Blackheart said:
Hi,
Does anybody own one of these Streamlight Survivor LED flashlights yet and if you do, how do you like it?
http://www.streamlight.com/product/product.aspx?pid=88
Yes, I do. I received my first two from Fox Intl around Sept 5th or so. All I can say is, this light is GREAT!!
A few observations:
1. very lightweight... light enough to throw in a daypack or my Timbuk2 bag
2. brighter than crap... brighter than my brightest 3w light, even the T3s and Pelican 2390s. Brighter than a 3C ProPoly Lux, but same solid beam with about the same shape.
3. Very well built... rock solid, completely waterproof and "droppable"
4. An interesting sidenote: even though this was designed for firefighters and therefore should have a failrly confined, "tight" beam with little or no spill (better for smoke), that's not true here. The central hotspot is there, very tight and focused. Spread about 3 feet at 60 feet. But there is also considerable (albeit well-controlled) useful sidespill. Plenty good enough for walking on a path, or doing a back-yard check.
5. FYI it is fully current-regulated and well heatsinked. I couldn't find the heatsink at first, but I called Streamlight and they told me where to look- under the Lux emitter (duh!) it's only visible from the battery compartment, but it's there and it's BIG. The Lux III runs at about 700ma on high setting.
6. Also FYI, there are three settings for light output: bright (advertised 3 hours regulated output), less bright (advertised 6 hours) (I won't call it dim, because it's not; plenty bright for most tasks, unlike the so-called dim setting on some popular flashlights).
7. Maybe the biggest surprise: the design. Even tho I own vey many LED flashlights of the conventional round type, I found that the vertical-right angle design simply has better ergonomics than a round flashlight. This thing is DAMN COMFORTABLE to hold. Totally changed my thinking about flashlights (other than Wayne's Anglelux, this is the first right-angle flashlight I've owned). It's also more utilitarian: if you're changing a tire, up to this point the only alternative has been a headlamp. This light would sit very comfortably on rough pavement- the base is wide and flat. Also the perfect light for a nightstand: the vertical symmetry (with the switch centally located on top, at the midline) means that in pitch black darkness, you can reach out, grab the light and turn it in without fumbling. Nice for those things that go bump in the night.
This light is now my light of choice for glove box, survival kit, nightstand, hanging up at the head of a dark stairwell, etc. I even carry one in the Timbuk2 messenger bag I use instead of a briefcase. I've ordered another 4 units from Fox.
IMHO for 44 bucks it's a good value. And I like the Lifeteime Warranty PARTS AND LABOR unlike some "popular" flashlights LOL
Oh: almost forgot: last night I gave it the "dark street" test. I live on a deadend street down by a creek. Except for one street light at the head of the street, no light. This damn thing was like a searchlight. I sent one to my best buddy in Virginia, who is head of Enviro Science Dept at a college. He took it up on a mountain with some of his students last night. They have seen all of the LED lights I've sent him over the last few years (his interest in LED lights is an environmental one, he's not really a flashaholic, or rather, wasn't one until last night :rock: ) His students nicknamed this light "The Wrath of God". I thought that was hilarious. IT'S BRIGHT
Respectfully submitted.
Hope this is helpful
PS althought this sounds like a commercial endorsement, just to make it crystal clear I DO NOT WORK FOR STREAMLIGHT, I AM NOT A DEALER, I DO NOT SELL FLASHLIGHTS FOR A LIVING
I just like the light :lolsign:
