I only own a couple small streamlight branded flastlights ( stylus pro and microstream), been looking into spending some serious cash on a few models (cannot decide between cr123 or aa, so BOTH). just wondering what kind of quality/actual real world output.
STREAMLIGHT OWNERS please lend me your……OPINIONS!!
My very first flashlight was a Streamlight Microstream, I took it everywhere with me. It was my trusty sidekick, and loved the way she felt when I touched and caressed her. When she left me, or should I say, when I lost her, my heart broke. She was my first love! After that, I don't think I ever looked at Streamlight lights the same way again. Actually, I never looked at Streamlight lights ever again! Too many other superior lights out there for the price. But there will always be a place in my heart for my little Chloe (that's what I named her)!
The Streamlight Microstream is a great flashlight, but I actually prefer the Pelican 1910 a little better. I own both, and would give a slight edge to the 1910. But no doubt the Microstream is great model … as long as you don’t mind the stiff switch.
Please name a few makers who build lights that actually hold up as well as a streamlight. Reliability/toughness is the number one reason I am looking into streamlight, the light has to work and a steel mill is no place for a coffee table queen. The light will be exposed to extreme temps both high and low, probably be dropped a few thousand times, and need to be waterproof. so far the streamlight TL 2 looks pretty good. if you know of a similar light as far as toughness/runtime/brightness/cr123 or aa or 18650. please let me know what it is so i can look at it.
My first cr123 light was a Streamligt Scorpion. It was my EDC for many years. Very reliable and well built. After 18 years it still works well.
I can’t comment on current Streamlght products. However there are a few things I’d like to bring to your attention.
-There are some very reliable and usefull light you can buy with very little money. I enjoy budget light far more than expensive brand names.
-cr123 (non rechargeables) get expensive. You might want to consider lights capable of working with rechargeables. It’s very satisfying to be able to use your lights as much as you want without worrying about battery costs.
-Consider choosing tints that match your tastes and needs. It would add a lot to how well your lights work for you.
Easy. The Solarforce L2T is exactly what you want. Buy it with a drop-in or buy just the host and add whatever drop-in you want(recommended). It is slim, durable, and the build quality is equal, if not better that Streamlight. It's also infinitely customizable, and you can swap parts out easily. Best of all, it's a dam good flashlight! You might just turn in to a Flashaholic once you get it in your hand. I also recommend you buy the chrome tactical tailcap and bezel for it. It will almost look as good as the flashlight in my signature, which its an L2T, but the heavy, stainless steel edition.
Or click here and see everything, and pick out what you want and build your flashlight exactly how you want it (by build, I mean your not actually building anything, your just putting parts together, like a Lego)
http://www.lighthound.com/search.asp?keyword=solarforce&search=GO
Depending on the drop-in you choose you can have just 1 mode, 3 modes, or 5 modes.
As for durability, don't worry, this light can take drops all day long. Heck, this light is built to be able to withstand an explosion. Many people take it on deployment with them. So worry not, and enjoy.
Lastly, the best thing about a Solarforce over my old Microstream, is that the Solarforce is a good size, and fits in a pocket, but not easy to lose it misplace like the tiny Microstream.
Kodachrome40 rechargeables are nice, if i could guarantee that i could always plug in a charger or two with enough spares to last a full shift, when i could buy a box of primaries , keep them in my knaack box and just swap em out when i needed them. more or less im paying more in the long run to have less to keep up with.
demigod- more looking into something i can have ready to use out of the box.
how do you like your tiny monster
typically? the “quality light” VS “chinese junk light”?
tends to be made with a “fair comparison” between a really top-end “quality light” VS on-clearance, clone of a copy of a imitation light…
its kinda like comparing a BMW to… say… a ford escort with 300,000 miles on it…
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of course, the BMW is nice to have, if you can afford it… lol
i am sure you could come up with a brighter, longer running, “beat on it with a hammer and its okay” light too… would just take some recommendations and a little research.
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my neighbors son? did 2 4 year hitches in the marines, now hes out a while, and had been a sherriffs deputy the next county over, prolly a couple years now on the badge job. Cops are noted for having quality, but expensive, flashlights.
they force him, on uniform and equipment rules, to carry a 300 dollar light. Dont get me wrong? its a really cool light. Its recommended such that you can drop it down the cement stairs chasing crackheads, and kick it around some… and it will still work.
there was also a video on “you tube” (forget when i saw it, though, sorry) where a guy was throwing, and i mean THROWING (not just dropping) a “tactical light” down the cemsnt steps and against a block wall… worked well, and no video cuts to lead me to believe it was staged with multiple lights for the video… that was, runs in my mind, a 40 dollar light.
while its an extreme example? you can buy 30 ten dollar chines flashlights, for the same rice as ONE “cool cop flashlight”… kinda a lifetime supply of them, lol…
extreme purchasing costs, on the expensive and the cheapies… but you get the idea.
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personally? common sense enters into it, on my end… i think, and its justa personal opinion and all… that the 300 dollar flashlights bought and handed out to the sherriffs deputies? are just a HAIR overpriced, and, well… my tax dollars are buying the goodies, so… moneys no object.
also? i am a food delivery guy… and i personally dont want a 10 dollar light in my pocket…
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but MAN, up that 10 dollar budget to 30 or 40 dollars? its a whole new WORLD of decent chinese flashight… (remember? the cops could buy TEN 30 dollar flashlights, for the same money, lol)
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but if you can afford the BMW? hey, get the BMW… its a nice car…
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and i have to agree with the guy that voted against the cr123 lights?
expensive to buy the special batteries, not commonly available over most counters, and they really dont last long… rechargeable 123s have short run times too under draw…
i really started liking single 18650 lights, soon as i started playing with them… longer run times, charge a few up and your good all week… costs you nothing in the long run.
i can get the tl2 for 70$ plus shipping, so lets say easily under 100$.
anyone make a tough as nails 18650 light
Nothing better than building a light, just how you want it. Trust me it's the easiest thing in the world putting a Solarforce together. If you can change batteries, you can build your Solarforce. Everything is as simple as dropping in a battery, I promise! Just order the L2T host, the drop-in with the mode you like, and an 18650 3400mah battery and that's it. Literally, you put the drop-in inside the flashlight, just like you do the battery, that's why it's called a drop-in :)
As for my Tiny Monster, I love it. But in no way is it a work light, as it is very heavy with 4x18650 batteries. It it's the best light I own by a long shot, but my favorite would have to go to my Solarforce's. The size, build quality, and customizability will blow you away. Trust me, after having bought about 50 flashlights in the last 10 years, and wasting ton's of money, the Solarforce is still very, very hard to beat. Take a leap of faith and trust me on this. You will not be disappointed in the least bit.
Genuine solarforce would be my vote too. One of my first good Led lights was the L2i. That sucker has been dropped a hundred times, covered in fish guts countless times, used for hundreds if not thousands of hours. It’s a champ. Still works better than most brand new budget lights I’ve bought.
Easily under $100 and I will compare it to your Streamlight TL2
$17 - Solarforce L2T Host - Dare we even compare looks? Solarforce wins!
$18 - Solarforce - 3 mode XM-L Drop-in - Blows the Streamlight TL2 (160 Lumens max, 3.5 hours max runtime on low) out the water in lumens and runtime. 2x-3x as bright
$20 - Soshine 3400mah 2 pack of 18650's - Use one, while the other is recharging and never be left in the dark. Never waste money on non-rechargeable batteries again!
Total is less than $60 shipped!!!
Optional, but will make your light look amazing especially at work, and well worth the $20 extra.
$15 - Solar Force L2 Tailcap with Forward Click Switch ver L2-S12 - Adds a touch of class to the light, and makes it even more durable!
$5 - Solarforce Flat Stainless Steel Retaining Ring - Same as above, makes the light look amazing!
With the extras, it comes up to around $75-$80 shipped!!!
Still $20 under that $100 budget, so lets throw in this Nitecore Intellicharger i4 for $16.25! And BAM, best light you will ever own!
And I believe both these sellers have discount codes you can use, just for BLF'ers! I think its coupon code is "BLF" at cheackout
Here's your finished product, flashlight on the right (pic courtesy of BLF member pacbough).
If youre going to go Solarforce, Personally Id opt for L2P, HAIII.
Everything but the drop in…
http://www.solarforceflashlight-sales.com/product_detail.php?t=LF&s=56&id=619&sname=L2P&xpage=1&sh=1
Or, much the same as above, easy assemble, and I mean assemble not build… customised similar to the above post
Host
http://www.solarforceflashlight-sales.com/product_detail.php?t=FA&s=16&id=390
Head
http://www.solarforceflashlight-sales.com/product_detail.php?t=FA&s=14&id=389
Tailcap
HAIII - http://www.solarforceflashlight-sales.com/product_detail.php?t=FA&s=18&id=66
HAIII and SS - http://www.solarforceflashlight-sales.com/product_detail.php?t=FA&s=18&id=234
SS Bezel
http://www.solarforceflashlight-sales.com/product_detail.php?t=FA&s=15&id=180
Lens
http://www.solarforceflashlight-sales.com/product_detail.php?t=FA&s=27&id=128
Pouch
http://www.solarforceflashlight-sales.com/product_detail.php?t=FA&s=21&id=220
Dropin
http://intl-outdoor.com/xml2-p60-dropin-module-alxm2-p-740.html
I hate how SFsales always has stuff at reduced prices…
It’s like its a drug dealer in a shady corner “pssst… Hey… Psst… Hey you, want this awesome flashlight? It’s $5 on special today”
I think the L2T is HA3 as well or maybe its HA2. He could order from solarforce-hk but he would be waiting weeks to get his order from china.
With the links I provided, lighthound and illumination supply, he would get his order in a few days.
Also, its probaby best the OP choose the right host for himself, based on which looks best to him. Either way, as long as he chooses solarforce he won't be dissapointed, especially coming from a Streamlight!
Meltman,
If you want a good light that can take a beating, I have to agree with the suggestion of a Pelican light. One added bonus is that they are guaranteed forever. I had a 4 C Halogen that stopped working, it was 15 years old, not used much (kept it in my car trunk) and they replaced it with a a new 4 C light (the original one was a zoomie with two filaments for a focus/flood effect or primary and backup, they don’t make that one anymore, so they sent the closest comparable light they had but the new one is fixed focus, one filament), no questions asked. Last I looked they did not make a light that used 18650 battery and their LED pills cannot be changed (incan pills can be, but then who wants incan anymore?).
If you are set on a 18650 light, then I agree with the recommendation for a SF. You don’t have to add the bling, the L2P is good stock, IMHO, the normal L2 is OK, but I don’t like the deeper crenalations, I prefer the shorter ones of the L2P. If you invest a little more in the host, you can get one of the newer hosts with no crenelations. The biggest weakness that I can see with the SF’s is potentially the glass lense could break. The host itself is fairly thick and the anodizing is very good. The anodizing may wear (I don’t use my flashlight much at work, I need mine for inspections but we don’t have very much construction going on, but if you are a maintenance type person, you may use yours enough to wear spots in the anodizing), but mine has held up OK, only missing from areas I damaged from dropping.
Solar forces I’ve had a few stream lights like the ultra stinger only 200+ lumens 179.00 my solar for force L 2 N with the 980 lumen made Solarforce blows away any of my stream lights 8 flexibility size and performance to dollar value…
Are Solarforce drop-ins durable enough to survive being dropped a lot? The hosts are pretty tough, but the last SF drop-in I had didn’t hold up.
SF host paired with a potted drop-in might be better, no?
In the chemical factory where I work sometimes, they issue Streamlight ProTac 2AA in the plant. They work very well, even for being a little dim on High (for my old eyes). In a steel mill, you’re probably not too worried about “Intrinsically Safe”, but that’s why they use the AA format. Plus they fit in FRC pockets w/o being burdensome.
I was gifted a smashed Streamlight ProTac 2L. SL replaced it with no more bother than I had to mail it in & give them my address. Nice! Now it’s practically new (not repaired, new s/n) and has only had a couple of sets of CR123s run through it. Then it came time to buy more CR123s… Too rich for my blood, and too thin to load 18650s, so it’s a coffee-table queen now.
Just thinking out loud, but if you wanted an as-new ProTac 2L, I would trade you this one, and even pay the postage both ways. I’d love to trade it for a ProTac 1L (still CR123 but only 1) or, best, a ProTac EMS just because they’re cute. Dim, but cute. And I like the UI better than the “normal” PT 1AA…
I’m with you either way, it’s hard to find a “sufficient” replacement for these. And no, I’d not like to trade it for another brand. Just the EMS or the 1L…
Please do keep us posted!
Dim
I have only dropped my solar force from 4! Up with no problems my ultra stinger filled of a r/h wing of a 747-200 onto tarmac and the bezel bent , lens shattered as well as the best 9.00$ bulb so I sent back to stream light and they did repair it nil questions asked, sorry rotos I don’t have a direct anzwer to your question.