FOG HORN a Twobirds Flying Publication

3September2011 By:SalPalma(FOGHORN)

StreamlightSidewinderCompactfullfunctioninasmallpackage.
that need is what separates an average product from a superb product, so when the U.S. Army needed a compact helmet light, the folks at Streamlight delivered the SidewinderCompact. TheSidewinderCompactoffersanumber of mounting options that include MOLLE, rail,headbandandhelmet.

I continue my headlamp series with a superb offering from Streamlight, the Sidewinder Compact. This little personal light is feature rich and magnificently functional. When I first received Streamlights press release,midyear2009,Isaidtomyselfthis is a winner; two years later I got the opportunitytoqualifymyinitialimpressions with a handson look at the Sidewinder Compact. I was intimately familiar with Streamlights Sidewinder, the Compacts ancestral link, introducedin2006. I carried the Sidewinder faithfully for several years before it met an untimely deathbyStrykeryep;itsalongstory.So, when I read that Streamlights designers ported all of the features of the original Sidewinder to its sibling, the Sidewinder Compact,Iwasthrilled. The need for highly reliable and flexible personal lighting is well understood. The implementation of technologies to address

TheCompactstoughcaseismadefroman oring sealed high impact nylon and meets MILSTD810F,method512.4. The head houses the primary C4 LED and three Super High Flux LEDs red, blue and IRonthemilitarymodel.

Copyright 2011, Sal Palma, d.b.a. Twobirds Flying Publication, All Rights Reserved.

FOG HORN a Twobirds Flying Publication

The IR LED, shown in the picture above, provides IR illumination as well as an IR strobeforIFFfunctionality. Theheadarticulatesandrotatesafull180; depending on the mounting arrangement, the head will rotate on either plane providing the soldier / operator with the flexibility to orient the light to meet any task. With its single CR123A installed, the SidewinderCompactisafeatherweightat 2.4oz. Runtimes will vary with environmental conditions but you can reasonably expect 70hoursinlowoutputwiththeC4LEDand 100hoursormorefromtheinfrared,redor bluesources. AlloftheLEDsfeature4outputlevelslow (5%),Medium1(25%),Medium2(60%), High (100%). The IR strobe operates at 100%oftheratedpoweroutput. What gets honorable mention from me is theselector/actuator.Selectingtheoutput LEDisintuitiveandsimpletouse,evenwith theglovedhand.Toselectthelightsource, theoperatorpullsandrotatestheselector; he can then press the rubber actuator to selectoneoffouroutputlevels.Thesystem works extremely well and prevents accidentalmodechanges.

Conclusion
Streamlights Sidewinder Compact deliversafullfunctionpersonallightthatis reliable, and as tough as the missions it is calledontocomplete. The Sidewinder Compacts small package and lightweight is eminently suitable for military and tactical law enforcement applications. Whetherwornontheaccessoryheadstrap, helmet or MOLLY panel, the Sidewinder Compact meets and exceeds all of the requirements addressable by personal lights. Streamlight gives you 20 lights in a single packageatanMSRPof$80. TheStreamlightSidewinderCompactisat the top of my short list of credible head worn personal lights suitable for military andtacticalapplication. And, did I mention that it is Team Soldier Certified 1 ? SP

This product meets the manufacturing and performance testing requirements as authorized by the Product Manager - Clothing and Individual Equipment, Authorization Number FL090526-HH01, NSN Number 6230-01-5746027. This authorization does not constitute an endorsement by the U.S. Army

Copyright 2011, Sal Palma, d.b.a. Twobirds Flying Publication, All Rights Reserved.