Streamlight vs surefire

[KendeBeasto]

Hey guys new to this topic I was wondering why does surefire cost more? Is it superior? Last week I received my TLR-1 and surefire xc1 300 lumen and IMO I like the TLR-1 more. Maybe I'm not comparing the right lights but the surefire design and features is not ahead of the tlr-1 IMO.

[peter95]

Mainly, Surefire is a bit more robust, but streamlight is very good too.

They are both reliable.

[billped]

Build quality and replacement policies are better with Surefire. However, I went with Streamlight based on price.

[radicalray]

Used the sure fire professionally since the 1980's when they were called Laser Products they never have failed me, using Streamlight now also happy with them like the above post both work. If I was going to play in the sand box I would still prefer Surefire. Here both are working for me. 10 stream lights are quite a bit less exspensve than 10 Surefires

[big blaze]

I think the difference is where they are made. I've owned a Streamlight TLR-1 for quite awhile now and never had a problem with it.

[robledo]

You don't have the best 2 lights to compare. The Surefire answer to the Streamlight TLR-1 is the x300 series.

I bought a TLR-1 years ago based on the price, and it served me well. Never had an issue. But you can honestly feel the quality and durability in the Surefire when held side by side. The Surefire is a tank by comparison. Oddly enough the xc1 I handled did not feel robust at all and seemed to be constructed in similar fashion to a Streamlight product.

Don't get me wrong there is nothing wrong with the TLR-1 you bought, and in fact I'd say the paddles used to turn the light on are actually easier to use than the Surefire x300's. But I'd go with the Surefire these days. And on a side note the paddles of the xc1 are much easier to use than an x300.

[Ls1FALimpala]

I have a tlr3 on my glock and a xc1 on my fiveseven. Even though the xc1 has a more lumen rating. The tlr is brighter and has a better pattern. And the xc1 was maybe 75% more in cost. But it's super small and gave me the look I wanted on the fiveseven

[robledo]

Also the surefire x300s typically shoot an intense beam of light vs the softer flood of the TLR-1. Which IMO makes the Surefire better for longer ranges and outdoor use, and the Streamlight TLR-1 better suited for indoor residential use where that flooded light won't blind you when it bounces off of satin and semi gloss walls.

[blkside]

The XC1 is a super compact edc weaponlight and is built differently. Its not meant to cast a searchlight, its meant tp illuminate an area to defensively shoot if need be.

The TLR1 should be compared to the X300U which are close in class.

Both are good light companies, SureFire invests more money into innovation and they are a better all around light. There are fanboys who side with one brand but thats expected.

I prefer SureFire but have and do own Streamlights. I like their line of "pen style" lights.

And everybody measures their lumens differently. Remember that.

[KendeBeasto]

Thanks for the reply guys so seems like cant go wrong with either.

[LE132_00]

They are both good options. The mounting system on the Surefire is also superior (IMO). Almost every departmental qual that I go to has someone who forgets to tighten down their TLR-1, and then during a course of fire will launch their TLR-1 downrange. The only mechanical issue that I have seen with the Streamlight is the battery door breaking on Streamlight TLR-1s. I have had this happen to me twice and other co-workers quite a few times. That being said Streamlight's CS was fantastic. They fixed all of the doors, and the last time sent a co-worker of mine about 10 extra battery doors.

I prefer the controls on my TLR-1 HL over my x300 Ultra, but the Surefire lights seem more robust (and more expensive).

Also to note is that my WML's get beat up and are carried 4 days a week, 10 hrs per day minimum.