The Streamlight Siege AA is not flashy and does not appear particularly interesting when displayed on a retail shelf. However, this product should grab your attention. This is a solid product that works very well and is well constructed. The Siege AA sells for about $25-$40 and runs on three AA batteries.

Key features include:

• Rugged and can withstand 2 meter drops to concrete
• IPX7 Waterproof, floats, and can be submersed 1 meter for 30 minutes
• Limited lifetime warranty
• Uses readily available AA batteries
• Red light to preserve night vision and 3-blink distress signal
• Optional magnetic base is especially nice for vehicle kit lanterns

Lighting Modes

It has three white light modes and two red light modes:

• Low white light: 50 lumens runs for 37 hours
• Medium white light: 100 lumens runs for 15.5 hours
• High white light: 200 lumens runs for 7 hours
• High red light: 0.7 lumens runs for 192 hours (8 days)
• Red flashing SOS mode for emergency signaling: 0.7 lumens runs 288 hours (12 days)

Press the power button to activate the light, and press again to move through the lighting modes. Press and hold the button to toggle between white light and red light modes. The lantern can be hung right-side up or upside down. The handle allows the lantern to be hung on the edge of tables, cords, or branches. You can remove the diffuser cover and hang the Siege upside down to provide more even lighting (works well inside tents).

Power

The Siege AA can operate using disposable or rechargeable batteries. If you need to operate off-gird then consider using the Goal Zero Guide 10 to charge NiMh AA batteries for the Siege. The power fail voltage is about 1.12v.

Recommendations

The selling points for me with this lantern are the durability and the red light. The Siege is very durable and can easily withstand 2-meter drops. It is IPX7 waterproof, floats, and can be submerged for 30 minutes. The red light can be used for emergency signaling. If you have car trouble you can put the Siege in red blinking mode to alert others. The flat areas on the main body help eliminate rolling and the square rubber feet on the base help it to not slip. An optional magnetic base is also available.

I recommend having at least one Siege AA in your house in case the power fails. For home use you might consider the larger Siege that uses D-cell batteries and has a very long runtime. I have one Siege AA in my car and one in the house. The one in my car has the optional magnetic base to secure it if I need to use it as a distress beacon. Since it is waterproof it would be an effective signal lantern even in adverse weather conditions.

Conclusion

The Siege AA is not flashy or gimmicky. It is just a good basic, extremely durable, effective, and affordable lantern. This product does one job and does it very well. If you want a larger lantern with more light output then consider the Streamlight Siege which is the big brother to the Siege AA. Streamlight also makes a Magnetic Base for the Siege AA.

The Streamlight ProTac HL is a really nice, durable, and high-power flashlight. It is on the larger side and sells for $70-$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 750 beam with 18,300 candelas. This light output is sufficient to temporarily blind an attacker using either the high-beam or strobe modes. The front and read caps have a semi-aggressive pattern that would be effective if it was used as a striking weapon. The grip areas of the light was knurled to make it easy to grip.

• Construction: The light is machined from aircraft grade aluminum and it has a fairly aggressive striking pattern on both 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 ProTac HL 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 1-meter drop.
• Features: High, strobe, low modes, and Ten-Tap programming.
• Light Output: (high) 750 lumens at 18,300 candelas for 1.25 hours, (low) 35 lumens at 900 candelas for 18 hours.
• Beam Pattern: 50″ x 7″ at 3′ (Beam Scale)
• Power Fail: No low battery indicator and the flashlight will fail when the CR-123 battery gets to 2.5v.

At my job we are routinely warned to walk to our cars in pairs late at night. When I walk to my car I always have this light in my hand. The diameter of the light is just the right size for my grip, it is lightweight, but substantial enough to be effective should the need arise.

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 Streamlight ProTac 1L-1AA is one of my favorite flashlights because it does so many things well. This small light fits well in the palm of my hand and is just long enough to protract slightly when gripped. It sells for between about $40-$60 and generates a 350 lumen beam with 6,500 candelas. The dual fuel option was a huge factor in my decision to purchase this light. The front and read caps have a semi-aggressive pattern that would be effective if it was used as a striking weapon. The grip areas of the light was knurled to make it easy to grip.

• Construction: The 1L-1AA is machined from aircraft grade aluminum and has a fairly aggressive striking pattern on both the head and tail. The threads are tight and very smooth and an O-ring provides additional water sealing.
• Size: At 4.5″ long and 0.95″ diameter (head, 0.85″ barrel) it is small enough to fit in my pants pocket but large enough to fit with width of my palm. The diameter is just large enough for my fingers to wrap around the body of the light.
• Batteries: A HUGE advantage of the 1L-1AA is it can use either a CR123 battery to produce 350 lumens or a AA to produce 150 lumens. I use the CR123 but it is nice to know that I could use a AA as a backup. The lower battery contact is spring loaded to accommodate the larger AA battery directly. This feature distinguishes this light from all others that I have seen.
• Battery Life: CR-123 (high) 350 lumens for 1.5 hours, (low) 40 lumens for 14 hours
  AA Alkaline (high) 150 lumens for 1 hour 20 minutes, (low) 40 lumens for 7.5 hours
  AA Lithium (high) 350 lumens for 4.25 hours, (low) 40 lumens for 14 hours
• Waterproof: IPX7 waterproof to 1 meter for 30 minutes.
• Durability: Withstands 1-meter drop.
• Price: $40-$60 which is a very fair price for a flashlight of this quality.
• Features: High/strobe/low modes and Ten-Tap Programming to switch to High/Low or Low/High mode.
• Beam Pattern: 40″ x 7″ at 3′ (Beam Scale)
• Power Fail: No low battery indicator and the flashlight will fail when the AA battery gets to 1.18v, or the CR-123 battery gets to 2.83v.

If you want an everyday carry (EDC) flashlight then this is normally the one that I recommend. It is a good size for most people, generates a bright beam, and uses duel fuel. If you have larger hands then consider the Streamlight 2L or one of the longer flashlights.

Advantages

This is my personal everyday carry (EDC) light. I took months deciding which flashlight to purchase and this was my choice. I keep trying to find a better light and I keep coming back to this one. Some of the reasons I really like this flashlight:

• 350 lumens on high and 40 lumens on low
• Aluminum construction with tactical bezels on the front and back
• Small size allows me to easily conceal it in my pants pocket
• Large enough to fit all the way across my palm
• Double sided clip
• Dual battery so I can use an AA if necessary

Disadvantages

This is still my favorite flashlight but there are a few minor flaws in this product.

• No low battery indicator: This light will work fine until the batteries get low and then it will stop working with very little warning. If you needed to light in a tactical situation and the batteries were low you may have a completely non-working light.
• Others have reported that the clip will easily lose its shape and not grip the body of the light over time. I have not experienced these issues and have been carrying the flashlight daily for well over a year.
• The light does not tail-stand easily. While this is a disadvantage if you want to tail-stand the light it means that the button is easier to press use to less material on the back of the light.

These are minor disadvantages and should NOT dissuade you from purchasing this light. This is still my favorite everyday carry flashlight.

Additional Reviews & Information

• Bravo Review
• Wise Men Company Review