Best Tactical Flashlight for April: Klarus XT12S

Last month we focused on the new Klarus flashlight, the XT21X. This month we're going to focus on the Klarus XT12S tactical flashlight. It is the little brother of the Klarus XT12GT, is compact, is versatile, and is rechargeable. Continue reading to find out more about this fantastic flashlight.

Tactical Flashlight with Long Beam Throw

The Klarus XT12S is a wonderfully compact flashlight that delivers a powerful output. It's a little above 5 and 1/2 inches in length and can deliver 1600 lumens. 1600 lumens is impressive, but the true star of the show is the maximum beam distance which is 402 meters. This flashlight is easy to carry with you and can still shoot far into the distance making it a truly mini throw light. Its compact size makes it easy to carry along with its removable pocket clip, so you can clip it onto your pocket or belt, or take the pocket clip off if you prefer. It also comes with a holster that makes it easy to carry if you prefer that way. It's also a great flashlight to mount on a rifle for hunting. All in all, it's a powerful tactical flashlight.

Easy User Interface

One thing that we truly love about the Klarus XT series flashlights is that they come with these dual tail switches that are easy to operate and very intuitive. The main switch gives you a momentary on and turns the flashlight on and off. The secondary switch allows you to cycle through the brightness levels and will give you access to an instant strobe or instant low depending on which programmable setting you have the flashlight in. We’ll get to the programmable settings in a bit. The main switch is a round rubber switch while the secondary switch is a metal paddle switch. This makes it incredibly easy to differentiate between the switches at any given moment so that there's a lot less fumbling in the dark for the right switch.

Multiple Outputs and Programmable Settings

What makes the XT12S truly versatile is that it features multiple outputs as well as two programmable settings. Let’s start with the outputs. This tactical flashlight has six total outputs: four brightness levels ranging from 10 lumens to 1600 lumens, a strobe mode, and an SOS mode. Between all of these outputs you're prepared for anything. The low mode of 10 lumens helps to conserve the battery and even has a maximum run time of 200 hours so it's going to last you quite a while.

Another excellent aspect is the two programmable settings: the Tactical Setting and the Outdoor Setting. In the Tactical Setting, the secondary switch will give you access to a One-Touch Strobe. It will also only cycle through three out of the four brightness levels, pairing the outputs down to exactly what’s needed. This setting is excellent for law enforcement, security, or anyone who wants to take advantage of that One-Touch Strobe.

The Outdoor Setting gives you access to a One-Touch Low using the secondary tail switch. You'll also be able to cycle through all four of the brightness levels. This is really great for professional work, outdoor activities, or just having the flashlight around the house. You can easily switch between the two settings giving you a lot of versatility in choosing which setting you want any moment.

Rechargeable Flashlight

As we mentioned before, the Klarus XT12S is a rechargeable flashlight and features a unique magnetic charging function. The XT12S has a magnetic charging port located on its side and comes with an included USB magnetic charging cable. So you can plug the USB cable into your computer or any USB adapter and charge your flashlight. The charging cord connects to the magnetic port easily and charges it securely so you don't need to mess around with micro USB ports. You don't need to worry about dust or dirt getting into the port itself or losing the little USB port cover. The magnetic charging port is flush with the flashlight and can withstand dirt, water, and dust.

While you're charging the flashlight you will see a charging indicator glowing around the magnetic charging port. It will glow red to indicate that it's charging and green to indicate that it's finished. With this, you'll know exactly when the flashlight is ready to be used again. It's incredibly convenient to have a rechargeable flashlight and the XT12S has that excellent magnetic charging function that once you try you will love.

18650 Flashlight

Included with this tactical flashlight is a Klarus 18650 battery with a 3600 mAh capacity. You can equip the XT12S with other 18650 batteries or with a pair of CR123A batteries, giving you a few options on what you'd like to power the flashlight with. While it's not necessary to have extra batteries due to the XT12S' charging function, it's handy to have a flashlight that can run on multiple battery types. Some users prefer to use CR123A batteries as backups, particularly when going camping or traveling as these batteries are compact and inexpensive. It’s really great that you can use multiple battery types with the Klarus XT12S.

Concluding Remarks

When looking for a tactical flashlight the Klarus XT12S really fits the ticket. It features a stainless steel strike bezel, gives you a momentary on, and gives you the option of a One-Touch Strobe. These are features you want in a tactical flashlight. It's also an incredibly durable flashlight, constructed from aerospace aluminum alloy with a hard anodized finish. It's impact resistant up to 1 meter and waterproof up to IPX8 standards so you can use it in pretty harsh conditions making it an excellent outdoor flashlight as well. Between the features I listed above, the multiple outputs, the programmable settings, the charging function, and more, the XT12S is truly versatile and can deliver no matter what the circumstance. If you're looking for a compact tactical flashlight, check out the Klarus XT12S. You certainly won't be disappointed.