Of the gear I carry on my person on a daily basis, there is probably nothing more often utilized than a flashlight. Start carrying one, and I guarantee you will use it all the time.
Whether it’s finding one of my kids’ lost toys in a public place, searching my truck for an item in the dark, temporarily lighting a path at night, or using it to illuminate a task around the garage, I reach for my flashlight on a near daily basis. These days, it rides in my pocket every time I leave the house, day or night.
EDC Flashlight
Of course, while the majority of my flashlight usage is for mundane tasks, the true reason for an EDC (everyday carry) flashlight is for crisis scenarios. You never know when you could experience a power outage, vehicle breakdown, severe storm, violent encounter, or any number of other crises that would call for having a bright, quality flashlight. As we like to say in the crisis readiness world, it’s better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.
Background
Over the years, I’ve admittedly become a bit of a flashlight snob. I’ve used flashlights and headlamps in forested nighttime environments for Search and Rescue work on the Olympic Peninsula, as well as training courses in pitch-black rural areas. Not all flashlights are created equal, and you often get what you pay for. I’m embarrassed to admit that I own several flashlights that cost in excess of $300 a piece.
All this to say, I was initially skeptical of the Streamlight Macrostream 66320 USB Flashlight, which can be had for around $65, or even less on sale. However, on paper, it looked like it could be the perfect EDC flashlight at a very reasonable price point. I bought one and carried it daily for a year to find out.
Specs
Flashlight specs are boring, but here are the important ones to know about the Macrostream.
This light has a high and low power mode. High puts out 500 lumens with a 2 hour runtime; low produces 50 lumens with an 8 hour runtime.
The Macrostream weighs in at 2.2 ounces, which is about the weight of two aa batteries. Length is 4.5 inches, and diameter is .83 inches.
Form Factor
As an everyday carry flashlight, there are a lot of things to like about the Macrostream, starting with its weight and size. In my opinion, this is right around the Goldilocks size for an EDC flashlight. I’ve tried smaller pocket flashlights like the Streamlight MicroStream, but they tend to get lost very easily. Anything much bigger gets uncomfortable hanging out in your pocket all day.
The Macrostream’s size allows it to fit almost unnoticed in my pocket all day, while allowing plenty of room for other items like car keys. It’s so light that I honestly forget it’s there most of the time.
The only improvement on the Macrostream’s physical design would be a flatter, slimmer shape, like the Surefire Stiletto. But at half the price, I’m not complaining.
Charging
One of my favorite features of the USB version Macrostream is that it can be recharged with a micro-USB cable. This is convenient under normal circumstances, but also great because I could recharge it from a solar charger in an emergency. I have tried to move all of my critical electronic items to rechargeable versions for this reason.
Even with frequent use, I typically don’t charge the Macrostream more than once every few months. A full charge can be achieved in four hours from household AC power.
Dual Mode
One of my favorite things about the Macrostream is its high and low output mode. A single tap of the tailcap gets you high power, or give it a quick follow-up tap to access low power mode.
I often find that I don’t need the full 500 lumens for basic tasks in the dark, especially in indoor environments. 500 lumens is surprisingly bright in a small space, especially with white walls that reflect light. Having the ability to quickly switch between 500 and 50 lumens is convenient and practical.
Fit and Finish
While I wouldn’t go as far as to recommend the Macrostream for duty use, after a year of carrying it, with plenty of drops and scuffs along the way, I can say that the Macrostream is tough enough for daily civilian use. Although the anodizing on the aluminum will invariably pick up some scratch marks, my flashlight hasn’t sustained any damage that has affected functionality.
The Macrostream features a scratch-resistant polycarbonate lens, which helps protect against any accidental damage. It’s also IPX4 water-resistant, which allows you to use the Macrostream in the rain, as long as it isn’t submerged.
Cons
While great indoors, the Macrostream’s 500 lumens and beam pattern don’t get you very far in outdoor environments. Streamlight advertises the beam distance as 90 meters, but practically, the Macrostream is good for standard backyard distances, and not a lot farther than that.
If you really need to punch out and illuminate outdoors at night, there are better flashlights for the job. However, long range outdoor illumination really isn’t what the Macrostream is designed for. For its size, weight, and price, the lighting performance is great, and hasn’t limited me in normal everyday usage.
Final Verdict
After carrying the Macrostream daily for a year, I can say that it has exceeded my expectations. In fact, I liked it so much that after finally losing my original Macrostream a year in, I bought the exact same model to replace the one I lost.
This is another great aspect to the Macrostream – if you lose it, which eventually you will – you’re a lot better off than if you had lost a flashlight that cost two or three times as much.
Are there other EDC flashlight options out there in the same price range as the Streamlight Macrostream? Yes, and there may be some great ones. But until the Macrostream gives me a reason to doubt it, I’ll be sticking to what works.
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