I’m not a fan of multi-mode personal defense flashlights. There’s an excellent chance you’ll press the actuator too many times during an adrenalin-infused defensive flashlight of gun use, and end-up in the wrong mode. Nor am I partial . .
to flashlights without an aggressively crenulated end-cap. If you’re going to carry a striking weapon you might as well inflict more damage rather than less. But who am I to question the capitalist system that delivers so much choice for flashlight carriers?
Aside from my complaints, what’s not to love about a 4.34 ounce impact-resistant nylon polymer waterproof 600-lumen flashlight powered by optional rechargeable batteries? The $75 msrp? Or the kvetches above. Anyway, press release below . . .
EAGLEVILLE, Pa. -(Ammoland.com)- Streamlight Inc., a leading provider of high-performance lighting and weapon light/laser sighting devices, announced it has added a new model to its PolyTac line of tactical lights to include an enhanced, dual fuel version.
The new light, the PolyTac X, features 600 lumens and offers the versatility of a rechargeable battery option.
The light can be powered by either two 3-volt CR123 lithium batteries or one Streamlight rechargeable 18650 lithium ion battery. This multi-battery option allows for use of primary disposable batteries if the rechargeable cell is out of power.
“With its battery versatility and powerful lumen rating, the new PolyTac X is among the brightest and most adaptable polymer tactical lights on the market today,” said Streamlight Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Michael F. Dineen. “It is ideal for everything from conducting searches in low light to lighting up an outdoor trail to repairing equipment. Even when a charging source is not available, you can use disposable batteries, ensuring that you will never run out of power in any situation.”
The PolyTac X uses a power LED to provide three lighting modes: high, medium, low, and strobe. Regardless of a battery source, the light delivers 600 lumens on high, 11,485 candela, and a 205-meter beam distance, which is enough to provide critical lighting for a range of tactical uses.
When using CR123A batteries, run times range from 2.75 to 34 hours; when using the 18650 battery, they range from 3.5 to 36 hours. On the strobe setting, run times are 5.5 hours and 8 hours, respectively.
The light’s TEN-TAP programmable push-button switch allows users to select from three programs: high/strobe/low (factory default); high only or low/medium/high.
The PolyTac X is exceptionally durable, featuring a case made of high impact super tough nylon polymer that also provides a sure grip. It weighs 4.34 ounces and measures 5.46 inches.
The new light features an IPX7-rated design, providing a waterproof operation to 1 meter for 30 minutes, and is impact-resistant tested to 3 meters. It is available in black, yellow, or coyote.
Streamlight offers an optional 18650 Battery Charger that can recharge either one or two batteries simultaneously, and permits charging through either AC/DC or USB power sources.
The PolyTac X has an MSRP of $75.00. It is packaged with two CR123 batteries and a removable pocket clip and comes with Streamlight’s Limited Lifetime warranty.
About Streamlight:
Based in Eagleville, PA, Streamlight, Inc. has more than 45 years of experience making tough, durable, long-lasting flashlights designed to serve the specialized needs of professionals and consumers alike. Since 1973, the company has designed, manufactured and marketed high-performance flashlights, and today offers a broad array of lights, lanterns, weapon light/laser sighting devices, and scene lighting solutions for professional law enforcement, military, firefighting, industrial, automotive, and outdoor applications. Streamlight is an ISO 9001:2008 certified company.
For additional information, please call 800-523-7488, visit their website.
My defensive flashlights have two modes, on and off. I only ise lights with use momentary switches. No click on/off
Strobes can be as disorientating to the user as it is to the subject.
If i need something else I will carry a second light
Nice light but I gotta ask why? Why should I buy this product when an old school mag lite or old school L shaped army light will get the job done for flashlight duty? Why use this light instead of a weapon mounted light on my nightstand gun?
Sure it’s super bright but honestly I’m sick of this Lumen nuclear arms race. Oh you have 600 lumens? Well suck it I got 800 lumens I can blind freighters off the coast of China from my above ground bunker in Kentucky.
You see the news about those two ships colliding off the coast of China? Yeah holla at your boy that was me I thought I heard an intruder so I turned on my StreamTac 6.2 billion lumen tactical light.
I vaporized the West wing of my bunker, blinded myself, set the wife’s hair on fire, and the beam started a wildfire in California but hey least I now know that it was just my cat knocking a box of batteries off the computer stand.
Oh by the way if you know anyone giving away a free cat or a cheap wig let me know, the wife says I gotta either replace her hair or buy our daughter a new cat since our old one got vaporized….
Why not old school mag lite or old school L shaped army light?
Because they will not handle the recoil and drops to the ground as well. Tactical lights are far brighter offering an opportunity to temporarily blind your opponent. Proper modern tactical lights are far more durable than standard flashlights.
I don’t mount those on my gun… mainly because the mag lite I have is the huge police/security model and that L shaped army light will not mount on a rail or in those funny little rings that are designed to hold a flashlight on a rail. Those lights are hand held only and used as such. Now I did say Why use this handheld light over a weapons mounted light. Think a self contained rail mounted light unit like those you buy for a pistol, made into the fore end of a shotgun, or made as part of the vertical fore grip on an AR. Using that light as a general use flashlight seems to be a waste and yes I still find the Lumen war to be a bit ridiculous. Just give me enough light to illuminate the target that I am about to fire on should I need it. I’m not worried about blinding a guy I’m firing on or blinding the jack ass I have to draw on in a dark alley. Yes I concede the light can be an option should I not need to fire but I don’t expect it to fair any better than another less lethal option like pepper spray or a taser. Again light is not a weapon merely a momentary distraction and a headache for the target. The main use for the light is to illuminate the target in order to properly identify it and what lies beyond not as a supplement for using force when necessary. In the realm of hitting someone with a flashlight I’m of the opinion that my huge Mag Lite loaded with D cell batteries will make a longer lasting impression than that little plastic light. However for everyday carry I must admit I don’t pack a flashlight on my person, I do however have a small cheap army surplus flashlight (straight body not L shaped, made out of aluminum that runs on AA batteries) in each of my vehicles and a spotlight in my Jeep. I may need to move that small army surplus LED light to my pocket.
Why use an AR-15 for home defense when an old school Brown Bess will get the job done.
Technology is always advancing, either keep up or get left in the Stone Age.
there’s no arguing with the effect of a .75 cal lead ball to the anywhere on a home invader followed by a triangular bayonet insertion in the torso. Yes IDEALLY I’d run a 12 pounder loaded with grape shot but unfortunately for me the damn mule just will not cooperate during maneuvers through the house nor will he allow me the capability to fire on the move so I settle for an AK with a red dot or a SCCY CPX2 with a light/laser on the rail I picked up at Rural King for 20 bucks on sale.
“…but unfortunately for me the damn mule just will not cooperate during maneuvers through the house…”
But think of all that free mulch you will have for the garden!
As a bonus, you can tell your little girl a white lie that the mule is really a pony. Every little girl wants a pony!
(And face it, you could use the exercise shoveling all that mule crap, ‘Bob’…) 😉
EDIT – Bob, I’m just jealous.
True story, my older sisters got the pony. Then they traded him in later for Appaloosas and American Quarter Horses. And when they had little girls, they got them horses.
But, I got the Daisy Red Ryder BB gun… 🙂
(And I never had to shovel horse shit…)
Sheeeeeit. I still use candles and hurricane lamps. I hand one off the end of my AR with a rail mounted hook. Swings a bit in the wind but gets the job done.
Is that hook KeyMod or M-Lok?
LMAO
All the wonderful advancement in flashlight technology to reduce weight, size, enhance reliability, and increase performance…and someone is still stumping for a Maglite? Brawhahahahahahaha….Maglite company is a perfect case study for product stagnation from a corporation who was asleep at the wheel for far too long…just like GM and its board of bystanders. Sure, you can make a car run on carburetors and ignition points, but you damn sure wouldn’t do that at any point in recent memory…because that’s obsolete technology. Sure, a tungsten filament flashlight running on D cells does throw some light out the end, but not anything like a Cree LED running off a lithium ion battery. How old are you to put forth such a preposterous idea? 80? 90?
how old are you? except for the LED itself and perhaps a circuit board Maglites are made in the USA
MAGTAC LED Rechargeable (LiFePO4) flashlight system crowned bezel
181 m Beam 543 Lumens
“three lighting modes: high, medium, low, and strobe”, wait, that’s four lighting modes: high, medium, low, strobe, and off, five, count ’em five lighting mdes, do I hear six …
Dang it. I was hoping Streamlight was bringing back the simple on/off Polytac like how their older ones used to be. Their older on/off versions make great long-gun lights. The multi-mode ones suck in the weapon light role.
Why?! You can just go to Wal-Mart and just purchase one of the Bushnell Pro tactical 🔦 flashlights series…I have the 600 lumen light (has aggressive Knerling and an aggressive crenlated self-defense bezel..Has a moderate range beam…) and the 750 lumen version ( similar styling but a little bit longer. Has rechargeable USB 🔋 pack…Beam is medium range…Like a hyper-version of the SF L4 “Wall of Light…”) Pricing…$39.98- 49.99…Not bad, I like them…Use them for work and travel….
Lights, like most other products, sold at big box stores are usually stepped down in quality to meet price points. They may look the same as regular product but they are different.
I purchased a facet at Lowes. My plumber refused to install it and showed me that it was all plastic inside. He had me buy the same design from the same company at a plumbing supply store. Not only was it all metal inside, it was $5 less. Never bought anything major from Home Depot or lowes again.
Same with electrical appliances, mowers, power tools etc. A Toro mower at a Toro dealer is far better quality than “the same” Toro at a big box store.
I have a 5.11 TPT L2 that’s kind of similar. As for the mailingned strobe function, just because it’s not directly apliciable to killin bad guys doesn’t mean it doesn’t have its functions. I’ve used the strobe feature plenty directing traffic or moving around a crash scene at night (for visibility reasons) or when I need to get someone’s attention.
Just so everyone knows….”The light’s TEN-TAP programmable push-button switch allows users to select from three programs: high/strobe/low (factory default); ……HIGH ONLY…… or low/medium/high.”
THE TEN-TAP SWITCH IS PROGRAMMABLE!! YOU CAN SET IT TO HIGH ONLY….PUSH THE BUTTON TILL IT CLICKS AND IT TURNS ON, PUSH IT TIL IT CLICKS AGAIN IT TURNS OFF…… FOR MOMENTARY PRESS SLIGHTLY AND I COMES ON…LET OFF IT GOES OFF.
I like my original ~300 lumen Polytac. It’s a great flashlight and I’m glad I have it. But! In defense of ALL THE LUMENS – while it was blindingly bright at night, I found that, when working on my car outside during the day, the obscenely bright Nevada sun cast such a strong shadow that my Polytac couldn’t overcome it.
I now have a couple of plug-in 2K lumen Snap-On work lamps that I use so that I can see things when I’m outside in broad daylight. It sounds stupid, but it’s true. So, if some tactical high speed low drag door kicker wants a brighter handheld flashlight when he enters some Taliban mud hut or if it’s simply the local shadetree mechanic dealing with a too-bright sun that’s just not positioned optimally, whatever. Sometimes you just need a flashlight that, for a small space, overpowers the sun.
The only value I see in a heavily crenelated bezel is its ability to help you find your way home. Carry one in your pocket and it quickly eats through the fabric leaving a trail of pocket change, cough drops, car keys and finally the light itself in your wake. It is way better than carrying bread crumbs. I carry a 50 lumen Bushnell that uses a single AAA. It has two mods. 1 all of the sharp edges have been polished away with a dremel. 2. A small but thick rubber band has been wrapped around the back end so I can bite it between my teeth when I am doing tasks that require both hands. I have an extra just like it in my bag in case of loss.
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