For years, one flashlight has been a pocket staple, lighting the way for hundreds of EDCers on our site alone. Streamlight’s MicroStream AAA had the right size, reliability, everyday performance, and price to make it a truly solid EDC. So how do you make a great light even better? By fixing what isn’t broken and improving the rest, as Streamlight have done with the new MicroStream USB. While it looks and carries like the same light you’ve always known, under the hood it’s better than ever, and in all the right ways.
Since the original MicroStream has been around a while, its 45-lumen power output may not be enough for an EDC light in 2018. The new USB model bumps up its levels fivefold, with a High output of 250 lumens for 1.5 hours, and a Low of 50 lumens for up to 3.5 hours. Output is controlled via the familiar tail clicky switch, which now doubles as a charge indicator when topping up. Charging is accessed by unscrewing a sleeve built into the USB’s head to reveal the micro USB port underneath, letting you charge the internal lithium ion battery with your power bank or wall plug.
While the new specs adds a bit of length to the MicroStream USB (now 3.87” compared to the 3.6” AAA), it remains a compact and lightweight carry at only 1.2 ounces. It retains the IPX4-rated anodized aluminum construction of the original, with the shape and grooves that give it a familiar grip. And when you need to go hands-free, it keeps the two-way clip that lets you secure the light with equal ease to your pocket or hat.
The old faithful learns some new tricks with the Streamlight MicroStream USB. Pick one up (at a still affordable price) from Amazon at the link below.
