PDB Tested: Streamlight

Every boater has their preferences and that includes an opinion on what the ideal flashlight on board should be. Some prefer a spotlight for long distance viewing of channel markers and hazards in the water at night, while others would rather have a more traditional flashlight for on-board use. Don’t worry: there’s not a wrong answer. This is where Streamlight comes in with a wide variety of lights that are sure to please any boater.

We recently tested the ProTac HL 5-X flashlight as well as the Waypoint 300 Spotlight. We selected these two lights because they’re both rechargeable, waterproof and seemed to be a great fit for boaters. After a thorough testing, we found we were right. Boaters will love either.

Starting with the ProTac HL 5-X flashlight, we love the feel of it in your hands. At nearly 10 inches long it weighs in at 1 pound, 3.4 ounces and is IPX7 waterproof. It can be easily stowed in a helm glovebox or even under a seat, but you’ll want to keep the super bright 3,500 lumen flashlight close by. To charge the flashlight, the two Streamlight SL-B26 protected Li-Ion USB rechargeable battery packs need to be removed first and then the dual cord plugs directly into the batteries. The tactical flashlight has three user selectable programs including high/strobe/low, high only, and low/medium/high. The run time on low in over 11 hours, high is 1.25 hours with the flashlight retailing for $183.75.

The lightweight, rechargeable Waypoint 300 spotlight shines bright, producing 1,000 lumens with a far-reaching 3,400-foot beam! Its portability and long runtime make it perfect for boaters and it will even float for easy retrieval if dropped into the water. The pistol-grip spotlight has three modes, high, medium and low, with the run times varying from 3.75 hours to 87 hours. The yellow and black spotlight is powered by a rechargeable lithium ion battery that fully recharges in 4 hours while retailing for $214.20.

Product 90
Portable 20/20
Function 46/50
Durability 9/10
Design 8/10
Price 7/10