I like flashlights. Always have, since I was a little slinger. Over the years I have owned quite a lot of lights ranging from cheap to boutique. I have and do own lights from many of the big players such as Streamlight, SureFire, Elzetta, Fenix, HDS, etc. etc. etc.

One question that seems to pop up from time to time is what's a good light? Not a door kickers special tactical light, not something to help light up the barrage balloons, just a good everyday mid range light.

Now if you were to ask me my FAVORITE lights at the moment I would have to say.....the Surefire Tactician. Yes it was a designed by a premier Delta Bravo but.....blind squirrel, nut and all. It's an awesome light, with a fantastic tactical type switching mechanism and it puts out a real honest wall of light. Its akin to turning on a 60 watt light bulb in a room. It is however not an everyman's light.



I have another favorite and it is at the other end of the spectrum. The Streamlight microstream USB. Inexpensive, tiny, LOTS of light from a aaa form factor, USB rechargeable, great tail cap button and an easily replaceable, cheap battery. Its the guilt free light. It is easy to take ANYWHERE, recharges, is fairly inexpensive and just a great light. But again not an every man light so to speak.





If you ask what I think the best all around utility light under $50 bucks is, in my experience the one that has ticked all my boxes in the Streamlight Protac 1L-1AA or more recently the Protac 90.



These little Protac have the following features and benefits that I have found scratch that sweet spot as an all around, everyday, utility/emergency light.

-INEXPENSIVE (While not cheap by any standard especially if a $4 bargain bin light works for you they are inexpensive at under $40 for the quality and versatility you get.)

-DURABLE ( I have a few of these all around. Some have taken drops on concrete, gotten wet, sat in extreme temperatures in cars etc. and none have given me any issue. The Protac 90s are newer but based on my short time with them I don't see them being any less durable)

-DECENT BEAMS (Although the beams are fairly balanced with throw and spill, they do throw more-so. All in all the beams are perfectly adequate for a wide range of tasks short to medium range.)

-GOOD TAILCAP SWITCHES (I like the switches on these as they stout enough to allow for momentary but with a little effort click on. They don't click on without some effort.)

-GOOD UI (I like the Protac UI for two reasons. 1, it very easy to double or triple click through levels and if so desire lock into constant with that level. More importantly you can customize between three level with one of them being HIGH ONLY. Choices include HIGH, STROBE, LOW or LOW/HIGH or HIGH ONLY. )

-BRIGHTNESS LEVELS (A good utility light doesn't need to be a bazillion lumens nor does it have to go down to .10 lumens and last until New Years of 2082. These have a nice usable 40ish lumen low and maximum bright on a CR123 battery of about 300-350 lumens Both very usable outputs. There is a strobe to but unless you are going to a rave that is just silly. :P)

-RUN TIMES (At 40 lumens with the most basic of AA Akaline you will get about 7 hours of run time. With a lithium AA or CR123 (more on this later) you will see a solid 12-14 hours of run time. Maximum brightness will range from 150-350 lumens depending on battery type and will yield you about 1 hour on akaline or 4 or so hours with a lithium AA (150 lumens). Full bore CR123's will yield you about 350 lumens for a little over an hour.

Basically perfectly adequate run times given the fact it is a single cell light.)

WARRANTY (Streamlight has a lifetime warranty and although I have never used it, I have heard good things from those who have).

SIZE (These are single cell lights that are not much bigger then the palm of your hand. They are easy to stash, keep in cars throw in drawers etc.

VERSATILITY (Now this is where these lights shine, pardon the pun. They will literally run on damn near any battery you can shove in them. Officially Streamlight says they are designed to run on the akaline or lithium AA or CR123 primary's They use an ingenious spring loaded battery tube to accommodate either size. But it doesn't end there. Due to this spring loaded compartment I have tested and run the lights with the following.....

Akaline, lithium and eneloop rechargeable AAA's
Akaline, lithium and eneloop rechargeable AA's
CR123 Primary batteries.

I have heard that they will also run on CR123 rechargeable's but have none to test.

So basically you have a light that you can pretty much scrounge a battery from anywhere and that is pretty awesome party trick.)

If I'm pressed I think I would give the nod to the Protac 90 as the best of the two. Its got a BEEFY clip that can be used on anything, as well as use it to ceiling bounce, it will tail stand and it just seems like the better overall utility light, but both are FANTASTIC do it all lights for the price in my opinion.

Can you be well served by that $4.00 light in the bargain bin. Sure. But I do think you get a great deal of utility and value with these little $40.00 lights. They make great car lights, power outage lights and even passable tactical lights if so desired. In my experience they are just good honest do it all lights.

I don't have the equipment or skills to properly show beam shots but any of these lights beams can be found online.

Take care, Shoot Safe and try not to blind yourself.

Chris

I've been eyeing that ProTac 1L-1AA light. I've seen a few reviews on YouTube and they all have good things to say. I really like the battery versatility.

I've used Surefire, Fenix, 4Sevens, and Streamlight. 4Sevens was my favorite, but they're no longer in business.

I'm currently using a Nitecore MT1A. 180 lumen max output with a single AA battery. Nice, compact light. Mine is set up with max output and a lower setting with a twist of the head. I think it was about $35. My only real gripe is that the pocket clip sucks. It'll pop off just from looking at it (ok...maybe a slight exaggeration). I end up just sticking it in my pocket, sans clip, which is not ideal for me.

How's the clip on the 1L-1AA? I like the dual-position nature of the clip.

If it doesn’t have a control ring I no longer consider it. I hate having 10 different UI’s and not knowing if it needs two clicks to full power or press and hold or one long click and then two short, does this one hold last setting or revert to low etc...

On off with one button and a control ring for brightness. As a side benefit I can change to brightness before I even turn it on so I don’t ruin my night vision if I last had it on full blast outside.

It takes the UI out of the equation and then I can focus on beam type only.

I'm a big fan of the Streamlight Protac 1L-1AA. I carry one everyday. Great light with a great warranty. I just purchased one of the Protac 90 also.

Some folks don’t like the clip on the standard 1L-1AA but I generally like it. I have used it on a ballcap, in a pocket etc. no problems on my end.

The Fenix E12 is a good alternative for less money. 3 brightness levels selected by tail cap switch.