I own 5 or so 120 plus lumen lights, and this one is now my Every Day Carry. I expect the batteries are lasting as long as it says they will, but it will eat them up as good as any bright light, as this is a moderately powered light. The spill is great, while also, at the same time, being the brightest of all the lights I currently own as far as throwing distance. For instance, while I was out hunting with my dogs, I was done with the days hunt and was leisurely walking the lease at night, and managed to signal to some ranchers about 150-200 yards away who were out shooting at whatever runs around at night. When they started shooting, my hunting dogs (who were off duty and running around, with e-collars with lights on them) got excited about a potential retrieve which is sure to ensue after any gun firing, and started sprinting (I've clocked them at over 25 MPH with my car, they only had to cover at most 200 yards, you do the math) and long story short, the light (after I managed to "click" it into strobe mode) did a fine job, along with much whistling back my dogs and yelling at the hunters, of letting the ranchers know there was another (unhappy) hunter close by. On another property (this one only 7+ Acres), we have had some problems with coyotes, and I would say the edge of the property is about 75 yards from the house. At this distance, this light is the best and brightest spotlight I currently own, and, because my dogs are dark and coyotes are much lighter, I can easily Identify Friend or Foe, and manage to (reluctantly) get a shot off at the correct 4 legged victim. When my almost black (dark chocolate) lab is at this 75 yard perimeter, I can make him out OK, not great, but OK, whereas a white dog would be an easy target. In short, this light is very nice for "close in" work of, lets say 100 yards for shooting and 200 yards signaling. With it angled, it is very easy for me to hold this light and an automatic long gun at the same time ( a pump shotgun is a little tricky). I wanted to experiment with owning a 90 degree angled light, and am surprised to find how much I like the ergonomics of it fitting in my hand. As afore mentioned, it can actually be handled well with an automatic long gun, though I (thankfully) have yet to try it with a pistol. I love the way it carries in my hand on long walks (once I switch it to low mode, note battery life on high vs low). The clip is the nicest clip I have seen on any light, and is "easily" removable (I would recommend something stronger than a fingernail to undo the hook) and puts the light in an ideal position to clip to the inside of a pants side pocket. I love the polymer (fancy word for hard plastic) lights because they will save me a trip to the dentist, as I am always placing my lights in my mouth in order to go "hands free." With the clip on, I have to hold the light in my mouth with the clip, vs the body of the light, but, if I were to take off the clip, again, the 90 degree angle ergonomics would once more take the cake compared to the typical straight light, even my poly ones. With the clip on, I would rate "flashlight in the mouth mumble mode" to only 2-3 minutes max before your lips start to hurt. The latest and greatest and brightest NuFlare I purchased in Jan 2012 on Amazon is cheaper (around $35), and just about as bright, and focusable. I don't care enough to double check, but they didn't seem to lie about the lumen rating on the NuFlare, think it was 200 something vs this Streamlight which I think is 190 (just read the product description if it means that much to you, like I said, as far as brightness, I prefer the Streamlight over the NuFlare because, although both about as bright, the Streamlight has a very nice spill. This Streamlight feels a little "cheap" in the switch, which is the only thing I don't like. Not only is it "Cheap" feeling, I question it's longevity over the life of the light. Also, to further incriminate the blatantly dubious engineer at Streamlight, I personally guarantee that at least 75% of the time you WILL NOT be able to switch into low mode or strobe on the first try. FYI... (I was forced to actually open up an instruction manual because of this switch) a single "click" turns on high mode. Now, turn it off and lets start over... two REALLY quick "clicks" goes to strobe... got it? Alright, you want low mode (there is no medium mode, as nice as that would be, there is enough "clicking" already); for low, do 3 REALLY REALLY quick "clicks." Oh yeah, one more thing, my """ do work correctly, but I think that is the most efficient way of telling you that the switch doesn't actually "click;" it is some kind of "electronic" switch, I guess. The best way to describe it would be to look down at the touchpad on any standard laptop, and do the double click on the laptop touchpad that performs the same function as a left click on your computer's mouse. Now, imagine a thick rubber boot placed between your finger and the touchpad, with a very generous pocket of air between the rubber and the pad. You try double clicking anything with a switch like that; now, try triple clicking. Do you understand now, Streamlight, why you managed to give a near perfect light a 4 star rating? There is a momentary on feature for all 3 modes, but, forget about it. I'll save my keyboard any further wear and tear about the switch and just ask you to trust me, the momentary on feature will just cause you to look like an idiot because you will end up shinning the light at something and switching between high, low, and strobe.
