Ignored Brands

[ryaxnb]

There are quite a few ignored brands. Ill focus on Streamlight, but a lot of these brands get almost no attention.
Streamlight gets almost no attention.
Why is that? They have a nice lineup and a good LED selection, plus topnotch Xenon lights. They seem like a surefire competitor to me. In particular, what about the Scorpion, Strion, PT-1L, and Streamlight Jr. They all seem like decent competitors to various flashlights ive seen here and there.
How about the Inova X2 and X1? Seem like nice enough lights.
What about the Princeton Tec line? Their incan line seems awesome, in particular, for incan fans. like the Torrent 8AA Xenon and the Tec 40 4AA Xenon and the Rage 4AAA Xenon.
How about Inova? Their T1, T2, X1, X2, X03 looks nice.
What about Terralux and ICON? They both look nice enough.
How about Duracell and Energizer? they seem to have nice enough basic flashlights if you look for the high power LED ones.

 

[Jash]

What's up with CPF. I got this from General Flashlight Discussions under the exact same title, same author from a different window.


ryaxnb:

There are quite a few ignored brands. Ill focus on Streamlight, but a lot of these brands get almost no attention.
Streamlight gets almost no attention.
The Strion LED looks awesome with its K2 bulb and Li-Ion battery, like a capable bored 6P competitor. A bored 6P costs around $110, whereas a Strion LED is around $99 and has an integrated, warranty-covered charging mechanism.
The entire Streamlight professional product line... look at it! Looks like a master Surefire competitor.
You have the Strion Xenon and Strion LED for amazing Li-Ion rechargable, something Surefire doesnt offer except by using RCR or 18650.
You have the Survivor Belt light which looks like the best belt light around with 100 lumens at 3.5 hours with NiCD or 4 hours with 4C batteries.
Then you have the Streamlight Tactical Lithium line.
The Scorpion, which seems like an amazing light. I mean, look at the 6PX and the Scorpion... the 6PX has more brightness, but a worse design and less runtime.
The Scorpion also costs less. The Scorpion LED is only $49.95.
Combine that with legendary Streamlight durability and the fact that this light is made in USA, and seems like a winner. Yet no one mentions it!
The Polytac... seems like a good quality/price value to me, whether you get lithium or xenon.
The Jr. series seems decent. 85 lumens, one mode, lifetime warranty. A good gift light, far superior to the MiniMag Rebel.
The ProPolymer 4AA seems like the ideal Xenon light for you incan fans... it has enough brightness to produce a clean white swath of light, and lasts a couple hours and has a nice, focused, clean throw beam. The throw is comparable to a Cree XR-E 2AA light, which is quite good.
Streamlight Stylus pro is still a very efficent gift light, and it has the simple 1 mode operation.

 

[ryaxnb]

bump. Why doesnt streamlight get any attention.

 

[nick-nack]

A quick search of CPF gives 10,400 results on 'Streamlight'.

But as to why they are not mentioned more than other brands. I think member, Owen, sums it up nicely

Streamlight doesn't get much discussion here because they're boring. They make lights that are fairly plain, moderately priced, relatively low on features, and rarely anything resembling state of the art technology.
So they don't appeal to the bargain hunters, the collectors, the techno-geeks, the wannabe tactical types...anyone looking for something beyond a simple, practical tool.
Buying a Streamlight is kind of like buying a screwdriver. It may be exactly what you need, but it doesn't generate a lot of excitement.

 

[kramer5150]

For me personally, I have a few deal breakers...
-No 3x or 4x AAA lights
-No Alkaline only lights
-No primary CR123 only lights
-No multi-cell carriers
-No charging cradle lights (nothing against them, its more that I have $$$ already invested in loose cells and dedicated chargers)

So there are a lot of models that do not make my cut, just based on the cell types.

The Streamlight product lineup in general... Lumen output is not really bright enough, run times are not really long enough and physical features are not really unique enough to capture my interest.

Terralux: A lot of their lights are re-branded (same Chinese build supplier as Nuwai),and their drop ins are not terribly impressive for the $$$.... shrug.

Inova: Since being bought over by nite-ize, their once great warranty and CS appears to have been cut to some degree. The X1 doesn't excite me that much at $25, when ITP has some single cell lights that match my preferences better. The X2 is a nice light, but at ~$35-45 I would rather have a Fenix 2AA light....again just a better matchup with my preferences.

Princeton tec makes nice lights IMHO. If you need a dive-rated submersible torch, they are a great choice.

Duracell: I only own their 3AAA flood to throw. Its an OK light... nothing special. It was the last 3xAAA light I bought:sick2:. MrGman tested it at ~60 Lumens. So its nothing to get excited about.

Energizer: I really like their hard case tactical lights. They are big and a little bulky, but they are very durable and seem to be well made & designed.

Surefire is the mastermind of Paul Kim, and IMHO theres not a dog in the lineup. His Icon lights though just do not appeal to me. Many times I use my AA lights as constant-ON task lights. Reading lights, garage work lights...etc... I already know the constant dimming regulation circuit used in his Icon lights will not satisfy me. That little orange carabiner light though looks very interesting.

 

[jellydonut]

I will not buy a AAA light unless it's a keychain or pen light. These '3xAAA' lights are absolutely ridiculous to my eye.

I'd look more at Streamlight, they have some interesting stuff, but you plain can't get them here. The only stores that carry them elsewhere are duty stores and the like, not flashlight stores or others that are happy to ship internationally.

 

[yellow]

all seem like decent competitors to various

So You dont know any ot them in personal?
Have no comparison?
... then what You want to hear?
If You had handeled any of them, You would know.

f.e., as You mentionned the Scorpion:
do You really think this is a competitor to a 6P? Have both lights? The Scorpion, while nice, is way crappy compared to a 6P.
PS: I have a Scorpion w. 18650 Strion-bulb mod. Considerably brighter than 6P, longer running, cheaper running costs (rechargeable) but still no match (as I primarily use led lights in that flashlight size - mostly Led modded 6P of course)


PS: When Inova (for the T-series) would succeed in
1. offering useful battery selection,
2. at least 2-mode,
3. "correct" inserting of battery,
4. a back switch that can stand some abuse and the power going over it,
then they were the bomb!
as
price is good, machining/finish is great, knurling is the best compromise of anything knurling can be asked for (I consider the way the T-series knurling is made as the most perfect I know), best looking lights overall, sturdy, ...

 

[richpalm]

Streamlight is a good product but... well... just not sexy. :ironic: Sold all the ones I had long ago.

Rich

 

[Black Rose]

Re: ICON.

I do like some of the styling of the ICON lights that have been released, but the constant dimming circuit in them is of no use to me, since when I use my lights they are constant on.

The bigger issue for me is that all of the ICON dealers are in the US.
Assuming they don't have the same export restrictions that Surefire lights do, I have to order them online from one of the CPF vendors that sells them, pay a hefty shipping fee, and hope the light meets my expectations.

Would be nice to walk into a Canadian store and actually get to play with one.
I've talked with people I know at a local B&M camping and fishing store that carries Surefire products, and they've never heard of ICON :thinking:

 

[carrot]

I love the ICON lights. Very practical and nice to use.

 

[Rocketman]

I can recommend the Streamlight Stinger LED as a duty light and the Strion LED. I think Streamlight makes some good flashlights but you want to be careful with which model you buy because as a company they don't seem to have quite the demand for quality that some would like. Also I think most of their lights now are made not in the USA and that is disappointing to me.

I have and recommend: Streamlight Polystinger LED (duty light,) Strion LED (duty light/backup,) TL-2 LED (single mode/tactical,) ProPolymer 4AA LED (emergency/long runtime.)

Forgive me but were Streamlight making all their lights in the USA they would be much more interesting to me. Perhaps it's just that their quality isn't super high? Both of those, I suppose. Their strength seems to be their focus on duty lights, lights for the workplace.

The interest shown here comes mostly from the CPF community, and I don't mean folk like myself who just come here now and again. There is a group of folk who will persecute you, somewhat, for saying things they don't like. Some of them are moderators. So, it's not just the qualities of the flashlights and the companies that make them.

Adieu >====>

 

[NotRegulated]

It seems to me that most of the people on this forum are really into flashlights, myself included, which is unlike most other people! Many Flashaholics are interested in the newest, best, cutting edge products and upgrades. They have knowledge of specific differences of products. Lights like Streamlight and Princeton Tech are boring because those lights don't fulfill what flashaholics are looking for. In that respect, they don't get talked about much on these forums.

Streamlight is a go to light for people who need a simple practical reliable tool for light. The people in the trades, industrial and first responder industries buy these. They are used as no nonsense tools. Many are hazardous environment rated. Similarly, Pelican and Princeton Tech is also a great reliable inexpensive brand to use in hazardous and wet environments.

Not all people here, but many, have cutting edge lights for recreation and interest or used for amusement. If you fall into this category you are most likely not going to be interested in Streamlight, Pelican, or Princeton Tech.

 

[kosPap]

I will vote for the Wolf-eyes flashlights...

look up the Krait model....has anything one would wish for....Beam adjustment, multiple modes AND uses AA batteries

 

[Rocketman]

Streamlight is a good product but... well... just not sexy. :ironic: Sold all the ones I had long ago.
Rich

Hey, I think the new Stinger LED HP is sexy if you get it with the piggyback charger with AC and DC power cords. I see it as a work light for law enforcement, perimeter light for corrections officers, and a home or car super light.

Forgot to say, regarding Inova: They had too many issues when they were their own company, can't see fooling with them now.

 

[lightplay22]

I Like the streamlight products that I have and have had no problems with them, just good solid lights that have always worked when I needed them to. I really like the stinger Hp LED DS that has a piggy back charger with extra battery. I liked it enough to buy two of them, one for the house and one for my work van. I give Nano's out as gifts to family members who find a tiny light on their keychain to be very handy. Scorpians are placed in strategic locations for emergency use as they are good lights but battery eaters if you use them for any length of time. I find my streamlights very useful but agree with others that they are not the most exciting lights to have.

 

[TomH]

bump. Why doesnt streamlight get any attention.

I am curious about this as well. I currently EDC a PT 1AA and absolutely love it. I also own a Twin-Task 2L(house light) and a Keymate(wife's keychain) and find these to be very nice lights for the price.

If I was to guess, I would say that it's Streamlight's product offering. They are very solid lights that don't really stand out in one particular area, sort of like a jack of all trades-master of none.

To me, they give you Surefire performance at 1/3 to 1/4 the price.

 

[cloggy]

Post #13- I will vote for the Wolf-eyes flashlights...

look up the Krait model....has anything one would wish for....Beam adjustment, multiple modes AND uses AA batteries


+1, A much ignored light and may I add Barbolight and Nightsearcher.

 

[Mathiashogevold]

1+ for the Wolf-Eyes flashlights.
They are good lights, great quality and have good customer service.
Feels like there are hard times for Wolf Eyes right now..

 

[CarpentryHero]

I own a Streamlight Supertac, great thrower though the LED isn't centered all that great. There handy but not exciting.
Energizer lights, I own 4 or 5 of them, there impulse buys or lights I bought before discovering CPF. Streamlight, Pelican, Princetontec, Rayovac, Nova, Powerfist, Browning, Gerber are all in the lights I would buy before I learned about CPF.
Good lights, some better than others, but now I can read reviews, ask questions and learn about the parts before ever buying a flashlight.
Not that there's no Love for these lights but there was a point were I had 80 lights, I still have a
Box-o-lights at home after giving away 40+ of them. I'm learning to modify with the ones I kept