Taking the top spot as Streamlight’s highest performance handheld light with an output of 5,300 lumens, the ProTac HL 6 is the latest version of the ProTac HL 4 which we reviewed back in 2016. Compared to earlier versions, the ProTac HL 6 uses the new SL-B48 battery with almost double the capacity of the SL-B26 and now features a USB-C charging port instead of Micro USB. In our new Quick Test review format, we will be taking a look at the performance of the ProTac HL 6 with a focus on technical details.
Key Specifications
- Output: 5,300 lumens high, 1,500 lumens medium, 450 lumens low
- Intensity: 80,000 candela
- Runtime: 2h high, 3h 45min medium, 12h 30min low
- Battery: 2 x SL-B48 Lithium-Ion Rechargeable Battery Pack
- Length: 10.5″
- Diameter: 2.4″ head, 1.3″ body
- Weight with Batteries: 1.3 lbs.
- Colors: Black
- Warranty: Limited Lifetime
- MSRP: $245-265
- Actual Pricing: ~$140-150
Packaging
Streamlight offers two options for the ProTac HL 6, both include a USB-C “Y” cable that can charge both batteries at the same time but the 120V AC adapter is optional.
Batteries
The ProTac HL 6 uses a new 21700 size SL-B48 rechargeable lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 5,000mAh, built-in USB-C charging port, and can be recharged up to 500 times. The ProTac HL 6 is not dual fuel capable and cannot be used with 123A lithium primaries.
Charge time is 5 hours unless limited by the USB power supply. Streamlight’s AC adapter has a rating of 5V 2.2A (11W), so this can be used as a guideline for the minimum required for charging speed to not be limited by the USB-A output. Many chargers designed for cell phones are 5V 2.4A (12W) and will be sufficient.
Function Sets
Streamlight’s TEN-TAP Programming allows you to choose between three different function sets, making the ProTac HL 6 suitable for both practical and tactical use. To change the function set, simply tap the switch nine times, each time within 0.4 seconds, and hold the switch on the tenth time until the light turns off.
High/Strobe/Low (Default)
Press once for high, press twice for strobe, and press three times for low.
High Only
Keeping things simple, this single-output function set is ideal for tactical use.
Low/Medium/High
Press once for low, press twice for medium, or press three times for high.
Modes
Up to three modes are available, depending on which function set is activated.
High
Maximum output of 5,300 lumens.
Strobe
With two clicks in the High/Strobe/Low function set, the 100% strobe mode is activated.
Medium
With two clicks in the Low/Medium/High function set, medium output of 1,500 lumens is activated.
Low
Reduced power output of 450 lumens. In the High/Strobe/Low function set, the light will briefly strobe before low can be activated.
Performance
Using a Cree XHP70.3 High Density multi-die LED, the ProTac HL 6 has the current generation of the same LED that was also used in the ProTac HL 4 (XHP70) and 5-X (XHP70.2).
The larger area of the multi-die LED results in a considerably wider hotspot, which easily lights up large areas such as an entire backyard. Even though there are gaps between the individual dies, the TIR optic in the ProTac HL 6 produces a clean beam pattern that is superior to a similarly sized reflector and has no visible shadows, dark spots, or edges.
Runtime
If you haven’t read our article about runtime graphs and the ANSI FL1 Standard, please click here.
Streamlight uses step-down regulation for high output mode to maintain a reasonable temperature and prevent overheating. On high, there is a linear reduction during the first 11 minutes and the remainder of the regulated runtime is maintained at 41% output or ~2200 lumens. Medium and low output modes are well regulated throughout the entire runtime.
Conclusion
The Streamlight ProTac HL 6 is extremely powerful and its impressive 5,300 lumen output is made possible by the higher capacity SL-B48 battery. Depending on your use case, the function sets can be customized with TEN-TAP programming and we found the “low/medium/high” function set to be rather useful given how bright the light is. Low output is a very usable 450 lumens and will run for more than 12 hours, making it an excellent choice for general purpose needs. If you prefer simplicity, that is also possible by choosing the “high only” function set.
In addition to having programmable modes, the large TIR optic is also another unique feature of this light and produces a superior beam pattern with a well defined and large hotspot. Unlike earlier models such as the ProTac HL 4 and ProTac HL 5-X, the ProTac HL 6 loses the ability to be used with 123A primary batteries due to the larger diameter of the new battery so having a backup power source is no longer an option. However, this is a small tradeoff that we would gladly make to get this level of performance out of a relatively affordable light.
Related Links
Streamlight ProTac HL 6 Product Page
