Torches, Flashlights and IR Lights

Frequently Asked Questions

Despite infrared light being invisible to the human eye, all infrared LEDs produce a visible faint red glow. There is less visible red glow from a 940nm LED, but this comes with a sacrifice in viewing range for your night vision unit. That's because digital night vision sensors are more sensitive to the 850nm wavelength than they are to 940nm. 850nm wavelength LEDs will provide the best range, and 940nm the most covertness.

All of our flashlight models have a stepless dimmer dial/switch at the rear of the device. This allows you to get the perfect brightness level for your application.

All of our infrared torches have a 5 Watt infrared LED.

Infrared lasers and infrared laser illuminators come with a danger of serious eye damage, a danger bigger than with visible lasers. The dangers of visible lasers - like green and red lasers - are well known, and your natural reflex will be to look away from a visible laser because the beam is so bright. With infrared lasers, however, there is no visible light to cause that natural reflex; yet the radiation emitted is still powerful enough to damage your retina. Infrared LEDs are safer, because the light from LEDs disperses/scatters, rather than remaining in a 'pencil' beam. Therefore there is a reduced risk of enough infrared radiation entering the eye to cause any harm.

These are all words commonly used to describe the same product. 'Torch' is a term commonly used in the United Kingdom, whereas 'flashlight' is most commonly used in America. As a British company with many American customers, quite often we don't know which term to use!

Our infrared flashlights are not designed to be used as therapeutic tools. Misusing IR light can result in vision loss.


More information

Nightfox XB Series Torches are powerful handheld infrared flashlights. They can be used with any night vision binoculars or infrared night vision devices, and massively increase your range.

The XB5 infrared flashlight is rugged and compact, the XB10 infrared torch is durable with a huge range.

Try the 940nm 'Covert' Editions, which have infrared LEDs with reduced glow!