If there’s one thing that’s just as important as performance when it comes to your EDC gear, it’s control. Having a sharp knife that’s unwieldy, or in this case, a blindingly bright flashlight with fussy controls is the last thing you need. That’s especially true for tactical lights designed to be used where there’s no margin for error. Nitecore’s new P26 offers unlimited control of its high-powered LED through a unique rotary switch that lets you dial in when lighting up.
As a tactical light, the P26 has all the right features for quick, powerful, and controlled lighting. For starters, it turns on with a familiar on/off push button at the rear. The tailcap itself is scalloped, giving you the best of both worlds: you can easily access the switch even when wearing gloves, but it’s not so easy to accidentally press. It also allows for a lanyard attachment and tailstanding to act as a makeshift candle. The switch itself is a “forward clicky,” which you can soft-press for a silent, momentary on activation. Finally, a tac ring on the body of the light provides a better grip when holding the light cigar style for tactical applications.
The P26’s defining feature, the rotary switch, sits just under the base of the head. It controls the CREE XP-L HI V3’s modes starting from a 0.5-lumen Low up to a 1000-lumen Max, settling anywhere in between as a result of its infinitely variable brightness. As a tactical light, the P26’s only other special mode that can be accessed from the rotary dial is a Strobe mode to keep things simple.
Its anodized aluminum body offers 1.5m of impact resistance and IPX8 water resistance to withstand EDC. The barrel also accommodates 1×18650 or 2xCR123a batteries, meaning it’s a substantial light in hand with solid runtimes at 500 hours on Low and 1 hour at Max brightness. For a feature-packed tactical light that really puts you in control, check out the P26 at the link below.
