First Look: Streamlight Siege X USB Flashlight/Lantern

Having a flashlight for EDC use can be incredibly helpful, but there are situations where a directed light beam doesn't help all that much. If you're stuck in darkness because of a power outage or other scenario, having area lighting changes the game, and it's the design of the compact Streamlight Siege X USB that offers both a directed beam and area lighting in one package.

“We designed the Siege X USB to give first responders, outdoor enthusiasts, technicians and others the ultimate in lighting versatility,” Streamlight Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Michael F. Dineen said. “The light functions as both a 360-degree lantern that can be used stationary or hands-free, as well as a tactical handheld light. It also offers the convenience of USB rechargeability, and, because it weighs just under half a pound, it is easy to carry and store.”

Measuring only 4.35 inches in overall length, the Streamlight Siege X USB offers three separate lighting modes for a range of scenarios. A lantern-style area light provides 325 lumens of overall area lighting to illuminate a room or other dark spaces. Consumers can then swap modes for a directed beam of light coming from the top of the lantern, offering 300 lumens in a directed beam for spotlight illumination. Finally, for dark areas where users want to preserve their night vision, the Siege X also offers a red LED illumination option. For emergency scenarios, the light can also be programmed to emit an SOS signal in Morse code. To conserve battery life, the lantern also features medium and low modes at 170 and 30 lumens, respectively. The flashlight also has a low, 40-lumen mode.

The Streamlight Siege X ships with a single 18650 USB-rechargeable battery, and the lantern includes a battery-life indicator inside the light's on/off button that flashes when the battery is low on power. If a charging source isn't close at hand, the light will also accept two CR123A batteries. Depending on the output mode selected, battery life in lantern mode ranges from 4.5 to 25 hours, while the flashlight can run from 3.5 to 25 hours. On the red, low-light setting, the battery can last as long as 90 hours.

Each Siege X USB lantern is built with a polycarbonate thermoplastic housing designed to handle rugged emergency situations, and an integrated D-ring on the bottom of the lantern allows it to hang anywhere. The ring folds into the body when not in use. Each lantern is rated IPX7 waterproof to a depth of 1 meter, but an important point to note is that the light will not float in water. Each Siege X has also been impact-tested to withstand drops of up to two meters without issue. The suggested retail price on the light is $75.