Goal Zero makes a family of modular solar products that can be used during emergencies or while on the trail. One product that I especially like is the Nomad 7 Plus solar panel. This panel is thin, rugged, affordably priced, and very effective. I use the Nomad 7+ with the Goal Zero Guide 10 charger and power block. The 7+ can also charge most devices directly including smart phones with advanced power management. The 7+ is small enough and thin enough to easily fit into my Bugout Bag.

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.

There are a number of excellent headlamps on the market and after much research and consideration I purchased a Black Diamond Spot headlamp. Black Diamond creates a host of excellent products for lighting, camping, climbing, etc.

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 Streamlight ProTac HL-X is an upgrade to one of my favorite flashlights, namely, the ProTac HL. The HL-X uses either two CR123 batteries or a single 18650 battery (not included). The 18650 battery must be charged outside of the flashlight (does not have charging connector).

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

The Cabela’s E-VAC 2CR-123 is a small, durable, tactical flashlight powered by two CR-123 batteries. It features a push-pull head to adjust the beam from very wide to very narrow. I have the older version that outputs 300-lumens and the current version generates a 500-lumen beam. This flashlight is manufactured for Cabela’s by LED Lenser, a respected and reputable manufacturer of high quality flashlights. The E-VAC is a little larger than I prefer as an everyday carry but it would make a very nice belt flashlight. The beam color is more white than other lights, such as the Streamlights. The light pattern is very even and there is no noticeable hotspot in the center of the beam. With the focusing collar pushed in the E-VAC produces a square-ish beam pattern . When the head is extended it produces a very large and even beam. Package contents include:

• E-VAC flashlight with batteries installed
• Heavy nylon sheath with closure flap and beltloop
• Lanyard cord
• Instructions and warranty papers
• Two spare CR-123 batteries

The included belt sheath is quite nice. Most flashlight sheaths are made from soft nylon fabric and these ordinary sheaths are function but unimpressive. The E-VAC sheath is actually one that you would purchase if it was not included with the flashlight. These are some of the pro and cons for the sheath:

• Good: Heavy reinforced and rigid nylon with heavy stitching
• Good: Velcro closure for fast open/close (better than snaps)
• Good: Elastic sides for a secure fit
• Good:Small loops on the top of the elastic sides for added attachment points
• Bad: Belt loop does not hold sheath securely when removing flashlight

I like the matte metal finishing on this flashlight. My Streamlights are fantastic lights and they use a smooth and more polished finished. The E-VAC has a less polished finish giving it a dull, black appearance. This dull finish gives the light a more grippy feel that feels secure in my hand.

• Construction: Machined aluminum with aggressive front strike bezel
• Size: 5-1/2 to 5-5/8″ long, 1-1/8″ head, 7/8″ body
• Waterproof: IPX4 water resistant
• Light Output
  300-lumen: High (300 lumens) for 6 hours, low (20 lumens) for 20 hours, strobe
  500-lumen: High (500 lumens) for 2 hours, low (60 lumens) for 3.5 hours, strobe
• Batteries: 2 CR-123 batteries
• Beam Pattern: Very even beam with no hotspot
• Beam Focusing
  300-lumen: At 3′ it generates a 14″ square zoomed and 48″ diameter on wide
  500-lumen: At 3′ it generates a 17″ square zoomed and 54″ diameter on wide

Operation

Operating the light is different than what I am accustomed to. The flashlight switches between high, low, and strobe modes. With my other flashlights I activate the light and it always generates the high beam. I can then click to low and strobe modes.

The E-VAC operates differently. If you activate the high beam and turn it off then the next time you turn on the light it will be in low beam. If you turn it off and on again it will be in strobe mode. If you want the light to always generate the same light pattern then you must click the button twice with turning it off (to cycle through the unwanted modes). Turn off the light when the LOW beam is showing and the next time to activate the light it will be in STROBE mode. Off in HIGH beam and next ON will be LOW beam. Off in STROBE and next ON will be in HIGH beam.

Tactical Use

The E-VAC has a more aggressive front strike bezel. I generally do not like focusable flashlights for tactical use because the sliding head can severely pinch you if you strike with it while the head is extended. This flashlight is a 5.5″ long and the main body section is about 3.25″. This length is sufficiently large to keep my palm away from the sliding head if I am careful. If you have large hands then you must be aware that the sliding head could severely pinch and injure your hand. If you retract the head for tactical use then you will generate a highly focused and intense beam and reduce the risk of pinching your hand. A highly focused beam could be both a blessing and a curse depending on the situation. The beam will be much more intense but will extend over a much smaller area.

Non-Tactical Use

The beam patter is focusable and very even making this an excellent inspection light. For example, if you are buying a house then buy this light and bring it when inspecting prospective homes. The wide and even beam pattern will allow you to easily see flaws in walls, floors, and cabinets. The focused beam will allow to inspect attics and crawl spaces and see greater distances. If you need to inspect machinery then the power and even beam pattern would make this an excellent flashlight to use. I also use this flashlight when photographing dark spaces such as old buildings and forts.

Advantages

• Runtime of 6 hours on high is longer than similar flashlights
• Dull finish makes the flashlight very easy to grip
• The focused beam throws the light for a considerable distance
• Semi-aggressive bezel would make it an effective tactical weapon

Disadvantages

• I do NOT like the way the flashlight cycles through the light modes
• The sheath is sturdy but it can be difficult to remove the flashlight quickly
• The octagon on the tail of the flashlight is unnecessary and makes it difficult to remove the flashlight from the shealth
• Elastic on the inside of the sheath makes the flashlight difficult to remove

Recommendations

There are other lights that I prefer as an everyday carry (EDC) light but this is a very nice flashlight to add to my collection. The sliding head allows you to focus the beam for greater distance. I purchased this flashlight specifically for photographing dark places such as old military forts. I wanted a light with an even beam and plenty of light output. This flashlight is also excellent for inspections. If you are purchasing a house then you might want to use this light when inspecting houses. The strong and even beam pattern makes it easy to see imperfections in walls, molding, floors, etc. If you need to inspect vehicles then this might be an ideal light your you. This flashlight has a much longer runtime than most lights that use two CR-123 batteries. If you want a nice light to carry on your belt and you want a focusable, even beam pattern then the E-VAC is a good choice.

The Duracell 350 is a stout aluminum body flashlight that generates 350 lumens. I purchased a 4-pack of these lights from Costco for $20. My expectations were not high but these are surprising nice flashlights. The 350 uses three AAA batteries mounted in a cylindrical battery holder. The body of the light is fatter than most flashlights but it has a good feel in my hand. The knurling, heat sink bands, and fatter body combine to create a very good grip. When held in my hand the light is wider than my palm and it could be used tactically. The front strike bezel is fairly aggressive. I keep one at home and one in each car. It would not make a good everyday carry (EDC) light because of the size and it does not include a clip. I would recommend these flashlights because they work well, are bargain priced, and they use standard batteries. I would not purchase these for the Amazon price but if you can find them at a discount at Costco (or similar outlet) then they are worth the price.

• Construction: Machined aluminum in a variety of colors
• Size: 4.5″ long x 1.1″ diameter body with 1.3″ diameter head
• Waterproof: IPX4 water resistant
• Features: High, low, and strobe modes
• Battery: 3 AAA batteries
• Light Output: (high) 350 lumens at 5,000 candelas for 1 hour, (low) runs for 4 hours
• Beam Pattern: At 3′ the total beam pattern is about 44″ with a 7″ hotspot

If you cannot find the aluminum version of these flashlights at a good price then consider the DuraBeam 350. I have not tried these but they look like a polymer version of the 350. The specifications look very similar and Duracell generally makes very good products.

Recommendations

Purchasing a 4-pack of these lights for $20 from Costco is a no-brainer. Put one in your car, have one in the house, and you could even use one in your hiking kit (if your headlamp uses AAA batteries). For a hiking kit I would prefer a flashlight with a longer runtime but 4 hours on low is still respectable. There is nothing fancy with this flashlight. It is just a good, economically priced, and capable flashlight.

The Streamlight Stinger HPL is a large, durable, ultra high-power flashlight, that uses a single 75375 NiMh rechargeable battery to generate a 800-lumen beam at 48,000 candelas. This is NOT an Everyday Carry or concealable flashlight. This is a large flashlight that is about 9.2″ long, weights over 13 oz., and includes two charging docks. This type of flashlight is intended for heavy use environments in demanding conditions such as first responders, security professionals, safety personnel, etc.

This is a heavy use service light that includes two charging docks. Many users will use one dock in a vehicle and the other in an office. The battery life is 1.25 hours on full power. When not in use the flashlight is normally stored in one of the charging docks.

• Construction: High impact polymer body
• Size: The HPL is large at 9.2″ long
• Waterproof: The Stinger HPL is rated at IPX4 water resistant
• Features: High, medium, low, and strobe modes
• Battery: Replaceable 75375 NiMh battery
• Light Output: (high) 740 lumens at 48,000 candelas for 1.25 hours
• Beam Pattern: 35″ x 4″ at 3′ (Beam Scale)

Recommendations

This is NOT a normal household flashlight. This flashlight is intended for heavy, everyday use. The beam pattern is tight with an extremely intense hotspot. The dual chargers allow the light to be recharged in both an office and vehicle. In the hands of a trained user this heavy duty flashlight would make a formidable weapon.

The Streamlight ProTac HL3 is a durable, ultra high-power flashlight, that uses three CR123 batteries to generate an 1,100 lumen beam at 36,000 candelas. At 7.4″ long and a head diameter of 1.6″ this is a larger flashlight. The HL3 comes with three CR123 batteries, a tactical belt holster, and sells for about $80. The aircraft aluminum body of the HL4 is the same diameter and uses the same tail cap as the HL. It will NOT use rechargeable batteries.

The HL3 tactical light generates a remarkable 1,100 lumens at 36,000 candelas. The front and rear have semi-aggressive strike bezels that would make an effective weapon. The body is very comfortable to grip. Many of the other Streamlights such as the HL, PolyTac, 1L-1AA produce a beam with a very hot center and the light decreases significantly towards the outer edges of the beam. The HL3 has a very noticeable hotspot but it produces a brighter and more even beam for the entire diameter of the beam.

• Construction: The HL3 is machined from aircraft grade aluminum, has semi-aggressive striking bezels on both the head and tail, threads are tight and smooth, and sealed with an O-ring.
• Size: The HL3 is large (7.4″ long) and would work well on a service belt.
• Waterproof: The HL3 is rated at IPX7 waterproof.
• Features: Has high, strobe, and low modes. You can also change the light mode using the Ten-Tap programming feature.
• Batteries: Uses three CR123 lithium batteries.
• Light Output: (high) 1,100 lumens at 36,000 candelas for 2 hours, (low) 35 lumens at 1,200 candelas for 43 hours.
• Beam Pattern: 40″ 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 2.84v.

Things I like about this ultra high-power flashlight:

• The beam pattern is very nice. There is a definite hotspot but entire diameter of the beam is bright
• While this is a large flashlight it is still a manageable size for a utility belt
• Nice tactical belt holster included

Recommendations

If you are looking for a high-power tactical light then this is a good choice. This would be a good choice for first responders that do not use the light extensively. The CR123 batteries are still a bit expensive and with a runtime of only 2 hours on high power it could get expensive to operate if it were used extensively.

The Streamlight PolyTac is an extremely durable, high-power flashlight constructed from a very tough nylon polymer. It sells for about $40 and generates a 275 beam at 9,500 candelas. This light output should temporarily blind an attacker using either the high-beam or strobe modes. The front and read caps have a semi-aggressive pattern to make it an effective striking weapon. The grip areas are textured and easy to grip and it includes a nylon holster.

• Construction: Extremely tough nylon polymer, tight/smooth threads, O-ring for water sealing, removable clip, extremely durable and can withstand a 3-meter drop (other Streamlights withstand 1-2 meter drops)
• Size: Small enough for everyday carry (EDC), diameter is large enough to hold effectively, long enough to fit across your palm when gripped tightly, and fits a variety of weapon mounts
• Waterproof: IPX7 waterproof to 1-meter for 30 minutes
• Durability: Withstands 3-meter drop
• Features: High/Strobe/Low modes with Ten-Tap programming to switch it to High/Low only or Low/High only
• Batteries: Two CR123 batteries with 3-hour run time on high
• Light Output: High: 275 lumens, 9,50 candelas, 3 hour run time
  Low: 14 lumens, 500 candelas, 65-hour runtime.
• Beam Pattern: 41″ x 6″ at 3′ (Beam Scale)

If you want a very tough, bright, everyday carry flashlight then consider this one. I worked someone who dropped his PolyTac while riding his motorcycle at 40 MPH. His light had a few scuffs and one of the nubs on the tail was beveled a bit but the PolyTac worked fine. For me it was a tough call choosing between the PolyTac and the Streamlight 1L-1AA. The Polytac has slightly lower lumen output than the 1L-1AA but slightly higher candela output.