hard to get an accurate measurement.
In the event you need to replace an O-ring…
The J5 Tactical V1-Pro Flashlight end cap O-ring measures 18 millimeters outside diameter and 16 millimeters inside diameter, with a thickness of 1 millimeter.
In early September 2017, a quick Amazon search turned up a 20 pack of practical replacement end cap O-rings. In this case, if you need them, check it out here.
While Amazon storefronts come and go, you should be able to find other 18 mm O-ring replacements here on Amazon.
The J5 Tactical V1-Pro Flashlight lens O-ring measures 25 millimeters outside diameter and 22 millimeters inside diameter, with a thickness of 1.5 millimeter. When replacing the O-ring, the lens slips into the flashlight body, then the O-ring on top of the lens, then secure with the lens end cap.
I found a pack of 30 workable replacement 25 millimeter O-rings right here on Amazon.
Other 25 mm O-ring replacements can be found here on Amazon.
These replacement o-rings, should you need ever them, will help keep that J5 Tactical V1-Pro Flashlight water resistant for everyday use. If you own several of these flashlights, it might be handy to have these spare O-rings on hand.
J5 Tactical V1-Pro Flashlight Replacement Parts
Other than the two O-rings and a single standard AA battery, there are no other user replaceable parts for the J5 Tactical V1-Pro Flashlight.
Home Defense Use
Some folks carry tactical flashlights for self-defense or for home-defense. I don’t think the J5 Tactical V1-Pro Flashlight offers much here. It’s too small and weighs nothing. It weighs in at 3 1/2 ounces, or 102 grams with that Duracell copper top alkaline AA battery, at 4 3/8 inches long. For self- or home-defense use, I’ll stick with my big Maglite. It weighs in at 2 pounds 5 ounces, or 1040 grams, at 14 3/4 inches long.
Parting Thoughts
Overall, the J5 Tactical V1-PRO 300 Lumen Ultra Bright Flashlight is not a bad little flashlight for only $12.95. Its small size and nearly feather weight profile with a handy pocket clip makes it fairly easy to carry for everyday use. It’s a worthy addition to my camping inventory and bug out bag.
Check out the J5 Tactical V1-PRO 300 Lumen Ultra Bright Flashlight here on Amazon.
I have purchased a number of flashlights, which are scattered throughout the house, car, and so on. Just be sure to frequently check those batteries for signs of leakage, be prepared. When you absolutely need a flashlight, you don’t want to fumble around looking for batteries.
