Manufacturers/Retailers who wish to send samples for review: You MUST read and agree to the Terms and Conditions for sending review samples before sending samples or materials for review.

I follow a straightforward methodology for presenting information on each light reviewed. For each light reviewed, the following review components are generally recorded and provided in a simple matrix. Please note that a review may not have all of the tests/information/pictures/features/etc. listed below. Exclusions from the review components included in an article are at the discretion of the author.

1) A Type and Class based upon the general category into which a light fits.

Types include: (Primary source of light itself)

Incandescent (), LED (), Luxeon LED ( ), Chemical Glow Product ( ), etc.

Classes generally include:

Novelty Light - cute and fun but not very practical
Pocket/Keychain Light - small lights designed to be carried on a keychain or at the bottom of a pants pocket
Household Light - lights best used indoors and not designed to handle the elements
Outdoor/Rough Use Light - lights of a better quality designed to handle the elements
Specialty Light - lights designed for a very specific special purpose
Headlamp - lights designed to be worn on the head

Others may be added as needed, or combinations may be displayed

2) A Description of the light and its features.

3) Pictures of the light itself, bezel, beam, and any special characteristics.

Beam pictures are taken on a target with rings. The central ring is 2" in diameter (1" in radius) and each ring is 2" greater in diameter. Therefore, the centermost ring is 2" in diameter, next is 4" in diameter, next is 6", etc.

Picture of beam target

In describing the beam, I generally use the following terms which serve as a simple point of reference:

• Central (center) Spot = The centermost, brightest part of the beam
• Corona = The area surrounding the central spot. It can often be distinguised from the central spot as being a bit dimmer
• Spillbeam = The dimmer area surrounding the corona, extending to the farthest edge of the beam

Sometimes varous parts of the beam are indistinguishable from one another and therefore may not be mentioned.

4) A Graph of output over time to show actual battery life.

5) Reviewer's Impressions (general usability, durability, beam impressions, etc.)

6) The following characteristics in an easy to read table:

Review Date: (Month, year)
Case Material: (plastic, aluminum, rubber, etc.)
Case Features: (shape, size, color, lanyard ring, grips, rollstop feature, special characteristics)
Case Access type: (removable bezel, removable tailcap, clamshell, etc.)
Switch type: (slide, bezel twist, tailcap, etc)
Reflector type: (faceted, smooth, focusable, frosted, etc)
Lens type: (flat, convex, special)
Bulb type: (1 LED, Multiple LEDs, incandescent, krypton, xenon, etc.)
Beam type: (narrow, medium, flood)
Beam Characteristics: (smooth, rings, center hotspot with spillbeam, etc.)
Throw (Lux): (the illuminance of the light measured in "Lux" at one meter. This reading is initial output with new batteries. Click for more info)
Overall Output: (How much light the unit produces overall. This reading is initial output with new batteries. Click for more info.)
Battery / Power Type: (AA, C, D, # of cells, etc., special circuitry)
Battery Life (advertised): (What the manufacturer/marketers say...)
Battery Life (test results): (How long it really runs. Taken with an Extech 401036 datalogging meter. Multi-level lights only tested on "high")
Environmental Protection: (waterproof, water resistant, none, impact protection, etc.)
Weight with batteries: (Weight with batteries in ounces)
Special items of note: (anything not yet mentioned, unique characteristics)
Warranty: (length)
Retail Cost: (if available)

7) A Star Classification in the droptab at the top of the page.

The Star Classification will be based upon the overall quality, features, durability and usability of the light as perceived by the tester. This will be a subjective composite rating of all of the qualities of the light but is primarilary based on the descriptions below.

Note: 1/2 Star rated lights are better than the "whole Star" rating their based on, but not quite up to the standards of the next Star rating in my opinion.

	1     Star  = Poor / Not Recommended at All
	1½  Stars = Poor+ / Not Recommended / Well Below Average
	2     Stars = Fair / Low end equipment / Below Average
	2½  Stars = Fair+ / Low end equipment / Aproaching Average
	3     Stars = Good / Average / Minimum Serious Use (think of "Maglite 3-D" as a good example)
	3½  Stars = Good+ / Better / Above Average / Better Quality lights
	4     Stars = Very Good / Well Above Average / Highly recommended
	4½  Stars = Very Good+ / Way Above Average / Some of the Best / Highly Recommended
	5     Stars = Excellent / Best of the Best / Extremely Well Designed