If you've ever played airsoft at night, or indoor with the house lights out, then you probably remember the chaos, the confusion, the adrenaline, and the complete inability to distinguish friend from foe without a flashlight. Last Saturday, at one of our local indoor airsoft fields, I was painfully reminded of all those things when I was forgot to bring my flashlight with me into a series of low light matches. And without light, every shadow was a potential threat.

There I was creeping through buildings and passageways, attempting to stay low, but with my nerves fraying more with every step taken it was only a matter of time before I shot the wrong person. And it didn't take long.

A minute into the first round, creeping through the bar on my way to the stairs. The large, dark shape of a man appears, blocking my ascent. Without thinking I aim and fire 4 times. The satisfaction I felt when I say his kill light turn on was short lived as he descends down the stairs and I recognize my team captain. I couldn't see his face but I could feel his rage. And that wasn't it

Fast forward to round 2. I'm picking my way through a long corridor on the side of the field. Shots and ricochets ring out around me and I'm definitely on edge. As I creep forward on all fours my hand brushes up against something soft on the floor. Once again, instinct takes over and I pepper shots into the floor ahead of me. Suddenly something clicks within my mind and I stop shooting, lean forward, and whisper

"Bravo Team?"

"Yeah Bravo, Damn man you shot me in the ass!"

It was confirmed, I'd lit up another team mate. And the shenanigans didn't end there. Uncleared corners, Not so empty sheds, and shadowy corridors that always seemed to end with me getting shot in the back drove the point home...I needed a flashlight.

After the game I took a trip to our friendly neighborhood Hero's Army Surplus store to see what they had for me. And as usual I wasn't disappointed. After going through a variety of options and after trying out different options for my Tokyo Marui Hi-Capa 1911 Colt, I came away with the NcStar GEN3 Pistol Flashlight with Strobe Lights

This great piece of gear has completely ambidextrous and ergonomically designed control buttons that I can hit with my trigger finger or opposite thumb. The switches for the Momentary, Constant, and strobe light are distinct and easily found by touch, leading to a very short learning curve as one gains familiarity. The 3 watt, 150 lumen bulb, plus the momentary function mean that I can quickly recon an area, then blend back into the shadows.

I can't wait to try this out next week!