Streamlight88031 ProTac 2L 350-Lumen EDC Professional Flashlight with CR123A Batteries, and Holster, Black, Clear Retail Packaging

As I write this, I've only had my flashlight for two days but I want to give you my initial thoughts, in case they help. Then if something changes quality or usability wise, I will come back and provide an update.So far, I think this light is the greatest bargain ever. It is replacing 6 not-cheap lights from Sam's that look GREAT but don't work due to broken switches. I suppose one could conclude that I am hard on flashlights, but I'm really not ... and I don't use them that often. So the not-cheap lights are very disappointing.I spent more money on this Streamlight 88031 in hopes that it is the answer to my flashlight needs. If so, I'll be back to buy a few more -- I like to have multiple flashlights around my world.Side note: I'll be judging this Streamlight 88031 against it's seemingly-indestructible little brother -- the Streamlight 73001 Nano Light Miniature Keychain light. That little light lives on my keychain so it gets a lot of abuse. And it still works 2 years later. So, this Streamlight 88031 has a big challenge to live up to the expectations its little brother has created for me about Streamlight quality.Anyway, some quick notes about this Streamlight 88031:1) The light is smaller that I expected. Apparently I lost track of size after looking at (what feels like) 5,000 different flashlights. So be sure to check the measurements before you order. For reference, this light is about the size of a dry erase marker. So, if you like a flashlight that is big enough that you could plunk a bad guy over the head ... this is NOT the light for you.2) In retrospect, the size is perfect because it easily fits in my pocket. It would also be GREAT in a purse, briefcase, car, etc.3) It's lightweight. It's heavier than a dry erase marker but not by much. I love that it's light enough to be in my nylon running pants without me hardly noticing. That certainly wasn't the case with my old crappy lights.4) It's very bright! It's like having a lighthouse-bright light in my pocket. Sweet :)5) The clip is fine. Works great if you like clips, and it's removable if you don't.6) There is no lanyard clip. Not a big deal but I could see wearing this around my neck sometimes. I suppose I could tie a piece of paracord to the clip if I really wanted to (though I worry it might pop the clip off).Bottom line: This Streamlight 88031 seems like a GREAT light. I'm very pleased so far. I will be back with an update if this doesn't last forever (unless it's my fault, of course :)p.s. Update after 10 days ... As I said, this light is small but I love the fact that it fits in my pocket. It's a double-edged sword though because I have big hands which makes operating this light challenging at times since the light gets lost in my hand (my thumb slips off the back, etc.) I can completely conceal this light in my hand which means it isn't practical if I had to use it with a firearm. So, while I'm thrilled to have this light for pocket carry, for some things I need a flashlight that doesn't get lost in my hand. Just sharing the observation!p.p.s. Update after 2 months ... I still really like this light. It's in my pocket nearly every night. I never want to be in the dark (or looking for things in dark places) without it. Also, this is a perfect sized light for your car or for a woman's purse (if you want to upgrade from the nano-sized keychain lights). Again, just sharing the observation.

The Streamlight 88031 ProTac 2L flashlight is a true game-changer in the world of EDC (Everyday Carry) essentials. From its compact and durable design to its powerful performance, this flashlight has quickly become an indispensable tool in my daily routine.First and foremost, the 350-lumen output provides an incredibly bright and focused beam, allowing me to illuminate even the darkest corners with ease. Whether I'm navigating a dimly lit trail or searching for lost items in my car, this flashlight delivers unmatched visibility and clarity.The inclusion of CR123A batteries ensures long-lasting power, giving me peace of mind knowing that my flashlight will always be ready when I need it most. Plus, the clear retail packaging makes it easy to store and transport spare batteries, ensuring that I never run out of power at a crucial moment.The holster that comes with the flashlight adds an extra layer of convenience, allowing me to securely clip it to my belt or bag for easy access. The sturdy construction of the holster ensures that my flashlight stays in place, even during vigorous activities or rough terrain.What truly sets the Streamlight 88031 ProTac 2L apart is its rugged durability. The aircraft-grade aluminum construction can withstand the rigors of daily use, from accidental drops to harsh weather conditions. It's a flashlight that's built to last, providing reliable performance for years to come.

I'd been looking to get a new flashlight for awhile and had heard a few recommendations for Streamlight but hadn't tried them personally. I'm a Surefire brand-stickler but am always willing to try something similar for less. While at a friend's house working on his car, he had a Streamlight, The Stinger, and I had a chance to use it for a few hours. I really liked the construction, light output and price. I was sold on owning one myself.I spent a few days looking for the exact Streamlight I wanted, there are several models to choose from. I wanted something small, only a few inches in length, definitely hand-held rather than the almost full-size flashlight like my friend had. I wanted water resistance, and I wanted it to operate on CR123's, so I decided on this one.When it arrives you get a belt clip which can be detached from the light, a "pouch" which holds the light and uses a velcro strap to attach to your belt. You also get basic instructions and a battery to start you off with. I'm still on the original battery and it's been a few months of every other day use. So far so good.*** PERFECT FOR THE OUTDOORSMEN / ROUGH-USE / CAR-WORK / EVERY-DAY STUFF / SURVIVAL BAGIt comes ready to use once you get it, and for all of the reasons listed below it's truly a solid light to have. It's tough, shockproof, waterproof and easily carried. The diameter of the light allows you to easily attach it to firearms using the appropriate universal light mounts which you can obtain inexpensively.*** GREAT BATTERY LIFEOver 2.5 hours of solid use on High and more than 50 hours when set on low. This is really good, and the batteries which run the light are fairly inexpensive, especially if you purchase in bulk. Amazon has many solid deals for these batteries in bulk. Be aware that the light will warm up a little near the output end because of the LED. This is normal. It won't get hot it just gets warm, so don't fear that when it happens, especially after 30+ minutes. For the record, I'm still using the battery which came with the light and I've put at least 2 hours of High use on it and maybe half an hour of Low, and it's still working.*** IT'S BRIGHTThe light output is outstanding, with brighter output than my Surefire x200 gunlight. This model states a light output of 180 lumens on high, which far exceeds my x200's rating of 110. You have two modes of brightness, high and low, and I find that for most jobs the low works great. Low isn't as bright as a cheap/average battery flaslight, but it's not dull, you can easily light up an entire room softly.I've used the high mode to entirely light up small rooms in which the room lights were non functional. The rooms were all white on the walls and ceiling. I simply placed the light on a table facing the ceiling and turned it on high. The rooms, about 150sq/ft, lit up as if there was a 40watt bulb in the ceiling. I use a combination of both modes for various tasks including car work, house work, walking around the woods, etc.It has a strobe mode which works on the High brightness level.*** NO MAJOR BLIND SPOTThis light is neither a projecting light (fine focus for long distance lighting) nor a flood light, it's in between. Some lights which project long distances will give you a white blind spot if used in close quarters or on something near you. This won't do that, though if you use it close to something reflective such as a white wall, a good portion of the wall will be intensely lit-up. Outside at night you can see where you're going, but the bulk of the light won't be thrown for more than 50'.This isn't a bad thing, most flashlights won't. It has enough flood to let you see where you're going, and enough throw to see far ahead of your footsteps. Other models of Streamlight will throw for long distances, if you're interested.*** WATERPROOFI needed something at least water resistant--I always buy things to last, and I'm going to use stuff in the rain it's simply inevitable. I also wanted to make sure that, like all flashlights I've owned before, I could drop this in water for awhile and not have an issue. It's rated for 30 minutes of submerged exposure at up to 1 meter (3.3'). I haven't tried it at that depth or for that long myself, though I've seen them underwater for longer at gun shows. I have used this light inside of a few aquariums up to a foot deep, and it performed perfectly.*** SHOCKPROOFAnother thing on my must-have list. I've already dropped it several times from about 4', right onto concrete, and it continues to function flawlessly. There's a bit of a ding in the aluminum of course, to be expected.*** 3-WAY SWITCH MIGHT TAKE A MINUTE TO GET USED TOOnce you realize how it works, it's super-easy. The switch allows you to use momentary force to turn the light on only as long as you hold the switch, and also allows you to switch the light "on" by pushing it all the way in like a normal light. Here's the easiest way to describe it:1. Hold the light as you would, and begin slowly pushing the switch in until the light comes on. This is the momentary-on point. If you release, the light goes off.2. If you continue to push until it clicks, it stays on. Click it off to turn the light off.3. To switch between modes, try this: Push the button until you get the light to come on (not all the way until it clicks). Now quickly release enough pressure until it turns off, and then push it back on just until the light comes on. This should be your strobe mode. If you do this again you'll reach the 3rd mode which is Low.To get any of these modes (High / Strobe / Low) to "stick", you just push all the way until it clicks on. Once you've practied a few times I guarantee you'll get the hang of it.*** CLOSING THOUGHTSThe only thing which bugs me is knowing what the lense is made of. I can't tell if its glass or a high impact acrylic. My Surefire lights use glass, which won't scratch, and are unlikely to be broken. A high impact acrylic would be near impossible to break but could scratch. Again, I have no idea which this light uses. Either way this is still a solid light. For the price, especially if you're an Amazon Prime member, you get this thing in a day and it's ready to go out of the box. I used two of these recently during a hurricane and they were superb.YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED!