Single AAA flashlights have been of great interest to me of late, so much so that I spent days torturing a bunch of inexpensive 5mm LED AAA lights in another forum – just to see how the lights would hold up under the abuse.
AAA lights have a lot going for them – batteries are cheap and plentiful; the lights are often inexpensive and rugged; run times are relatively long; the lights are small enough to have in your pocket, on your keyring, or just about anywhere. Just like any other tool or a firearm, the one you have with you when you need it is the most useful!
So the timing was perfect when Streamlight offered up their Protac 1AAA light for evaluation.
The details:

• Features Ten-Tap® Programming – Choose from three user selectable programs:
  1.) high/strobe/low (factory default); 2.) high only; 3.) low/high
• C4® LED illumination output and run times:
  • High for bright light: 70 lumens; 550 candela peak beam intensity; runs 30 minutes (alkaline); runs 2.25 hours (lithium)
  • Low for a less intense beam and longer run time: 5 lumens; 40 candela peak beam intensity; runs 11 hours (alkaline); runs 22 hours (lithium)
  • Strobe for disorienting or signaling: runs 1.2 hours (alkaline); runs 5 hours (lithium)
• Includes nylon holster and one “AAA” alkaline battery (holster alternately accepts one “AA” lithium battery for extended run time)
• Solid State power regulation provides maximum light output throughout battery life
• Rubber push-button tail switch
• Durable, anodized aluminum construction with impact-resistant tempered glass lens
• IPX7 waterproof to 1 meter for 30 minutes; 2 meter impact resistance tested
• Unbreakable pocket clip
• Anti-roll head
• 3.94” (10 cm); 1.3 oz (37 grams)
• RoHS compliant

The light is enclosed in an easy to open clamshell plastic package, and includes the already mentioned holster, battery and a pre-attached clip.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For what it’s worth, my integrating sphere confirmed the “high” level output at 70 lumen on a fresh Duracell AAA battery. The beam is shaped nicely the tint is free of the angry ‘blue’ that so many of these small lights have.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

View of the Cree emitter

This light is really small for my large hands, but the raised tail switch boot makes it easy to operate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The clip has a solid friction attachment, but can be removed easily for those who prefer no clip.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This would make a nice, reliable backup light. List price is $48 and the light can be readily found in the $30 range online. It is on the upper end of the range for AAA lights, but value is in the eyes of the purchaser.