FOG HORN 2012

Twobirds Flying Publication

Copyright 2012, Towbirds Flying Publication. All Rights Reserved.

Streamlight ProTac® HL – 600 lumens and three programs.

By: Sal Palma

Police and tactical flashlights have come a long

way. If you don’t believe it, take a look at the

“not so long ago” 3D-cell monsters that you had

to remove to sit in your patrol car or while

sipping java at your favorite Dunkin’ Donuts.

These lights were not just cumbersome, they

were not awfully bright; in fact, when used as a

club, they were a better deterrent than

illumination tool.

Some of the officers, who I still call friends, used

to rest the tube on the shoulder while

depressing the activation switch with what

should have been the support hand. The theory

behind the technique was if you needed to

disarm someone you could simply whacked the

hand or head with the light’s long tube.

Well, those days are over! The 3D-cell

flashlights have been replaced by smaller,

brighter L.E.D. handhelds capable of

temporarily incapacitating a suspect long

enough to defeat the aggressors or get the

drunks in restraints.

Streamlight is a company on the leading edge;

bringing brighter, more compact lighting

solutions to the law enforcement community

and military.

In this review, I’ll examine the more prestigious

member of Streamlight’s ProTac® family of

lights, the HL or High Lumen model.

Streamlight, engineered an exceptional amount

of flexibility in the ProTac® HL. This particularly

bright handheld has three features: high, strobe

and low.

Streamlight ProTac® HL – 600 lumens and three programs. 2012

Copyright 2012, Twobirds Flying Publication, All Rights Reserved

In high, the light produces a whopping 600

lumens of intensity; projecting a well collimated

beam that retains its shape out to 275 meters.

In my testing, I was able to illuminate a small

(36”x 18”) road sign at 825 yards; not only did I

see the sign, I was able to determine what

condition it indicated.

At closer ranges, the ProTac®HL produced a

tightly focused hot spot. In retrospect, I wish I

had placed a thermometer on the privacy fence

– I’m sure it would have registered a

temperature change. The HL is one bright light

with an impressive run time of 1.25 hours in

high. You’ve got to love that!

The ProTac®HL also features a strobe accessible

by two rapid taps on the light switch.

Streamlight does not publish an operating

frequency for the strobe; however, my best

estimate is 18Hz, or so. Strobes, particularly in

dark settings are effective at disorienting a

subject because they do not allow receptors to

reset, so the subject’s brain never gets a chance

to fill in the picture. The disorienting effects of a

bright strobe, like that on the HL is real;

however, it needs to be used properly.

I suggest a course in low light tactics if this is an

area in your training plan you’d like to strength.

Finally, the ProTac® HL offers a low intensity

feature producing 35 lumens of output –

perfect for navigating with a runtime of 18

hours on just (2) CR123A batteries.

Moving through high/strobe/low is extremely

simple. First tap places you in high. Two taps in

rapid succession activates the strobe and three

quick taps switches you into low. It couldn’t be

any easier; operating the HL with a gloved hand

was flawless.

Streamlight wisely recognized that a

bright/strobe/low program may not be suitable

for all users so they incorporated Ten-Tap™

programming technology in the HL’s design.

The ProTac®HL offers three user selectable

operating programs: high/strobe/low (the

factory default), high only and low/high.

Streamlight ProTac® HL – 600 lumens and three programs. 2012

Copyright 2012, Twobirds Flying Publication, All Rights Reserved

To select the desired program, the user taps the

tail-cap switch 9 times in rapid succession. On

the 10th tap, the user continues to hold down

the switch, until the light shuts off – usually

about a second. This simple to master

procedure moves you through the three

available programs in the following sequence;

1. High/strobe/low

2. High

3. Low/high

I chose program 3 as my default operating

mode since I rarely use strobes.

The mechanical aspects of the ProTac®HL are

typical of Streamlight’s superb tactical /

professional line.

6000 Series machined aluminum body.

Tempered glass O-ring sealed.

C4 LED with a 50,000 hour life.

IPX7waterproof (1 meter for 30 min.).

1 Inch tube for compatibility with

existing one inch carbine light mounts.

If you’re still using that Jurassic 3D-cell

flashlight, you need to do yourself a favor. Get

current! Pick up Streamlight’s ProTac®HL. It’s

the brightest move you’ll ever make. At a

market price of $70 to $80 there is no excuse.

Thank you for your service and stay safe in

whatever you do…

-SP

Manufacture’s Specifications

Ten-Tap™ Programming – Choice of three user

selectable programs:

1.) high/strobe/low

2.) high only

3.) low/high

C4® LED technology, impervious to shock with a

50,000 hour lifetime

3 light output levels:

High – 16,000 candela peak beam intensity, 600

Lumens, 1.25 hours runtime

Low – 800 candela peak beam intensity, 33

Lumens, 18 hours runtime

Strobe - 2.5 hours runtime

Multi-function, push-button tail switch for one-

handed operation

Optimized electronics provide regulated

intensity

Durable anodized machined aircraft aluminum

construction

Anti-roll head prevents the light from rolling

away when you set it down

Removable pocket clip

O-ring sealed glass lens

IPX7; waterproof to 1 meter for 30 minutes

1 meter impact resistance tested

Uses two 3V CR123A lithium batteries (included)

Includes nylon holster

Barrel diameter: 1.0" (2.54 cm)

Length: 5.40" (13.7 cm)

Weight: 5.6 oz. (159g) with batteries

Limited lifetime warranty