The Klarus RS20: A Hunter's Best Friend

The Klarus RS20 - A Hunter's Best Friend

Just about any tactical light brings LEDs, strobe functionality, and aircraft-grade aluminum to the table these days. What the hunter needs is a wide range of functions, not just a bright light (although it's always nice, isn't it!).

The hunter - operating often outside the creep of society, without so much as a cell phone signal - needs an altogether more robust light, with a heavier emphasis on practical features.

Enter the Klarus RS20. A little beefier than Klarus's signature tac-lights like the XT11S, the RS20 nevertheless fits comfortably in your hand. You could almost be fooled by its size into not thinking the light has a long list of features that you won't know how you ever lived without!

Imagine walking along a lake and dropping your $120 flashlight in the water. Your friends groan and laugh; what a waste! But under the murky ripples, your light is still shining. You stoop over and plunge your arm into the water (too bad about getting your sleeve wet), and draw out your RS20...still in perfect working order.

This flashlight is rated IPX-8, which means that it is fully submersible up to two meters (or 6 feet, 6.74 inches in 'Murrica!). What makes this light truly waterproof when similar models are only water-resistant is the magnetic charging mechanism. Instead of a port that must be covered with a rubber seal, the light is charged through a metal magnetic connector. This unique charging system means that the charging area is totally watertight.

A tactical light wouldn't be very tactical without a blinding primary LED. This light is no exception - its maximum brightness is 1050 lumens! It's enough to turn day into night - paging Day Man, fighter of the Night Man.

The head light also offers strong beam throw for sighitng targets, up to 316 meters at maximum brightness.

Surprisingly, one of the most useful features of the RS20 is not just how bright can get, but how dim. The RS20 features what's called "Moonlight," a mode of very low brightness for eyes adapted to the dark. At just 1 lumen, this is for ultra-low light that will let you see in your bag but won't scare off the animals.

One of the difficulties in choosing a light is choosing between beam throw. Do you want a narrow beam with great throw, or wider illumination in your more immediate area? Well with the RS20, you don't have to choose. The sidelight provides a nice floodlight which can easily brighten your tent or campground.

Perhaps the key features of the RS20 as far as the hunter is concerned are the colored LED lights housed in the sidelight. Each one offers a unique advantage to the nighttime hunter. The blue LED is useful for lighting up blood trails, making tracking in the dark easier. The green LED helps you to read maps or otherwise examine your area without damaging your night vision. And the red LED, besides being another option good for your night vision, is an excellent emergecy beacon in case things go bad. Always be prepared!