A modular flashlight system lets you configure a light around a specific job. Swap the head, body, and tailcap to build a tailored solution for your rifle, pistol, handheld, or even helmet. You can then choose the beam that fits your needs: the OKWv2 puts maximum light at your point of aim, helping you identify and maintain visual information in challenging environments or at distance, while the PLHv3 and AMP provide a broader, more balanced beam for general-purpose use. All Modlite components work together, and every light is built in the USA.
Jump to a section in the video: 0:22 Modlite vs Noxon · 1:15 Handhelds · 1:42 Pistol lights · 2:00 Rifle lights · 2:58 Candela vs lumens · 3:28 OKW vs PLHv2 vs AMP · 4:03 Dual fuel and warranty
What does "modular" actually mean for a flashlight?
Most lights are one sealed unit. If the switch fails, the light is done. If you want a different beam, you buy a different light. If a lens breaks, you send the light in to be fixed. A modular light is three parts that thread together: a head (which holds the emitter), a body (which holds the battery and decides the size), and a tailcap (which decides how you turn it on). Any Modlite head fits any Modlite body. Any tailcap fits too.
That sounds like a small thing until you own more than one light. As the video puts it:
"If you have multiple Modlites, you can swap light heads in case of a failure or a breakage. If you only have one head, you can power up every type of light and train specific things."
One head, three bodies, and you have a rifle light on weekdays, a handheld at home, and a helmet light when you need to go hands free. Break a lens on a standard or HOG head and you replace it yourself with a simple tool instead of sending the light back.
Modlite vs Noxon: what is the difference?
Modlite is the fully modular, made-in-the-USA line. Every product is built here, and every component is meant to be mixed and matched. Noxon is Modlite's way of bringing reliability and performance to more people at a lower price. Noxon lights like the HAVOK and EVAK are assembled in the US by the Modlite team from both foreign and domestic components and held to the same quality standard, but they come with fewer configuration options.
The short version: Modlite is the ecosystem you tailor to yourself. Noxon is the one-stop-shop that does not break the bank. If you already know exactly what you want and you want one light for one job, Noxon is worth a look. If you want parts that grow with you across several setups, that is what Modlite is for.
Handheld lights: heads and bodies you can scale
Modlite handhelds come in different head sizes depending on the use case, work with different retention methods, and offer multi-mode programming. You can use 100% output for critical tasks and a 15% mode for admin tasks like reading a map, searching a car, or checking gear without a blinding reflection. Because the heads and bodies are interchangeable, the handheld you buy today can borrow a head from your rifle light tomorrow.
Pistol lights: a rifle light on your pistol
The PL350 pistol light uses a crisp switch for constant-on activation and accepts different head sizes for everyday carry and outside-the-waistband use. It also accepts different emitters. As the video puts it, that compatibility "quite literally makes the PL350 a rifle light on your pistol." The compact PL350C ships with the AMP emitter, which is tuned for a wider, closer beam.
Rifle lights: where modularity pays off most
This is the part of the lineup with the most choices. Several body lengths, scout-style mount compatibility, your pick of head and emitter, and remote switching through the ModButton Lite or Unity Axon switches. Whether you are setting up a subgun or a longer SPR, there is a head, body, and tailcap combination that fits.
Beyond the rifle: the helmet light setup
One setup the video calls out: an 18350 rifle light body with a clicky tailcap and a PLHv2 head, mounted on a helmet with a diffuser. Diffused, it is an admin light. Pop the diffuser off and it reaches down range. Swap in an IR head and it works with night vision. Same body, same tailcap, three jobs.
Candela vs lumens: which one matters?
Both, and the video is direct about it. Candela is throw: how much light lands in a tight hot spot. Lumens is total brightness or output. Modlite's position, based on years of professional use, is that high candela is a necessary feature, not a luxury, because a focused hot spot "expands the capability of the user to see, control, and deter." Every Modlite head is tuned to a specific balance of the two rather than chasing one number.
OKWv2 vs PLHv3 vs AMP: which head should you pick?
| Head | Best for | Beam | Specs |
|---|---|---|---|
| OKWv2 | Distance, outdoor, rural, professional use | Tight hot spot, maximum throw | 95,000 candela on standard heads, 169,000 on HOG heads |
| PLHv3 | General use on rifle, pistol, or handheld | Balanced: more lumens, less candela than OKW | 60,000 candela, 1,500 lumens |
| AMP | Compact pistol light (PL350C) | Wide, close-range | Ships on the PL350C |
Rule of thumb: if you want maximum light at your point of aim or need to see far, OKWv2. If you want one head that does most things well, PLHv3.
The features that show up when things go wrong
- Dual fuel. Any Modlite that runs on an 18650 also runs on two CR123A batteries. Cold weather, long shift, dead rechargeable: drop in two CR123s and keep going.
- Front loading. Batteries load from the front, so you swap them without taking the light off the mount.
- User-serviceable lenses. Standard and HOG heads let you replace a broken lens yourself.
- Transferable lifetime warranty. On every product, and it follows the light if you sell it.
- Aftermarket. The standard sizing means a wide range of third-party mounts, switches, and accessories fit.
Key takeaways
- Modular means head, body, and tailcap swap freely, so one set of parts covers several setups.
- Modlite is fully USA-made and fully configurable; Noxon is the simpler, lower-cost line assembled in the US.
- OKWv2 heads are built for throw (95,000 or 169,000 candela); PLHv3 is the balanced general-use head (60,000 candela, 1,500 lumens); AMP is the compact pistol light head.
- Dual fuel, front loading, and user-replaceable lenses keep a light running in the field.
- Every product carries a transferable lifetime warranty.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use one Modlite head on a rifle, a pistol, and a handheld?
Yes. Heads are interchangeable across Modlite bodies. The video shows the PLHv2 running on a rifle, pistol, and handheld, and the current PLHv3 works the same way.
What is the difference between OKWv2 and PLHv3?
OKWv2 is tuned for maximum throw with a tight hot spot: 95,000 candela on standard heads and 169,000 on HOG heads. PLHv3 has a more balanced beam with more lumens and less candela (60,000 candela and 1,500 lumens), which suits general use.
Is Noxon made in the USA?
Noxon lights are assembled in the US by the Modlite team from foreign and domestic components and held to Modlite quality standards. The Modlite line itself is fully made in the USA.
What batteries do Modlite lights use?
Lights built for an 18650 rechargeable also accept two CR123A batteries thanks to dual fuel, so you always have a backup.
What happens if I break the lens?
On standard and HOG heads the lens is user serviceable. Replace it with a simple tool and the light is back in action.
Start with the head that does the most
If you are building your first Modlite setup, the OKWv2 head is the one that shows off what a modular system can do. Put it on a rifle body for distance, move it to a handheld for the truck, and it is still the same 95,000 candela head. Shop OKWv2 light heads.
Source video published by Modlite Systems, June 2025. Last updated September 26, 2026. The video was filmed with the previous generation of heads; specs in this post reflect the current OKWv2 and PLHv3.