Don’t you love how fast tactical lights and weapon-mounted lights embraced upping the power? The standard of 1,000 lumens and 10,000 candela is long gone. Light companies, both big and small, are turbocharging their lights, and Nightstick hasn’t fallen behind. They’ve unleashed a number of high-powered weapon lights and handheld lights. The new Nightstick USB-588-T is a handheld tactical light that’s packing an uppercut’s worth of power!
The Nightstick USB-588-T
The current focus on these powerful weapon lights is an increase in the candela. For years, we all focused on the lumens and more or less ignored candela. The switch in attitudes has created more powerful and more useful lights. Pair this with better batteries, and we get more light, more range, and a longer battery life.
Nightstick USB-588-T – The Power
The Nightstick USB-588-T is quite the name, so I’m going to call it the 588-T to keep things brief. The 588-T is a dual-fuel design that allows you to use Nightstick’s 598 lithium-ion rechargeable battery or two CR123A batteries. With the 598 battery, we are seeing 1,100 lumens backed by 85,000 candela.
The light has three modes, including medium at 450 lumens and a low mode of 150 lumens. In high mode, the battery can last for three hours, which is downright impressive for a high-powered light. In medium, it can run for eight hours, and in low for up to 30 hours.
The 588-T also has a second lens that’s a floodlight built into the side of the body. You’ll rotate the light 90 degrees to point the floodlight forward. This floodlight has 850 lumens, and the candela isn’t listed. It’s fairly low since it’s a floodlight meant for close-range use. You can even turn both lights on at the same time if you have a need for that capability.
The 588-T In The Field
The 588-T casts a crazy, powerful beam. I can see treelines and features out to 200 yards. My home range is 200 yards, and I can see the end of the berm with ease. I can’t quite make out my targets in vivid detail because my eyes simply can’t do that, but if I paired it with a magnified optic, I could spot my steel targets with ease.
The candela pushes that light out far, and the beam is incredibly focused and tight. There is minimal spill, and the hotspot is very distinct. It’s a high-powered duty light that would be tough to hide from. The high candela allows it to overcome photonic barriers like rain and fog, as well as other light sources like a street lamp or a car’s headlights.
Switching modes is easy. Hold down the rear button, and the light will switch between high, medium, and low. To use the floodlight, you have a rubberized button near the head, which turns it on. The floodlight casts a wide beam without much of a hotspot. It’s great for lighting up a small room.
You can set the light on its head and turn the floodlight on for a hands-free illumination option. It’s perfect for setting up camp or conducting a little investigation. The floodlight is also super handy for walking my dogs by jamming it in my pocket and orienting the beam forward for a hands-free option.
In Operation
The 588-T is easy to recharge. Just slip the top collar downward, expose the USB-C port, and plug it in. That’s all there is to it. If you need to hot-swap in the field, you can. Grab a few spare batteries or toss in the CR123A batteries and go. Battery life is easily measured by the LED beneath the power switch for the floodlight.
The light is surprisingly heat-resistant. The head will get warm, but it takes longer than you expect for the power you’re getting. The 588-T is IPX7 resistant and drop-proof. It’s well sealed against dust, debris, and water. The light is 6.6 inches long and weighs seven ounces.
We get all this for about $170. It’s an affordable, powerful, and handy light. The addition of a floodlight is a nice touch on an already very capable weapon light. Check out the 588-T if you need a mix of power and convenience.
