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Surefire is probably the most respected and well-known flashlight manufacturer who makes tactical, duty, and weapon lights in the world. They offer a vast selection of high-quality flashlights that range from eye-wateringly expensive and epically powerful to remarkably affordable and practical.
In this Surefire G2X Pro flashlight review, we investigate whether a $100 torch can offer the performance needed for an EDC tactical light.
Surefire G2X Pro
Quick Overview
The Surefire G2X Pro is a reasonably priced tactical flashlight that offers no frills, instead sticking to reliable performance in the features that matter most to end users. Given its excellent performance, durability, and reliability, the G2X is a bargain at its current price.
Functionality
8.5/10
Style
8.0/10
Dependability
9.5/10
Value
9.8/10
What We Like
600 lumen high mode offers ample light
Lightweight polymer body has a comfortable texture
No unnecessary bells and whistles
What We Don't Like
Doesn’t ship with a pocket clip, pouch, or holster
Only IPX4 rated
What is the Surefire G2X Pro?
The Surefire G2X Pro is the brand’s entry-level full-size tactical and EDC flashlight. It’s designed to offer a solid mix of performance and durability without emptying your wallet.
Surefire achieved that remarkable feat by using lower-cost yet high-quality materials and generally taking a bare-bones approach when it comes to features and customizability.
The G2X offers only two modes (a single mode only in the Tactical variant) and a simple but highly reliable tailcap button to switch between them. If you’ve always wanted a legit Surefire tactical light but balked at the high price tag of many of the brand’s products, the Surefire G2X bears serious consideration.
Key features
- Two settings and single tailcap switch click activation make it reliable and easy to use.
- Nitrolon lightweight polymer body makes the G2X easy to hold, but durable.
- Proudly made in the U.S.A.
- Reasonable price for a Surefire flashlight
Specifications
- Beam Output(s): High 600 Lumens (maximum light output), low15 Lumens
- Runtime: High 1.5 hrs, low - 52 hrs
- Dimensions (L x D): 5.2 in by 1.25 in
- Weight: 4.4 oz
- Batteries: 2 x CR123A or 1 x 18650 rechargeable
Surefire G2X Pro Design and Style
The design of the G2X epitomizes efficiency and effectiveness over flashy extras and following trends. The body is made from tough Nitrolon polymer with a mil-spec anodized aluminum bezel for rugged impact protection in case of use as a last-resort self-defense tool.
We’ll level with you: The Surefire G2X isn’t a pretty flashlight. It’s all business, with a stripped-down body that lacks knurling, ergonomic shaping, or any of the other fancy extras you can find on many high-end flashlights these days. It looks like what it is, a reliable, no-nonsense workhorse handheld flashlight that you aren’t afraid to take with you into the trenches.
You can choose from several color options and a few handle configurations, including one with a raised ring for a more secure grip when holding a weapon in wet conditions. If you prioritize substance and value over flash and style, the Surefire G2X is the EDC flashlight for you.
Surefire G2X Pro Features and Functionality
We considered five key characteristics when writing our Surefire G2X flashlight review. These included output/brightness, battery and runtime, usability, pocketability and carry options, and ergonomics.
Output/brightness
Output brightness is the most straightforward metric to look at when first considering a flashlight. No matter how durable, efficient, or affordable a light is, if it doesn’t offer the brightness you need, it won’t meet your requirements.
The Surefire G2X Pro is designed specifically to meet the requirements of use as a tactical flashlight. Its LED lights have two output modes, high at 600 lumens and low at 15 lumens, but lacks a strobe mode as is found in many other tactical lights.
While there are flashlights that offer more than 600 lumens, realistically, that’s all the output you’ll need in 99.9% of possible situations you’ll find yourself in. To put it into perspective, your car’s headlights produce only about 700 lumens each in normal driving mode. Having a maximum output of 600 lumens in your pocket is plenty for hiking, camping, hunting, and even as a blinding light in a self-defense situation.
The G2X Tactical is slightly different from the Pro, offering just a single output level of 600 lumens for simplicity during potential engagements. There are some tradeoffs there, but the benefits of single touch on/off functionality and overall increased runtime more than outweigh the negatives.
Batteries and runtime
The Surefire G2X Pro runs on a pair of standard CR123A lithium batteries. These are ubiquitous in the modern flashlight space and are widely available and affordable.
If you want to make your G2X Pro even more affordable to operate, you can run it on a standard 18650 lithium battery, such as the micro-USB rechargeable version Surefire offers. There are slight differences in total runtime if you use CR123As or an 18650, but for the most part it’s negligible.
The G2X Pro offers 1.5 hours of runtime on its 600-lumen high setting and up to 52 hours of runtime on its 15-lumen low. Given how powerful the high setting is, we’re impressed with that runtime. You won’t be able to find a brighter light with better runtime anywhere close to the G2X in pricing.
Usability
One area where the Surefire G2X really shines is in its ease of use. The stripped-down design and intuitive tailcap switch control mean you can instantly click it on and move between settings. At the same time, the Nitrolon polymer body is just tacky enough to offer a solid grip in most conditions.
We could rapidly build the click pattern from low to high into muscle memory and had no issues getting to the correct setting when we needed it.
Fundamentally, there just isn’t much to worry about from a usability standpoint regarding the Surefire G2X. It’s a solidly built flashlight with basic settings that turns on when needed and is easy to figure out.
Pocketability and carry options
The Surefire G2X isn’t really a pocket-carry flashlight, and honestly, that’s alright. It’s designed primarily as a powerful tactical and utility flashlight that’s rugged enough to use in exceptionally difficult conditions. To do that, it needs a certain amount of heft and power that’s incompatible with the dimensions of your average pocket carry.
You certainly could carry it in a pocket, and we’ve seen people do it, but honestly, we wouldn’t want to ourselves. It’s too large and bulky to fit in any but a cargo pocket comfortably, and generally works better as a bag, glovebox, or holster flashlight.
We would absolutely take the G2X with us in our backpack or sling bag as a primary light when we know we need serious illumination. The G2X likewise is the perfect solution for a glovebox, toolbox, or go-bag.
Ergonomics
While the Surefire G2X isn’t the most ergonomically designed flashlight we’ve used, we were impressed with how well it fits in hand and matches the natural position of most people’s fingers. It’s a bit on the stubby side compared to an old-school Maglite or similar flashlight but is still somewhat larger than many of the pocket-carry flashlights we’ve previously reviewed.
Our first impression on picking up the G2X was that it was a flashlight thoroughly optimized for an overhand grip. Given Surefire’s heritage as a manufacturer of top-quality shooting, military, and police lights, that’s no surprise.
When in an overhand grip with your thumb on the tailcap we were pleasantly surprised by just how natural it felt. The spacing between the bezel and tail end was just right for our fingers and allowed us to get a very secure grip without impacting our ability to direct the light exactly where we wanted it to go.
Surefire G2X Durability
Surefire has been the flashlight brand of choice among law enforcement and military users for decades, and with good reason. The flashlights they make perform when you need them to and can stand up to the most brutal conditions, whether high-stakes policing or actual battlefields.
Despite the G2X Pro’s reputation as the affordable Surefire, the company made no compromises when it came to build quality and durability. Its Nitrolon polymer body can handle bumps, drops, and impacts with ease, which makes it perfect for any outdoor activity as well.
Water resistance
The Surefire G2X Pro has an IPX4 rating for water resistance. That means it can handle splashes of water without issue, but not extreme conditions. We would have preferred something a bit stronger, up to and including brief submersion, but given the low cost of the G2X we aren’t too torn up about it.
Who is the Surefire G2X For?
The Surefire G2X Pro isn’t the EDC flashlight for everyone. It’s too large for regular pocket carry, significantly bulkier than many of the pint-sized powerhouses we’ve previously reviewed, and honestly offers too much power for general utility tasks in most people’s day to day.
Where the G2X comes into its own are sticky situations and moments when you need a bright flashlight in a small package are required. At 600 lumens, the G2X offers plenty of light for almost any situation.
Even better, it does so without having five or six different modes and settings to work through. Sometimes, all you really need is a bright light that turns on instantly at the push of a button.
Given its robust construction, ample runtime, and exceptionally affordable price, the Surefire G2X represents one of the best ways to pick up a potent tactical flashlight without breaking the bank.
Is the Surefire G2X Worth It?
The results of our Surefire G2X Pro flashlight review are pretty straightforward: The Surefire G2X truly shines when it comes to bang for your buck.
It’s a powerful and durable tactical flashlight from one of the most respected names in the industry, yet is consistently available for under $100.
There are flashlights that can match the G2X in some of its features and functions, but there are very few flashlights that can cover all the bases it covers at its price point. When you consider that the Surefire G2X, in all its variants, is proudly made in the U.S.A., you start to realize just how wild it is that Surefire can offer it at the price they do.
If you’re looking to get the best tactical flashlight possible for money spent, it’s hard to go wrong with the Surefire G2X. We think it's an excellent daily carry flashlight, as long as you don't plan to store it in your pocket or attached to your belt.
Surefire G2X Alternatives
We always like to offer alternatives to any product we review, and this Surefire G2X Pro flashlight review is no different. The EDC and tactical flashlight market is crowded, and getting more so every day. The Surefire G2X is an excellent EDC flashlight, but there are several other options you can choose from.
Streamlight ProTac 2.0
Streamlight is one of Surefire’s biggest direct competitors, with a whole host of high-quality tactical, duty, and utility flashlights on offer. The Streamlight ProTac 2.0 is the closest comparable light Streamlight offers to the G2X Pro, and boy, does it have a lot to offer.
Where the G2X Pro is a 600-lumen flashlight, the ProTac 2.0 offers 2000 lumens with a runtime of 2.25 hours. It’s IP67 rated, comes standard with a rechargeable battery, and includes a pocket clip (though we think it’s less than useful).
It’s not all good news, though, as the ProTac 2.0 is not only larger and heftier than the G2X, it’s also noticeably more expensive. At time of writing the ProTac 2.0 was a little under twice as expensive as the Surefire G2X Pro.
If you’re looking for greater performance and are willing to pay for it, the Streamlight ProTac 2.0 is a stand out alternative to the G2X Pro.
We haven't reviewed the Pro Tac 2 yet, but we have reviewed the Streamlight Microstream.
Fenix PD35
If you’re looking for a different performance mix than the G2X at a very similar budget price, the Fenix PD35 is a great place to look. Fenix popped up seemingly out of nowhere about a decade ago and has produced some solidly performing flashlights at shockingly low prices.
The PD35 is one of the company’s most popular offerings, coming in at nearly the same size as the G2X yet offering up to 1700 lumens of output with a comparable 85-minute runtime. Where the PD35 differs from the G2X is primarily in its intended purpose.
The PD35 is a solid utility light with numerous light settings, modes, and functions to choose from with two different mode buttons. The G2X shines as a no-nonsense, ultra-reliable tactical flashlight that works as intended when you need it, wherever you need it to work.
The Fenix PD35 is a good light, and our experience while using it has been positive, but the company doesn’t come close to matching Surefire’s reputation or overall build quality.
If you’re looking for a highly adjustable and reasonably reliable EDC flashlight at a remarkably low price, the Fenix PD35 isn’t a bad option at all.
Surefire G2X Pro Flashlight Review Final Thoughts
The Surefire G2X Pro is a reasonably priced tactical flashlight that offers no frills, instead sticking to reliable performance in the features that matter most to end users. Given its excellent performance, durability, and reliability, the G2X is a bargain at its current price. We strongly recommend all Surefire flashlights.
Thanks for reading our Surefire G2X Pro flashlight review! Make sure to check out our guides on the best EDC flashlights and the best AA flashlights.
