*New* Surefire Sidekick 300 lumen Keychain Light

[photon1c]

...

The first Sidekick has a serial number in the familiar AXXXXX format, on the new light the serial is replaced by 1F-139252 on all units.

Not a bad light for $20, I doubt I would have bought another one at the normal $70 street price though.

Mine says 1F-139255
There is also a 2D barcode present near this number

I wonder what the difference in numbers indicates?

 

[Vox Clamatis in Deserto]

Mine says 1F-139255
There is also a 2D barcode present near this number

I wonder what the difference in numbers indicates?

Is it a production batch or firmware version perhaps? Does it tell how old the battery is like the 'use before' date on the SF CR123A cells?

I bought several of the $20 Sidekicks on sale and gave away all but one.

Are these sealed lithium polymer battery lights really the future of handheld tactical flashlights as the 2019 Surefire catalog implies?

 

[InvisibleFrodo]

For a "tactical" light or military application, it may make sense to have a light that is simply disposed of after say one to three years to make way for potentially new technology, but for me, a light with a built in battery is an absolute no go because it's not meant to be a long service life light.
The idea is probably that that will help with sales when you need to buy a new light....

 

[AVService]

I also got a few of these for the cheap Holiday price and I would say there is little chance that they are the future of handheld tactical lighting.

Or at least I hope not?

Is it a production batch or firmware version perhaps? Does it tell how old the battery is like the 'use before' date on the SF CR123A cells?

I bought several of the $20 Sidekicks on sale and gave away all but one.

Are these sealed lithium polymer battery lights really the future of handheld tactical flashlights as the 2019 Surefire catalog implies?

 

[Vox Clamatis in Deserto]

I also got a few of these for the cheap Holiday price and I would say there is little chance that they are the future of handheld tactical lighting.

Or at least I hope not?

And just to be a little more clear, the original quote was actually about the Stiletto in the 2019 SF catalog:

From the '40 Years of Innovation' spread on page 9 of the 2019 SF catalog linked above: '2018 - Stiletto represents the future of tactical hand-held illumination tools'.
​

The Stiletto seems to be a descendant of the Sidekick as does the Guardian. Will these sealed lights someday replace the E series?

 

[AVService]

Oh,I was responding to the title of the thread and just figured that your post was regarding that and your quote mentions the Sidekick only that I see?

Nevermind.

And just to be a little more clear, the original quote was actually about the Stiletto in the 2019 SF catalog:



The Stiletto seems to be a descendant of the Sidekick as does the Guardian. Will these sealed lights someday replace the E series?

 

[Vox Clamatis in Deserto]

Oh,I was responding to the title of the thread and just figured that your post was regarding that and your quote mentions the Sidekick only that I see?

Nevermind.

I should have expressed my thoughts a little better. I am kinda surprised after the drastic price drop that a new version of the Sidekick wasn't introduced at SHOT 2019.