8/4/2019 Streamlight Sidewinder Compact (TM) full function in a
small package.
1/2
FOG HORNa Twobirds Flying Publication
3September2011
By:SalPalma(FOGHORN)
StreamlightSidewinderCompactfullfunctioninasmallpackage.
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.
Iwas intimately familiarwithStreamlights
Sidewinder, the Compacts ancestral link,
introducedin2006.
I carried the Sidewinder faithfully for
several years before it met an untimely
deathbyStryker yep; itsa longstory.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
implementationof technologies toaddress
that need is what separates an average
product from a superb product, so when
the U.S. Army needed a compact helmet
light, the folksatStreamlightdelivered the
SidewinderCompact.
TheSidewinderCompactoffersanumber
of mounting options that include MOLLE,
rail,headbandandhelmet.
TheCompactstoughcase ismadefroman
oring sealedhigh impactnylonandmeets
MILSTD810F,method512.4.
The head houses the primary C4 LED and
threeSuperHighFluxLEDsred,blueand
IRonthemilitarymodel.
Copyright 2011, Sal Palma, d.b.a. Twobirds Flying Publication,
All Rights Reserved.
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8/4/2019 Streamlight Sidewinder Compact (TM) full function in a
small package.
2/2
FOG HORNa Twobirds Flying Publication
The IR LED, shown in the picture above,
provides IR illumination as well as an IR
strobeforIFFfunctionality.
Theheadarticulatesandrotatesafull180;
depending on themounting 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%),Medium 1(25%),Medium2(60%),
High (100%). The IR strobe operates at
100%oftheratedpoweroutput.
What gets honorablemention fromme 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 themissions it is
calledontocomplete.
TheSidewinderCompactssmallpackage
and lightweight is eminently suitable for
military and tactical law enforcement
applications.
Whether
worn
on
the
accessory
head
strap,
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 Imention that it is Team Soldier
Certified1?
SP
1 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 6230-01-574-
6027. This authorization does not constitute an
endorsement by the U.S. ArmyCopyright 2011, Sal Palma, d.b.a.
Twobirds Flying Publication, All Rights Reserved.
