Preface
The Streamlight ProTac 90 is Streamlight’s newest Dual-Fuel (1 x AA OR 1 x CR123A battery) model from their ProTac series.
The “90” is most probably referencing to the 90° angle (Right Angle) that is one of the main highlights of this new model.
Let’s check out the merits and demerits of this new Streamlight ProTac 90 model.
Packaging & First Impressions
This is what the light will come with as shown below.
- The threads and o-rings were mildly lubricated. Threads were fairly smooth and clean (no gritty feeling).
- The “head” switch (switch is located at a 45° angle) requires a somewhat firm and deliberate press to activate and helps in preventing any unwanted activation of the light.
- Anodizing of the light is uniform without any missing specs.
- Clip is not reversible. However, the dual-direction pocket clip enables for bezel up/down carries & allows for attachment of the light to a cap, MOLLE or other gears for hands-free usage.
- The pocket clip has sufficient tension to ensure that the light will stay clipped to any material to prevent the light from falling out.
- Holster provided is of fairly decent quality and should withstand day-to-day abuse without issue.
- When placed in the holster, the flashlight is angled for quick activation when needed, without having to remove from the holster.
- Battery compartment holds the provided non-proprietary Streamlight CR123A battery with sufficient room for a slightly thicker battery width.
- Battery compartment holds the provided non-proprietary Energiser AA Alkaline with sufficient room for a slightly thicker battery width.
- The battery compartment’s positive terminal is spring-loaded and will compress accordingly to accommodate the extra length of the AA battery (when compared to the CR123A battery).
Front:
Back:
Box Contents:
Quick Overview (Manufacturer Specifications)
- Body Material: Black HAIII Aluminium
- LED: Cree XP-G2
- Battery Format: 1 x AA (1.2V NiMH rechargeable/1.5V lithium primary batteries/1.5V alkaline [not recommended]) or 1 x CR123A ONLY
- Output & Runtime [with 1 x AA Alkaline battery / 1 x AA Lithium (1.5V) battery / 1 x CR123A battery]:
- Low – (40 lumens / 8h 15min) / (40 lumens / 15h) / (40 lumens / 14h)
- High – (125 lumens / 2h 45min) / (125 lumens / 5h 30min) / (300 lumens / 1h 45min)
- Strobe – (3h 30min) / (8h) / (2.5h)
- Max Beam Distance: 93m / 93m / 147m
- Beam intensity: 2,150cd / 2,150cd / 5,400cd
- Waterproofness: IPX-7 Standard (1m)
- Impact Resistance: 2m
- Dimension: 96mm (length) x 21.8mm (body diameter) / 26.7mm (head diameter)
- Weight: 88g (including 1 x AA Alkaline battery) / 77g (including 1 x AA Lithium battery) / 78g (including 1 x CR123A battery)
- Accessories Included:
- 1*Streamlight CR123A 1400mAh battery
- 1*Energiser AA Alkaline battery
- 1*Dual-direction (2 Way) Clip
- 1*Holster
- MSRP: ~$47
UI (User Interface)
UI for this light is perfect for Every Day Carry (EDC) or Bug-Out Bag (BOB) light as it is extremely simple and straightforward to use.
Switching ON and OFF is done by the head mechanical switch on the light, so momentary activation is possible.
Normal Operation
From OFF:
- 1 * 1/2 Press – Direct access to MOMENTARY MODE 1.
- 1 Click – Direct access to MODE 1.
- 2 * 1/2 Press (<~0.4 secs between each Press) – Direct access to MOMENTARY MODE 2; Full Press to select MODE 2.
- 3 * 1/2 Press (<~0.4 secs between each Press) – Direct access to MOMENTARY MODE 3; Full Press to select MODE 3.
From ON:
- 1 Click – Light will switch OFF.
Mode Programs Configuration Options
The modes are configurable with the following 3 Programs.
- HIGH – STROBE – LOW -> HIGH – STROBE – LOW (Factory Default)
- HIGH only
- LOW – HIGH -> LOW – HIGH
Note: for illustration, in the Factory Default Program (Program 1) – MODE 1 is HIGH, MODE 2 is STROBE and MODE 3 is LOW.
Mode Programs Configuration (Streamlight’s TEN-TAP Programmable Switch)
To switch between the 3 Programs, carry out the following steps.
- From OFF, 1/2 Press the switch 9 times (<~0.4 secs between each Press).
- HOLD the switch on the 10th time till the flashlight switches OFF.
- The light is now in Program 2 (assuming that the light was in Program 1 before Step 1).
- Repeat Step 1 & 2 to get the light into Program 3.
Form Factor
For flashlights that are intended to use on a daily basis (EDC)/tactical EDC or BOB and for possibly a long period of time, form factor is extremely important.
This light feels well balanced (not head/tail-heavy) and the body portion fits perfectly in a clenched medium sized hand, leaving the thumb to fall exactly onto the 45° angled switch for fast & easy activation. The removable dual direction (2-way) clip can rotate fairly easily in its groove, to allow for easier orientation of the flashlight when attached to a cap, pocket, MOLLE or other gears.
When placed in the provided holster, the flashlight can be activated when needed, whilst still holstered.
The light will tail-stand without any issue.
Beam Style/Beamshots
For this light, the spill, corona and hotspot is somewhat predictable due to the TIR (Total Internal Reflection) optic. The LED is fully covered under the TIR optics. With the LED used, the beam is still sufficiently “throwy” for recognizing items in the up-close to near range distance.
The above beam profile is a rough interpretation of what is seen when white wall hunting. The beam has a circular hotspot with some slight corona and some spill (almost all of the beam produced is focused into the hotspot). It also helps that the LED is perfectly centred in this sample. There are some beam artifacts in the beam when whitewall hunting but not visible in real world usage.
All of the beamshots taken below are done so with the following camera settings ([ProTac 90 (1 x AA Battery)] LOW: 0.6sec, F3.5, ISO100, 5000K WB and HIGH: 1/3sec, F3.5, ISO100, 5000K WB / [ProTac 90 (1 x CR123A Battery)] LOW: 0.6sec, F3.5, ISO100, 5000K WB and HIGH: 1/5sec, F3.5, ISO100, 5000K WB).
Some pictures have been adjusted slightly to depict as close as to what is seen in real life. The distance of the light from the door is 4.6m.
ProTac 90 (1 x AA Battery)
Control shot:
LOW (40 lumens):
HIGH (125 lumens):
ProTac 90 (1 x CR123A Battery)
Control shot:
LOW (40 lumens):
HIGH (300 lumens):
Mode (Output) Spacing
Mode spacing appears to be progressively brighter to the eye and the modes are well spaced enough to be able to know which mode one is currently in. With that in mind, TLR tend to view mode spacing as battery life indicators (amount of runtime left) rather than the specific output (lumens).
Since this light isn’t marketed for indoor usage only, it is somewhat understandable that the “LOW” mode (40 lumens) is fairly bright in terms of output. That said, a lower “LOW” of around 25 – 35 lumens region would increase usability for up-close usage and increase runtime at the same time.
When using 1 x AA battery, the maximum output automatically drops from 300 lumens (when using 1 X CR123A battery) to 125 lumens.
Tint & CRI
Streamlight did not disclose the tint (color temperature) and/or the CRI (Color Rendering Index) for the LED used in their light. For this light, a guesstimate would be in the 6000K and 70CRI ballpark.
There are tint shifts throughout the beam profile. The hotspot is almost cool white whilst the corona possess a slight yellow-green tint; and the spill having a slight purple tint.
This is however, not as noticeable in real life.
Waterproofness
The light was subjected to warm water submersion, followed by cold water submersion and left under room temperature running water tap whilst running on HIGH.
No signs of water intrusion in the head, switch or tailcap was seen.
Lockout Capability
No electronic lockout but mechanical lockout is possible when needed, like during transportation in a bag.
A quarter turn (anti-clockwise) of the tailcap will enable mechanical LOCKOUT.
Scale Comparison (Ruler)
Summary
To sum up, we believe that the most important part of any review is if given the chance to purchase the same light for our own usage or to gift to our loved ones out from one’s pocket (wallet), would we still do it?
For this light, it is a definite YES, if the tint shift is not an issue for your usage.
The configurable 3 program modes, momentary mode option, dual fuel (1 x AA or 1 x CR123A battery) compatibility, ergonomic 90° Angle Light and dual direction (2-way) clip are all plus points for this flashlight.
However, as mentioned earlier, this flashlight could use a lower “LOW” mode for more up-close usage and further improved runtimes.
Here are some of the other flashlight options that uses CR123A or AA batteries.
From Left to Right: Foursevens Mini MKIII, Olight S1R II Baton, Oveready Ti BOSS 35, Streamlight ProTac 90, Okluma Ti DC1, ReyLight Ti Lan V3, Fenix LD12 2017 and ASP Guardian AA DF.
Here’s another bonus size comparison with another of Streamlight’s new model: Streamlight Siege X USB.
As with all gears, two is one and one is none.
Stay safe,
The Lite Review
Disclaimer: Lights & batteries were provided for by Streamlight (manufacturer) for this review. No other compensation was provided.
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Streamlight ProTac 90
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