Streamlight PolyTac 1X Review: A Compact Multi-Fuel Flashlight for EDC and Concealed Carry

I’ve been evaluating Streamlight products ever since the all-metal Scorpion saved me during a late-night traffic stop 17 years ago when my full-sized duty flashlight went out. In all my years of working with tactical flashlights, Streamlight has continued to produce high-quality lighting products, always tweaking, adjusting or improving. The company’s latest addition to the field is the Streamlight PolyTac, a multi-fuel tactical light that’s ready for anything.

Why Every Concealed Carrier Should Carry a Handheld Flashlight

While on duty, I occasionally carried a handgun with a weapon-mounted light but I generally preferred a separate handheld tactical flashlight. For police work and civilian self-defense, a handheld light allows you to identify a person or investigate in the dark without pointing a handgun at someone who may not actually be a threat.

Now retired, I still prefer carrying a handheld light when I am with my family rather than relying solely on a weapon-mounted light. A compact tactical flashlight like the Streamlight PolyTac 1x is not only useful for self-defense but also for everyday use. Finding something in a dark corner of the house or taking an evening walk become easier with a dependable flashlight.

Why the PolyTac 1X’s Multi-Fuel Design Matters

The PolyTac 1X is also ideal for travel. Its light weight and compact size make it great for everyday carry, but the biggest advantage is inside. The PolyTac 1X can operate on four different power sources without requiring adapters or modifications.

Whether you prefer Streamlight’s rechargeable SL-B9 battery pack, CR123 lithium batteries or common AA batteries, the PolyTac accepts whichever power source you have available. That flexibility is valuable during long-term power outages or extended trips, allowing you to use what’s available rather than worrying about specialty batteries.

Battery choice will affect brightness and runtime.

Fuel Cell Type	Lumen Output High	Lumen Output Low	Runtime High Setting	Runtime Low Setting
SL-B9 rechargeable battery pack	500	40	1 hours	8 hours
CR123	350	40	1.5 hours	14 hours
AA Alkaline	150	40	5 hours	14 hours

Even with a lone AA penlight battery for power, the PolyTac 1x has an output far ahead of my incandescent Streamlight Scorpion while remaining smaller and lighter.
Note: The battery must be removed for recharging. It charges within 2.5 hours.

Streamlight PolyTac 1X Features and Specifications

Between the one-cell design and the polymer construction, the PolyTac 1x is one handy and easy to carry light. Users won’t even need a full-sized “tactical pocket” to carry it as it fits great in standard pockets on any pair of jeans or shorts.

PolyTac 1X Dimensions

Length: 4.71 inches
Body diameter: 1 inch
Head diameter: 1.22 inches
Weight with SL-B9 rechargeable battery: 3.03 ounces

Case Construction

The polymer body is available in black or yellow and features a rocky stipple texture for superior grip even when hands are wet. Stippling is not so pronounced as to be abrasive to pocket lining, though.

The polymer casing is well designed and very tough. When Streamlight introduced the PolyStinger version of its original aluminum Stinger flashlight in the early 2000s, I was skeptical. I wanted my police duty light made from aircraft aluminum and capable of serving as an emergency impact tool if needed.

I needn’t have worried. The PolyStingers held up well in the field and saved weight on the duty belt. Modern reinforced polymer is a fine material for a pocket, backup or tactical light.

The light features a removable two-way pocket clip. The PolyTac 1X is an IPX7-rated design and waterproof to 1 meter for 30 minutes. It has also been 3-meter-impact resistance-tested.

TEN-TAP Programming

The PolyTac 1x is operated by a multi-function, push-button tactical tail switch. The lighting sequence can be changed by the Streamlight internal TEN-TAP ® programming system. This system allows the user to select any of the three different light operating programs: high/strobe/low (factory default), high only or low/high.

I generally leave my TEN-TAP lights set at the factory default of high/stobe/low as I find that setting to be the most practical for my current usage. The white LED is impervious to shock and has a 50,000-hour lifetime

BOROFLOAT Glass Lens

One feature that interested me was the lens used with the Polytac 1X’s LED. According to Streamlight, the lens is made from high-temperature, impact-resistant BOROFLOAT glass.

I looked up BOROFLOAT and found it was introduced by SCHOTT in 1993 as a floated borosilicate glass. It has been used in optics for space telescopes, cinema projectors, unmanned aerial vehicles, measuring instruments, medical devices and oven doors.

That sounds like the right kind of glass for a compact tactical light. It should resist reasonable pocket wear while helping the Polytac 1X deliver high-quality lighting.

Field Testing the Streamlight PolyTac 1X

The Streamlight PolyTac 1X started riding in my trouser pocket at church this past Sunday. I did not use the pocket clip, choosing instead to carry it lens-down in the pocket. It rode there comfortably all morning without drawing any notice.

Pocket Carry and Weight

The PolyTac 1X saves weight because it uses only one fuel cell, regardless of battery type. With the SL-B9 rechargeable battery installed, it weighs 3.03 ounces. By comparison, my all-aluminum Streamlight Scorpion weighs 4.58 ounces with two CR123 batteries aboard.

That 1.55-ounce difference may not sound like much, but every bit counts when you are already carrying a handgun, spare magazine, cell phone, pepper spray, radio or other defensive gear.

Backyard Beam Test

I took the PolyTac 1X into my half-acre backyard well after sunset to check the lighting pattern. The circular beam illuminated the yard evenly, and I would have been able to identify anyone who did not belong there. The strobe flashed with equal brightness.

LED technology has come a long way from the old 65-lumen PentagonLight I carried years ago.

Available PolyTac 1X Accessories

The PolyTac 1X is a versatile handheld tactical light, and Streamlight lists several accessories for it. Most are geared toward law enforcement use, including colored flip lenses, USB-C charge cords, an SL-B9 Li-Ion battery bank charger, a belt holster and a safety wand.

Is the Streamlight PolyTac 1X Worth It?

I found the Streamlight PolyTac 1X on sale at Aim Surplus for $42.95, which is an amazing price considering the features. It is compact, lightweight, bright, multi-fuel capable and easy to carry.

It is also worth noting Streamlight’s manufacturing statement, which says the company is “A USA Manufacturer” and that its products are “Built in the USA of U.S. and Foreign Parts.” These days that means a lot.

Streamlight products also carry a limited lifetime warranty against defects, excluding batteries, bulbs, abuse and normal wear. Between that warranty, the quality that professional end users around the world have come to trust and the affordable price, I see no reason to buy imported junk at the local big-box store for your lighting needs.

Sources:

Streamlight: Streamlight.com