My first ever weaponlight was a used show mannequin of the unique TLR-3. The TLR-3 was the smaller, budget-friendly gentle that most individuals have forgotten about. Streamlight has launched a ton of various TLRs since, however now, a decade or two later, the TLR-3 is again because the TLR-3X.
The brand new Streamlight TLR-3X takes the compact, polymer gentle we’ve recognized for years and brings it kicking and screaming into the trendy period. I bought hand son with one at SHOT 2026, and it was a pleasant shock. I actually didn’t see the TLR-3 sequence being revived, however right here we’re.Â
The TLR-3X – It Doesn’t Suck
The unique TLR-3 was a dependable however considerably dim choice, topping out at round 170 lumens. It was nice at lighting up a very darkish room, however outdoors of excellent situations, it kinda sucked. The dearth of lumens and candela made it a poor choice for contemporary environments.
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The TLR-3X blows that out of the water with a soar to 500 lumens and 6,500 candela. That brings it as much as compact gentle energy, however when you think about that this can be a price range gentle, that sort of illumination isn’t too unhealthy. Positive, it’s not duty-ready energy, however for dwelling protection and hid carry, it’s sufficient to get by.
Whereas 500 lumens is the brand new customary for compact lights, it’s the multi-fuel functionality that makes the X designation particular. You possibly can run it on a typical CR123A lithium battery for about 1.5 hours, or you’ll be able to swap in Streamlight’s SL-B9 rechargeable battery for a one-hour runtime. This flexibility is nice for high-volume trainers who don’t wish to preserve a literal bucket of CR123s of their vary bag.
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The Three FashionsÂ
Streamlight is releasing three totally different variants of this gentle to match quite a lot of totally different weapons:
Commonplace 1913: Matches your typical Picatinny rails on compact and full-sized weapons.
1913 Slim: Tailored for the trendy crop of slimline weapons just like the Glock 43X/48 MOS and the FN Reflex.
P365 Mannequin: A devoted model that clips straight onto the proprietary Sig Sauer P365 and P365 XL rails. (Doesn’t match XMACRO)
Ergonomics and Mounting
The TLR-3X maintains its light-weight polymer building, preserving the load right down to a measly 2.2 ounces. For a carry gun, that’s virtually invisible. Streamlight additionally included a brand new reversible clamp system on the 1913 mannequin, which permits it to suit on each quick and customary rails with a way more safe lockup.
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The switches have been up to date as properly. You get ambidextrous rear paddles that supply each momentary and constant-on modes, plus a user-activated strobe if that’s your factor. The usual attachment system stays the identical, as with each different TLR sequence. It’s quick, safe, and retains your fingers away from the muzzle throughout set up.
For a price range optic, it seems to be and feels good. The controls are tactile and supply prompt suggestions when the button is pressed. It fires proper up and shines brilliant with a surprisingly cool beam.Â
Nonetheless Robust as Nails
The TLR-3X retains the polymer design of the older mannequin, however that doesn’t make it fragile. It’s IPX7 rated, which means it’s waterproof as much as one meter for half-hour. The TLR-3X contains a Borofloat glass lens that may deal with the warmth of prolonged strings of fireside.
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At an MSRP of round $170, it’s a stable worth for anybody who wants a high-output gentle that doesn’t add a ton of bulk to their carry setup. It’s nice to see Streamlight giving some like to their smaller fashions as an alternative of simply specializing in the massive boys just like the TLR-1.
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