Tactical is a marketing term. What you really want to discuss is "mil-spec" or torches for proffesional LEO/Mill use. I only have experience with Inova, surefire and the DE P7. The reason some of these lights are so expensive is becuase of their durability. Would you trust your life to a P7 mounted to a rifle for weeks? I am not sure the quality of my P7 is even close to a US made mil-spec torch.

The new surefire e2d led fits in your pocket and can blast 200lumens with a tap of the tailcap. Combine its light output with some of its physical atributes and you have a great self defense tool.

There are also intresnically safe lights. These are designed for high hazard enviroments, think flammable/explosive atomsphere, e.g. mines or hazmat cleanup.