Streamlight ProTac 2AA-X USB Flashlight

An everyday carry flashlight that offers a great balance between features, durability and price.

Author: Carl Duguay

When choosing a small personal carry light, it’s essential to balance portability with functionality. Whether for daily carry, workshop use, camping, hiking, or other tasks, the right light should offer reliability and convenience in a compact package.

Several factors matter when selecting a small carry light. It should be easy to transport — whether clipped to a belt, slipped into a pocket, or stowed in a bag — and lightweight enough for all-day use without being cumbersome. Most importantly, it must provide sufficient brightness for your needs. A light with multiple modes is especially useful: a low setting conserves battery life, while a high-output mode is ideal for lighting up large areas or seeing long distances. Different beam types can also be beneficial — a focused beam for long-range visibility and a wide beam for close-up tasks.

For outdoor use, beam distance and durability are key. A model with a dust- and water-resistance rating of IPX6 or higher ensures better protection. Battery life is another crucial factor. Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries outperform disposables, and USB charging makes it easy to power up from an outlet or power bank on the go.

The Streamlight ProTac 2AA-X USB flashlight excels in many of these fundamental areas.

MANUFACTURER: Streamlight
MODEL: 88135
PRICE: $125.00
SOURCE: Tenaquip.com

KEY FEATURES:

Modes: High, low, strobe
Light output: 550 lumens (high); 40 lumens (low)
Light intensity: 10,250 candela (high); 740 candela (low)
Run-time: 2.25 hours (high); 16 hours (low)
Beam distance: 203 meters / 666 feet
Water resistance: IPX7
Length: 15.24cm / 6″
Weight: 99 grams / 3.5 oz
Made in: China
Warranty: Limited lifetime (excluding battery)
Includes: Lithium polymer USB-C rechargeable battery; USB-C cable; removable pocket clip; holster

The Streamlight ProTac 2AA-X USB flashlight has a lot going for it. Weighing just over 99 grams, it’s remarkably light — barely noticeable on a belt. The body is made from 6000-series machined aircraft aluminum with an anodized finish, an alloy known for its strength and corrosion resistance. It features a gasket-sealed glass lens rather than plastic, ensuring better optical clarity over time.

With an IPX7 rating, the light is waterproof when submerged up to one meter. That’s not a concern for me, as I won’t be taking it to the pool. More importantly, it has a two-meter impact resistance, protecting it from damage if dropped on a concrete shop floor.

The flashlight has a single beam distance of just over 200 meters (666 feet). However, it lacks a focused beam for long-range visibility or a wide beam for close-up tasks.

While you can use disposable AA batteries, it comes with a rechargeable 3.7V, 5.92Wh lithium-ion battery that delivers plenty of power — lasting up to 16 hours on the low setting. I find the low setting bright enough to illuminate work areas and the interiors of shop machinery. The light source is shock-resistant and rated for 50,000 hours of use.

The battery fully recharges in four hours. The charging system is built into the battery itself — just connect it to a USB cable and plug it into a computer or USB wall charger.

The flashlight is easily operated with one hand via the tail switch that you can activate with your thumb. Click once for high mode, twice for the strobe, and three times for low mode. It takes some practice to get used to this system, but once you do, it’s straightforward.

A removable belt clip is included, though I removed it since I always store the light in a canvas holder with a Velcro belt attachment.

Overall, I’m happy with the ProTac 2AA-X USB flashlight. It strikes a great balance between features, durability and price.