I'm not happy with the Strion...

[2nd2none]

I\'m not happy with the Strion...

I just got a Strion for Law Enforcement use, and I tell you what, I am sure glad I didn't spend ~$100 on one!(I got it for free) The Scorpion is alot better. The beam on the Scorpion is alot bigger(larger hot spot and more spill) then the Strion and they are pretty much the same brightness. The Strion 12,000 CP ha,ha,ha. The only thing that the Strion is better then the Scorpion is the fact that it is rechargable and the Scorpion is not. The Strion is a good light if you are going to use it alot. It is not worth getting the Strion if you are going to use it once and awhile. I will use this instead of the Scorpion for the fact that it doesn't use batteries, and the Scorpion will go to my personal vehicle for now anyway.

 

[trailblazer]

Re: I\'m not happy with the Strion...

I'm glad i'm not the only one who feels the same. I still dont understand all the rave reviews this light has gotten. It looks and feels cheap and the brightness just aint there. I took mine back the same day i bought it.

 

[Hallis]

Re: I\'m not happy with the Strion...

I like my little scorpion a lot. I could definately see the value of the Strion for law enforcement or some other occupation where a flashlight would be used quite a bit every day. but for somebody that can keep a set of cells in a flashlight for a few weeks without draining them all the way then the strion is devinately not a good value,

Shane

 

[Steve C]

Re: I\'m not happy with the Strion...

I looked hard at the Strion; and passed. I'm a LEO, and depended upon rechargeable lights for many years; mainly because there weren't any decent "regular battery" lights available.

That has changed. While I still wouldn't want to feed a 123 light working straight nights, one of these (6P, Scorpion, etc.) carried as a back-up light makes all the sense in the world.

If I went back to uniform and night shifts, I would do like you- rely on rechargeables ( a pair of issue Stingers) for gveneral-purpose work; but you can bet the grocery money there would be two or more 123-powered lights in easy reach... with plenty of spare batteries in the gear bag. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

The problem with rechargeables is, when they're dead, they're dead for a while. I worked the road for may years with an SL-20 as my main light. When it died during the course of a night shift (not too often), I had a 3D MagLite for back-up. Man, what a difference in those two lights. When I went back to the road for a few years in the mid-90s, I then had a 6P. Now, THAT is a back-up light... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Sorry for the rambling. The point I'm trying to make is, I would keep the Scorpion on my belt while working. That Strion will, one day/night, crap out on you when you least need it to. The week you forget to top it off in the charger will end in the night you need the light at its max potential. Trust me on this; Murphy lives. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ohgeez.gif

 

[fivemega]

Re: I\'m not happy with the Strion...

If you not happy with brightnes or beam shape of Strion, then you will need another light.
It is always a good idea to carry a fully charged extra battery.
Some people use Strion bulb in Scorpion with 168S.

 

[shifty646]

Re: I\'m not happy with the Strion...

You were not very clear for the reasons you dislike the Strion.

There was never any false advertising involved in the "rave reviews". It's is a great pocket throw light, and that's what everyone keeps saying. It's the first li-ion rechargable, and it is very small for one.
No one ever said it was brighter than a Scorpion, but it does out-throw it.
It may not fit your needs, but it is a great little light for what it is. For close quarters I would much rather have a Scorpion or a Surfire G2, but for spotting things in a small package the Strion is hard to beat.

sHiFTy

 

[2nd2none]

Re: I\'m not happy with the Strion...

I don't like the Strion for the fact that it dosen't put out as much light as the Scorpion. I figured the Strion would put out more light being they rate it at 80 lumens/12,000 CP and the Scorpion is somewhere around what? 6,500-7,000 CP. As far as throw I really don't think that the Strion has more 'noticable' throw than the Scorpion. I don't like the Strion's beam it is not a nice round beam like the Scorpion and the beam isn't wide like the Scorpion's. I thought the Strion would overall be better beam wise and all. I do like the Strion for the fact that it is rechargable, I do use this type of light enough to keep it on my belt instead of wasting 123's left and right. It seemed to me that everyone gave it good reviews as trailblazer said. Yeah it is good, but personally not as good as everyone said it to be, for my use's anyway. I'm sure glad I didn't spend around $100 on it thou.

 

[asdalton]

Re: I\'m not happy with the Strion...

If your expectations are based on the manufacturer's lumen "ratings," then you will almost always be disappointed.

 

[leukos]

Re: I\'m not happy with the Strion...

I sold my Strion after having it a few weeks. I thought everything was decent on it except the form factor. I really would have liked if they would have used the TL-2 form factor and maybe a clickie as well.
I thought the Strion was too slippery for the size and intended use. I sold it and haven't thought much of it since. I like the idea of the Strion though. Maybe SL can make a Li-ion TL-3 next! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[shifty646]

Re: I\'m not happy with the Strion...

[ QUOTE ]
2nd2none said:
I don't like the Strion for the fact that it dosen't put out as much light as the Scorpion. I figured the Strion would put out more light being they rate it at 80 lumens/12,000 CP and the Scorpion is somewhere around what? 6,500-7,000 CP. As far as throw I really don't think that the Strion has more 'noticable' throw than the Scorpion. I don't like the Strion's beam it is not a nice round beam like the Scorpion and the beam isn't wide like the Scorpion's. I thought the Strion would overall be better beam wise and all. I do like the Strion for the fact that it is rechargable, I do use this type of light enough to keep it on my belt instead of wasting 123's left and right. It seemed to me that everyone gave it good reviews as trailblazer said. Yeah it is good, but personally not as good as everyone said it to be, for my use's anyway. I'm sure glad I didn't spend around $100 on it thou.

[/ QUOTE ]

Strion has a higher CP rating because of it's tighter beam. Overall light output is about the same as the Scoripon, maybe slightly less. I own both and the Strion does throw further than the Scorpion, not by a huge margin, but about 20% I'd guess.
Having said that, I still choose to EDC the Strion becuase of the guilt-free factor, for up close flood needs I also carry a Q3.

I would also like to see it improved. A TL-2 body would be nicer and clicky would be very welcome.

 

[2nd2none]

Re: I\'m not happy with the Strion...

My #1 gripe is that the Strion's beam is too tight. I could adjust it to more of a flood but then there would be that hole in the middle of the beam look which drives me nuts, or if I would adjust it the other way than it would have the bat wing type of a beam which is displeasing to me to. O and the tail cap is annoying because you have to keep moderate pressure on the switch otherwise the beam will get dimmer... I hope that just made sense to you, I can't put it any better. I am with you Shifty about the guilt free usage.
Let me add that I hate the off center hotspot when it is in tight focus.

 

[shifty646]

Re: I\'m not happy with the Strion...

I know what you're saying 2nd2none.
The batwing thing is only noticable on a white wall, though... in real life it's not really an issue. And it is definately not an up-close-work type of light. But it's also what I sorta like about it, no other light it's size can out-throw it.
The tailcap is also kinda dissapointing on a $100 light.

The off-center beam issue is bulb-specific, at least in my experience. Try the spare bulb instead and see if it's still a problem.

 

[NightLite]

Re: I\'m not happy with the Strion...

How do you compare Strion with Surefire G2 P60?

 

[shifty646]

Re: I\'m not happy with the Strion...

The Strion puts out practically the same amount of total light as the P60. The P60 puts out about 4% more overall light on fresh batteries, but that last for the first 10 minutes. The Strion is a little more consistant with it's brightness.
The Strion has about 40% more throw than the P60.

 

[NightLite]

Re: I\'m not happy with the Strion...

I have heard that Strion produce lots of artifact, shadows, is it true? Is it a white light or yellow like Maglite? I am thinking of getting one, either Strion or Inova T4, both rechargeable but dont know which is best....

 

[cognitivefun]

Re: I\'m not happy with the Strion...

[ QUOTE ]
pipesmoker said:
I have heard that Strion produce lots of artifact, shadows, is it true? Is it a white light or yellow like Maglite? I am thinking of getting one, either Strion or Inova T4, both rechargeable but dont know which is best....

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, lots of artifact shadows, that is true. It's a bit annoying.

The light is more of the white-yellow I would say.

Some other observations:

The Strion is a fine light. When it is sharply focused the bright spot is small and the corona big but perhaps not bright enough...I would prefer to see more light in the corona. Of course then it wouldn't be the thrower it is, would it?

Also, the knurling isn't aggressive enough. I lost one that fell out of my pocket (bought another right away, though.)

As others have remarked, the tailswitch isn't the greatest. It's okay...the first one I had was hard to press. The newer one is improved and I have no complaints about it although it doesn't exactly wreak of quality.

A bulb burned out prematurely (first hour of use) and I emailed Streamlight and they sent me another lamp without charge. That is terrific customer service! I have called them on other matters and I have promptly had someone on the phone who was knowledgable and helpful.

Finally, what's with the no-clip available? A pocket clip would have saved me from losing my first Strion...

Rumor has it that an LED version is in the works. Why don't more companies make a good pocketable lithium rechargable?