Streamlight

[UFO]

I haven't read too much here about Streamlight. It seems that most of the discussions are about the newer (for me) players in the illumination world like Acebeam, Fenix, Nitecore, Olight, and the works.

I wonder if the popularity of larger size lights like the Stinger LED have been replaced by the smaller, more powerful lights like the ones mentioned above. I have just recently bought the Stinger 2020 and Stinger HPL and personally like the larger lights but maybe I'm the minority.

Anyone have any thoughts on this?

Mike

 

[xxo]

I like Streamlight. They might be overlooked on the forums, but not with professionals who depend on them in the real world. The only thing I don't like is that they have moved their production to China.

 

[bykfixer]

Welcome to the site UFO.

Candle Power Forums is a flashlight enthusiast site that began with a few propellerheads getting terrfic amounts of light from flashlights using light bulbs at the time. Production-wise, the company SureFire was building stock flashlights that were not only very small and bright but durable. An entire industry developed around their P60 module from the 6P.
Now in the big scheme of things SureFire was building flashlights aimed at military uses and first responders with some radical ideas that whet the appetite of the enthusiast.

Streamlight on the other hand were also building lights for the same group such as police and rescue squad folks. Yet their approach was not as radical as the SureFire so their products were respected yet nothing folks got all whipped into a frenzy about. Now once it was obvious the LED was not going away a slew of new companies popped up. The way they made it was to out perform the competition. Not only that but for much lower prices. Enter "lumen wars". Meanwhile Streamlight was building things with a conservative approach, so again nothing the enthusiast got excited about. Behind the times became what filled the mind of the flashlight fan looking for super-duper output for cheap prices. They were always respected though. It just kinda became an outta sight-outta mind thing after a while.

Nowadays, many old school flashlight fans have turned away from Streamlight and Pelican once everything in their lineup was no longer domestically built.
Live long and prosper, dude.

 

[knucklegary]

I keep my ol Stinger sitting on laundry shelf near backdoor for uninvited alien intruders

 

[aznsx]

I like Streamlight. They might be overlooked on the forums, but not with professionals who depend on them in the real world. The only thing I don't like is that they have moved their production to China.

One (perhaps) significant (to some) caution / correction, if I may. Do not assume the country of origin (manufacture / assembly) of SLs without checking the appropriate 'Fact Sheet'. They do not do all their production in one country. The most recent good example in this thread is the aforementioned Stinger 2020. It is "Assembled in USA". Most Stingers are not. Ya gotta look if ya want to know. It's always bottom-center of the document by itself where it's nice and easy to see. I've said this before, but will include a link this time. Maybe that'll help with this persistent myth that all their production is off-shore. Everything is all USA based (including all the most important functions) except some production, a lot (but definitely not all) of which is off-shore.

https://www.streamlight.com/docs/default-source/fact-sheet/355.pdf

 

[thermal guy]

My streamlight TL-3 incandescent is my favorite incandescent light I own. I still can't believe how bright and long throw it has. It really is a nice light and use it often.

 

[3_gun]

Have 2 TL-3 incandescent lights in places where you need the light to work, this time and every time & a Twin task where everyone knows where it will be. Been using them for years, never let me down BUT every newer light has been a LED using a single rechargeable battery with at least a low & high output. None have replaced my Streamlights but they do use much less daily use.

 

[vicv]

My favorite led light is an older polystinger. Yes newer 18650 lights are brighter, smaller, and better runtime. Button none of them produce the type of quality beam in my stinger does. And in all honesty I think he's really high lumin numbers are silly. I think on high my stinger is less than 300. And I rarely use high. And I have a large property. Having a light that can throw well means you don't need a lot of input.
Also have a 1L-1aa I carry often. So ya good dependable lights

 

[UFO]

I keep my ol Stinger sitting on laundry shelf near backdoor for uninvited alien intruders

That's actually pretty funny. I like it.

Mike

 

[Scotty321]

I am a more recent user of Streamlight. I've started accumulating a few different brands, as well as some cheapie's, and thought I'd finally give SL a try. Turns out I like them. They don't seem as flashy (no pun intended) as some of the other brands I have, but for 90% of my needs, they have something that works well, has decent run times, usable modes and beam profiles, relatively idiot proof UI, including the 10 tap programming for different uses, and I don't care if they get scratched or mudded up when I'm in dirtier situations.

So far, they've kicked out my nicer/fancier flashlights for "everyday work use" (Macrostream USB), replaced my bedstand "blackout" light (Protac HL4), my "look and see what's going on in the yard" light (Protac HL5-X), and my minimalist EDC light (Microstream USB). I also dedicated the Protac 2L-X as my blackout backup light to my HL4. As much as I appreciate the added modes, turbos, moonlight, fancy design, etc. on some of my other lights, for some things the simplicity of the SL's limited modes combo'ed with the "not afraid to get it dirty or dinged" design and price often means I grab it first for many tasks (as handheld lights go).

That being said, for casual EDC, non-work/emergency task situations, travel, or certain "specific use" flashlights, I tend to use other brands.

 

[bykfixer]

The other day my son and I were working on his car and I asked if he had a flashlight handy. He whips out a Strion. The one from a few years back where you hold the on button to change levels……
The throwey beam was perfect for lighting up dark areas of the engine bay in direct sunlight.

The Strion is an often overlooked backup to the Stinger.

 

[UFO]

The Strion is an often overlooked backup to the Stinger.[/QUOTE]

I concur. My Strion LED is not much bigger than my Fenix UC-30 or Nitecore MH-11. It's very bright, simple to use, has good run times, and is well made.

Mike

 

[bykfixer]

A few years back I bought one called ProTac 1L AA that accepts 1aa battery or 1 CR123 battery. I keep that one loaded with a double a. In a pinch a triple a will fire it up also. And the way they built it to go from a CR123 fed light to a double a was stupid simple genious. I hope whoever designed that light got a pay raise.

 

[UFO]

A few years back I bought one called ProTac 1L AA that accepts 1aa battery or 1 CR123 battery. I keep that one loaded with a double a. In a pinch a triple a will fire it up also. And the way they built it to go from a CR123 fed light to a double a was stupid simple genious. I hope whoever designed that light got a pay raise.

That's ironic as I just bought the same light yesterday for that very reason. I liked the look of the Coyote Tan one so that's the one I bought. I have a feeling I'll be buying a few more as well.

Mike

 

[Scotty321]

That's ironic as I just bought the same light yesterday for that very reason. I liked the look of the Coyote Tan one so that's the one I bought. I have a feeling I'll be buying a few more as well. Mike

Nice! I've been on the fence on the 1L-1AA. I think the Coyote version will probably make it into buying list next month. Does the Coyote version have any difference in the UI like the Coyote Microstream USB does in comparison to the black version?

Edit: For anyone that's interested... if you go to the Streamlight website, click on the model you are interested, then find the "Documentation" tab on the right side, then click on "Fact Sheet," it will open a pdf file with specs i.e. runtimes. Here's the "fact sheet" pdf for the Protac 1L-1AA: https://www.streamlight.com/docs/default-source/fact-sheet/279.pdf

 

[bykfixer]

I don't know if tan was available when I bought mine. I bought it when the black version was just released and it first showed up at Bright Guy. I also bought the 1aaa ProTac for it's ten tap ability to start out like a microstream (of that time) and an option for much boosted high mode. If I recall correct it was a 10/70 lumen (?) programmed to lo/hi and the microstream was in the low 20's for lumen output.

I also like how they came in a nice cloth sheeth in case belt carry is your thing. To me that is a nice touch, where other brands sell belt carry items separately.

 

[UFO]

Nice! I've been on the fence on the 1L-1AA. I think the Coyote version will probably make it into buying list next month. Does the Coyote version have any difference in the UI like the Coyote Microstream USB does in comparison to the black version?

Edit: For anyone that's interested... if you go to the Streamlight website, click on the model you are interested, then find the "Documentation" tab on the right side, then click on "Fact Sheet," it will open a pdf file with specs i.e. runtimes. Here's the "fact sheet" pdf for the Protac 1L-1AA: https://www.streamlight.com/docs/default-source/fact-sheet/279.pdf

Scotty321:

To my knowledge, the Coyote version of the 1L-1AA is the exact same thing as the standard black version. The only difference is the color.

Mike

 

[nightowl4150]

I will add to the comment by "bykfixer" in that many LE agencies (especially out here in California) really pushed their personnel to carry Streamlights as their primary duty lights during the late 90s and early 2000s. Law enforcement uniforms even had pockets in their pants which were called "sap pockets" and were used almost exclusively to carry SL-20s. It wasn't until LAPD went to the Pelican lights (in response to the aftermath of the Rodney King incident) that things started to change and that one might see something other than a Streamlight being carried. In some agencies, like the LA County Sheriff's Department, it is still pretty common to see patrol personnel carrying SL-20s. Now, with the availability of brighter, smaller lights there appears to be more diversity in gear, but where I live, carrying a SL-20 is pretty ubiquitous with law enforcement.

 

[bykfixer]

It's funny how things change over time. (Funny as in strange.) Say, three years ago by now somebody would have popped into this thread declaring how ridiculous it is that Streamlight is still allowed to exist due to their archaic designs, tints and color rendering. Much like last summers "Maglite" thread, so far the naysayers have stayed away.

The SL20 changed the game. There were rechargeables before that, but they were mostly after market upgrades to a few brands like LA Screw, Maglite and Kel-Lite products. Streamlight's SL20 became company issue flashlights for police all across the United States, and for good reason. They were good flashlights.