Customer Reviews

Streamlight 88102 TL-2 2-Lithium Xenon Tactical Flashlight, Black

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Wow! I just bought this light from Amazon a couple of weeks ago and now there's been a price reduction that makes it an even better deal.

Streamlight produces well-made and well-respected lights at a reasonable price. In the area of "cop-lights", they compete with SureFire. SureFire is probably the number one flashlight for military/law enforcement applications but Streamlight is right up there with them in quality and function. Streamlights are usually a little bit lower in price.

The TL-2 is a basic "tactical" light. It's an incandescent light with a focusable beam and a tailcap momentary-on switch that can be locked on by twisting the tailcap down. The ability to focus the light is really not very important. What you really do is de-focus the beam to spread it out a little and what you also get is a dark hole in the middle. Forget the focus application. Focus it to a bright center beam and use the spill for the surrounding area.

The TL-2 uses a Xenon bulb. It's very powerful and it puts out a lot of light--more than my 3D-cell Maglites in a size you can hold in the palm of your hand. The trade-off for the power is that the batteries in the TL-2 will have a shorter lifespan. And the 123A batteries are pretty expensive if you buy them at Walmart or Walgreen's. Order them online. There are several sources that offer them at substantial discounts.

Xenon bulbs will burn out over time and will need to be replaced. There's a spare in the TL-2 head, behind the silver cap. That's nice to have access to a spare because you know the bulb will blow at the most inopprotune time.

The body of the flashlight is aluminum. It has raised, coarse alligator skin cleats that give you a very grippy surface. It has a removeable pocket clip that I find handy. It has a cord you can attach to the clip that I find useless.

Streamlight also has an LED version of this light. Actually, I think there are three generations of the TL-2 LED light. I have the second generation model. It's not quite as bright as the Xenon-bulb model but I like the quality and color of the LED model's beam a bit more. The current generation LED TL-2 is advertised to be about the same power as the Xenon model but it costs more. The LED model has the upper hand in the fact that you will never need to change the bulb, the batteries will last longer and the LED is almost impervious to shock. Overall an LED light will be more economical in the long run, however, the standard TL-2 is now selling for about half the price of of the TL-2 LED. For the price, you will not be disappointed.

I've used this since October 2007 as my EDC (every day carry) light, and I don't think I'll ever need another make or model of handheld flashlight.

Batteries seem to have lasted longer than an hour (non-continuous), as bright as I need in almost all situations, rugged as anyone could ask for... the only situation I haven't had to use it in is a tactical one. Maybe someday.

Use this as primary light. The light is fantastic. It's extremely small, lightweight and super bright with superb throw. Adjustable focus beam works well and is a nice little option that the Surefires don't have. Has the momentary tail switch and turn to steady on, which is good, thought I'd miss the click on switch but I don't. Housing is good and durable but does scratch when it gets banged around, which doesn't bother me. Has a spare bulb in tailcap as well.

I prefer disposables rather than rechargeable batteries, cause when you're using your flashlight for extended hours in the middle of the night you're very rarely in a situation where you have your charger and can charge the light. Much rather have a spare set of CR123 batteries on hand, and if you buy them in bulk there only around $1.50 a piece.

Got mine for around $46 shipped