Streamlight 88033 ProTac 2AA-X 270-Lumen Flashlight, Black

I've used a major competitor's brand of black, twist-to-turn-on 2xAA-powered flashlights (both LED and incandescent) for decades. However, I had regular reliability issues with that brand where the light would either flicker, be very dim, or go out entirely. Clearly, I needed something different. I've used other Streamlights as weapon lights for a while and really like them. I also have a larger, rechargeable LED flashlight that is very bright and very useful, but a bit thick. My requirements were fourfold: 1. Use 2xAA batteries, and function well with NiMH rechargeable batteries. 2. Be robust and durable, and be able to withstand drops, bumps, etc. 3. Have a pushbutton switch on the tailcap rather than a twist-to-turn on switch. 4. Have a bright "high" mode" and a usable "low" mode with a much longer battery life. This light fits all those requirements. The high mode runs for about two hours and produces 250 lumens, which is plenty bright. The low mode produces 18 lumens, which sounds like not a lot, but is perfect for when I'm out walking the dog or needing to shine some light on something in the house. It's a perfectly satisfactory amount of light for most purposes, and it'll run for nearly two days on low on a single set of batteries. I use the low mode more than the high mode. I typically use eneloop NiMH rechargeable AA batteries (they don't leak and can be used thousands of times!) and they work very well with this light. I don't use the flashing strobe light function, but I can see how it would be very useful for signalling or disorienting someone (my kids have turned on the strobe and shined it at me, and it is indeed very disorienting). The light is thin enough to slip into a jeans pocket without discomfort, and the clip holds the light securely to the pocket while still being easy to slide it out. Flat segments on the front portion of the light's housing prevent it from rolling on most flat surfaces, which is nice. It's withstood two kids under 10 beating on it for a while, everyday use in my pocket in a laboratory, and a variety of other hostile environments without any complaint or issues. The "TEN TAP" configuration option is useful for changing between the three operating modes: high/strobe/low, high only, and low/high. Personally, I wish there were three additional modes: high/low/strobe (so I don't have to skip past the strobe to get to low), low only, and low/high/strobe (so I can start in low and switch to high while still having the option for strobe). I normally just keep it on high/strobe/low. In short, it's a fantastic light and I recommend it.

I bought a ProTac 2AA in January of 2013, so it is now over three years old. I have carried it in my pocket (with key chains, pocket knives, and, at one time, a book) nearly every day for that entire time. I have turned it on for some period of time every day. Its paint is partially worn off; the tactical edge on the end of the flashlight has been worn smooth; and it has been through an untold number of batteries. And guess what? IT IS STILL WORKING! What’s more is that it still doesn’t show any signs of quitting. Listed below are some pros and cons of the ProTac 2AA: Pros: • It is made from aircraft aluminum, so, by itself, it weighs next to nothing. • It is blindingly bright, and thankfully, it uses cheap AA batteries, instead of the expensive CR123 lithium batteries used by some of the other ProTac series flashlights. • The rubber button can be used easily with one hand and has never cracked or had any problems. • It really is water resistant. It has gotten drenched many times while in my pocket, yet that has never caused it any trouble. To ensure that the flashlight stays water resistant, I always grease the O-ring with silicone lubricant when I change the batteries. • While the pocket clip can be taken off without much difficulty, it has never fallen off of the flashlight. By the way, when I take the clip off and set the light down, it does not roll away, due to the flat areas on the barrel. Cons (there are very few of these): • The battery life is not exceptional, but Streamlight improved it when they added the ten-tap tail switch. • While useful for storing the flashlight, the included holster is uncomfortable, so I never wear it. The tail switch is neither a pro, nor a con. At first, it may seem difficult and clumsy to use; but when you get used to it, the switch becomes the most versatile part of the flashlight. Occasionally, if the tail switch is not screwed on tight enough, the flashlight will fail to come on. After I had owned my ProTac 2AA for about two years, my father bought two for himself. These had the new Ten-Tap tail switch. Mine was made before the Ten-Tap technology. These new switches are more useful than the old ones. Read the instructions on Streamlight’s website at [...], so you can understand what the new switches do, as it is somewhat confusing. This is a very long flashlight. If you intend to wear it in your pocket, that pocket will need to be at least five inches deep. If your pockets are too shallow, there may be some other flashlight in the ProTac series (such as the 1AA, 1L, or 2L) that will work. I would strongly recommend this to anyone needing a bright and durable flashlight for their house, car, boat, etc.

I've owned this since oct 9th 2013, and it has served me well. I ALMOST sent it back due to the strobe function until I learned I could program it. I was glad to get the newer model at the higher lumen ratings as well. Programming is simple and easy to do. THE FIRST LIGHT EVER to come with a LOW -- HIGH setting. No silly SOS or strobes or blinding light to click through. It is one of the only lights to produce factory stated lumen ratings. You need high dollar batteries, but this thing is brighter than most "Tactical" flashlights on my friend's firearms, and has better battery life. I would NOT put this on a firearm though. It is not as big as you would imagine, you get used to carrying it, and when you need it, you are very glad it is there. I work outdoors as very often late into the night, so this light gets heavy everyday use. It is nice to have 150Lu on tap when you think you hear a bear or intruder at night!!! The high mode is actually BLINDING at close range and would truly put off an aggressor/attacker/intruder/enemy/wildlife. The 'throw' on this light reaches out close to 75 yards with decent flood, outstanding even for a light that would be using 18560 or cr123 cells. This thing DEVOURS batteries on the high setting, probably less than 30 minutes on high before dimming with standard alkaline batteries. Be prepared to spend some money on some high end rechargeables as it will save you a-lot if you use this light often. The low setting will stay on for days on end with no dimming, making this an outstanding emergency tool. I had spun out on the ice while towing at night and this light was used to avoid an accident by using the strobe function by laying on the pavement as a roadflare. I have dropped it, slapped it against brick walls, fell onto rocks with it in my pocket, dropped it into water(accidentally to 4+ feet while on) and put it though more use than most people will in a lifetime. It has not failed, nor started the infamous "flicker" problem associated with most high output LED lights. It will eventually break and I am very certain of this, but it has laster longer than any light I have ever owned, even my lights that cost over 4x as much eventually give into my demanding use.(Fenix, surefire, wolfeyes) Things I don't like: 1. The pocket clip needs to be modified as the finish on the light is so slick (teflon?!) and it WILL fall out of your pocket. 2. The clicky button on the back bulges out a bit preventing it from being able to 'tailstand' 3. The finish on the light is very slippery and has not stood up well. I recommend a thin layer of grip tape. 4. Although it is feasible to use this in tactical scenarios and may even do a better job than most, please stop labeling everything "tactical" it is silly on an every day carry light such as this. I only waited this long to reveille it because, for some reason, I was absolutely sure this light would break. I was wrong, and am going to buy two more. The price is right and justifies a 5 star+ rating despite the slight flaws with this light. I hope SureFire and other companies catch onto this concept of cheap and rugged.

This is an outstanding light. 120 Lumens for 1 hour 15 min hours. 120 Lumens of strobe for 4 hours. 14 Lumens for 21 hours. All of this on extremely common AA Batteries! This is the perfect ECD light for me as it fits in pocket of dress pants or jeans with a great clip. Comes with a very nice vinyl sheath with velcro cover. I don't use the cover normally but have it mounted on a pack for easy access for overnight camps or day hikes. All aluminum body and great finish on this light instill confidence and the design is great. I have had this for a little over a month now and have carried it every day. I have dropped in on the concrete, off the counter and this little light hasn't had a single issue. The function and ergonomics of this light are great. The light switch on the back is sealed rubber and it's easy to learn how to switch modes with a little practice. The light is slim but is not a pen light. The bezel and lens housing and the rear switch housing are a little smaller in diameter than a quarter while the body tapers in the middle to approximately dime size diameter. You can hold this light in many ways to serve your purpose. One bonus I like is that it serves well with a "hammer" type grip in the middle. Bezel on the front and back are not sharpened but are notched. This in combination with the high strobe feature would be effective in self defense if needed. I really use this light for every day tasks like looking around the yard when I take the dogs out, on night time dog walks (the strobe is a great safety feature in this capacity and alerts oncoming vehicles of your presence), looking in tight spots where big lights can't go. I have huge Mag lights and mini-mags galore, but this is one light that has replaced them all and is way more functional, powerful and useful than all of my other lights combined. No expensive 123 batteries to buy just load up AA's and you are good. This light is a total bargain at around $40. These will be going out at Christmas Gifts! Review update: Had this for several months now. This has become my EDC light and is used for just about every task that needs any flashlight. Use this every day, some days more than others. I have changed the batteries once in this light and still great function. One of the best values around! No regrets at all.

Good light for the money. High mode is pretty darn bright. Not crazy bright like some of the more exotic offerings out there, but considering that it runs on plain old double-A batteries it's great. Lights up a room, or even the backyard, quite well. The beam throws a good distance too without the light being concentrated into a small dot. The amount of spill works well for this light. A medium-wide pattern I guess. It is way too bright for anything close up though. That's where the low mode really shines. It is perfect for looking into dark nooks and crannies without excess light relecting back into your eyes. Switching between modes is fast and easy. It takes a few tries to get used to but it quickly becomes second nature. Stobe mode is useless for my needs however. The programmable feature that allows you to disable it welcomed. I really like the size, feel and weight. It is comfortable to handle, but could benifit from some knurling in key areas. I wouldn't say that it is slick, but some more texture might make it feel more substantial. On first glance I thought it might be a bit large for pocket carry, but that has not been the case. It goes with me everywhere. It rides in my pocket all day everyday. I dont notice that it is there much more than I did with the smaller Stylus Pro that I had before this. It may be a different story if you're into those tight hipster pants, idk, I can't imagine much of anything being comfortable to carry in those. Solid construction, just like all Streamlights. Mine gets dropped and banged about all the time at. No ill effects. Just some minor cosmetic wear. Battery life has been more than adequate for how I use it. I get a month or more, maybe six weeks, of use with quality AAs. I use both high and low modes anywhere from a just few, to dozens of times a day, but usually just for short periods. For an outdoors or "survival" tool I might go with something with a longer rated burn time. For use at work, and normal day to day tasks, this is just fine. AA batteries are cheap and easy to find too. One minor annoyance is that when on low it emmits a very high frequency flicker. Normally it goes unnoticed, but I can see it strobe when observing fast moving machinery parts like spinning shafts. It doesn't do it on high. Oh, and many of the problems that people describe here are simply due to a loose tail cap. Most modern flashlights conduct through the aluminum body to the cap. A loose fit results in an intermittent connection. I know, simple, but many folks can't comprehend basic troubleshooting and just call it junk. It is always somebody else's fault, right? Give your tail cap a twist every now and then. It will work fine.

ProTac 2AAA: I had owned the ProTac 2AA for 7 years of daily use, but lost it somewhere and it hasn’t shown up in a month so I bought a replacement. I decided to drop down in size to the 2AAA, 20 lumens on low, 150 lumens on high. I prefer the Low-High program. I’ll tell you what this little light surprised me. I find low is perfect for most tasks, high is needed for better reach. The throw is only good to about 50 yrds. I can shine my barn at 100 yrds away but can see minimal details. But for work I’m not shining stuff more than 20-30 feet usually, most is within 5ft. I would call this a fantastic inspection light, stuff about 10-15ft away like equipment lights up great. That’s all I need it for so it’s my EDC. Much more comfortable to carry in shirt pocket compared to 2AA. I bought the 2AAA and Thrunite ti4 at the same time, I expected to love the ti4 and have the 2AAA as my back up. I ordered the natural white (vs cool white). I hated the light so much I’m returning it and it’s first time I have ever returned anything from amazon. The natural white on the ti4 was way too amber, wood looked yellow, drywall looked like a heavy smoker lived there, I couldn’t do it. I wanted to exchange it for the cool white but can’t do that, I have to return the one and buy another. I like the 2AAA so much I ordered a 3AAA Dualie from Streamlight instead to have around the house. I don’t like firefly mode, too dim. Didn’t care for having to click twice for low and 3 to get high. High is brighter than the 2AAA but was more of a flood, I thought I would prefer that which I didn’t really. The run times on the ti4 were a good bit shorter also. I get free batteries but don’t want to carry extra batteries with the light lol. I liked the ti4 clicker a bit better than the 2AAA’s clicker which I found to be pretty stiff. All in all the ti4 is going back and 2AAA will stay for a very long time. I still expect my 2AA to show back up but I think it’s the 150 lumens version, they have upgraded it since to 250 lumens and 18 lumens low will run over 40 hours. 2AAA low is 15 hours. The 3AA dually is 175 lumens and will run 15 hours on high! I had my eye on the LED Survivor but I’m not trying to horde lights here lol. I have other 2AA lights I don’t use one is EagleTac and bushnell. Both good lights just not EDC for me. I’m not a Prepper but when I found lithium ion batteries have a shelf life of 20 years I ordered 48 energizer ultra lithium batteries and a 500 S&W ammo case to keep them in. $65 investment that has a shelf life of 20 years, when I need AA batteries for lights I’ll have them now since all but one light runs off AA’s. I have done that purposely over the years so I don’t have to buy 15 types of batteries.

Just picked this up for work. I am a professional mechanic and a bright light is mandatory for diagnosing problems. About the only thing I wanted to point out is the fact other reviews fail to point out the "10 Tap Technology" feature of this light. If you read the directions, you will see that tapping the tail cap button quickly 9 times, and holding it on the tenth, changes the function of the light. It is factory set to go from high, to strobe, to low, 10 tapping it then changes it to high only, and then 10 tapping again changes it to low then high. So, all the complaints about the strobe function are null and void. Just turn it off. The low/high function is what I set mine to, as the strobe is an unneeded function in my situation. I may later change it to just high, depending on how bright the low setting is for my application. Now, as far as I can see, the light is bright, it is well made, and I am happy with it. It comes with a pocket clip and a carry pouch. I haven't put it to work yet, but from what I can see it is a flashlight, and it does what it is supposed to do, brightly... Just to update.. this light is so awesome. Use it constantly, and it is so bright. I have dropped it a couple times, wth no issue. After about 3 weeks of almost constant use, I changed batteries one time. I used the 10 tap to switch to high only. On one occasion, the light was so bright I couldn't see what I was doing. The pocket clip keeps it secure in my pocket. It is small enough to check brake pads with the wheels on, and it shines brightly to the rear wheels from the front ones. It was worth every penny...

I have had this flashlight for 6 months. I was looking for a good tactical light with a concentrated beam and a low setting. I have a couple of the shorter, but wider, drugstore type "9 LED" flashlights. They were nice, but they threw a wide beam and didn't go past 60 feet. This flashlight has a much more concentrated, powerful beam than others. It also has two output settings(high/low) and a strobe setting. I suppose that is what makes a tactical flashlight 'tactical'. The main reason I bought this was for the concentrated beam on high setting. At a distance of 60 feet(the distance to the beginning of the woods from the back porch), it produces a powerful circle of light with a diameter of about... 12 to 15 feet. This is an estimate, because I've never actually measured the beam. The important thing is that it lights it up! I can actually see the edge of the woods at night without walking off my porch, which is awesome. The strike bezels on the ends of the light (called the "crenelated bezel") aren't as pronounced as I've seen on other tactical lights. I like the low profile look of the bezels on this light over more pronounced ones. I've also found that the size of the flashlight is good for poking around the engine of the car. This light replaced my 1-WATT Led Metal Flashlight by Energizer as my primary one the day it came in the mail. I am very pleased with the light output, size and durability. I honestly can't think of a bad thing to say about it. If your looking for a strong, durable and small tactical light that runs on AA batteries, I would definitely recommend this.

Quite powerful for the size of the torch.

Linterna de muy buena calidad con varios modos de iluminación. El cuerpo es robusto con acabados perfectos y el botón también se nota que es de buena calidad, no es como las típicas linternas que venden en grandes superficies o gasolineras. Merece la pena pagar ese extra

Un po 'caro ma vale la pena comprare. Una torcia è una di quelle cose che devono funzionare ogni volta che è necessario. Combina questa torcia con le batterie al litio Energizer Ultimate per una lunga durata senza scarica e nessuna perdita che nel peggiore dei casi può distruggere la torcia e nella migliore delle ipotesi rende la luce inutile senza batterie di ricambio. È uno strumento fantastico e uno strumento di emergenza. Inoltre, sembra essere un vero Streamlight non una contraffazione.

This light is exactly what I wanted for edc. I had the streamlight stylus pro last time, but found it was not bright enough. This new pro tac is much brighter, throws farther and still fits in any pocket comfortably. The battery life in low, which is good enough for most circumstances, is great. In high mode it's still good for it being a small light. In high mode it shines as bright as I need it too, about 3 times brighter then stylus pro. The build of this light is great, feels of quality, and the recessed programmable button clicks tightly and securely. The programming ten tap function is a great thing as well. I like that I can chose what the button function does. I will say, this is my new edc and my stylus pro lasted 4 years, I hope to see that service life from this light. Great little light.

This light is a great value -- great price, uses AA batteries instead of wimpy AAA's or expensive lithiums, selectable between super-bright and power-saving modes, and the strobe. I spend a lot of time camping and hiking and this light easily sits in my backpack or in my pants pocket ready to go at a moment's notice. The included holster case is a nice touch too. People are always surprised and impressed at how bright this little light can get. It's bright enough even to use in broad daylight to illuminate cavities between rocks, under tree branches, and so on. (Yes, I'm a geocacher - can you tell?) I don't recommend doing this, but I've even used the tactical face of the flashlight to chip away at some ice. (Again - geocaching!) The only thing that would make this light perfect (in my opinion) would be a variable-dimmer function instead of a 3-mode switch, but at least the switch lets you "half click" to get the mode you want before you fully click to lock it in. No need to click, click, click, click, just to turn the thing on and cycle your way to the mode you want. There are flashlights with better specs -- brighter, longer run time, longer throw, more modes -- but look at how bulky they are and look at how much they cost. This flashlight is nearly perfect!