Product Review: Streamlight Sidewinder

I just recently purchased the Streamlight Sidewinder, and all I can say is, "Cool!"

Streamlight claims that the Sidewinder is the most versatile light in the world, and the more I play with mine, the more I tend to believe them. This little light is literally 20 lights in one. There are two versions that you can purchase, but there is only one little difference. One of the versions has an IR (Infra-red) light, and the other has a green light in the IR's place. I purchased the one with the green light, since I currently don't own any night vision devices. The light has 4 LED lights, each with 4 brightness settings, and each with a strobe setting. The different LED's are: white, red, blue, and either IR or green. There is a push button on the side of the angle head that controls everything from on/off function, brightness settings, and to activate the strobe feature. One click simply turns the light on or off, push and hold to adjust the brightness, or simply double click the button to turn on the strobe. The pull and turn rotator on the outside of the push button changes the color of your LED, and is large enough to operate with gloves on.

For me, one of the best features of the Sidewinder is that it requires two AA akaline or lithium batteries. If you remember from one of my previous articles, it is a good idea to have everything run off of the same type of battery. Since my digital camera, GPS, and hand held radio all take AA batteries, it was a no-brainer to pick up one of these ingenious lights.

Here are some of the more detailed specifications of the light from http://www.streamlight.com/

*Mounts to MOLLE or ACH for hands-free use
*High-impact, super-tough nylon case
*Battery polarity indicators for easy replacement in the dark
*Unbreakable, gasket-sealed polycarbonate lens with scratch-resistant coating
*O-ring sealed for waterproof operation. Meets MIL-STD-810F, Method 512.4
*Tethered tailcap to prevent loss
*Cord attachment hole supports up to 25 lbs
*Articulating 185° rotating head
*Clip can be mounted on either side of the light
*Dimensions: 4.63" High; 2.31" Wide
*Weight: 4.96 ounces
*Available in Coyote Tan and Green
*US and foreign patents pending
*One year limited warranty

Overall, I'm very pleased with the Sidewinder, and it will be a permanant addition to my "bug-out-kit". Being able to use different color and brightness settings along with every color being able to have strobe capabilities will definitely help you live to see tomorrow.