I was at Walmart yesterday looking at the flashlights they have and was fascinated by a particular one. It’s called the Coast Polysteel 250. It also included the name “IPX8”. I didn’t buy it, but decided to look at reviews online about it to see if it’s as good as it looked. But that’s where things have gotten confusing. The specs say it puts out 320 lumens, has 3 levels, runs on 3AAA batteries, and can run up to 34 hours at the 30 lumen level. It was in a package that allows a customer to try it out, and I found that it has a forward clicky switch.
When I Google Coast Polysteel 250, I’ve come across descriptions of a light that looks like the one I saw, but used 4AAA batteries instead of 3. One of them called it the Polysteel 250, but had an SKU# of Polysteel-200. That’s at LaPoliceGear, which claims it has a 250 lumen output instead of 320. So that doesn’t sound like the Polysteel 250.
Amazon has what they call the Polysteel 200 and it claims 320 lumens. It seems to have the specs closest to what I saw at Walmart, but the Walmart one was labeled as the Polysteel 250. I also checked Coast’s own website and they don’t even list the Polysteel 250 in their product lineup: https://coastportland.com/flashlights/
Can someone please direct me to a good review of the Polysteel 250? Better yet, does anyone here actually own one? It’s currently about $15 at Walmart. Here’s a link to it on their site, and it claims 320 lumens even though the package in the photo shows 330 for some reason, but the package in the store I went to showed 320. https://www.walmart.com/ip/COAST-320…ocus/143527160 (You have to scroll down slightly after clicking the link)
All these differences in specs make me wonder about whether any of it is true, or if the company (Coast) pays much attention to what they’re doing. If Coast’s own website doesn’t even list it, but rather the “200” version, then is the package at the store mislabeled? Should I be looking at reviews for the 200 instead of 250? Does it use a Cree LED???
Don’t know anything about this particular light but the *IPX8 *reference is familiar. It tells you the water resistance for the flashlight. In this case, it can be immersed to at least 1 meter without harm Looks like it was designed for use in a wet location.
“The equipment is suitable for continuous immersion in water under conditions which shall be specified by the manufacturer. However, with certain types of equipment, it can mean that water can enter but only in such a manner that it produces no harmful effects. The test depth and duration is expected to be greater than the requirements for IPx7, and other environmental effects may be added, such as temperature cycling before immersion.”
looks like some LEDLenser clones, I bet cheap made no realy quality or gerneric cree emitters
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I bought a 3AAA/rechargeable cartridge Polysteel at the local Sam’s Club on sale a couple weeks ago. I don’t remember the model number on the package, but maybe it was the 250.
I’ll try to remember to check when I get home this evening.
BTW, the tint on this 3AAA sample is a bit more bluish than my 4AA model, which is pretty neutral.
Yeah, they don’t even say what kind of emitter it has, but my untrained eyes say it looks like an XPG-2. Could be a fake one, I suppose.
Thanks for letting me know this! I didn’t know it referred to water resistance.
Thanks! If it’s bluish, it doesn’t sound like it’s really using a Cree.
EDIT: I just looked it up again on Walmart’s site and now it’s shown as being no longer available. I guess it was either really popular and sold out, or they just ran out anyway and they’re no longer going to stock them, which seems more likely since Coast no longer lists it on their own site.
It’s funny that the 200 is so similar to the 250 in every way. Same specs and everything. I’d be surprised that the 200 would replace the 250. Usually an upgrade has a higher number rather than a lower one. Here’s what Home Depot has for the exact same price: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Coast-Polysteel-200-Heavy-Duty-320-Lumen-Wat...LED-Flashlight-with-Twist-Focus-21445/206668899
I would STAY AWAY from Coast brand unless you want zooming feature clone. I saw the 1400 lumen at Home Depot around holiday time for $24.00. Passed on it because I do not like zoomies due to light shadow rings when light beam is zoomed in.
I think what I like most is a light that has a wide flood beam or a light that simply has a hot spot center with a good amount of spill. Do you think the Polysteel is good if left in a flood setting?
I only use Coast as throw-aways in my car. Here in Texas, temps get up to 100F. Don’t like leaving my good lights in that kind of weather
I love my wife’s toy poodle
You are better off getting a good quality spot/flood beam flashlight once light is turned on. Full light with good throw and spill WITHOUT those annoying light shadow rings when zoomed.
So true. Coast flashlights are a joke at those prices they charge.
Even at $15?
I see they cost more everywhere else. It’s possible Walmart was having a clearance but didn’t mark it as such.
Coast aren’t zoomie, though they are focusing.
Correct. You are better off spending more and getting better quality. I started out with “ CHEAPO “ dollar lights, moved on to Atomic Beam, Tactlight, etc…. until I learned about high powered quality lights.
BTW, I do bother with store bought lights unless on sale, 1000 lumens minimum, etc….
Coast is NO WAY unless super cheap.
Well, I was considering the idea of staying with budget stuff because I’ve been reading about so many people on Candlepowerforums having so many problems with their more expensive lights, regardless of brand or price. I’ve also had plenty of luck with store-bought lights no matter how low the price. Of course, they’re not all that high of quality, but some of them have surprised me.
My Coasts with pure beam focusing don’t have “those annoying shadow rings” hen zoomed in, they have a bulls-eye spot.
I have a couple HX5 and a couple PolySteel with the Pure Beam focusing.
These beams are nothing like the typical “zoomies” that focus down to the shape of the LED die.
You got good batches man. Most zoom lights have that disability. I have owned all types of zoomies and most if not all suffer from “ annoying shadow rings “.
I understand due to financial circumstance. BUT a lot budge lights fail easy due to cheap construction. Materials used, etc….
I used to own a lot of store bought lights. Not much anymore. Unless used as defensive tool like batlights, Maglite style.
yea I got some super cheap, cant remember if it was at o’reilly’s or amazon lighting deals.
I love my wife’s toy poodle
Actually, I think I got good models. The Coast Pure Focusing has a Bulls-Eye spot.
Have you owned lights with the Coast Pure Beam focusing?
Be careful with the use of the terminology. Not every IP class has the same set of parameters. In general, the specs for these parameters go up as the IP class goes up. The parameters for IP7 and IP8 however, are not identical to those of IP1 – IP6. It is even possible that an object has IP7 without meting the specs of IP5 or IP6
IP8 is even more peculiar, the manufacturer has to add the values of the specs, like xx minutes and yy meter. Just stating IP8 without addition of those values says nothing, it could be 1 minute at 1.5meter.
And all of this still does not add up to the term “waterproof” in the sense that the interior will stay dry. It only means that the volume of the ingress is limited to an extend that it will not harm the function of the object.
Confusing? See the LINK
You are a flashaholic if you are forced to come out of the closet, to make room for more flashlights.
Alrighty, you must be a lot more particular than most.
I just compared my HX5 beam pattern to my BLF A6, Wuben E05 and Nitecore MT06 and the HXF beam in spot mode is more uniform and free of artifacts than the other three lights.
I guess that I’ve hit the focusing light beam pattern lottery six times. Cool.
LightObsession, I agree with you on the beams of the Led Lenser and Coast, those are the only 2 brands I've seen that have a nice focusing beam, as opposed to the focused led imprint. They are not the crap lights as described by some, maybe they've never seen one. BTW I must have hit the beam lottery, too.