Rechargeable Tactical Flashlight ZX1

So, I'm kind of a flashlight geek. Maybe not geek, I don't obsessive over figures, but really care about quality and reliability. My primary brands are Surefire and Streamlight. Both have what they call 'dual-fuel' flashlights, capable of running on replaceable batteries or a rechargeable battery. My Surefires and Streamlights do not have this feature, and the Salary ZX-1 Tactical Flashlight looked a comparable product. Let's get this out of the way, this flashlight is not in the same category as Surefire or Streamlight, they're just not. They are also not priced the same. Those other flashlights command a premium. Initial impressions were very good. The packaging was nicely done. I'm not an unboxing-type person, but when care is put into packaging, care is often put into what's inside the packaging. The box the flashlight and supporting parts was in was nicely made and held closed with magnets. The package includes the flashlight and several accessories. Besides the flashlight it has two rechargeable batteries, a plug-in charger than can charge one or two at a time, two extra cap gaskets, a battery proxy that accepts three AAA batteries in lieu of a rechargeable battery, a sleeve for the battery inside the flashlight, and a plastic container to hold the batteries. It's honestly a lot. I'd have preferred the battery charging be done via USB-C connection to the flashlight itself. It is good to have two batteries, but requires more equipment than should be necessary for a flashlight. Performance, the flashlight has a bright, dim, strobe, and emergency flashing mode. In the frequently used bright and dim the performance is good. Not exceptional, but good. A feature I do like the ability to tighten or widen the beam with a sliding mechanism. The battery life seems pretty good. After charging I used for 30-minutes continuous on bright setting and it didn't visibly diminish in output. The head of the flashlight is cut to provide defense if needed as a weapon. It's a bit larger and heavier than my other flashlights, but otherwise is nicely shaped and weighted. It will be interesting to see how durable it proves itself over time. I've bought some budget flashlights on Amazon over the years, and out of the box they worked well. However, over time, they all failed. I value consistent and enduring performance. With Surefire and Streamlight I know I've got to-hell-and-back reliability. I did once have a Surefire have a failure in the cap and they serviced it and returned for free as part of their lifetime commitment. So, this is not to same standard as those other names. However, it also costs less. The thing is, it's not that much less. At its current price of $50 you've got the Streamlight 88061 ProTac 1L-1AA 350-Lumen Dual Fuel Professional Tactical Light for less, and arguably a more established reputation. Perhaps Solaray will eventually stand next to Surefire and Steamlight, but if it were my money, I'd choose the Streamlight 88061 and spend the small saving on some spare CR123A batteries.