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 Great light for the average user Jul 13, 2010
I bought this flashlight for its good reviews and reasonable price tag. The plastic case, slight rattle of batteries, and fixed reflector make this flashlight appear much cheaper than it is, but it turns out this flashlight is actually quite effective. I'll start with the good points.
The reflector is fixed, but the beam has rings around a central, bright beam; the wider rings are dimmer than the central rings. This allows the bright beam in the center to be shined on very distant objects (100 meters or more) while still providing dim light to nearby objects in a wide area.
The plastic case as it turns out is very durable, and the bright yellow makes it easy to spot. The oval shape is ergonomic and resists rolling on flat surfaces. Also the case has no rubber on it, which is nice when you slip it into a pocket. The case is also completely water proof.
AA batteries are also a major plus, they are cheaper than other battery types and they come in a large variety. I have lots of other devices which also use AA, it is convenient to use primarily 1 battery type.
On a less positive note:
The battery life could be better at only 4 hours (full brightness) for an LED flashlight, and the brightness cannot be adjusted to provide a better run time. The instructions advise the use of only alkaline batteries, but I have tested with LSD batteries (SANYO eneloop 4 Pack AA NiMH Pre-Charged Rechargeable Batteries) without problems. The flashlight lasted at full brightness for about 5.5 hours with these batteries.
The button seems a bit flimsy, and the button is on the rear of the flashlight, which makes the flashlight better suited to being held up near the head. The flashlight can be held with the thumb forward of course, but it requires a readjustment every time the button is used. On a more positive note, the button can be pushed halfway to turn the flashlight on only while held. While most flashlights have this, it is a nice feature that is sometimes overlooked.
I am also worried that changing the batteries on a humid day might trap humid air inside (because the case is airtight) and then when the air cools it will form condensation inside the case. This could corrode the battery terminals or the circuitry. Maybe packing a bag of desiccant into the case could mitigate this potential problem.
Also consider the 68202 (Streamlight 68202 4-AA Battery 7-LED Flashlight, Yellow), it is cheaper and has greater battery life.
Nice, but a little expensive May 26, 2010
I ordered this unit because it had a Luxeon LED, so I assumed that it would be fairly bright. But then, after I ordered it, I read in the product description that it was rated at only 42 lumens. So, I expected the worst before it arrived. But I was pleasantly surprised by the light output and uniformity of the light. It's no 'searchlight', but it's more than adequate for brightly illuminating an area. But I think that the price is a little high, and if you wanted greater light output, Amazon has better choices for the money.
 Excellent, professional quality May 10, 2010
Flashlights for emergency use should be LED; bulb type lamps will burn out instantly if they are shocked or dropped while running. But which to buy? There are hundreds of products out there.
Streamlight makes flashlights for professionals - first responders, fire departments, military - but at the same time affordable by average homeowners. They are shockproof, waterproof and come in a highly visible emergency yellow color and meet certification standards for departmental use. There are many models - here are two. The 68244 item here is an extremely bright single Luxeon LED with a tightly focussed beam. It runs on 4AA batteries or rechargeables, but only for 4 hours or so. Another version about the same size, the 68202, looks similar but uses 7 lower brightness LEDs and produces a broad illumination - but this one burns for 155 hours on one set of batteries. I own both of them; the Luxeon super bright focussed model is kept in my truck, and the 7 LED model I gave my daughter to take on a long wilderness trip, because the batteries will last so much longer. They both have a very positive push button in the base. You can get helmet clamps for them. The Streamlight website has many other models, all well designed and rugged; not the wimpy flashlights you find in local stores.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Always with me Jan 14, 2010
I recommend this light after using one for 2 years now. I work outdoors at night, so I have several lights with me all of the time. This is one that is always either in my vest pocket, back pocket, or in my hand. When the headlamp is not enough, or I need a spot with a long throw, this is my second brightest light -- I keep a rechargeable 'Cyclops' 3 watt LED spotlight on the seat of the rig as well, but because of its size, I have keep this Streamlight on me when I'm out and about at night. The battery life is as advertised, at least with intermittent use. Good ergonomics, comfortable to carry and I like the switch on the butt end. It must be waterproof, after 2 years of abuse it still works like new.
Great Product Sep 13, 2009
Wow! This flashlight is super bright. Much "whiter" than previous LED flashlights I've owned. They've tended to be a bit blue or purple. This one is a powerful light in a relatively small package. Not cheap but overall worth price. As always, the no cost shipping and no tax help make it a good deal.
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