Streamlight TLR 1 HL Review (Best Overall)
Looking for a high-powered pistol weapon light? The Streamlight TLR 1 HL is a top choice and worth considering.
This is our full review of the Streamlight TLR 1 HL and will help you decide if this is the right weapon-mounted light for you.
Streamlight TLR 1 HL Review
Streamlight TLR 1 HL
- 1000 Lumens
- 20,000 Candela
- 283 Meter Throw
- 1.5 Hours Runtime
- Weight 4.2 ounces
- Length 3.39’’
Price Check: Optics Planet, Palmetto State Armory, Primary Arms, Brownells, GunMag Warehouse, Grab A Gun, Sportsman’s Guide, Cabela’s, Bass Pro Shops, Scheels, Bereli, Amazon
MSRP $230
Streamlight TLR 1 HL Pros And Cons
The Streamlight TLR-1 HL is known as one of the best value weapon lights for the money. It puts out a serious amount of light and can be clamped to handgun under rails and rifle handguard rails, making it versatile.
There are a lot of different lights available nowadays and let me tell you, don’t forget what the purpose is. To light up an area to identify people as friend of foe.
You can’t shoot what you can’t see, and for a good flashlight, you don’t need to spend $300.
The TLR-1 HL is a great choice for a middle-of-the-road light that performs well and is affordable.
To learn more about pistol lights and see which are the best ones, check out our Best Pistol Light article, which lists other great options.
Streamlight TLR 1 HL Facts
The Streamlight TLR-1 HL is a weapon-mounted flashlight designed for pistols but will also work on rifles and shotguns. It is offered in two color finishes, black and flat dark earth brown.
It is a brighter version of the original TLR-1 that was capped at 300 lumens, where this model gets pushed all the way to 1000 lumens.
The output is well balanced and great for a wide search area and doesn’t have an intense center hotspot light other lights. The wider beam is great for peripherals and overall area identification.
It is a very durable light that runs for 1.5 hours on two CR123A batteries. This light is built like a tank and is rated at IPX7 for heavy outdoor use.
The distance this light reaches is 283 meters or three football fields of usable light which is very impressive.
The TLR-1 HL is a great upgrade to any pistol or firearms that needs a affordable, bright, and durable weapon light.
Streamlight TLR-1 HL Specifications
| Peak Brightness | 1,000 lumens |
| Peak Beam Intensity | 20,000 candelas |
| Beam Distance | 283 meters (309 yards) |
| Runtime (to 10% output) | 1.5 hours |
| Water Resistance | IPX7 (1 meter at 30 minutes) |
| Batteries | 2x CR123A |
| Weight (with batteries) | 4.2 oz |
My Experience
I have owned many Streamlight products throughout the years and have owned an original TLR-1 for a while now. The HL model is an improvement on the original design, and I like the extra power added.
I am very familiar with the operation of the TLR-1 HL, and I absolutely love how it performs. This light has taken a beating and has been 100 percent reliable.
I have banged this weapon light off counters and shooting platforms and didn’t baby it. It has always held up and performed well in rainy environments and harsh outdoor elements.
During heavy range use and training, the battery lasts long enough to get through the day, and for everyday carry or home defense use, the batteries have more than enough runtime.
Some people have mentioned that 1000 lumens is too bright, and in my testing, I didn’t think this was the case. I tend to prefer brighter lights that can be seen far outdoors.
This is situation-dependent, for me in the Midwest with a large property I need to be able to see farther than a room’s distance away.
The Streamlight TLR-1 HL gives me enough brightness to see further outdoors at night but is still very usable indoors.
After using this light for years, I can safely say its just as good as the Surefire, which costs almost double and is just as reliable.
Holster Compatibility
A huge win for this light is the holster compatibility. This would be the second most popular pistol light on the market, and because it has been out and available for years now, holster companies add this light to their molds.
Not every holster company will make a specific holster for your certain gun model with this light attached, but you will be able to find one without much searching.
This is a very popular light, and holster companies know this.
Downsides
Honestly, there aren’t many negatives of the Streamlight TLR-1 HL. I guess this would be more personal preference, but the toggle switch could be considered inferior to other products.
The strobe mode can take longer to activate.
Another minor inconvenience of this light is that it needs to be removed from your pistol to change the batteries.
This is common for weapon lights, but now we are seeing other lights from Olight that can be recharged or batteries swapped without removing the light. Again, this is only a minor downside and not that big of a deal.
TLR-1 HL on Rifles
For outdoors, the 800-lumen HL lights are fantastic. I have shot at night with them, and they have done well for me.
It will work great on a rifle with a well-balanced beam output, and because of the extra lumens, outdoor use is perfect.
That is a great feature of this light, too. Instead of buying a dedicated pistol light and rifle light, the Streamlight TLR-1 HL can fill both roles and quickly be swapped between the two platforms.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the Streamlight TLR-1 HL is a great light with a good hot spot and surrounding flood. The controls are easy to use, and they can be picked up for a decent price.
This is a great light setup for any handgun that is a duty-use pistol or home defense setup. The cross-compatibility with rifles and shotguns is nice, too, making it highly versatile.
It runs on common batteries and has a great battery run time, also the batteries are similar to a lot of other firearms sights and accessories.
This is a reliable and battle-tested light that has been used in the field and on duty by many people for years now.
The brightness is great and I haven’t found it was too bright, even indoors with white walls.
I highly recommend picking up this weapon light, and you will not be disappointed. For the price, you can’t beat the performance.
Alternatives
The biggest competitor to this light is the SureFire X300. These are both excellent lights, and you can’t go wrong with either of them.
The Surefire is slightly more durable and has better switches. Both are quality lights, so I suppose the TLR-1 HL may seem more appealing.
The Streamlight is just as good and is slightly less expensive.
If you want a great budget option that is also a good choice for a pistol-mounted weapon flashlight, check out the Olight Valkyrie PL Turbo.
Additionally, check out my complete list of the Best Pistol Lights.
Our Take
The Streamlight TLR 1 HL is super easy to operate, and the activation is invaluable for range and field use. The overall design is simple, and this light is also inexpensive. It offers a good balance and peripheral illumination while being bright with an extremely long battery life. It is an excellent weapon-mounted light and worth the money.
MRSP $230
| Best For | Professional Duty Use |
| Brightness | 1000 Lumens |
| Range | 283 Meters |
| Battery Life | Up To 90 Minutes |
Price Check: Optics Planet, Palmetto State Armory, Primary Arms, Brownells, GunMag Warehouse, Grab A Gun, Sportsman’s Guide, Cabela’s, Bass Pro Shops, Scheels, Bereli, Amazon
Streamlight TLR 1 HL FAQ
Is the Streamlight TLR-1 HL too bright?
Depending if this will primarily be used for indoor home defense or duty use. Some people might find that the Streamlight TLR-1 HL is too bright for their use.
What’s the difference between the Streamlight TLR-1 & the TLR-1 HL models?
The original TLR-1 will top out at 300 lumens, whereas the HL model stands for high lumen and puts out 1000 lumens.
How long does the TLR-1 HL battery last?
The TLR-1 HL runs on two CR123A batteries and will last for at least 1.5 hours. It will run past this but with significantly less performance.
Are the TLR1 and TLR 1 HL the same size?
The high-lumen model, or the HL, is slightly longer where the lens of the weapon light is. The different lens design is what helps make the light brighter.
What guns does a TLR-1 HL fit?
The Streamlight TLR-1 HL will fit on most full-size and compact handguns and pistols. It will also attach to rifles and shotguns or anything with a 1913 Picatinny-style rail system. This is a very versatile weapon light.
Giveaways
One of the coolest things we do here at First World Crusader is giveaway free gear to our readers.
It allows us to create better content, educate more readers, and share the love of firearms.
*Every $1 you spend at the store is 1 entry to win a piece of gear (excluding any special promotions).
Check out our Shop page to get some swag and enter the giveaway automatically.
*Every comment you leave on one of our articles is 1 entry to win.
Please help us build a strong community by participating.
We highly encourage you to read and review all official rules for the sweepstakes of your choice.
To view all of the information and which item is next to giveaway, learn more at our Giveaways page.
What do you think about the Streamlight TLR 1 HL? Share your thoughts in the comments below. Every comment you leave on one of our articles is 1 entry to win in our giveaways.
