In red-light mode, the Clipmate produces. Once the switch is made, the light will always turn on in the low setting of the selected color.įor dudes using the light to read a map in a tactical setting, there’s no worry about a white light ND. The power button can be pressed and held for a few seconds to switch the light over to red.
The LEDs put out 10 lumens of white light for a full 24 hours, while clicking the power button a second time will put out 70 lumens for 3.5 hours. There are four modes programed into the Clipmate, two in white light and two in red light. The other main selling point is its impressive output.
We further plugged the Clipmate into a computer, and also two different portable power banks once again, no issues.īut there is more to this task light than just convenience in charging. We tried it with the included charger, one for the iPhone, and another for an Android smart phone. We tried charging our purchased sample on two different vehicle “cigarette plug” chargers, usually used for our phones.
The Clipmate solves this issue with a built-in and protected USB tab that can clip into the included wall charger, or any other such commonly found receptacle. Guys would write home to mom and dad, begging “Please send CR123, AA and AAA batteries!” You needed batteries for a red lens flashlight just to negotiate obstacles on a late night emergency run to the shitter we won’t even get started about the need for batteries for your NODs. This completely unacceptable breakdown in the supply chain was often solved by the lowest paid servicemen, the E-5 and below. Worse yet, lack of batteries didn’t usually cancel a mission. Sometimes their CO or 1st Sergeant couldn’t “miracle” batteries into existence, particularly on small FOBS in the middle of nowhere. For years our guys and gals overseas ran into the seriously bullshit issue of getting batteries from stingy supply sergeants (who usually scoffed at the request from the safety of their cage or conex). Why? Well, one big reason is that it doesn’t consume batteries that can be expensive, unavailable, or hard to find. We can see it being just as useful to a mechanic as a warfighter, plumber or cop. The Clipmate USB was designed to be a multipurpose task light that can fill a range of everyday uses.
They’re a good idea, but they’re junk. The new CLIPMATE USB from Streamlight, on the other hand, took that good idea and actually made it useful and practical. Now we’ve all seen the garbage five dollar special USB flashlights at the local gas station. Recently while visiting one of our favorite Virginia gear shops ( F3 Tactical), we spotted an interesting flashlight with a built-in USB tab for charging.