Shout out to Streamlight

Faulkner

Faulkner

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Arkansas Ozarks
In this day and time of throw away stuff, I usually don't mind laying down a few bucks for quality flashlights, especially one I depend on when on duty. Last week my three year old Streamlight Sidewinder flashlight just quit working. It worked one day fine, would not come on the next. A change of batteries didn't help, and couldn't see anything obvious to keep it from working.

I got on-line at the Streamlight web page and found the warranty instructions, applied for a return request authorization, boxed it up and mailed it off. A couple of days later I got an email from Streamlight saying they'd received it. Next day, I got an email from Streamlight saying a package was on it's way back and they provided a tracking number. A couple of days after that the package showed up, and inside was a brand new Sidewinder with a note saying they were replacing it free of charge.

I sent a thank you email to Streamlight letting them know their customer service was appreciated.


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I am another huge fan of Streamlight.
I have an authorized service center near me. A couple years ago, I had a penlight die on me. I took it to the service center thinking they’d have to send it in for warranty. Instead, they tested it on site and sent me away with a brand new light.
Total time was roughly 5 minutes. :cool:
 
Dave I will ask you—I was going to write Randy and ask him—what is the special function of the sidewinder light verses a regular flashlight? Is it to clip on your hat or clothes? Use as a headlamp? Or maybe use it freestanding like a shop light? I watched the product video and frankly couldn’t figure it out.
 
Streamlight makes some good lights.
I also have a Sidewinder I got when running fires. I like the swivel head and strobe feature which was good to have for emergencies.
Weapon lights, pocket lights they’re all good.

I just saw 6518John’s question above.
All your points are valid and I liked it for putting it’s very strong clip in my outside chest pocket with lens pointing forward which kept both hands free.
 
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6518John said:
Dave I will ask you—I was going to write Randy and ask him—what is the special function of the sidewinder light verses a regular flashlight? Is it to clip on your hat or clothes? Use as a headlamp? Or maybe use it freestanding like a shop light? I watched the product video and frankly couldn’t figure it out.
Click to expand...

I wear my Sidewinder clipped to my uniform epaulet (shoulder strap) so that I can use the light hands free while on traffic stops at night. I can read driver's license, insurance cards, registrations, and see the driver's hands without having to hold a light in my hands. It's unique shape and swivel head works great in this application.

I still have a Streamlight Stinger on my belt if I need it.
 
A bit over a decade ago our new chief replaced our magchargers with the Streamlight Stinger LED. I was initially opposed to that move but changed my mind after a couple of months of use. The streamlight proved to be a better all around light (though not as good as an impact tool). I have a Protac 1L-1AA that's been clipped in my pants pocket as an EDC for two years. A tough and bright little light.
 
Another fan of Streamlight here. I carried a Stylus in my shirt pocket at work for many years. I carry a Microstream in my pants pocket as part of my everyday gear. Both have proven their worth many times over. ;)
 
I have had a Streamlight PT2AA for several years. Although it has not been subjected to heavy duty use or rugged conditions, it has performed well. I would buy another if I needed to do so. It is good to hear of Faulkner's experience with the warranty, just in case. Quality matters.
 
I carried a Stinger for 10 years, until the bulbs got hard to find. I now carry a Strion LED. No more bulbs to change!
Streamlight always had a better charging system than Maglite.
They are the best
 
I understand......in fact my dept ,by policy limits flashlights carried on duty to small ones , even going so far as to list them by name(strion,Stinger etc.)to prevent beat downs like the one described!
We do have batons though..............
 
Streamlight flashlights

I have been using Streamlight flashlights since the SL 20 came out in the early 1980's. Have stingers, and their LED lights are even better. I am retired but keep one in each of my vehicles, and one in my night table. I am fortunate in that their factory is right outside Norristown, its less than an hour ride for me. If your light stopped working you just take it back to the factory, sit in the waiting room and its repaired in under an hour, free of charge. They are great people to deal with. I have been retired for 15 years now, but when I retired every police car in Delaware County had a Streamlight and SL charger in their cars. The newer lights get smaller all the time and are brighter than our old lights, so this might not be the case today. The small lights fit right on the guys duty belts.
 
Streamlight Stylus Pro

This just happened a couple of weeks ago, and may be of interest to the group. My garbage disposal in my kitchen sink had locked up and wouldn't run; this is a common occurrence at my house since the disposal sees little use. I grabbed my large screwdriver and stuck it down into the disposal to wedge against one of the impellers to unfreeze the mechanism, but couldn't see the impellers to get the screwdriver in place. I pulled my ever present Streamlight Stylus Pro out of my shirt pocket to put a little light on the subject and... Success! Anyway, while still working with the large screwdriver on the disposal, I attempted to reclip the Stylus into my shirt pocket, but evidently failed to get it clipped in since it was a one-handed attempt (the other hand was still occupied with the screwdriver).

A little later, I went in and grabbed a load of laundry, and unbeknownst to me at the time, the Streamlight fell out of my front shirt pocket and into the load of laundry. Shortly afterward, I missed my Streamlight and searched high and low for it, to no avail. I eventually went in and retrieved my spare. :confused:

It wasn't until the load of laundry completed its heavy duty cycle, and I was in the process of transferring the contents from my front loading washer to my front loading dryer that I discovered my missing Streamlight inside the washer machine! I reached in, picked up the light and pressed the "On" switch. It lit right up! I then dismantled the light thinking there must surely be water inside; nope, dry as a bone!

The Streamlight has continued to function perfectly ever since, just as it had prior to its 1.5 hour bath and spin in my washer machine!

The only signs it has ever been subjected to that abuse is a loss of anodizing on the ends, and a slightly beat up appearance.

Here are a few photos to show the damage:

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I continue to be impressed by this light! :)
 
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