RaymondMillbrae
Newly Enlightened
OK, Folks...
here's my personal view on the EagleTac T10L light.
I just ordered the light on 7 Dec 08, and received it on 11 Dec 08. I purchased it directly from the EagleTac store. (Kudos, EagleTac. Warp-12 delivery is always appreciated by the customer)!!! I got it at the cheapest price I could find, with their discount coupon. (Click CPF8 at purchase to receive the discount).
First-off, I did some massive searching and reading of all the reviews and comments I could find on this flashlight. And only after seeing that no one had any complaints of this light (besides things like preferring other functions over these functions), did I decide to purchase my next EDC torch. This torch got rave reviews, and no one seems to have anything bad to say about it. (At least that I could find).
Now before I state my views...be aware...these are MY PERSONAL OPINIONS. So don't hate me cuz I'm beautiful. (You know what I mean).
When the light arrived, I was all stoked and ready to place a new set of batteries in it. My other light (and every day carry) is the Fenix TK11 - so it was the standard by which it was to be judged by. (My Fenix TK11 is just about the most perfect light I've ever owned)
The first thing I noticed about the EagleTac T10L was the end clicky button.
It was horrible!!! (Sorry, no way around that one).
Because the clicky button was recessed BELOW the end cap (giving it the ability to "tailstand"), I could not get my thumb deep enough in there to depress it.
Look at the pictures below to understand my madness.
In these next two pictures, I took some shots of the end cap. Notice that it has two different styles of "shallow scallops" cut into the end cap. (One cut is large, and the other is cut small). If you were to quickly pick-up and grab the light and place your thumb on the end cap without any thought (like in an emergency situation), and you didn't position your thumb so it rests within the LARGER SCALLPOED CUT - you would not be able to turn ON the light. And even if you did get it to turn on, it took a lot of force (not acceptable), and it would only be in the HALF PRESSED position. No matter what I did, if my thumb was laid flat on the button, I could not click the button to stay ON permanently.
Below are two more pictures. Notice what I was talking about above. If my thumb was laid FLAT on the button, I could only depress the clicky button enough to only go half way...and only with force.
But if I held it in an alternate position (with my index finger finger-tip angled to press the clicky button all the way in) it would work. But who in "Tar-Nations" grabs a light in this position during an emergency situation...or with a handgun in the other hand?!
Now if someone has a "fleshy, meaty thumb," then this will probably be no problem. But me...?
This initial observation was of paramount importance to me. Even if everthing else was absolutely perfect, this one factor excluded me from owning this light.
Why?
Because I need my flashlight to work...and it needs to work IMMEDIATELY when I grab for it!!
And there's a second (just as important) issue I found with this recessed clicky button: I use two modes of carry for my flashlight with a pistol. One is the police overhand method, and the other is a modified cigar grip. (I use a modified version of the Cigar Grip, in that I depress the button with the knuckle of my pistol grip/firing hand). And with this recessed clicky button, both of these methods are now "thrown out dee door". (I can't depress it enough with the overhand grab. And I cannot depress it with the knuckle of my firing hand - which also places great pain on my wittle bwitty digit).
Below is my modified Cigar Grip with the Fenix TK11.
If I'm being kinda hard, I don't mean to be. These are just my personal opinions. But the "tail stand" method, in my opinion, is useless in a tactical light. Not only does it hamper the above mentioned uses, but it has no real world value. Think about it: The tailstand function can only be use in a perfectly flat, HORIZONTAL, position. (Any diagonal slant on the surface, and the light will fall sideways). Now where in God's green earth is something totally, and naturally, flat? I have been all over the world, and in the harshest environments (Middle East deserts, Panama Jungle, Mojave Desert, freezing Germany, Nicaragua, etc...) and never would I be able to use the "tailstand method". If you want the light (any light - be it round, square, or whatever) to point upward, then lean it against something, or place it between something, to point upwards.
OK, OK...if you're in the comfort of your home, then that's a different story. Or if you don't have electricity, and are in a workshop of something... (You got me there).
All I can say for the "tailstand cap" on a tactical light is: MARKETING GIMMICK.
Another thing I didn't like about the EagleTac T10L was it's shape. It was too narrow.
I know it's a great carry light...but it still needs to have some girth and "meat" to it, if it wants to be categorized as a "tactical light". If you look at it's profile, it has a wide circumference at the light end, and a smaller circumference at it's tailcap end. It's almost like a sleek, smooth, triangle.
Yuck!
If you want to wear a three piece suit, and carry it in your vest pocket, that's fine. But I see no use for a "sleek, slim, light" in a tactical/field/emergency situation. (Ever been in freezing temps with limited sensation of your digits while violently shaking? Ever been hunting and had your hands full of blood? Ever been hiking or climbing, and had your hands trembling from exertion? Ever been in a life and death situaltion, and were struggling to control your extremities from shaking)? A sleek little light is not gonna cut it...especially with it's trialgular shape.
As for the detacheable clip (attached to the lamp facing UPWARDS?!!), I would never use it, so it was removed. But after seeing and feeling the awkward shape of the light, I realized that I needed to reattach it to get a good grip on the light.
I didn't like that at all - having to keep something on the light, even though I wanted to remove it, just so that I could grip it correctly.
And that's about it.
The light beam itself was pretty nice. It was a tad on the green side when compared to my Fenix TK11, but it was acceptable. As a matter of fact, you couldn't really see the green tint unless I had the Fenix TK11 "ON" at the same time, side-by-side.
It was not a throw light like my Fenix TK11 (with SMO reflector), but it was a great flood light - with it's OP reflector. In low mode, and in the tail stand position pointed at my white ceiling, it provided a nice low light in the living-room. (Great for an emergency situation). But being able to tailstand is not a priority to me. As a flashlight, it needs to work EVERY TIME I GRAB IT, FROM WHATEVER POSITION I GRAB IT IN. I can always tail stand it some other way if the world should ever start coming to an end. (Did I mention that I think the "tailstand function" is just a marketing gimmick)?
I agree with everyone about it's brightness. (At 255 lumens, it's blazing)! And I agree that it's "flood function" would have complimented my Fenix TK11's "throw function". But in my personal opinion, the con's outweighed the pro's...and it's getting sent back.
I am now looking at either the JETBeam Jet-III M, or the Olight M20 Warrior, to replace it.
Till next time.
In Christ: Raymond
PS: I just thought about one more thing...just to drive in my point. The light also has a built-in "tactical ring". (At least that's what I've read other "reviewers" say). And to prove my point - again - if you grab the light in the traditional Cigar Grip (light between first and index finger, and clicky switch resting on palm) and try to depress the clicky button using your palm...it ain't gonna happen. The light will not turn on.
Just another emphasis on the error of a recessed clicky switch on a "tactical" flashlight.
here's my personal view on the EagleTac T10L light.
I just ordered the light on 7 Dec 08, and received it on 11 Dec 08. I purchased it directly from the EagleTac store. (Kudos, EagleTac. Warp-12 delivery is always appreciated by the customer)!!! I got it at the cheapest price I could find, with their discount coupon. (Click CPF8 at purchase to receive the discount).
First-off, I did some massive searching and reading of all the reviews and comments I could find on this flashlight. And only after seeing that no one had any complaints of this light (besides things like preferring other functions over these functions), did I decide to purchase my next EDC torch. This torch got rave reviews, and no one seems to have anything bad to say about it. (At least that I could find).
Now before I state my views...be aware...these are MY PERSONAL OPINIONS. So don't hate me cuz I'm beautiful. (You know what I mean).
When the light arrived, I was all stoked and ready to place a new set of batteries in it. My other light (and every day carry) is the Fenix TK11 - so it was the standard by which it was to be judged by. (My Fenix TK11 is just about the most perfect light I've ever owned)
The first thing I noticed about the EagleTac T10L was the end clicky button.
It was horrible!!! (Sorry, no way around that one).
Because the clicky button was recessed BELOW the end cap (giving it the ability to "tailstand"), I could not get my thumb deep enough in there to depress it.
Look at the pictures below to understand my madness.
In these next two pictures, I took some shots of the end cap. Notice that it has two different styles of "shallow scallops" cut into the end cap. (One cut is large, and the other is cut small). If you were to quickly pick-up and grab the light and place your thumb on the end cap without any thought (like in an emergency situation), and you didn't position your thumb so it rests within the LARGER SCALLPOED CUT - you would not be able to turn ON the light. And even if you did get it to turn on, it took a lot of force (not acceptable), and it would only be in the HALF PRESSED position. No matter what I did, if my thumb was laid flat on the button, I could not click the button to stay ON permanently.
Below are two more pictures. Notice what I was talking about above. If my thumb was laid FLAT on the button, I could only depress the clicky button enough to only go half way...and only with force.
But if I held it in an alternate position (with my index finger finger-tip angled to press the clicky button all the way in) it would work. But who in "Tar-Nations" grabs a light in this position during an emergency situation...or with a handgun in the other hand?!
Now if someone has a "fleshy, meaty thumb," then this will probably be no problem. But me...?
This initial observation was of paramount importance to me. Even if everthing else was absolutely perfect, this one factor excluded me from owning this light.
Why?
Because I need my flashlight to work...and it needs to work IMMEDIATELY when I grab for it!!
And there's a second (just as important) issue I found with this recessed clicky button: I use two modes of carry for my flashlight with a pistol. One is the police overhand method, and the other is a modified cigar grip. (I use a modified version of the Cigar Grip, in that I depress the button with the knuckle of my pistol grip/firing hand). And with this recessed clicky button, both of these methods are now "thrown out dee door". (I can't depress it enough with the overhand grab. And I cannot depress it with the knuckle of my firing hand - which also places great pain on my wittle bwitty digit).
Below is my modified Cigar Grip with the Fenix TK11.
If I'm being kinda hard, I don't mean to be. These are just my personal opinions. But the "tail stand" method, in my opinion, is useless in a tactical light. Not only does it hamper the above mentioned uses, but it has no real world value. Think about it: The tailstand function can only be use in a perfectly flat, HORIZONTAL, position. (Any diagonal slant on the surface, and the light will fall sideways). Now where in God's green earth is something totally, and naturally, flat? I have been all over the world, and in the harshest environments (Middle East deserts, Panama Jungle, Mojave Desert, freezing Germany, Nicaragua, etc...) and never would I be able to use the "tailstand method". If you want the light (any light - be it round, square, or whatever) to point upward, then lean it against something, or place it between something, to point upwards.
OK, OK...if you're in the comfort of your home, then that's a different story. Or if you don't have electricity, and are in a workshop of something... (You got me there).
All I can say for the "tailstand cap" on a tactical light is: MARKETING GIMMICK.
Another thing I didn't like about the EagleTac T10L was it's shape. It was too narrow.
I know it's a great carry light...but it still needs to have some girth and "meat" to it, if it wants to be categorized as a "tactical light". If you look at it's profile, it has a wide circumference at the light end, and a smaller circumference at it's tailcap end. It's almost like a sleek, smooth, triangle.
Yuck!
If you want to wear a three piece suit, and carry it in your vest pocket, that's fine. But I see no use for a "sleek, slim, light" in a tactical/field/emergency situation. (Ever been in freezing temps with limited sensation of your digits while violently shaking? Ever been hunting and had your hands full of blood? Ever been hiking or climbing, and had your hands trembling from exertion? Ever been in a life and death situaltion, and were struggling to control your extremities from shaking)? A sleek little light is not gonna cut it...especially with it's trialgular shape.
As for the detacheable clip (attached to the lamp facing UPWARDS?!!), I would never use it, so it was removed. But after seeing and feeling the awkward shape of the light, I realized that I needed to reattach it to get a good grip on the light.
I didn't like that at all - having to keep something on the light, even though I wanted to remove it, just so that I could grip it correctly.
And that's about it.
The light beam itself was pretty nice. It was a tad on the green side when compared to my Fenix TK11, but it was acceptable. As a matter of fact, you couldn't really see the green tint unless I had the Fenix TK11 "ON" at the same time, side-by-side.
It was not a throw light like my Fenix TK11 (with SMO reflector), but it was a great flood light - with it's OP reflector. In low mode, and in the tail stand position pointed at my white ceiling, it provided a nice low light in the living-room. (Great for an emergency situation). But being able to tailstand is not a priority to me. As a flashlight, it needs to work EVERY TIME I GRAB IT, FROM WHATEVER POSITION I GRAB IT IN. I can always tail stand it some other way if the world should ever start coming to an end. (Did I mention that I think the "tailstand function" is just a marketing gimmick)?
I agree with everyone about it's brightness. (At 255 lumens, it's blazing)! And I agree that it's "flood function" would have complimented my Fenix TK11's "throw function". But in my personal opinion, the con's outweighed the pro's...and it's getting sent back.
I am now looking at either the JETBeam Jet-III M, or the Olight M20 Warrior, to replace it.
Till next time.
In Christ: Raymond
PS: I just thought about one more thing...just to drive in my point. The light also has a built-in "tactical ring". (At least that's what I've read other "reviewers" say). And to prove my point - again - if you grab the light in the traditional Cigar Grip (light between first and index finger, and clicky switch resting on palm) and try to depress the clicky button using your palm...it ain't gonna happen. The light will not turn on.
Just another emphasis on the error of a recessed clicky switch on a "tactical" flashlight.
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