FOG HORN 2014

Twobirds Flying Publication

Copyright 2014, Towbirds Flying Publication. All Rights Reserved.

First-Light USAs TORQ- NV
By: Sal Palma

First-Light USA began shipping the TORQ
personal tactical lights in July of this year. I was
fortunate enough to see a preproduction
version of the new light in May, which gave me
a chance to pull together my thoughts on First-
Lights entry level product.
The company introduced three models, the
TORQ, TORQ LE and TORQ NV meeting a
wide range of end user requirements. The line is
directed at customers who want the
characteristics and function of the Tomahawk
without incurring its cost, so this new light
features an injection molded polymer body well
suited to individual users looking for the
advantages of a highly evolved and versatile
tactical light but dont require machined
aluminum housings.
Before I jump into the bells and whistles of this
outstanding light, I want to revisit First-Lights
design concept because its an important
differentiator.
The need for a tactical light is irrefutable; not
just among the law enforcement community
but in home defense. Tactical lighting provides
a measurable advantage in a threat
environment, a fact that has given rise to the
explosion of weapon mounted lights you now
see on so many handguns. However, not all
firearms have rail mounts, and as effective as
weapon mounted lights are, proper and safe
use requires training and a level of discipline
that under stress may breakdown. For
example, some police departments have
attributed accidental officer shootings to
weapon mounted lights; this is how some of
those scenarios unfold.
An officer in a high threat situation has his or
her weapon drawn and as he navigates through
a dark basement, or back yard, points the
muzzle in a direction he wants to illuminate; in
essence using the weapon as a flashlight
resulting potentially in an unintended shooting
of a fellow officer or bystander.
First-Light USAs TORQ- NV
2014

Copyright 2014, Twobirds Flying Publication, All Rights Reserved

First-Light USA recognized the value of
separating the illumination source from the
weapon and introduced a tactical light that
allows the user to, quickly and effectively,
transition from flashlight to target illumination
if a shooting scenario develops.

The hands-enabling
concept was
introduced in 2007,
when the company
launched the
Liberator. It
continued through to the Tomahawk line, in
2008 and the current T-MAX and TORQ lines.
So, its safe to say that idea withstands the test
of time, and on that bit of background Ill share
my thoughts and comments about the, new for
2014, TORQ NV.
The TORQ NV is at the high end of its product
line. It features more functionality than
anything currently on the market; including IR
functions in a compact and lightweight package
that will only set you back $142 M.S.R.P.
The light is powered by two AA batteries that
install by dropping the battery cap held in the
closed position by a spring steel clip.
As with the Tomahawk, the TORQ light can be
worn on the belt, MOLLE attached or attached
to a vehicle, or any other magnetic surface,
using three optional mounts.
I recommend concurrent with your purchase of
a TORQ light that you pick up a TRS Belt Mount;
it does a great job of securing your light with
ease of deployment. If you plan to carry your
light on a load bearing vest or plate carrier,
infused with PALS webbing, the TRS MOLLE
BLADE is a route youll want to take. I like it a
great deal because its easy to install and
remove. First-Light has done away with the
ubiquitous malice clips in the TRS MOLLE mount
replacing them with a locking polymer blade
that work s great!

Somewhere, deep in First Lights R&D
laboratories, lives a mad mathematician
because this light has more combinations than
anything Ive seen; all of which are controlled
via 3 buttons. Lets see, 3
3
or 27? BTW, a side
benefit to owning a TORQ NV is that it
doubles as a memory trainer for you snipers out
there. I jest of course, but youll want a short
acclimation period to get used to the buttons
and functions.
So, lets take a look at what functions are
available via these three switches:

1. Lock
2. Unlock
3. IR Mode Select
4. Low white (constant)
5. Medium white (constant)
6. High white (constant)
7. White constant off
8. High white (momentary)
9. Low Red (constant)
10. Medium Red (constant)
11. High Red (constant)
12. Red constant off
13. Low Green (constant)
14. Med Green (constant)
15. High Green (constant)
16. Green constant off
17. Low Blue (constant)
18. Medium Blue (constant)
19. High Blue (constant)
20. Blue constant off
21. White strobe
22. Safety beacon
23. IR low (constant)
24. IR medium (constant)
25. IR high (constant)
26. IR strobe
27. IR high (momentary)
First-Light USAs TORQ- NV
2014

Copyright 2014, Towbirds Flying Publication. All Rights Reserved.
I want to take a moment to highlight
that in spite of the wide choice of
functions, accessing them is intuitive
and very well organized.



One very nice departure from the
Tomahawk architecture is the
articulating head. The TORQ
illumination head rotates a full 320
giving the operator the flexibility to
place as much light as needed on any
plane regardless of orientation; very
convenient, especially when reading a
map, working with a smart device or
your weapon system.



Continuing with the articulating head,
First Light included eight audible
detents at 40 intervals; however, the
operator is not restricted from directing
light to any spot within the 320 arc of
its rotation.
Very high on my list of likes is access to
the full array of LED colors: red, green
and blue. Even better is that an
operator can regulate the LED output
with the push of a button for optimal
illumination in three steps of low,
medium or high. For example, a
medium green setting is ideal for
reading topological maps, aviation
charts and nautical charts.
All things considered, Im not sure how
the folks at First Light could squeeze
more functions out of the three existing
buttons; however, were that possible
Id ask for a red/green mix option. It
seems to work better than straight
green for map reading or detail work.



All the constant on LED functions of
white, red, green, blue and IR have a
memory and will turn on at the last
used output level. I like this feature, but
some would argue that having them
always turn on in low is the best
approach. I certainly see that point of
view but to be perfectly honest its not
a show stopper for me.
The white primary LED has a maximum
output of 155 lumens and takes
advantage of a very nice parabolic
reflector to create a well-defined hot
spot with an abundance of peripheral
lighting. In a time where handheld lights
are pushing past the 600 lumen barrier,
First-Light USAs TORQ- NV
2014

Copyright 2014, Twobirds Flying Publication, All Rights Reserved

the 155 lumens provided may seem
anemic, but rest assured that its more
than adequate to help a homeowner or
police officer gain and retain a tactical
advantage.
When discussing IR modes with people
there is a tendency for them to think
that youre trying to illuminate a tank 2
klicks down the road. If that is your
desire dont bother with the NV version
of the TORQ. The IR function provides
three levels of IR illumination that are
navigation and task oriented; not part
of a weapon system. The IR beacon
serves to identify you to others on your
team under night vision conditions.

In closing, I have to tell you that I love
this light, and it does everything so
well
Quite often I run across gear reviews
that spend way too much time
establishing that a particular piece of kit
does something well for its price. I
want to sell you on a slightly different
thought process. Start by assessing your
needs using a realistic approach that
answers two questions. What do I need,
and how well does my choice need to
perform those functions? Next,
consider a product in terms of how
many of your needs it meets. Then and
only then bring price into the equation.
Its when you take this approach that
youll begin to unearth those rare gems
in the marketplace; products like First
Lights TORQ line of illumination tools.
First Light USA delivered on four fronts:
quality, form and function at an
unsurpassed price point.
First Lights TORQ NV will certainly go on my
coveted Stocking Stuffer List for the coming
Holiday Season.
In the meantime, pick one up along with the
mounting option that meets your intended use.
Youll be happy with that decision!
-SP

Manufacturers Specifications

Maximum white light output: 155
lumens*
Runtime: 10 hours*
320 Degree rotating head
Waterproof (1 meter)
Constructed from proprietary
polymers
Weight: 4.4 ounces
Dimensions: 3.9"H x 2.6"L x 1.4"W

* Tested to ANSI FL1 Standard

First-Light USA
205 S. Main St.
Seymour, IL 61875 USA
Toll-Free: 877.454.4450
http://www.firstlight-usa.com/