FOG HORN

March, 2016
Twobirds Flying Publication

Streamlights TLR-1 HL Dark Earth

Copyright 2016, Towbirds Flying Publication. All Rights Reserved.

Streamlight TLR-1 HL (2016)

2016

Streamlight TLR-1 HL (2016) the same TLR-1 your Dad used on the
outside but under the hood lives a beast.
By: Sal Palma
defined and distinct hotspot with an abundance
of peripheral lighting to easily illuminate the
corners in any room, even at its initial and now
parsimonious rated output. Streamlights TLR-1
also offered a flexible mounting system and an
easy to operate paddle switch for temporary
and continuous modes. The TLR-1 also boasts
one of the longest run times in the industry on
two CR123A batteries.
Streamlight launched its growing line of weapon
mounted tactical lights, with its first TLR-1, back
in 2006. Year over year the company has made
incremental improvements, like increasing
luminosity, but unlike many of its competitors,
Streamlight kept the TLR-1 form factor intact,
thus preserving the investment departments
and individuals have in light bearing holsters.
This is a hard dollar savings that also mitigates
the headaches of trying to find a suitable Level
2 or Level 3 holster for professional or duty
carry.
Shortly after its introduction in 2006, the TLR-1
entered service with law enforcement and the
military. The TLR-1 earned its way into these
lucrative markets by meeting three objectives:
performance, robustness and return on
investment.
Forgetting light output for a brief moment the
TLR-1s success is directly attributable to its
reflector. The parabolic design produces an
extremely well collimated beam with a well-

In terms of robustness the TLRs aluminum

housing is plenty tough and anything than can
leak is O-ring sealed. I have circa 2006 TLR-1s
with some rather ugly looking dings on their
bodies that still function and are still water
resistant.
A major improvement since the 2006 TLR-1 was
the migration to a TIR LED engine. The TIR lens
system delivers twice the central intensity of a
reflector system, resulting in a much brighter

Copyright 2016, Twobirds Flying Publication, All Rights Reserved

Streamlight TLR-1 HL (2016)

and tighter beam capable of illuminating even

the finest nooks and crannies at a distance.
When you contrast the TLR-1s development,
performance and robustness with its
departmental and agency pricing, the light
offers the best return on investment of ANY
tactical lighting product on the market; not a
trivial advantage given todays tight budgets.
Now for the coup de grce! Carry all of the
cumulative enhancements forward to 2016
adding 800 lumens of rated output with two
new finishes, Flat Dark Earth and Flat Dark Earth
Brown to match your weapon system
camouflage pattern, and what you get is an
impressive professional tool equally qualified to
serve aboard a sidearm or long gun, with the
optional long gun kit.
Now for a brief discourse on some of the
operational nuances of days gone by
About 12 years ago, when weapon mounted
tactical lights first entered the market, they
were promoted as delivering an unprecedented
tactical advantage. I have vivid recollections of
those ads. However, it took about 6 months for
training and application techniques to catch up
with the technology, regrettably we saw a
number of incidents of officer-on-officer
accidental shootings because weapon mounted
lights were being used as search lights, and we
never want to point the muzzle at anything we
dont intend to shoot. Many police departments
responded by reversing their positions on the
use of weapon mounted tactical lights and
would not authorize their use by patrol officers;
a condition that persists in several jurisdictions.
Yet another concern, arising from conducting
operations in hostile environments, is the
telegraphing of operator location from

2016

improper uses of weapon mounted lights,

which serves to localize the officer, or operator,
making him or her targets. A few years ago an
entry team had two men down because they
were clearing a home with tactical lights on. The
perpetrator was able to use the light sources as
a point of aim taking out two officers.
Continuous use of lights reveals position and
successfully turns the operator into a target.
Having raised these issues, Ill move forward by
saying that weapon mounted lights deliver
benefits far outweighing their risks, but risk is
best mitigated through training.
A weapon mounted tactical lights benefit has
been widely advanced showing a bad guy
squinting in darkness; however, the true and
measurable benefit is the effect a light has on
an operators response time to a threat. The
weapon mounted light greatly enhances the
operators ability to acquire, ID and engage a
target quickly and decisively shaving lifesaving
milliseconds from response time.
Using a well designed and implemented light,
like Streamlights TLR-1 HL, the trained operator
reduces the time it takes for threat detection,
recognition and sight alignment (a well
illuminated target makes sight alignment quick
and accurate.)
Weapon mounted lights also aid operators in
successfully engaging a target, when he or she
is unable to use the primary weapon sight, by
using the lights hot spot as a point of aim this
is why having a tight well defined hot spot is an
important feature. Lastly, a skilled operator can
use a weapon mounted light to aid in
concealment; for example, by momentarily
operating the light and using available cover, he
or she can successfully navigate a dark space
Copyright 2016, Twobirds Flying Publication, All Rights Reserved

Streamlight TLR-1 HL (2016)

while denying his adversary an aiming point.

Streamlights TLR-1 HL 800 lumen light delivers
on all of these tactical advantages, but theres
one thought that Id like to pass along.
When operating with high output tactical lights
you run a risk of accidently blinding yourself or
a teammate, especially in close quarters. So, as
light outputs increase this is an application
consideration to keep in mind. For that reason,
Id like to see the next generation of TLR-1s
have a mechanism for regulating light output,
perhaps a rotating head or bezel. Lo, Medium
and High lo being something in the order of
100 lumens, medium about 300 lumens and
high the rated maximum output.
Not wishing to beat a dead horse, caveat
emptor, if youre crashing a short room or
working in confined spaces, be cautious on how
you use a high output weapon mounted light,
or you may find yourself at a tactical
disadvantage. The story changes outside at the
perimeter!

2016

it also throws a tightly focused beam with

excellent peripheral lighting - this shed is about
100 yards out. Streamlight advertises a 250
meter beam which is a believable and
conservative estimate. In an open field you can
expect to adequately illuminate out to 350
yards.
So here endeth the story, and if you find that
youve outgrown your older TLR-1, or just want
a light with more under the hood, then its time
for you to pick up the new 800 lumen TLR-1 HL
from Streamlight. Youll enjoy the same rail foot
print, the same ergonomic paddle switch, the
same mounting flexibility, the IPX 7 water
resistance, 10 years of cumulative evolution but
more importantly the extraordinary value that
Streamlights TLR line delivers. Youll be hard
pressed to find a more capable lighting
accessory, check it out.
-SP

As you can see in the photo above Streamlights

800 lumen TLR-1 HL is not just extremely bright
Copyright 2016, Twobirds Flying Publication, All Rights Reserved

Streamlight TLR-1 HL (2016)

2016

Manufacturer Specifications

C4 LED technology, impervious to shock with a 50,000 hour

lifetime
800 lumens; 15,000 candela peak beam intensity; 245m beam;
runs 1.75 hours
Engineered optic produces a concentrated beam with optimum
peripheral illumination
Powered by two 3-volt CR123 lithium batteries with 10-year
storage life
Rail grip clamp system securely attaches/detaches quickly and
safely with no tools and without putting your hands in front of
the muzzle
Mounts directly to handguns with Glock-style rails and to all
MIL-STD-1913 (Picatinny) rails.
Includes keys for Glock-style, Picatinny, Beretta 90two, S&W 99
and S&W TSW
Machined aluminum sealed construction with black anodized
finish
Ambidextrous momentary/steady on/off switch
User programmable strobe can be enabled/disabled
Fits existing light bearing holsters
3.39 (8.61 cm); 4.18 oz (118.6 grams)
Operating temperature: -40F to +120F
IPX7 waterproof to 1 meter for 30 minutes
Lithium Battery Notice under TECH DOCS
Remote switches are available as optional accessories and must
be used in conjunction with 69130 or 69161 remote door switch.
All switches and door switch are sold separately. Reference TLR
Accessories Brochure in DOCS/INFO tab for more information.
Long Gun Kit available (#69262). Kit includes TLR-1 HL with
thumb screw, safe off door switch, remote pressure switch
and mounting clips, and two 3V CR123A lithium batteries.
Available in black, Flat Dark Earth or Flat Dark Earth Brown
Limited lifetime warranty
Assembled in USA

Copyright 2016, Twobirds Flying Publication, All Rights Reserved