Posted: 10/3/2012 6:36:58 AM EDT
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Beware that this is a simple review from a simple guy (would that make me a simpleton?), who knows almost nothing about high-tech flashlights.
I was passing through Scarborough, ME, last weekend on our way up to camp, and like any red-blooded American male, I felt the sirens call of Cabela's, luring me off the highway at exit 42. I can never pass it by without stopping in! So I bought one of the Streamlight flashlights, and this is the one I got: ProTac 2L It was $59.99, which made my anus pucker - I'm just old-fashioned I guess. I dont think a flashlight should cost that much. BUT... This light kicks ass. When I got to camp, I popped the batteries in it, and shined it around the woods. Wicked bright. Nice tight beam. Best flashlight I ever had, which isnt saying much because besides the several maglights in various configurations I have, the Surefire G2 xenon-bulb model was the most advanced flashlight I owned. The amount of light and the bright beam from this little light is very refreshing. I wont say its worth every penny, but it certainly performs well, and it fits nicely in my hand. I think i will designate this one exclusively to my fishing pack. All in all a decent light and not a lot of money. I almost jizzed myself when I first turned it on. I'm not a flashlight and gear queer, so I am sure there are other lights out there that will wow me even more, but I am liking this one a lot right now. Not much of a technical review, and I apologize for that. I'm just saying I bought it and it works well. |
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You will know if you turn it on while putting it in your pocket. That basturd gets Hot.  Aye! I noticed that. It actually felt good - I could not get warm this past weekend. I spent the entire weekend in waders, standing in cold water. At night, my son and nephews had a nice fire going out back of the camp and we were standing around drinking beers, and I could just simply not warm up. That little light was warm after a few minutes. I went to bed with my winter thermals on, and my son - being the helpful chap he is - stoked the all-nighter with nice dry oak. I woke up in a bath of sweat. 
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Thumbs up on the Protac. I've carried one every day for coming up on a year and it hasn't let me down yet.
I was in the market for a powerful pocket clip light for a while and initially really wanted a Surefire E2D LED defender, but couldn't justify spending twice the money on something I would surely lose eventually. The Protac has served my needs perfectly well and I wouldn't hesitate to purchase another. |
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Oh, I do have one gripe with the Protac. The pocket clip stinks. It doesn't have much tension and if I knock the flashlight into something or sit just right when it's in my pocket, the clip pops off. Do you guys have this problem or know of a good solution? Mine will do that if you don't push it all the way. You can almost feel it click when the seam on your pocket makes it the last little bit into the clip. It isn't a death grip by any means, but it usually holds for me. Maybe it needs a little squish. I usually wear carharrt pants though, maybe the seam is thicker. |
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DUDE, for 60 bucks you could have had triple the output of that thing off the same set of batteries. impulse buying of flashlights is one of the worst things you can do. Which flashlight are you talking about? And is it of the same (pocket) form factor or a big headed light? |
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Oh, I do have one gripe with the Protac. The pocket clip stinks. It doesn't have much tension and if I knock the flashlight into something or sit just right when it's in my pocket, the clip pops off. Do you guys have this problem or know of a good solution? Mine will do that if you don't push it all the way. You can almost feel it click when the seam on your pocket makes it the last little bit into the clip. It isn't a death grip by any means, but it usually holds for me. Maybe it needs a little squish. I usually wear carharrt pants though, maybe the seam is thicker. Oh, I should have been clearer. Not "pops off" as in it comes out of my pocket. I mean the clip comes detached from the light. |
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PSA has them for $39. Just picked me up one to match the one I already have and love.
http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/accessories/flashlights/streamlight-pt-professional-tactical-2-leds.html |
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Oh, I do have one gripe with the Protac. The pocket clip stinks. It doesn't have much tension and if I knock the flashlight into something or sit just right when it's in my pocket, the clip pops off. Do you guys have this problem or know of a good solution? Mine will do that if you don't push it all the way. You can almost feel it click when the seam on your pocket makes it the last little bit into the clip. It isn't a death grip by any means, but it usually holds for me. Maybe it needs a little squish. I usually wear carharrt pants though, maybe the seam is thicker. Oh, I should have been clearer. Not "pops off" as in it comes out of my pocket. I mean the clip comes detached from the light. Sorry, misunderstood. Mine don't do that. |
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DUDE, for 60 bucks you could have had triple the output of that thing off the same set of batteries. impulse buying of flashlights is one of the worst things you can do. Which flashlight are you talking about? And is it of the same (pocket) form factor or a big headed light? Klarus makes some lights in that price range that are amazingly bright. |
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Streamlite makes decent stuff, but there is a reason I don't have more than a few. I have several lights that put out that much light on one 123 battery. The low on that light is pretty good though. For camping I like 1 or 2 lumens for a low.
They work. They don't give us light addicts quite what we want. Enjoy your light. |
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Streamlite makes decent stuff, but there is a reason I don't have more than a few. I have several lights that put out that much light on one 123 battery. The low on that light is pretty good though. For camping I like 1 or 2 lumens for a low. They work. They don't give us light addicts quite what we want. Enjoy your light. I had a long-winded post in mind but this sums it up. Totally off-topic side-story. An electrician was showing off his new 4xAA LED flashlight to me and shined it in my eyes when I told my boss(a semi-flashlight guy, standing next to me) that it was decent, but not super-bright. It was probably around 80 lumens. I pulled out my 220ish lumen light I EDC and blinded the showoff. I held it about a foot from his eyes so hopefully he had a headache for a while. I was really wishing I had one of my brighter lights in my back pocket like I often do on job sites... He didn't know he was talking to a flashlight addict/nerd. 
Otherwise useless flashaholic info: My EDC is the Quark AA with a 14500. |
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Streamlite makes decent stuff, but there is a reason I don't have more than a few. I have several lights that put out that much light on one 123 battery. The low on that light is pretty good though. For camping I like 1 or 2 lumens for a low. They work. They don't give us light addicts quite what we want. Enjoy your light. I had a long-winded post in mind but this sums it up. Totally off-topic side-story. An electrician was showing off his new 4xAA LED flashlight to me and shined it in my eyes when I told my boss(a semi-flashlight guy, standing next to me) that it was decent, but not super-bright. It was probably around 80 lumens. I pulled out my 220ish lumen light I EDC and blinded the showoff. I held it about a foot from his eyes so hopefully he had a headache for a while. I was really wishing I had one of my brighter lights in my back pocket like I often do on job sites... He didn't know he was talking to a flashlight addict/nerd.
Otherwise useless flashaholic info: My EDC is the Quark AA with a 14500. Yeaaaaahhhhh. See this is where I personally draw the line. I have enough obsessions: Guns, boats, and fishing. I dont have room for any more. 180 lumens from my little Streamlight is more than enough for me. I've got nothing to prove, and I see no need to have more right now. |
| Glad you like the light...just know that QC sucks at SL...I used to work for them and QC is horrible...the company would use out of spec parts. That light isn't even assembled at the plant...many of those lights are made overseas...not a big shocker since many products are made/assembled overseas. The warranty has changed on SL products as well. |
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Streamlite makes decent stuff, but there is a reason I don't have more than a few. I have several lights that put out that much light on one 123 battery. The low on that light is pretty good though. For camping I like 1 or 2 lumens for a low. They work. They don't give us light addicts quite what we want. Enjoy your light. I had a long-winded post in mind but this sums it up. Totally off-topic side-story. An electrician was showing off his new 4xAA LED flashlight to me and shined it in my eyes when I told my boss(a semi-flashlight guy, standing next to me) that it was decent, but not super-bright. It was probably around 80 lumens. I pulled out my 220ish lumen light I EDC and blinded the showoff. I held it about a foot from his eyes so hopefully he had a headache for a while. I was really wishing I had one of my brighter lights in my back pocket like I often do on job sites... He didn't know he was talking to a flashlight addict/nerd.
Otherwise useless flashaholic info: My EDC is the Quark AA with a 14500. Yeaaaaahhhhh. See this is where I personally draw the line. I have enough obsessions: Guns, boats, and fishing. I dont have room for any more. 180 lumens from my little Streamlight is more than enough for me. I've got nothing to prove, and I see no need to have more right now. its not just about more light. It's about less light too. |
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Streamlite makes decent stuff, but there is a reason I don't have more than a few. I have several lights that put out that much light on one 123 battery. The low on that light is pretty good though. For camping I like 1 or 2 lumens for a low. They work. They don't give us light addicts quite what we want. Enjoy your light. I had a long-winded post in mind but this sums it up. Totally off-topic side-story. An electrician was showing off his new 4xAA LED flashlight to me and shined it in my eyes when I told my boss(a semi-flashlight guy, standing next to me) that it was decent, but not super-bright. It was probably around 80 lumens. I pulled out my 220ish lumen light I EDC and blinded the showoff. I held it about a foot from his eyes so hopefully he had a headache for a while. I was really wishing I had one of my brighter lights in my back pocket like I often do on job sites... He didn't know he was talking to a flashlight addict/nerd.
Otherwise useless flashaholic info: My EDC is the Quark AA with a 14500. Yeaaaaahhhhh. See this is where I personally draw the line. I have enough obsessions: Guns, boats, and fishing. I dont have room for any more. 180 lumens from my little Streamlight is more than enough for me. I've got nothing to prove, and I see no need to have more right now. its not just about more light. It's about less light too. Exactly. I use the moonlight mode on my Quark more than anything else. I'm not really a flashlight junkie, I don't have nearly as many as some flashlight addicts I see on other forums. I just see flashlights as indispensable, and prefer the greatest amount of function possible at a reasonable cost. No need to make it an obsession. 
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Glad you like the light...just know that QC sucks at SL...I used to work for them and QC is horrible...the company would use out of spec parts. That light isn't even assembled at the plant...many of those lights are made overseas...not a big shocker since many products are made/assembled overseas. The warranty has changed on SL products as well. I guess that I either lucked out or they got their Qc issues under control. My light is in fine condition, and trust me, as a machinist I have an eye that will catch just about any flaw. So far this light has been great. Fit and finish are nice, and the clip is solidly-attached. |
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I have a SL microstream that would be a good pocket light if it was built better. I sometimes have to tap it on something to get it to come on. It's a shame really as it is so small and easy to carry. You might try taking the head and tailcap off, cleaning the threads thoroughly, and putting the thing back together. The threads may not be making a good circuit. |
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I have a SL microstream that would be a good pocket light if it was built better. I sometimes have to tap it on something to get it to come on. It's a shame really as it is so small and easy to carry. i carry one every day at work and havent had a moments problem. its in my pocket right now and even just used it on a car vs pedestrian accident i was just on. clean it and see how it works. also take off the tail cap where the rubber switch boot is and clean in there as well. |
| I love my Protac 2L. Been nothing but dependable for me. Could I have a brighter/"better" flashlight for the same money? Probably. Do I care? Nope. I've got a reliable and dependable product. In fact I'm probably going to buy a second to permanently stow in my car. |
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You will know if you turn it on while putting it in your pocket. That basturd gets Hot. A couple of weeks ago at work we were standing in an office talking about something and the girl that offices across from me walked in and said, "Why does it look like there's a rave going on in your pocket?" Somehow the switch had been double pressed and clicked on just right to turn it on in strobe mode. It couldn't have been on for more than a minute or ten, how often do you look down at your own crotch anyways. It wasn't hot, maybe the strobe mode has less heat buildup. One day in the car I did start feeling a warming sensation in my crotch and realized the seatbelt or seat had clicked it on. |
I found a Streamlight Stinger in 2 pieces on the road one day.Feel off a car/truck then was run over?Anyway,I took it home put the head back on the body with a few smart taps from a hammer.The things bright as hell.I bought a charger and a cord for 50 beans and have a light saber for my night time illumination needs It also has the "quick click strobe" I jumped my 18 YO kid one night coming out of the bathroom with it in the dark.Funny thing she was yelling at me, flailing around trying to knock it out of my hands.But the strobe completely disoriented her and her perspective and spacial judgement was all messed up.She wasn;t able to lay a hand on me.
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| For 60 bucks I just picked up the Eagletac for EDC Linky. Its silly bright. Although I do like the streamlight stuff as I have one mounted to the mossberg. |