Constructed of aerospace-grade aluminum with a rugged Military Specification hard-anodized finish, and powered by two lithium batteries (10-year shelf life), the L2 LumaMax® features a white, five-watt LED (light emitting diode). The L2's digitally controlled two-stage tailcap switch allows the user to choose either a low-output beam for close-up work or a high-output beam for full power applications - press the tailcap switch slightly for the low beam, continue pressing to activate the high beam. Twist the tailcap for constant light on either beam setting.

The L2 also features digital current regulation circuitry to match the LED's current requirements with the battery's output to maintain a more consistent level of light output for the useable life of the batteries (as opposed to unregulated lights, which are subject to a steady decline in light intensity beginning shortly after activation). Compared to incandescent bulbs, LEDs provide extended runtime and extreme resistance to malfunction due to impact.

The L2 produces useable light for approximately 18 hours on the low-beam setting; high-beam runtime is approximately 60 minutes. Unlike many LED flashlight manufacturers -- who inflate the light output and usable runtimes of their LEDs --SureFire provides realistic output and runtime specifications based on scientifically obtained measurements. Although any LED - including those produced by SureFire can continue to produce insignificant light output for over 50 hours, the amount of useful light produced is typically of a shorter duration.