Features include:

• Beam: 250 lumens at 4,250 candela with 130m beam
• Runtime: 2 hours from two AA batteries
• Holster: Tear-resistant nylon holster included
• Construction: Anodized aircraft aluminum with polycarbonate lens
• Durability: IPX7 waterproof at 1 meter for a minimum of 30 minutes
• Size/Weight: 6.14″ long and 3.4 oz w/batteries
• Beam Pattern: 41″ x 8″ at 3′ (Beam Scale)
• Colors: Black
• Cost: About $40

It is a basic, tactical flashlight that is easy to carry. It uses two AA batteries, has high/strobe/low modes, and the body is machined from aircraft aluminum. The 2AA is on a low size of the tactical scale. While 250 lumens is bright I would prefer more lumens and higher candela power for a tactical flashlight.

Recommendation

Always consider batteries when building your emergency kits. There are better tactical lights but most use CR123 batteries. CR123s cannot be charged but it is easy to find rechargeable AA and AAA batteries. There are rechargeable 123 batteries but you must be very careful when using these because they output a higher voltage than standard CR123s and they could damage your flashlight. Solar charges such as the Goal Zero Nomad can charge AA and AAA batteries. If you need to charge batteries in the field then you may want to standardize on AA and AAA batteries. If you find the need for an AA powered flashlight then the Streamlight ProTac 2AA is a very good choice. Also, if your headlamp uses AA batteries then the ProTac 2AA would make an excellent backup light.

Features include:

• Beam: 115 lumens at 890 candela with 60m beam
• Runtime: 2.25 hours (lithium), 1.75 hours (alkaline)
• Holster: Tear-resistant nylon holster included
• Construction: Anodized aircraft aluminum with polycarbonate lens
• Durability: IPX7 waterproof and impact resistant to 1 meter
• Size/Weight: 3.94″ long and 1.3 oz with alkaline battery
• Beam Pattern: 48″ x 10″ at 3′ (Beam Scale)
• Colors: Black
• Cost: About $30-$40

The ProTac 1AAA is a very compact flashlight that is extremely easy to carry and use. The 1.75 hour runtime is very good for a single battery flashlight. It has three beam modes (1) high, (2) strobe, and (3) low. Due to its small size limited light output I would NOT use this flashlight as a tactical light. The body is machined from aircraft aluminum and sealed to IPX7 (waterproof to 1 meter for a minimum of 30 minutes).

This light is NOT a replacement for a high-powered tactical flashlight but it is a good addition to your light collection. If you want to carry a very compact, non-tactical flashlight then this one is small, affordable, easy to carry, and has a decent runtime.

Recommendation

This is an excellent light to include in a hiking and emergency kit. You should have two forms of light in your kits and these two lights should use the same type of batteries. Many headlamps use AAA batteries and this light would pair very well with those headlamps. The small size and light weight of the ProTac 1AAA would make it a good choice as a backup flashlight.

The Cabela’s E-VAC Rechargeable is nearly identical to the Cabela’s 2 CR-123. Please read the review of the E-VAC 2CR flashlight before reading this review. Differences between the E-VAC 2CR and the E-VAC Rechargeable include:

• 360 lumen output (2CR is 300 lumen)
• Single 18650 battery (2CR uses 2 CR-123s)
• External recharger included

Recommendations

I really flashlights with an even beam pattern for photography and inspections. The rechargeable battery makes sense for those who use their flashlight frequently. This light would excellent for a trucker who needs to do daily equipment inspections. The focusable beam can also provide a narrow, long distance beam for reading distant signs or address numbers. If you purchase an additional 18650 battery or two then you could have a hot spare when the flashlight battery goes flat.

I look at the Goal Zero Guide 10 and wonder why I did not buy one of these sooner. It is a simple, relatively inexpensive, and multi-use battery charger and power block. The Guide 10 is a two-way battery charger: (1) connect it to a USB port to charge its AA or AAA batteries, or (2) draw power from the Guide 10 to charge your USB device (mobile phone, tablet, etc). You can connect the Guide 10 to a solar panel for off-grid charging. The Guide 10 is small and with high-capacity NiHd batteries (2300 mAHr) will hold 9200 mAHrs of power).

My lanterns and camera strobes use AA batteries and my headlamp and backup flashlight use AAAs. The Guide 10 can keep these batteries charged and the USB port can charge my phone. If the batteries lose capacity then I can replace them without having to replace the entire battery pack. I can also charge multiple sets of batteries and keep those batteries in reserve. The Guide 10 also includes a small flashlight which could be useful. An inset (included) allows charging of AAA batteries.

• Weight: 6.4 oz (181 g) with batteries
• Dimensions: 2.5 x 4 x 0.75 in (6.4 x 10.2 x 1.9 cm)
• Operating Temperature: 32-104°F (0-40°C)
• Certifications: CE, FCC, ROHS
• Warranty: 6 months
• Charge Times:
  USB Power Source: 6-10 hours
  Nomad 7 Solar Panel: 3-6 Hours
  Nomad 13 Solar Panel: 2.5-5 Hours
• Ports:
  USB Port (output): 5V, up to 1A (5W max), regulated
  USB Port (input): 5V, up to 0.8A (4W max), regulated
  Mini solar port (input): 6.5V, up to 1.1A
• Battery Details:
  Battery Type: NiMH only!
  Battery Size: 11Wh (included batteries are 4.8V at 2300mAh)
  Lifecycles: 500 cycles
  Shelf-life: Keep plugged in, or charge every 3-6 months
  Power Management: Built-in charging and low-battery protection

When using non-Goal Zero batteries be sure to choose only NiMH batteries. Batteries are rated in milliamp hours (mAHr) and this is the capacity of the battery, or, the amount of power that the battery can store. If a battery was a car then the mAHr rating would be the size of the gas tank. Look for batteries with a high mAHr rating. You may see two brands next to each other and one may be more expensive. The more expensive batteries probably have a higher mAHr rating or greater capacity for storing electricity. Each battery included with the Guide 10 is 2300 mAHr.

Recommendations

Goal Zero makes good stuff. Goal Zero provides an array of modular products that work together. They have a variety of solar panels, large battery systems, and several devices with bi-directional USB ports. These bi-directional devices include the Guide 10, lanterns, power blocks, flashlights, etc. These devices can be charged using the USB port and can also supply power to charge external devices such as mobile phones.

I purchased a Guide 10 and Nomad 7 Plus solar panel. The Nomad 7+ can charge the batteries in the Guide 10 as well as connect to a mobile device and charge it directly. The Nomad 7+ is rugged, lightweight, small, and I can carry it my emergency pack along with spare batteries and the Guide 10. Here is what I did to create a modular power system:

• Guide 10 battery charger and power block.
• Nomad 7 Plus to charge Guide 10 batteries and mobile devices directly.
• Use devices powered by AA and AAA batteries. For example, my devices include: Stramlight 1L-1AA tactical flashlight (AA or CR-123), Stylus Pro backup flashlight with long runtime (2 AAAs), Streamlight Siege AAlantern, and Black Diamond Spot headlamp (3 AAAs).
• Create a power kit with at least two sets of disposable and rechargeable AA and AAA batteries. Store the batteries in tiny poly zip bags to limit damage if (or when) a battery leaks.(
• The Nomad 7+ includes a standard and mini USB plug and you will probably need other types of USB connects for your devices.

Before Using

These details were taken from the page included with my Guide 10.

• Ensure that the batteries are correctly oriented (negative towards top of Guide 10)
• Use only rechargeable Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) batteries
• Never use less than 4 batteries (batteries need not all be at the same charge level when inserted)
• It is normal for the unit to get hot during operation — when solar charging try to place the Guide 10 in shade or behind the solar panel

Specifications

• Charge Times:
  Goal Zero Switch 10/Flip 10: 2.5-5 Hours
  Flip 20: 5-10 Hours
  Venture 30: 8-16 Hours
• Solar Panel:
  Rated Power: 7W
  Open Circuit Voltage: 8-9V
  Cell Type: Monocrystalline
• Ports:
  USB Port: 5V, up to 1.4 A (1400 mA)(7W max)
  Mini Solar Port (2.5mm): 8-9V, up to 0.8A (800 mA)(7W max)
• Weight:
  Kickstand: 12.8 oz (363 g)
  Without Kickstand: 9.2 oz (260 g)
• Dimensions:
  Unfolded: 13 x 8.75 x 0.5 in (33 x 22.23 x 1.27 cm)
  Folded: 6.5 x 8.75 x 0.75 in (16.5 x 22.23 x 1.9 cm)
• Warranty: 12 months

Compare to Nomad 7

The Nomad 7 and Nomad 7+ are similar devices but there are some differences. I selected the Nomad 7+ due to its smaller size, added durability, and the panel is slightly more efficient. Here are some differences between the two solar panels:

• Nomad 7 has DC (cigarette lighter format), USB, USB mini, and mini round for Guide 10
• Nomad 7+ has USB mini, and mini round for Guide 10
• The Nomad 7 does not charge some iPhones that need constant and even power and the 7+ does a better job charging these devices.
• The Nomad 7 can be daisy-chained and the 7+ cannot.

Recommendations

As part of your power kit I recommend at least two sets of rechargeable NiMH batteries, two sets of alkaline or lithium disposable batteries, a Nomad 7+, and a Guide 10 charger. The Nomad 7+ includes a pouch for storing cables. The 7+ includes a standard USB plug and mini USB adapter. I recommend adding a micro USB adapter (very generic connector) and any other cables or adapters required by your devices.

These are my minimum requirements for a headlamp:

• 200 lumen output
• Long runtime of at least 20 hours
• IPX7 waterproof or better
• Uses AAA batteries
• Dimmable light
• Red light to preserve night vision
• Adjustable beam positioning

The Spot meets all of these requirements. These are some of the specifications on the Black Diamond Spot headlamp:

• 300 lumen maximum output lasts for 30 hours (80 meter beam)
• 40 lumen minimun output lasts for 170 hours with a beam of 16 meters
• Hold main button for 4 seconds to lock/unlock headlamp
• Hold main button for 2 seconds when off to switch between white and red beams
• Hold main button when on to adjust the brightness
• Powered by 3 AAA batteries

If you are looking for a bright, rugged, reasonably priced, and waterproof headlamp then consider the Black Diamond Spot.

Disadvantages

The Spot is very good but not perfect. The batteries are very difficult to remove and I normally have to use my pocket knife to pry the first AAA battery from the holder. The headlamp produces a very white peripheral light with a warmer, yellowish beam in the center. I would prefer a beam more uniform in color. I would also like the light to swivel down a bit more. When I am using the light in close quarters I have to look through the bifocal lens on my glasses. My line of sight through the bifocal is lower than the position of the beam.

I also had a problem with the batteries that shipped with the Spot. The batteries had just the slightest bit of wrapping extending on the negative side of the battery cell. This extra wrapping prevented the battery from making contact with the holder in the headlamp. Consequently, I tried and tried but could not get my headlamp to work. When I tried some other batteries it worked. After I trimmed the battery wrapping from the negative side of the battery they worked fine. These minor criticisms are very minor.

Recommendation

If you are hiking or just want a general headlamp then serious consider the Black Diamond Spot. If you are hunting or fishing and need either blue or green lights then consider the Black Diamond Storm. With either headlamp be sure to carry two sets of spare batteries and store each set of spare batteries in a poly zip bag. This way you have two sets of spare batteries and if a battery leaks it will (at worst) only foul one set of batteries. I also strongly recommend including a backup flashlight that uses the same AAA batteries. I use the Streamlight Stylus Pro because it uses AAA batteries, outputs 90 lumens, and runs for up to 6.5 hours.

Additional Information

• Instruction Sheet

Streamlight makes a wide variety of extremely durable, tactical, and non-tactical flashlights, weapon lights, and lanterns. I own several Streamlight lights incluing the 1L-1AA, HL, Stylus Pro, and Siege AA lanterns. Here are my current Streamlight reviews:

Tony’s Non-Exhaustive List of Flashlight Reviews

I own a number of Strealight flashlights including the Protac HL and multiple Stylus Pros. The Protac 1L-1AA is my everyday carry light. Streamlights have a nice beam pattern and are extremely durable and reliable.

My biggest complaint against the Streamlights is the lack of a low battery indicator. My 1L-1AA and HL will work fine one day and be almost dead the next day. If I needed to use the flashlight in a tactical situation I need to know that it is going to work at full power. If the power is low, and I don’t know that, then I could be in a very situation if I am confronted by a someone trying to do me harm. I would also like them to default to a tactical strobe mode. I can use the TEN-TAP to set the flashlight to high-strobe-low, low-high, or high-low. I would want a mode where it could be strobe-high-low. This way if I need to strobe an attacker I would have a single click of the tail switch to activate the light in strobe mode. Some of the other manufacturers, such as Fenix, use a side switch that provides immediate access to the tactical strobe.

My wife has a Fenix UC35 and I am very impressed by this light. Checkout my review of the Fenix UC35 flashlight.

The HL-X is on the larger side and sells for $75-$100. The machined aluminum body of the light fits in the palm of my hand and the larger head extends past my palm. This is an extremely rugged tactical light that generates a 1,000 lumen beam with 27,100 candelas. A light of this intensity is more than powerful enough to temporarily blind an attacker. The front and read caps have a semi-aggressive pattern that would be effective if it was used as a striking weapon. The knurled grip area makes the HL-X easy to hold.

• Construction: The light is machined from aircraft grade aluminum and has a fairly aggressive striking pattern on the head and tail. The threads are tight and very smooth and an O-ring provides additional water sealing.
• Size: 5.43″ (13.8cm) long, 1″ (2.54cm) barrel diameter, 1.44″ (3.7cm) head diameter. The HL-X is very slightly larger than the Streamlight HL. The HL-X is a bit large to carry in a pocket but easy to carry on a belt. The body diameter is large enough to provide a good grip and the head protrudes enough to provide a good striking surface.
• Waterproof: IPX7 waterproof to 1 meter for 30 minutes.
• Durability: Withstands 2-meter drop.
• Features: High, strobe, low modes, and Ten-Tap programming feature.
• Light Output: (high) 750 lumens at 18,300 candelas for 1.25 hours, (low) 35 lumens at 900 candelas for 18 hours.
• Beam Pattern: 48″ x 7″ at 3′ (Beam Scale)
• Power Fail: No low battery indicator and the flashlight will significantly dime when the CR-123 battery gets to 2.87v.

Additional Reviews & Information

• Streamlight HL-X review (replacement for HL)
• Fenix UC35 review (similar style flashlight)
• OLight M2R review (similar style flashlight)
• Luke Fosberg Review