I’ll admit to being something of a flashlight nerd. From playing flashlight tag as a kid to a couple of decades in law enforcement working night and swing shifts, I’ve gotten used to having a light handy. The 5.11 Deploy series of lights makes that easy, no matter where you are or what else you’re carrying.
5.11’s Deploy series consists of three different-sized lights. The Deploy K-USB, Deploy PL-USB, and the Deploy TL-USB. All three are LED lights with USB charging. They share a similar flat, rectangular styling. The flat profile carries nicely in your pocket or clipped to your gear. The two bigger lights have pocket clips, whereas the K-USB comes with a key ring. They’re all IPX4 rated against water. Where they mainly differ is in size, output, and battery life.
Deploy K-USB
The Deploy K-USB is a tiny keychain light, but it performs like a bigger light. It’s only 2.5 inches long and .75 inches thick and wide. The body of the light is made from machined aluminum, and it’s available in black or Ranger Green finishes. The weight is just 0.7 ounces.
There’s a bit of conflicting info on 5.11’s website as far as specs go. The text description says it has a high setting of 180 Lumens and a low of 40 Lumens. The spec chart shows a high of 150 and a low of 30. I suspect the 150/30 rating is the older version of the K-USB that had been out for a while. Either way, it’s a bright light for how tiny it is. Run time on high is 1 hour and 45 minutes. Low increases run time to 2 hours and 45 minutes.
There’s a low-battery indicator on the side body switch of the little Deploy light. When it does indicate that you need a recharge, that’s done with a common USB-C cable. The K-USB comes with a split ring for attaching to your keychain or even a zipper pull. It’s a handy size that works well with other small tools. I paired it up with either Victorinox Classic or the 5.11 Base 1SF knife and EDT Hex tool.
MSRP on the K-USB is just $30.00.
Deploy Pl-USB
The Deploy PL-USB is the mid-sized light in the line. It’s a good bit bigger than the K, but more compact than the TL. It uses a machined body of aerospace-grade aluminum and is finished with type III anodizing. It’s available in black or Ranger Green, like the K-USB. The PL is 4.2 inches long, an inch wide, and .6 inches thick. It weighs 2 ounces.
The two modes on the PL are a high of 300 lumens and a low of 30 lumens. The throw on high is 50 meters. It’s powered by an internal 1050mAh Lithium Polymer Battery and recharged using a USB-C cable. Run times aren’t listed. You’ll know when it’s time to recharge, though, thanks to the bi-color charging indicator on the side of the light by the charging port.
While the K uses a side-mounted switch, the PL has a rear-mounted tail switch. You can switch between high, low, or momentary on either setting.
5.11’s Deploy PL-USB has a deep carry pocket clip. With its size and flat profile, it carries much like a folding knife. While the K is small enough you don’t notice it in your pocket, it’s nice that the PL has a clip to keep it secure and easy to get to. I found the PL to be “just right” for EDC carry. It packs enough punch to use as a tactical light, and the form factor works with most flashlight techniques.
MSRP on the PL-USB is $60.00.
The Deploy TL-USB
The 5.11 Deploy TL-USB is the big boy of the line. It shares the form factor of the PL. It’s also built from aerospace aluminum with a Type III anodized finish and available in black or Ranger Green. It’s a bit bigger at 4.875 inches long, 1.25 inches wide, and .625 inches thick. Weight on the TL is 3.4 ounces.
The TL-USB spits out 1000 Lumens on high and has a 100-meter throw. So, over three times the light output and twice the throw of the PL. It uses a bigger 1650mAh Lithium Polymer Battery. That gives it a two-hour run time on high. Unlike the other Deploy lights, the TL has a dual switch system. It has a tailcap like the PL that defaults to high, then low, then off.
There’s also a side-mounted switch that toggles between medium and off. Medium mode is 500 lumens, and the low mode is 80 Lumens. The side-mounted switch also doubles as a bi-color charging/battery level indicator. Like the rest of the 5.11 Deploy line, the TL-USB is charged with a USB-C charging cable.
The TL-USB is the chunkiest of the three lights, but it is still pretty compact. The flat profile helps a lot with carry, as does the deep carry pocket clip. I used the TL on a couple of camping trips throughout the spring. The extra Lumens and especially the throw range came in handy in the open spaces. I was easily able to shoot it down paths and across the lake at one campsite to look for critters at night.
Like the PL, it will make a great tactical light, especially if you need the extra brightness and throw.
MSRP on the TL-USB is just slightly more than the PL at $80.00.
Which Deploy is Right for You?
5.11 certainly gives you options when it comes to the Deploy series. Depending on your needs and what you want to carry, there’s a Deploy for you. The PL-USB and TL-USB can both fill a tactical niche when paired up with your EDC gun. They’d also make great utility and camping lights.
The K-USB is a great utility light. It’s small enough to always have with you, but it puts out some impressive light for its size. Even when I carried one of the other Deploy lights, I usually had the K on me as well as a backup. Just toss it on your keychain and forget about it.
They’re priced very competitively too, especially for the performance. I’m not saying you need all three Deploy lights, but if you pick up a PL-USB or TL-USB model, you may as well throw a K-USB in your shopping cart too for the price!
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