The Shopping List - Flare Types

There are three basic types of pyrotechnic flares: aerials, smoke flares and handhelds. Aerial flares can include parachute rockets which descend slowly from a high altitude and burn for more than 30 seconds; or meteor aerials which burn for less than 10 seconds. Most parachute flares are SOLAS approved and meteor flares are not SOLAS approved. The aerial flares we tested include:

• Orion Red Parachute Signal Rocket – SOLAS
• Pains Wessex Para Red Rocket MK8 – SOLAS
• Comet Red Parachute Signal Rocket – SOLAS
• Orion 25 MM Red Aerial Flare
• Orion 25 MM Red Aerial Parachute Flare
• Orion 12-Gauge High Performance Red Meteor Flares
• Orion Skyblazer Red Aerial Signal Kit
• Orion Pocket Rocket Red Aerial Flares

Smoke flares are best for day use and can be either a handheld version or a throwable floating smoke canister which are usually SOLAS approved. The smoke flares we tested include:

• Orion Handheld Orange Smoke Signal
• Orion Floating Smoke Signal – SOLAS
• Comet Smoke Signal Orange – SOLAS
• Pains Wessex Lifesmoke MK8 – SOLAS
• Pains Wessex Manoverboard MK2 – SOLAS (not pictured)

Handheld flares are usually red in color but white collision flares are also available. The white flares are not SOLAS or USCG approved. The Handhelds we tested were:

• Orion Handheld Red Locator Flares
• Pains Wessex Red Hand Flare MK8 – SOLAS
• Comet Red Handflare – SOLAS (not pictured)
• Orion Red Handheld Flare – SOLAS (not pictured)
• Orion White Handheld Signal
• Pains Wessex White Collision Hand Flare MK8
• Pains Wessex Day/Night Signal (not USCG approved)

We also tested some non-pyrotechnic distress signals including a bright orange distress flag, a blinking SOS distress light and some new LED lights and lasers that are not USCG approved. The non-pyrotechnic signals we tested include:

• ACR Electronic DistresS.O.S. Night Visual Distress Signal
• Orion Distress Flag
• Powerflare P/F 200 Safety Light
• Red Greatland Rescue Laser Flare Magnum
• Greatland Green Rescue Laser Flare

Red handheld flares are probably the most commonly purchased distress signal for boaters.

Floating smoke is easily noticed during the day.

Click on the picture above to see an enlargment of the photo. Flares shown in order from left to right.

The aerial flares we tested provided some very dramatic photos.