The Streamlight Wedge XT is the latest addition to Streamlight’s Wedge line of rechargeable EDC lights. The Wedge line is thought for its knife-like type issue that makes carrying them a breeze and the Wedge XT leans even more durable into that by being probably the most compact model thus far.
Nice Mild, Dumb Takes
I’ve seen some bizarre, whiny takes on this gentle from different reviewers. In some methods, it’s a main departure from the unique Wedge which may be why some folks appear to misconceive how good this gentle is. It does away with the lever-style change of the unique in favor of a tail change and it cuts the output in half… neither of which bothers me.
The tail change is an enormous improve for my part. It makes the sunshine dead-simple to function with principally the identical UI because the venerable Micro and Macro Stream flashlights. Nearly all the fashionable methods to make use of a flashlight with a firearm are constructed round a easy tail change interface so, to my thoughts, this can be a large improve. The extent type change is what PREVENTED me from even contemplating the earlier variations of the Wedge. The tail change received me over.
The output being lower in half can be not a difficulty for me. 500 lumens for two hours is lots of gentle for a very long time. As lights get smaller, producers are inclined to dial the output again. It’s a story as outdated as time. It’s anticipated. I really discover 500 lumens for two hours, as an alternative of the standard 1 hour for many lights on excessive, to be spectacular.
I believe lots of complaining about this gentle comes from a unique perspective. In case you are a flashlight nerd first (I exploit that time period lovingly), I can perceive mourning the lack of your pet fidgety change and lamenting much less lumens. If you would like a useful gentle to hold alongside different defensive instruments, you probably received’t care.
I also needs to point out that the Wedge XT is USB-C suitable. I believe that can be a significant improve. Micro-USB, with its fragile connectors, must go away at this level. Streamlight has been transferring principally all of their rechargeable to USB-C and that may be a welcome change.
The Form of Issues to Come
After I first took on the Wedge XT for overview I assumed it could simply be just like the Streamlight Macrostream and by way of output and UI, it’s comparable. I used to be utterly taken off guard by how a lot the form of this gentle would play into its usefulness.
The flat(ish) form makes it journey within the pocket extra just like the very slim Streamlight Microstream. It disappears within the pocket. It’s gentle you could carry once you don’t suppose you possibly can carry a light-weight.
That very same flat(ish) form makes it simple to pack in one thing like a pouch. I run, stroll, and hike a number of occasions every week with one thing like a Hill Individuals Gear Package Bag or some type of fanny pack. This form is IDEAL for these pouches the place objects within the pouch usually find yourself layered on prime of one another. A barrel-shaped gentle, in these pouches, can dissipate lots of house and actually push into different objects.
I additionally just like the delicate “hook” form with knife-like leaping that Streamlight integrated into the tail of the sunshine. It is rather simple to take the sunshine out from wherever it’s saved because of this.
Common Observations and Potential Enhancements
The Wedge XT has a really floody beam. There’s a hotspot however it’s extensive and tapers progressively to a shiny spill beam. Streamlight claims 87 meters of throw and, in my testing, that’s optimistic. It’d brute pressure its approach there however this isn’t a transportable highlight. The beam form is good for most individuals’s EDC duties.
The change used on the Wedge XT is sweet however could possibly be higher. On one hand, it’s simple to make use of and requires a protracted journey to activate which I like. I additionally just like the delicate tactile suggestions it offers when it hits the purpose that the sunshine prompts. Nevertheless, I want that it was pressure-sensitive, the place a partial press would activate the sunshine momentarily, just like the change on the Microstream.
Lastly, the clip is nice in that it is vitally safe and formed nicely so it doesn’t catch on stuff. It’s affixed to the sunshine in a bezel-down carry configuration which I usually want. Nevertheless, a light-weight like this is able to be nice if it could possibly be clipped to your ball cap. Both a two-way clip or a bezel-up possibility would have been nice.
Wrap Up
Don’t let the flashlight nerd lamentations scare you away from this gentle. The Wedge XT is the RIGHT course for the Wedge line. It is a wonderful gentle and a triumph of design. The form of this gentle serves a goal and the brand new useful modifications make this a legitimately good EDC gentle.
This gentle is straightforward to make use of, simple to hold, gives a really helpful beam form with loads of output for loads of time, and wraps all of it up into a really tidy bundle. It’s in my pocket proper now.
