LED Flashlight Beam Pattern: Throw Vs. Flood

Today LED flashlights are packed with so many features and are incredibly versatile tools. Flashlights are definitely a tool everyone should own if not carry on their person. A common feature that users look for when shopping for flashlights is the beam pattern type. Everyone has their own preferences and depending on what you're using the flashlight for a certain beam pattern may be just right for you.

So what's the difference between throw and flood? A flashlight that has throw to it is referring to the longer beam distance that the flashlights can reach. Flashlights that have a good amount of throw to them will shine their light hundreds of meters away. In order for a throw light to reach so far away you'll see the flashlight has a more focused narrow beam.

A flood light is exactly the opposite. Rather than Illuminating hundreds of meters away, these types of flashlights illuminate the area around you. They feature a broader beam that allows you to see everything up close. However, there are many flashlights that have a good throw to them while having a good spill of light so you can still see all around you. These flashlights are the best of both worlds where they combine a narrow beam with a flood. It's always good to have at least one flashlights that features a narrow beam with a good spill. However sometimes it's better to have a flashlight that is all throw or all flood.

What to Look for in an LED Flashlight?

Depending on whether or not you're looking for a flashlight with throw or flashlight with flood you're going to be looking for different features. The body design, reflector, LED, and more can differ between a throw light and a flood light.

LED Flashlights with Throw

When looking for a flashlight that has a good amount of throw to it there are certain features you'll want to look for. Obviously, the first of these features is going to be the actual being throw. Most flashlights will say either in the product description or on the box how far the beam reaches. As I said before, a good LED flashlight with a throw to it can reach hundreds of meters away.

Many throw lights also have a longer body design. Particularly the head of the flashlight will be longer due to the deep reflector which is another aspect you want to look for. A deep reflector will allow the LED to really throw the light. You also want to make sure that the reflector is smooth. A smoother reflector will help narrow the beam out allowing it to throw further.

A couple great examples of a throw light are the Klarus XT30R and XT32. As you can see, the body design is quite a bit longer. The reflectors are deep and smooth and the beam throw distance is impressive. The Klarus G35 is also a great example. While the body design is not quite as long as the XT30R or XT32, you can see that the head design is very long. Just like the XT32, the G35 can reach as far as 1,000 meters! These LED flashlights are truly amazing throw lights!

LED Flashlights with Flood

When looking for a flashlight that has a good amount of flood to it, you'll often notice a shorter head on the flashlight. The reflector itself will be a lot shorter and the reflector will be textured to disperse the light. Thanks to the shorter and textured reflector the flashlight will have a significantly broader beam.

Just like with a throw light you're going to want to look at the beam throw. A flood light is not going to have a far beam throw. Usually you'll see a beam throw of less than 200 meters. Of course, all that light goes into having a broader beam thereby illuminating the entire area in front of you.

The perfect example of a floodlight is the Klarus G20. It features the shorter and textured reflector to give it a broader beam. The beam throw is only 150 meters at most so you know it's not a throw light. The G20 is great for any up close illumination and will let you see every little detail.

Everything in Between

You'll find that the most versatile flashlights are in between a flood and a throw light. These flashlights will often have longer beam distances while still Illuminating the area in front of you. Take, for example, the Klarus G20L. This flashlight has that longer reflector but the reflector has an orange peel texture. This allows the G20L to feature a narrow hotspot and a great amount of spill giving you the best of both worlds. So while the beam is quite a bit broader, the hotspot in the center can reach out 300 meters. If you're looking for a more versatile flashlight then a flashlight just like the G20L would be perfect.

Another example of a flashlight that features a little bit of a throw and a flood is the Klarus XT11GT. This is a compact tactical flashlight that you could carry with you if you'd like. It features a medium sized smooth reflector giving you that focused hotspot and decent spill. With both of these not only are you able to see far away, you're also easily able to clearly see what's in front of you. Most tactical flashlights will often have a narrow hotspot with a good amount of spill allowing the light to be more versatile. However, some may lean more toward a throw light and some may lean more toward a floodlight so it's good to do your research and figure out what's best for you.

Final Thoughts

Each user has their own preference when it comes to throw versus flood. There are also some situations that would be better to use one or the over the other. For example, for a small everyday carry flashlight it's usually better to have a broader beam because it allows you to see up close for daily tasks such as the Klarus Mi1C. So consider what you want your flashlights for to decide which beam type is better for you.