TASER StrikeLight (courtesy taser.com)

I don’t think TASER is using “stunning” in the Kirsten Weiss sense of the word. Still, the StrikeLight‘s a stunning development: a powerful flashlight that doubles as a time and meth-head-tested means of personal defense. It’s not the first nor the only nor cheapest stun gun flashlight but . . . given that plenty of America’s Armed Intelligentsia wouldn’t leave home without a flashlight, given that there are plenty of places where a concealed carry permit is harder to get than an engineering degree, given that carrying a flashlight stun gun is way more acceptable (and discreet) than carrying a TASER, given that TASER has mondo marketing chops and brand bushido, the dual purpose StrikeLight is destined to be a huge hit. Only not with the bad guys. Shocking, I know. [Press release after the jump.]

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., July 10, 2013 — TASER International, Inc. (NASDAQ: TASR) today revealed the newest addition to its suite of personal self-defense products. The heavy-duty StrikeLightTM stun flashlight incorporates the power of a stun gun for added protection.

TASER International, who has already revolutionized the world of self-defense with its TASER C2 conducted electrical weapon, has created a practical tool that can be used for more than self- defense. The StrikeLight stun flashlight is designed for convenience and protection in everyday situations. Whether you are walking your dog, or walking across a dark parking lot, you can feel confident knowing that you have a trusted TASER brand product in your hand. Most importantly, if threatened, you have an easy-to-use stun capability at your fingertips. The StrikeLight flashlight was designed with one thing in mind: personal safety.

“We designed the StrikeLight flashlight around the needs of everyday people looking to feel safer, or as a gift to protect the ones they love,” remarked Rick Smith, CEO of TASER International, Inc. “At TASER, we recognize the importance of feeling safe no matter what you’re doing. We’ve created a convenient flashlight with the deterrence of stun arc. The StrikeLight does not fire projectiles to cause Neuro-Muscular Incapacitation. It is designed as a less aggressive, more affordable personal protection tool with a very loud, intimidating electric arc for maximum deterrence, and a powerful stun capability to repel threats that get too close. StrikeLight is the perfect balance of practicality and convenience for personal protection you can take with you,” concluded Smith.

NEWS FACTS:

  •   High-intensity flashlight with integrated stun technology
  •   High voltage stun arc deters and repels an attacker
  •   One-hand operable for easy use
  •   Replaceable and rechargeable battery
  •   MSRP is $129.99 including wall-charger
  •   5-hour continuous use per charge
  •   Charge supports up to 100 5-second discharges

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58 COMMENTS

  2. Anybody else get the idea of mounting this in a scout mount to project just forward of the muzzle of a carbine? It would make a muzzle check significantly more… Intense.

    • That’s an awesome idea that invites unsafe handling. The muzzle thump might be effective, but if you AD while doing it, it’s a bad day for everyone.

        • “Bugger picker” I don’t think that came out right, but it’s even more hilarious than what was intended.

        • And if your finger slips? If your hands clench really hard? If in the stress of a real life encounter you just plain forget to index?

          Put it another way. If the headline was ‘LAPD to equip patrol rifles with barrel mounted stun guns,’ would you think that’s a good idea? None of the four rules stands by itself. You would probably be angry if someone pointed a rifle at you even with the bolt taken out. I know I would.

        • While I think I sort of see your point, if I need to muzzlecheck somebody, that’s one step away from me needing to shoot them. At that point, I’m not overly concerned about their safety. I see the light / taser as more of a close quarters combat good to have. (Sort of a stun bayonet.)

          As for not keeping your fingers straight and off the trigger. There is a reason why trigger discipline is probably the most important rule of firearms safety.

        • pwr, if you are to the point of pointing a rifle at someone when they’re close enough for you to tap them with your muzzle, why the fcuk aren’t you pulling the trigger? It’s a gun, dammit, not a baton. Intended purpose and all that.

        • Okay, the bayonet makes it more clear. You may not be aware that tasers, dart style, depend greatly on where the darts hit to cause muscles to clench. If there’s no spacing, like at the end of a stun gun, then all it will do is cause pain. You absolutely cannot count on a TV style scream and collapse. While pain may be enough to drive off an attacker, at the point where the rifle is pointed at the bad guy, the bayonet is the better option.

  5. I would think by the time the bad guy got that close, it might be to late. Better than nothing, I agree, but prefer my battles to be at a little longer range.

    • So do I… But terrorists and thugs don’t fight by the Marquis of Queensberry Rules. It’s so unsporting of them to hide behind cover and ambush you at close range…

      • 1) How many battles are you in per month?

        2) Running on the assumption that you are not a service member deployed in a combat zone, how many “battles” are you ever in?

        3) According to Claude Verner, Director of Firearms Training LLC, most gun fights happen from about an arm’s length away. Having a close range LTL option is appealing and practical.

        http://thinkinggunfighter.blogspot.com/2012/03/self-defense-findings.html

        I doubt that you’re currently in a combat zone, and so perhaps you should refrain from using the term battle- it invokes the rather fanciful idea that the bad guys will be attacking you from range, and that you’ll have your trusty M4gery or FAL.

        Precisely none of the civilian DGUs I’ve read about on this site sound like that. Most involve a good guy a handgun, a bad guy at close (<15 feet) range, and less than a couple of shots fired. Hardly a battle.

        Go look at the video posted early, where the shop keeper draws his handgun. At that range, they could probably spit on each other.

        Realistically, if your opponent is at a longer range, then you probably won't have much of a reason to shoot the person (unless they have a gun and are shooting at you). If they are in the more feasible close range, I want to have every possible tool to survive the situation. This looks like a tool that's well worth the money.

  6. I wonder where the tase button is located. At first glance, seems like zapping yourself while futzing with the light might be a concern. Can’t say for certain since I haven’t seen it, and the website doesn’t appear to show exactly where it is.

    • They’re just equivalent to carrying a pistol concealed in MI. Seems silly you need training for a lethal weapon to own a less-than-lethal alternative.

  8. I like it, but I wish it came with a holster/belt pouch rather than a wrist strap. I would not feel safe pocket carrying this without a cover, and would rather wear it on a belt.

  10. When can we expect the video of RF testing it on Leghorn? I’ll donate $5 to make that happen. 🙂

  11. “The StrikeLight does not fire projectiles to cause Neuro-Muscular Incapacitation.” Meaning that it will tick off the PCP’ed gangsters.just enough for him to give your wife an extra punch upside the head after he takes it away.

    The spark and crackle might ward off a single dog, but not much else. Pass.

  12. My issue is size:

    Length (L) 8.2″ [20.9 cm]
    Height (H) 1.4″ [3.5 cm]
    Weight (W) 9.5 oz [270 g]

    WWAAAYYYY too big to actually carry around… I think I’d need to get a man purse…. I mean ‘satchel’…

  13. “You could have just tased him. Why did you shoot him when you had the taser?”

    That statement right there is why I would argue it is best to avoid all this less than lethal stuff. Law Enforcement uses it, but they have the following advantages:

    1) Most importantly – the court is going to take them at their word if an officer says they felt they needed to use lethal vs. nonlethal force. As a civilian, you can probably expect the prosecutor to assume you are a police wannabe mall cop who instigated the whole thing then shot the guy (see George Zimmerman)

    2) Police have body armor

    3) Police have a radio and the ability to call for help from other LEOs who will actually respond

    4) Police travel in pairs if they are expecting trouble

    There are enough variables involved in a life threatening encounter without adding questionably effective “less than lethal” hardware to the situation. This stuff is great if it works. If it doesn’t you can expect to have an interesting time explaining your decision to resort to lethal force after you tried to tase them and it was ineffective.

    I would avoid anything that might complicate a self-defense claim, and “less than lethal” hardware qualifies.

  14. In my classes, I warn people off stun guns. RF, please have one of your TTAK experts write a column about how fast a trained expert can get a one-hand folder from a pocket and how many arteries he can slice at the arms-length distance of a stun gun. Incapacitation times with stun guns average 2-8 seconds. Only one police dept. here in AL ever tried them. After 14 months without a decrease in either suspect or officer injuries, they switched to pepper spray like everyone else. Tazers are a good, stand off weapon, so is pepper spray. “Stand-off” being the operative word.( I don’t relish getting a stun gun past the jaws of a fired up German shepard, either.)

  15. I use a similar item (though not manufactured by Taser) in addition to my firearm as part of my daily work gear. It is an option for when up close and personal and one does not require lethal results. Pulling it out and pressing the switch-the crackling sound and sparking send most BGs packing. My particular model is called the 2012 Police Light Flashlight Plus and is only 6 3/4 inches long and weighs in at 6.57 ounces (185 grams). It came with its own holster, pocket clip, strap, charging cable and storage box. All this for only $40 at my local gun show. I get the benefits of the Taser without the huge price tag.

  17. Hmm, this would go good with my part time job as private security. A two for one deal if you will.

  18. Stun-gun flashlight… interesting idea. Maybe even a good one. Stun-gun Fleshlight, however, a terrible idea.

  19. I just wanted to post a quick review of the StrikeLight. I haven’t had an opportunity to test its effectiveness but the first thing I noticed were the large, aggressive bezel and tail cap. They have sharp angled edges which are great for self defense but this makes it difficult to comfortably carry in your pocket or on a belt (the tail cap will tear a hole in your shirt in no time). The white LED provides good short-range illumination and is actuated by sliding the switch towards the bezel. The stun button can only be used while the flashlight is turned on and it must be held down in order to work.

    I would have preferred a recessed clicky switch for the flashlight in order to protect it from accidentally turning on because the stun button is almost flush with the body. Once the light is turned on, the stun button is very easy to activate. I think a 10-15 second always-on feature similar to the C2 would be nice because in a real fight it would be very easy to release the stun button.

    Overall, I like the features of the StrikeLight and think it’s a good less than lethal option to have.

  20. Hmm, interesting. I habitually carry a tactical flashlight with a crenellated bezel and I could readily see replace it with something like this. I like OC spray as a LTL option because of it’s range but it’s nearly useless (or worse than useless) when grappling. This seems like a nice marriage of something I’d already carrying with almost daily casual use that incorporates an option for me when too close for the spray and the gun is inappropriate.

  21. Hate to sound negative, but I doubt the StrikeLight (or most other small stun rods) carry sufficient wattage to actually stun an attacker. At worst, all it will do is inflame his anger. I have tried a few made in China ones on myself…some advertised as 1 million volts etc…but all it does it tickled me or gave me an ant bite sensation.

  22. I agree..TASER didn’t list the “MILLIAMPS” or the “VOLTAGE”
    -NO STUN GUN ,,WILL KNOCK AN ATTACKER TO THE GROUND UNLESS IT’S AT LEAST 3.5-4.5 MILLIAMPS (5.0 MILLIAMPS is CONSIDERED LETHAL) I’ll pass till TASER lists the “MILLIAMP” output..If ANYONE knows the SPECS (MILLIAMPS) please foreward them to me

  23. I am going to get one of these and walk through baltimore with G Bush tshirt on and try this out. I will report back later. Stay safe. Watch out for the rioters.

  25. I have a flashlight stun gun in my car within reaching distance and feel pretty safe with it.
    Made of that aircraft aluminum I can also use it as a baton and hit someone first before stunning him.
    The strong LED light is also pretty blindning if you shine it in someones eyes.

    But just to be sure I also have a pepper spray on my sun visor that I can use within seconds.

    Everyone should have a non lethal self defense weapon on him or her at all times.
    Thanks for sharing.
    Eddie

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