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.