The Streamlight 88040 Pro Tactical Flashlight is one of the highest rated flashlights with a great 4.8 / 5.0 customer rating – and most of this great feedback is because of its 10 tap programmable system, C4 LED technology, high 600 lumen beam, and a reach of over 250 meters.
It is shock proof, is waterproof (1 meter/30 minutes), and comes with limited lifetime warranty. As far as tactical equipment, the ProTac is a handy and powerful tool that’s used by emergency and law enforcement officers, for serious sports, and as a great all-around tool.
Streamlight ProTac 88040HL LED flashlight
The Streamlight ProTac 88040HL LED torch is one of the top-rated flashlights across many websites and reviews. It is a LED flashlight that can be programmed 10 different ways with maximum of 600 lumens (16,000 candela peak beam intensity), 1 hour runtime, and a beam that has a range of over 250 meters.
The torch also has three modes: High, Low, and Strobe. At Low mode, the candela peak beam intensity is at 800 with 18 hours runtime. To switch modes, double click the button which is a little unusual with similarly-priced flashlights. Â It is being sold for around $135 but is usually available at a much lower price and with free shipping in websites like Amazon.
This particular flashlight uses the C4 LED technology. This means that maximum output is consistent up to the time the battery needs to be replaced. It is waterproof of up to 1 meter (IPX7) and has the anti-roll face cap. Of all Streamlight products, ProTac is their brightest.
Although the 88040 doesn’t include any weapons mount, it will fit many of the popular third-party mounts. It comes with with a removable holster and pocket clip. It is ideal for people who work in emergency services, security, law enforcement, and those who love outdoor night sports, DIY projects, and for general house and vehicular use. Part of its appeal is the one-handed operation to switch modes and the tap programmable switch which requires the user to simply tap on the switch to select a program or mode.
Compared to other LED flashlights of similar prices like the GX2, the beam spread of the ProTac is wider which makes it perfect for up close handiwork. On the downside, it won’t do such a good job if you are trying to illuminate an area more than 100 feet away.
The casing of the ProTac is black anodized machined aluminum which makes it heavier than the plastic LED flashlights. It also gets warmer faster than the plastic variety although wear and tear – the ProTac is just as sturdy and tough.
One downside to the ProTac is its pocket clip. The pocket clip tends to be too tight for comfort and it would take some work with a pair of pliers to loosen it a bit. Also, the flashlight has a Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) set-up which means that the LED pulses quickly (130Hz) and often looks dim. This is okay on the strobe and high mode but on the low mode can slow down the frequency too much.
In terms of brightness, the customer reviews of the ProTac say the beam is ‘wicked bright’, ‘insanely bright’, and ‘mad bright’ – which seems to translate to its high 4.8/5.0 ratings and extremely happy customers!
Summary
The Streamlight 88040 Pro Tactical flashlight is really good buy: Not only will it shine brighter than many other similar flashlights in the market, it has the right combination of features that will serve most of your needs.
Top 5 Main Features
- Ten-Tap Programming with 3 modes/functions
- Latest C4 LED Technology with lifespan of 50,000 hours
- Optimized for one handed use
- Waterproof for up to 1 meter, maximum of 30 minutes and 1 meter impact resistance
- Limited lifetime warranty
Physical features
- Size: 5.2 inches (length) x 1.4 inches x 1.4 inches
- Weight: 5.6 ounces, shipping weight is 7.2 ounces
- Battery Type: 2 pieces non-rechargeable CR123A Lithium batteries which is included in the flashlight purchase
- Power/Lumens: 600 lumens on high, 800 on low
- Body Material: Anodized machined aircraft aluminum
- Mounting: none
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