Hey folks... this is GeezerSpeak the flashlight-wonk. I have a collection of flashlights and lanterns going back years and it includes close to 50 different types from the best of the brands. To date the Streamlight 44931 Siege LED 3-D-cell is still my very favorite camping lantern. I've purchase 15 of them since December 2018 and gave most of them as gifts. I've updated this review with some additional information.
I also recently compared the 44931 Siege to the Rayovac "Virtually Indestructible" Camping Lantern, and the Streamlight is by far more versatile and feature laden. If you wish to see that comparison, click on my name and find the review there.
There are some things I have come to appreciate about the Streamlight that are hard to explain. One is that the contacts inside the battery compartment can easily be readjusted and cleaned. For long-term use that's important. You will need to on a rare occasion adjust the contacts with your fingers because after you've slammed D-cells in and out of the battery compartment a few hundred times the contacts can get a little soft. But it is really easy to do, and it can be done in total darkness, no guesswork, once you are familiar with the battery compartment. This need for adjustment occurs on a lot of Alkaline-powered flashlights & lanterns, but many of those have contacts that are hard to access or adjust.
Furthermore, I can actually determine the proper battery direction in total darkness because I can feel the contacts with my fingers. You can't do that with a lot of lanterns. I discovered this beneficial feature during a blackout, when I realized that all I had to do to determine battery orientation was to feel inside the battery compartment for the largest elevated contact,,, that being the only one that connected to the negative side of a D-cell. The other two batteries would then be inserted with the positive side going into the compartment.
Another thing I have come to appreciate about the Siege 44931 is their durability. I have subjected the Streamlight to exceptionally abusive conditions and I've yet to have a failure or leak. I have dropped them, drowned them, and the one I keep in the shower has stayed wet continuously for two years. It is impressive.
Another thing I love is the fact that the switch acts as a battery monitor to let me know when the batteries are running low. Ordinarily I use NiMH batteries in these lanterns, because they get used daily. This battery monitor feature is very beneficial. It keeps me from ruining my NiMH batteries by depleting them to zero.
NOTE: Regarding NiMH batteries, I have found the most economical approach is to use AA cells in single-cell AA-to-D plastic adapters. Yes you swap batteries more often. But the adapters that use 2 or 3 cells each were introducing some variables that resulted in a few incidents of depleted cells... something to be avoided.
This doesn’t happen with the single-cell adapters. Here's why. In the single-cell version all the cells are connected in series. In the multi-cell adapter versions some cells are in series but some are in parallel. That's where the problem comes in. Regardless, using the 1-cell-adapters I haven;t had any depleted NiMH cells, and it works well. Having said that... if I'm going camping I use regular D-cells.
Another thing.... I know that rechargeable Li-Ion (Lithium) is all the rage these days... but I prefer lanterns that can take either NiMH or standard Alkaline cells. For one I am never without backups and I'm not exclusively dependent on a charger. Lithium Ion cells will eventually wear out, and if that happens while you're in the field, you're out of luck. I don't worry about that with the 44931 Siege. Also the Run-Times are typically longer for a given Lumen Output using either Alkaline or NiMH versus Li-Ion.
But the biggest reason I prefer lanterns that use regular cells is because of our experience post hurricane Ike when we were without power for 10 days. If you are relying on a rechargeable and you DON't HAVE an inverter for your car or a really large solar panel... then you are at a loss. But there were plenty of Alkaline batteries we could get during Ike. So... everything that used regular batteries remained useful... but not the rechargeable flashlight and lanterns we had at the time. They were done in a couple of days. Oops. So lesson learned.
The feature I like most on the 44931 is its light-diffusing globe. You can have the lantern right on the table while the gang plays cards and it doesn't blind you. But if you need to illuminate an area, take the globe off and hang the lantern upside-down overhead. It is plenty bright. By the way it is waterproof with the globe attached or not, doesn't matter. NOTE: If you're looking exclusively for table lighting take a look at the Mini-Siege Streamlight 44941, it is only 200 lumen and very civilized lighting for tabletop use. I own four of those.
PROS:
Very well designed and built...
2 meter impact resistant
IPX7 waterproof
Floats in water
Full O-ring Protection
One-way-vented battery compartment
key-post-guided battery cover for blind assembly
long run-times on all settings
realistic run-time estimates
3-basic light modes and...more...
also has an eye-friendly red mode and SOS
light-diffusing globe
removable globe for down light tent-top use
lighted battery-level indicator
(on off switch turns colors)
D-ring-clips top and bottom for hanging
carry handle with built-in hook-notch
Uses 3 D-Cells, but also works well with NiMH
or Lithium batteries, and AA to D adapters
CONS:: ..... NONE
RECOMMENDED (Five Star)
As a total LED wonk I heartily recommend this lantern. For one... unlike many of the lantern makers out there, Streamlight calculates their run-times to only 10% of initial value... NOT down to 1% as so many other companies do, so their run-time estimates are more accurate. There will still be some usable light output at the specified times, The lantern will tell you when you're close to exhausting your batteries. The built-in battery-level indicator goes from green to yellow to red as as you approach the end of charge. The button also flashes red if you install one of your D-Cells incorrectly (reversed polarity).
The 3-levels of White light are enough to illuminate your work area, camp table or tent. Don't expect it to light up an entire yard though. The lantern provides useful light without being harsh on the eyes, thanks to the quality diffuser they use.. Another really well thought out feature is the red-light mode. What makes it unique is that it is totally separate from the 3-level white-light mode. You enter and exit it with a long-press of the power button (about 2 seconds). So when you're on a deer-stand and you're using red-mode it will NOT sequence back into white-light when you turn the lantern on and off. It stays red until you decide to switch it out of red-mode by long-pressing the power button.
The Siege is extremely well built and comes with more than the usual amount of handy design features. If you research this lantern you will find that the vast majority of the reviews are excellent.
As always... and for the record... My reviews are without any commercial bias or affiliations, and NEVER compensated in any way. I only review products that I purchase for my personal use. If I like a product or brand, or if I don't... I'll tell you honestly why. Thanks for reading..... GEEZER SPEAK
| Finish Type | Polished |
|---|---|
| Product Dimensions | 4"L x 4"W x 7.25"H |
| Battery Description | Alkaline |
| Brightness | 540 |
| Item Weight | 0.4 Kilograms |
| Mounting Type | Handlebar Mount |
| Water Resistance Level | Waterproof |
| Battery Life | 295 Hours |
| Number of Batteries | 3 D batteries required. |
| Voltage | 3 Volts |
| Manufacturer | Streamlight |
| Part Number | 44931 |
| Item Weight | 14.1 ounces |
| Country of Origin | China |
| Item model number | 44931 |
| Batteries | 3 D batteries required. |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Size | 3xD Battery |
| Style | 540 Lumen |
| Finish | Polished |
| Installation Method | Hanging |
| Item Package Quantity | 1 |
| Number Of Pieces | 1 |
| Cutting Diameter | 3.8 Inches |
| Plug Format | A- US style |
| Special Features | Floats, Water Resistant |
| Usage | Shop, Yard, Garage, Balcony, Home |
| Included Components | The Siege LED Lantern |
| Batteries Included? | No |
| Batteries Required? | Yes |
| Battery Cell Type | Alkaline |
| Description Pile | Alkaline |
| Warranty Description | Limited lifetime warranty. |
| Assembled Diameter | 3.8 Inches |
