Not only are weapon lights evolving, but tactical lights as a whole are undergoing rapid changes. Streamlight has followed suit, releasing several weapon lights and handheld lights under its X lineup. The ProTac HP-X is one of their latest and comes packing a punch in the candela department while maintaining a fairly compact size and design.
The ProTac HP-X and All The Candela
The ProTac HP-X has three modes. The first and most important is the High mode, which packs 800 lumens backed by 105,000 candela. That’s a lotta light. There is also a medium mode that provides 240 lumens and 34,000 candela, and a low mode that delivers 45 lumens and 6,300 candela.
What’s the point of all that candela? It’s all about range! The 800 lumens of white light are more than enough for a handheld light. The 105,000 candela propels that 800 lumens fairly far. Outside, in the dead of night, I can see 100 yards with ease. You could most certainly spot a threat, establish PID, or track a running animal or threat.
That extra candela also propels light through photonic barriers. Barriers like other lights, fog, rain, smoke, whatever gets between you and whatever you’re looking for. The ProTac HP-X does that for a hair over $100. That’s not a ton of money for an uber-powerful duty-ready light.
The HP-X throws a powerful and focused beam with a clear and designated hot spot. That’s where the majority of the candela focuses. It cuts through the darkness and peeks through crevices, cracks, and more. Around the beam, we have a decent amount of spill to provide a little peripheral vision satisfaction.
Outdoors, it’s a beast. Indoors, it’s blinding, and if necessary, it will buy you a few seconds and expand your reaction gap. In mixed urban environments, the HP-X performs well, offering a good balance of range and a wide beam suitable for close quarters use.
Color me downright impressed by how powerful and versatile a $100, 5.55-inch light can be.
Beyond the Power
The ProTac HP-X is relatively compact at 5.55 inches and weighs just 5.4 ounces. It’s a bit bulbous, but it’s still easy to toss it into your pocket and carry it daily. The HP-X is also small enough to be easy to use when wielded simultaneously with a handgun. I can handle both with a classic Harries Technique or a more modern between-the-finger grip.
The ProTac HP-X works well with a concealed carry handgun and provides you with more power than any compact weapon light. It’s way more potent than any TLR-7 design and doesn’t require me to find a specialized holster. For the modern world, the ProTac HP-X provides a bright and powerful long-range light.
Beyond concealed carry, the HP-X would work well for duty use. It’s compact and light because no one wants even more weight on their belt. The light’s power allows you to see through headlights, tinted windows, and more. The power provides the necessary light for our deputy sheriff friends to work in rural environments.
My main complaint is with the ten tap system. It’s a pain trying to remember how many taps it takes to change the beam power, and then trying to execute those perfectly timed taps correctly.
The Power
The ProTac HP-X is also made from metal. There’s no plastic, or not much. Obviously, the clicky tailcap isn’t metal, but the body’s primary composition is metal. The light can resist dust and water ingress. You can submerge the ProTac HP-X up to two meters, and it’ll keep kicking.
Dropping it or having it bounce around isn’t going to make it stutter or give up the ghost. The ProTac has a two-meter drop rating. It can take abuse. Clearly, Streamlight intended to provide a value proposition with the ProTac HP-X.
We get lots of power in a compact, but durable package for about a hundred dollars. When it comes to duty lights and concealed carry, it’s a light with feet in both worlds. Check it out and embrace the new world of high candela handhelds.
