Energizer displayed an update to their LED Hard Case tactical light that has cut the size of their 1st gen roughly in half. It’s sporting Energizer’s penchant for discrete control using five colored lamps, four buttons and two throw levers. The 2nd gen Hard Case, $80, is PALS friendly and runs on 1 OR 2 AA batts. You can run on 1 batt and keep a 2nd reversed in the light as a spare. The lamps are white, red, blue, green and IR (plus IFF strobe ) and all operations can be locked out with a multi-position throw lever. Available 2/09.

Energizer also put a new helmet light on the table. With a AA battery the LED Hard Case Tactical Helmet Light adds 3.5 ounces to your melon setup while giving you 35 lumens, max, of white light with blue and IR secondary LEDs. White and blue have three brightness settings controlled by successive presses of the main activator button. Throw a lever on the side to choose white/blue/IR (plus IFF strobe). The helmet mount allows the light to rotate, and the the unit comes with a secondary PALS mount for use on your chest. For $85 you also get an Energizer lithium AA battery. Also available 2/09.

Inova’s latest tac-light hits the streets this month sporting a super light, milspec 810f rated, carbon fiber frame that seems to weigh barely more than the batteries within it. The INFORCE will come in 3 versions that will be available in either a black or sand exterior. The line-up starts out with only white light, adds red, green and blue, then tops out by adding and IR LED.

The control scheme that uses the tailcap switch in concert with the rotating tailcap gives a little nod to the Night-Ops Gladius setup, but you be the judge. A pair of CR123s will keep things lit for hours, even on the highest of its 3 intensity settings. Look to pay about $100, $150 or $180, as you climb the feature ladder.

Primarily designed for the LE market, the X400 is just as comfy mounted under an M4. With it’s small size, light weight and ruggedness, the light/laser combo is as bright as most carbine weapon lights at half the size and weight.

Surefire’s upgrade to the X300 weapon light has the same 110 Lumen LED light but adds a 5mW red laser to the hard-anodized aluminum body. With included rail adapters, it can be mounted on nearly anything using the included universal and Picatinny rail adapters. Runtimes are 2.4/24 hours for the light/laser on 2 123s. Out the door late in 2008 for $435.