Penlights! Who Else Is Lying About Lumens as Much as Harbor Freight? Part 1 

Part 2 with pricey penlights is now up! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-OKmL2nZsM9g.html Our Amazon store includes the winners: www.amazon.com/shop/torquetestchannel Because our amazon store ONLY includes winners. Why did we not include the Streamlight Stylus Pro or Coast? If a light that cost 2x as much as the rest won it would have been a hollow victory. But when we do more, definitely adding it! Torque of TTC is working for Astro Tools, who also make lights. TTC is not the only testing out there, always consider multiple sources before making a decision!

Please keep reviewing flashlights, no one else really tests them like this and it is very beneficial! I would really like to see the streamlight protac-1L-1AA with the cr123 and the double A

I'd like to see a run of the higher end higher cost pen lights, Coast h3pr, streamlight stylus and wedge, Fenix, maybe even surefire. Love all the content with lights, keep it up!

This light series is quickly becoming one of my favs on here. Any chance you guys slam the ball on top of the tower lights nba jam style?

One thing to note, streamlight has an excellent warranty; they’ll fix or replace no questions asked for everything but the battery (and bulb if incandescent? Not sure on that) on all their lights. I may be a bit biased but I carry a micro stream every day and it is really good imo

As a paramedic I use the lumintop IYP365 and thrunite Ti4T because they are bright and can be dim enough to check pupils. Carry them everyday and they have been great for durability.

Would like to also see Fenix in these tests since they are also one of the big flashlight brands

Your upload schedule lines up perfectly with my first break at work. Thanks for the awesome content!!

I got a Milwaukee Penlight (2105) from Home Depot. Output is adequate for working in an engine bay, but it's been my favorite penlight for: • Color is neutral/warm white, reminds me of a halogen bulb. • Fits nicely clipped in a shirt pocket • Soft rubber end actually is useful holding with your teeth when both hands are needed • 2xAAA batteries (included!) last quite a while

Love these tests. Really like the straight forward approach 👍👍

Little confused for not finding Milwaukee and nitecore penlights in this list, but as always great job, I can’t get enough of this channel, keep it up!

Since energizer had a low mode above 100 lumens it would have been interesting to see how long it lasted there.

Great video, I've got 2 of those streamlight microstream USB's, pretty often the tailcap unscrews itself just enough to do the same thing in your drop test, only works when pressed. I EDC the 1l-1AA and it's also a great multi fuel light.

it keeps being said, but i'll say it again, too. this channel is becoming one of my favorites. I was a big Olight fan for a while, but i've never had this one. Always the baton S1 and and the s2R, have lasted me several years.

I used that quantum light for over a year and was quite impressed how well it took abuse. Constantly falling out of my pocket several times a day. Falling in a bucket of coolant a couple of times and even running it over with a RV. It was $15 spent well if you ask me. I just recently upgraded to a stream light stylus pro and I love it.

You guys are one of the first review channels I actually trust. Keep up the great work!

Thanks for the review. Ive wanted a edc light for awhile and this really helped. I picked up the streamlight and I’m very impressed with the output vs size.

I've had this stream light in my pocket for 2 years. Love it. Never lets me down. Original battery to. Well worth the $25 I payed for it. Excellent testing by the way. Thumbs way up 👍

I wish I'd mentioned my Nebo pen light! It's a great little light, just gets a bit hot when you leave it on a while. It seems a lot like the Energizer, but I think it has a better runtime.

With 2 years of everyday use on the Streamlight Microstream with original battery, I’m not surprised it came out on top. I have multiple $100+ SnapOn and Marco lights, but my quick go to is the Streamlight. Super bright lights have their place, but the Streamlight is tiny and goes just about everything well enough. Rarely am I so happy with a product that I just stop looking for an alternative or something better. This video confirms that.

Really appreciate these videos as I do love flashlights!

That HF Quantum is actually a great little light. I use mine everyday at work in a diesel shop. Sure it might not last very long, but I have larger work lights for dark jobs. This one's great for doing quick checks or inspections. It stays nicely in shirt pocket and I only have to charge it maybe once a week.

Wish I could’ve seen the performances of the Streamlight Stylus Pro USB(rechargeable); & regular Stylus Pro (2x AAA batteries)

Great test. As a HD tech, I stand behind streamlight 100%. My second choice is the Pelican 1920, an absolutely bomb proof AAA light. Used a Streamlight Microstream USB for the last 3 years, not a single problem, lasts all week on a charge. Also ran multiple Stylus Pros which lasted until they got lost (even spent 4 months in the bottom of the sump and survived). The Pelican is a beast, and even thought it's rated at 229 lumen vs the Microstream's 250, it is significantly brighter to my eyes, with a good spread. Maybe a little too bright on a new set of batteries (and the life does suffer, but it has a low setting). Anything above 200 lumen is overkill for a pen light, IMO. Both Streamlight and Pelican have lifetime warranties, and they're not shy about just sending you parts in the mail if you need a new tail cap after dropping it 20 feet. Beats any amazon special.

I’ve been carrying a non-rechargeable AAA microstream as part of my EDC for at least 5 years and I love it. Recently upgraded to the rechargeable version and it’s even better. At least half a dozen colleagues have gone out and purchased one after I used it on the job. Well done testing, as usual, TTC!

I just want to thank you for this comparison. I was using that dollar store flashlight for years thinking nothing could beat it for the price. After watching this, I purchased my own energizer light and I couldnt be happier.

Damn you and project farm are my top channels to watch hands down. A++++++ videos. Great test.

Great video as always! Have y’all considered testing the work lights for power tool batteries? (Something like the Milwaukee 2735-20 for reference) I’ve used a few different brands and they’ve varied a good bit in brightness.

Thank you for validating my purchase on the stream light. I bought it two years ago, still runs great even after a washing machine cycle or two.

Great video, perfectly fine selection of brands. I have a personal love of EagleTac, but they don't get the most attention generally, so not surprising there aren't a lot of people clamoring for them. Also, the reason the Lumintop would turn off when dropping but turn back on just fine is almost certainly the battery terminal losing contact during rapid [negative] acceleration. It's a common minor failure mode for swappable-battery consumer electronics. Battery dimensions often have tragically-large "tolerances", so battery receptacles rely on spring-loaded contacts. The stiffness of that contact is a tradeoff between 1) security of contact, and 2) ease of swapping and lifetime of the contact. Stiffer is more accelaration-tolerant, but also makes the battery harder to remove and with cheap consumer-grade materials faster to experience metal fatigue.

Love the great reviews, if you ever look at doing more on the pen lights, I would be interested in where my Nebo rechargeable pen light falls in with the other rechargeable/2 AAA lights.

The quantum rechargeable penlight with the led bar is my favorite, it has a magnet on it that makes it super helpful..

Great video! I suggest testing the alkaline lights with NiMH, a good standard are Eneloops. (Ikea rechargeable batteries are rebadged Eneloops at a good price.) For penlights I'm partial to the Fenix 1x AA / 14500 li-ion LD12, and the tiny 1x AAA LD02.

I enjoyed this. Great job! There are a number of Husky, Kobalt etc brands to scope out. I agree that the Milwaukee’s warmer tone is the best.

Need some Nitecore lights in here. I've been really pleased with the Tiny 2, MH11, and P20iX. Great build quality, super bright, and USB rechargeable.

i cant believe this channel doesnt have as many subs as Project Farm. its just as good. proud to say i got here before 90k subs.

I daily carry a streamlight 2AAA flashlight. I’ve been very happy with is over the past two years. Your video here earned you a subscriber. I really enjoyed the way you do your videos.

I have had 3 of the coyote steamlights. I ran over one and also one stayed lost in the yard under about 3" of mud for over a year...all 3 still work flawlessly

I personally like the Olight i3T and instead of the normal AAA battery I use a 10440 battery. I have been running it that way for a couple of years now and have no issues with it. Most of my tasks I can get away with the low setting but it is nice to have high as well. My un-calibrated lumen tests put the i3T running a 10440 battery at 50 lumens on low and 400 on high. I would love to see you guys run the same test on your setup and see what how far off my numbers are.

Another great vid, as always. Here is a suggestion: how about some small EDC laser flashlights? Lumintop and Fenix keep popping up when I search, but I don't know anything about this entire genre of lights. Would love to see you guys take this type on!

I’d love to see you guys test some Nightcore lights. I have a TIP SE EDC light on my keychain, it claims 700 lumens and is the same size as a key fob. It is very bright and outshines a bunch of my larger flashlights. Seeing its real output on the light dyno would be cool.

I received a Streamlight as a Christmas present and have been very happy with it, so much so that I ordered a second using your link. It's small enough to to keep on one of my keychains.

Having bought the Energizer for use in construction I can say that it lasted about a year with heavy use occurring more in the last 4-6 months of having it. For the price its not bad, I'm sure if you're more gentle with it and not constantly exposing it to drywall dust, dirt mud, etc. it would likely last much longer. Dust does tend to get in the sleeve causing it to be gritty feeling and the rubber cap around the on/off switch eventually ripped off exposing the switch leading to dust to get in and making it stick. Would likely buy again, but I want to give the streamlight a try and see how it lasts. Thank you for making these reviews as it really helps a lot of us from wasting our money and of course providing us with wonderful entertainment.

I have that olight i3T. I put a 10440 lithium cell in it, very bright on the low setting & worth the upgrade for sure. They have the plus model that takes two AAA batteries instead of one that I’d like to get & use a 10900 lithium cell in for a little extra runtime

Thanks Torque and Test for another great video. If you do another one with pen lights please include the full size Streamlight rechargeable pen light. And keep up the good work.

As a quick testament to the streamlight, a bunch of us use those things where I work and they've been through hell and back and haven't failed yet as far as I know. The oring seals are top notch and Ive done everything but completely submerge mine in oil.

I didn't see your first video, but Streamlight Stylus Pro (2 AAA, not rechargeable) all the way. I went one of those through an engine fan one and it kept going! Which was good because it helped me find it. I run rechargeable batteries, with a second set always on a charger. The benefit of low wasted, and the convenience of a quick battery swap.

Ive been using the Nebo slim+ for a while now and I love that little thing, super bright and decent runtime. Would love to see that one day make an appearance on this chanel.

I used to use penlights in the shop, but always found myself wanting just a bit more light and not having it particularly underneath cars. I carry a single 18650 light (Nicron N9) now and it fits a shirt pocket better than a dual AA pen light for me since it's shorter, and love having the flexibility of moonlight (sub 100 lumens) up to "1k lumens" on high. Penlights still serve a good role, and most people would rather use them than a bigger light naturally (nearly everyone in the shop uses Coast hp3r penlights.) Love the channel and content! Enjoy seeing what products are really capable of and not just the claims manufacturers make.

Here is one thing about all the lights. In the 1980's I bought a maglight. It was around 80.00. It ate D batteries for lunch, wasn't that bright and when you dropped it the filament in the bulb broke. Fast forward and for about 10.00 you can buy one that is 1/4 the size and out performs it all the way across the board.

This was an excellent video. Showing the engine bay demonstration was brilliant.

FYI on that Streamlight Microstream, the "Coyote" color you guys bought is the only one that has high as the first click while all the other colors as far as I know are on low when you first turn it on.

Years ago, I bought the streamlight strion led when they first came out. I ended up buying a second one, so I would always have one charged. One lives on my belt while the other lives on the charger. They were expensive when I first brought them, but I have had almost no issues. I did have to replace the lens in one after I dropped it just right $8. That is the only repair I have made or any maintenance I have done. I bought them in 2010 and have used them every since then. Still using the original batteries. That's over 11 years for about $300 off the tool truck. They have lasted long enough now that they have become the sheapest to own flashlight i have ever had, on a dollar to year look

so much effort put into this test, thanks. however it doesn't mean much when nitecore and fenix are not there...

I've been carrying the original Streamlight Stylus Pro 2aaa for almost a decade. I get about 2 years out of them. They get dropped in hydraulic fluid, coolant, and from heights. The olight looks well made, might have to try one! Future tests of larger rechargeable, the Milwaukee 2160-21 claims 800 lumens with a long run time.

Jumped to your store to purchase either the Streamlight or Energizer....maybe both! I have a thing for flashlights. Too bad none of these have a magnet which is quite handy at times. Thanks for the effort to put forth a great review process.

Great video! Thanks for the hard earned info!

Put a LiIon 10440 in the i3T and you will be impressed. I use one 10440 with a spacer in my i3T plus (2 AAA sized) and it lasts much longer. Olights are extremely durable lights. I have many lumintops, Olights and Sofirn lights. I like them all for different purposes. Olight is by far best for EDC.

I’m an industrial mechanic and I’ve had the streamlight protac, and it’s a good quality light, but my buddy turned me on to the Nebo HL21A inspectors pen light and I’m in love! Id love to see what you think about it….A single rechargeable 10850 battery, focusable from a small spot to a pretty wide beam, o-rings on the focus, charger cover and battery cover means I’ve dropped it plenty of times from as high up as 8-9 feet and even farther into a trench full of water and it just keeps going. Battery life seems to be decent, but it does get a bit warm after continual usage.

My favorite light for the past several months has been the Braun brand (Harbor Freight) flexible wand light, it has a super strong magnet that sticks in convenient spots when you're under a car or anywhere and my favorite feature is that it is micro USB rechargeable; great light output and decent battery life, rugged metal body... Great value in my pretty critical opinion for $25!!

I've carried several different brands of this same Olight and really like them with a good nimh cell. I switched to the Streamlight about a year ago and I like it even more but I sometimes miss the extra low level of the Olight.

I'm a mechanic at car dealership. I think most employees here has COAST G20 (I have it too) that you can buy at Walmart for $10. Because this pen light has "focus" beam function. It's better than bright everywhere when you want to lit up deep inside the engine bay. Next popular pen light is streamlight.

Really nice work! Thanks!

Ive been using the HF Quantum penlight for about 2 years daily where i work. Ive been really satisfied with it. Its pretty beat up looking as it sits in my pocket with some other small random tools. Its been great value and i highly recommend it. It still works as good as the day i bought it.

Great review. Thank you!

Oh man i had been waiting for this video. Very nice. 👍🏼 But What about the Milwaukees or Nebos?

Please take a look at some of the Klein lights. I’ve had the adjustable flashlight with laser pointer for a couple years and LOVE it

Very well done , Thank you , I am a crane owner / operator & use Sure Fire , made in USA

I own 5 of those streamlight pen lights. Cause I often leave them around the house and forget where I last had them. They are perfect for me and I've dropped them off my roof and into caustic chemicals and they still function great. Plus they'll send you replacement parts if they do break.

Don't know if I'm the only one but I would totally love to see you guys test any of the Nebo brand flashlights. I sell them at the hardware store I work at and I'm really interested how they stack up for rechargeable flashlights

Nice test and now I realize that my ridgid 12v flashlight with a 1.5ah is huge but it can stay on longer than a workday

Liking these flashlight reviews, thanks!

I've had the Streamlight and Olight myself for several years. The Streamlight I carry daily at work and it's been great, highly recommended. It's not too often that I have to switch to a bigger light. The switch did fall off once but a little thread locker seems to have fixed that. The Olight is pretty meh, not really bright enough to be very useful.

3:20 I only tested one sample unfortunately - now that I see your test - of Olight. Mine was dead on lumens, enough that I used it for calibration reference, because it came back to its reading every time after recharging. It was the SR2.

I bought a 10 pack of the amazons a while ago. They were cheap enough that when I lost one or broke one, it didn't bother me unlike when I would get a stream light stylus pro damaged.

I picked up a steam light wedge shortly after they came out and have been really enjoying it, 3hr run time seemed pretty honest so o just charge it once a week or after using a lot.

Great to see more than just impact drivers, keep it up 👍

My favorite pocket light is the coast inspection beam light. I also use their inspection beam headlight. I dont know how or why but it's so much easier on the eyes.

I’ve been using the energizer flashlight at work and it has not let me down yet! I use it multiple times a day but yes I have to at least charge it once every day and a half-two days. But at a reliable price it’s a great penlight

Nice video, I would like to see you test the husky brand lights

I have had that same Streamlight. I think it was the 3rd time thought the washer and dryer after having it for about a year and a half it finally died. Highly recommend it for it size and light output.

First, thanks for testing Olight per my suggestion last video, I think you've earned a Pateron sub! If theres ever a way you guys could test MTB lights, Olight, OutBound Lighting, Magicshine (who make some absolutely absurd claims), Garmin, NiteRider, there is a LOT of bs in that market that could use some light shed on it (pun... intended). Thanks agian!

I bought that streamlight and the AAA version two years ago and they are both amazing for edc, which I use at work.

I love my Streamlight Stylus Pro, 2 AAA, on/off but does momentary, nice solid tail click, bright well built light. My every day light as an electrician if I'm not using a headlamp (black diamond sprinter rechargeable). I really like Sofirn lights and have a few, favorite is SC31 Pro but the SC21is a pocket monster

I run the streamlight protac 2l-x It’s on the bigger side of pocket lights but does come with a clip it amazingly bright and robust

You guys [Torque Test Channel] do great work. What would your thoughts be on testing out pistol/gun mountable flashlights? Now it is understandable with the costs of these specialty lights that some gun review channels might loan you some inventory so that they can be tested for lumen claims under Quasi-Laboratory conditions. Drop testing to failure might be frowned upon. Thoughts?

I have carried a light every day for the last decade at least. I had a 2xaaa 5.11 light that I liked. I moved onto a zebra light and then to the king of output for size, the Emisar d4. A few years ago I wanted something smaller and bought the Streamlight featured here. My first one impressed me so much that I bought two more and sadly and promptly, lost my well used friend. The second one now has over 18 months of use on it and is still a great performer for me. I do notice the battery is getting a bit shorter in life but I’m honestly using this every day (electrician), and almost to depletion 1-2 days a week. (I mean usable light left). Every night I throw it on the charger. Great light and I’ll buy some more. Need to get a replacement battery though too. Glad to see it perform so well in your test.

I've owned two streamlights (AAA version) and both were fantastic lights. I lost the first after 5-6 years and bought the second without hesitation... which I also lost. Both were great quality, performed well, and did exactly what I needed. Even used it for paint correction defect spotting. It really is the one to get, worth the extra cost. I guess for me a pen light just isn't the right choice because I seem to lose them.

Thanks for the review. I bought the Energizer and am really impressed by it.

Great video, detailed information. Personally I am never buying a flashlight of any kind unless it's rechargeable, batteries have gotten so expensive you can buy 2 or 3 lights for the price of buying batteries for a year.

Awesome video covering all the aspects of a flashlight I'm interested in. You got a like out of me! Now, can you do another video stepping it up to more powerful lights such as the Olight S2R Baton II Pocket Flashlight?

Nice Mazda, TTC. And nice videos. May I have you guys test my 3/4” drive Hilti impact wrench?

Great video. Been a Master Tech for 11yrs and now in Aviation. Light does matter.

I am on my second streamlight microstream only because I lost the first. That first one was beat on pretty hard and I never had any issues. I lost track of how many times it went for a ride in the washing machine and it went through the dryer at least 3 times.

That coincides with my experience. I've got a bunch of Olights, and this one is easily the worst one I own. They often give them away as free gifts during their sales. I think that says something.

I carry the streamlight proTac 1L-1AA. It's my favorite. I like the fact that it can be used with a AA or a cr123a.

The strobe can be used to see spinning components in the engine while running and doubles for safety while cars are moving in and out of a big shop.

I use the Streamlight every day at my job (Automotive Technician) and for the size it’s the best flashlight light (for in the pocket and on me all the time)I have used and there have been several.

i have the thrunite 2a v3 500 lumen model from a few years ago dropped it numerous times from 3 feet and higher in some cases and its still going strong

I have many rechargable olight flashlights and have yet to have an issue with any of them. Even the gift lights I buy for the holidays. All have been outstanding.