Short Description:

The TwinTask series of lights is the latest step forward by Streamlight to combine LEDs for low level lighting and incandescent bulbs for high level lighting in the same flashlight body. This gives the TwinTasks a much wider useful range than most flashlights available. Only need a little light? Select the LEDs. Need more? Two of the models have a second LED setting that doubles the LED light output. Need a lot? Switch to the high pressure xenon incandescent bulb!

All of the TwinTasks have the same basic features, so I have elected to review them all at once, focusing first on their commonalties, and then on their differences and separate strengths and weaknesses.

All of the TwinTask lights have the following features: anodized aluminum body available in "black" or "titanium" color, knurling on the body, knurled endcap which is removed to change batteries, knurled band on the bezel which can be twisted to focus the incandescent bulb, recessed 4-setting multimode switch allowing selection of LEDs (2 levels in some models) or incandescent bulb, silvered faceted reflector, and recessed lanyard attachment allowing the lights to stand on end.

The differences are found in the battery configurations, size, and number of LEDs in the bezel. The 1L, 2L and 3AA all have the same bezel, and have 3 LEDs. The 3C has 6 LEDs, while the 2D has 10 LEDs. The 3C and 2D have 2 levels of LED selection.

Reviewer's Impressions for all lights in the series:

The Streamlight TwinTask lights serve well as a demonstration of the evolving field of personal lighting. With just one handheld unit you can cover most, if not all, of your lighting needs. Having models with different battery configurations allows the buyer to decide which unit would best suit their needs, whether they want a shorter runtime high output small unit for pocket carry, or a larger, long running workhorse for around the house.

The bodies of all of the TwinTasks are well made and durable. Thick body wall tubes surround the battery compartment and the knurling is nonabrasive but allows for a firm, non-slip grip. O-ring seal the tailcap, bezel and lens giving the light water resistance. All of the units received had no blemishes in the finish and no sharp edges to be found.

The rubber covered switches are all recessed in a dimple machined in the head of the light to prevent accidental activation. The modes of the lights are selected by clicking the switch in series.

The switching for all of the lights is as follows:

Batteries are included with the 1L, 2L and 3AA TwinTask lights.

The LED settings are excellent for short range lighting tasks where you don't want to completely wipe out your night adapted vision. The incandescent setting allows you to illuminate a good sized area with a bright wash of light. Due to the fact that the reflectors are faceted it is not possible to focus the light into a tight pinpoint of light. This limits their use to some degree as they are not well suited to picking out details at long distances. However, for close to medium ranges they give a great field of view.

All include a wrist lanyard (attached) which has a very thin but tough string that attaches to the base of the light. Due to the minuscule diameter of the string and the shape of the attachment point, the lights can be stood on end even with the lanyard attached.

Impressions of the 1L:

The TwinTask 1L has got to be one of the cutest little lights out there. But don't let its appearance fool you! It actually has very good output and great utility potential. Small enough to be carried in a pocket, bright enough for you to find your way back to your campsite. The fact that it takes a single lithium camera battery means that it won't let you down in the cold or even if you leave it in your glovebox unused for up to 10 years. Although the dimmest of the lights, I really like this one and it's quickly becoming one of my favorites for general use.

Impressions of the 2L:

So you want a serious light that's lightweight and small enough to carry conveniently? The 2L may be the one you are looking for. As with the 1L, you get the 10 year shelf life and cold resistance of the lithium batteries, but with about double the output. The only beef I have with the 2L is that the incandescent beam won't focus down as tight as I would like it to. As with the rest of the TwinTasks, the incandescent bulb is good for medium range lighting tasks, but not for long range spotting.

Impressions of the 3AA:

The 3AA model is well suited for those folks who want the advantages of the 1L and 2L but would prefer the convenience of using common inexpensive AA batteries. A bit long, but still relatively compact, the AA batteries will give longer runtimes than the lithium battery powered models, especially in the LED mode.

Impressions of the 3C:

The 3C is just a handsome looking light, no two ways about it. Well proportioned, it fits nicely in the hand and produces a good solid beam of light. The 3C adds the ability to select 3 LEDs or 6 LEDs in addition to the incandescent bulb. This should give the light a wider range of uses, however in my experience with similar lights I have found myself using either the lowest LED setting or the incandescent setting, skipping over the brighter LED setting altogether. I'm sure some folks will find the 6 LED setting useful, especially for general room lighting during power outages. The nice thing is, the extra option is there if you need it. The incandescent beam is the most narrow of all of the TwinTasks, producing the highest lux reading at beam center. This means that you can light a subject at a longer distance with the 3C than with any of the other TwinTasks. However, the LEDs have the strongest blue tint of all of the lights as well, which could be a bit of a put-off depending on your preferences. Long runtime on the 3 C cells is great for times when you need it.

Impressions of the 2D:

Need a lot of light for a long time? The 2D is your best choice. Sporting either 5 or 10 LED selection modes in addition to the xenon bulb, this thing lights up a dark room with no problems whatsoever. Using common D cells makes the light very appealing to the homeowner who needs a light that can serve multiple duties and may need to stay on a long time while working in the attic or the crawlspace. The incandescent beam is not the cleanest in the world, showing some rings and artifacts, but that doesn't really diminish its usefulness at all.

Conclusions:

It's hard to go wrong with a TwinTask. You can pick a model with the battery configuration / output that best suits your needs, they all have multiple lighting levels allowing you to conserve your batteries or really light up your subject, and they are all very well made.

Output chart. Lux at 1 meter measured at beam center.

Overall Output chart

Battery life in hours (advertised)

Quick Facts Table: