Why I Love the UltraStinger... (From a SureFire Addict)

[Dennis]

Ok,

First, some perspective. I bought my first SF 6P about 13 years ago. Since then I have acquired 2 more 6P's, 3-6Zs, 6R, 3P, E2, M2, 9Z, 12ZM, 9N(T), M6 and several weapons mounted lights. They are the BEST backup, entry, and weapons lights around. However, the total utility of their rechargeables has been OK at best.

The 6R was way underpowered. The 9NT wasn't bad, but the length made it awkward to use with a weapon. Plus it was either super spot, or wide angle beam with no perfect in-between which is where most of their lithium line is. I have not used the 10x yet, but it looks like it will have the same length issues and be even harder to find a place to put due to its funny shape. The same thing has been mentioned by other posters.

Enter the Ultra Stinger. Super Bright, easy to store, Good Beam when adjusted correctly, easier to use in Harries than the 9N (Though not perfect like M2 or M6), and CHEAP. Not that price matters too much to me, but $65 without charger, $5 bulbs, and the ability to use Sanyo Super Duper RC car batteries cannot be ignored.

More Lumens is cool, and very useful in my M6 when I do serious stuff, but I don't know if I want to put up with the funny SureFire shapes in their full size rechargeables. When you just want to look around and need to use it with a weapon too, then the balance and shape really matter. Oh, I'll probably buy a 10x after awhile just for fun, but I bet I'll use the Ultra Stinger more...

 

[Gandalf]

I purchased 3 of the original Stingers, for their low cost, including home made battery packs, with nicads and NiMH cells, lamps, and purchase price. Not as bright as the better SureFire rechargeables, but fairly small and bright enough for most purposes. And cost effective, IMHO, compared to the Surefire rechargeables. Plus, the *great* focusing ability: the tight spot was *really* tight!

Enter the UltraStinger: 5 times the light output (approx.), but only about 1/3rd longer. Bigger head, but no bigger than any standard MagLite. At half the weight of the Magcharger (formerly my 'really bright' rechargeable, for use when the Stinger simply wasn't bright enough; but the weight of the Magcharger is a bit much).

The focusing beam of the UltraStinger is about as close to perfect as a flashlight can be, IMHO. The best features of the textured SureFire reflector, and the focusing ability makes a fairly tight beam, or a broad flood, both look great.

I'm not about to say that the rechargeable SureFire lights aren't good flashlights, but like all SureFire flashlights, they are expensive. The nicer ones a *really* expensive. I bought 2 UltraStingers, with one charging base, for about $150, delivered, with a spare lamp. BTW: Extra lamps are about $5, not $18 like the SureFire lamps.

My UltraStinger gets quite a lot of use. I have extra battery packs, made up very inexpensively from sub C nicads.

I simply can't find *anything* about the UltraStingers that I don't like. Like every flashlight, it's not perfect in every possible aspect, but in light output per dollar, and long term operating cost, it's got to be one of the very best rechargeable flashlights on the market today.

Have I missed anything?

Oh yes: thanks to Kogatana, I'm putting lanyards on my UltraStingers, tonight ;-)

 

[redbird]

I too have numerous SF flashlights including the rechargable 8x. I greatly prefer my Streamlight stingers to that light. I have tried 3 different batteries and two light assemblies but always go back to the stinger.

And then along came the UltraStinger. I simply love it. We have 3 SL20s and while they are good lights, we much prefer the light weight of the Ultra and the output is fantastic.

I recently had to send it in to Streamlight for pitting in the reflector. I came back in less than a week with new lens,reflector and bulb all under warranty. We have a total of 7 Streamlights and 7 SFs. For the everyday carry it is the E2. For cost effective light it is the Ultra.

 

[geepondy]

How bright is the ultra stinger? Is it brighter then the Surefire 8x (my current rechargeable) when focused about the same?

 

[Size15's]

I expect the UltraS is brighter then a 9AN-KT (TurboHead version).

Al

 

[txwest]

I too am a satisfied owner of an U'Stinger. The only thing more I could ask for is a light the size of the E1, the light output of the U'Stinger, & would run 12 hrs on 1 battery

TX

 

[dano]

I've been using an US since February as my primary duty light, and it has performed very, very well...I've never liked the Surefire rechargeables, as I think they aren't designed well, and the nicad packs don't have the "oomph" to power the bulbs (I've owned two 8X's and always thought they were too dim)...

--dan