Review of Smith & Wesson Galaxy 13 LED Flashlight (10 White LED & 3 Red LED)

Smith & Wesson Galaxy 13 LED Flashlight (10 White LED & 3 Red LED)
By: Smith & Wesson Average Rating: 4.5 Total Reviews: 41
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works perfect

On: 2008-06-28

It is definetely worth the price, it is bright, durable and the battery life is good.
The red light is a nice nightvision saver and the case with belt loop and storage for extra batteries is a plus!

Pretty Good Flashlight for Random Use

On: 2008-06-23

I was pleasantly surprised by this flashlight. Smith and Wesson makes a good product, but sometimes quality manufacturers just slap their names on underachieving new products (case in point: Wusthof Emerilware knives). Anyways, I was in the market for a random-use flashlight -- one that I could grab when I needed it and not worry about the batteries being drained. I wanted something durable (not plastic), versatile (not a big honking Maglite or lantern), and energy efficient (LED). As youve probably noticed getting to this page, there are a lot of options. Here are my key points:

PROS: LED uses very little battery power and is fairly bright. The light is a crisp white and is picked up well by reflectors. The casing is a solid metal, with a screwed on end-cap lined by a rubber/plastic O-ring to keep water out. The metal casing is so durable I dont think Ill ever have to worry about chipping or damaging the flashlight. Switches are raised and easy to find in the dark. Ive been told the red LEDs are useful for wanting to maintain night vision.

CONS: Youre not going to land 747s with the beam. If youre looking for something with a higher light output, you might want to try the Streamlight Scorpion LED Flashlight #85010. The raised switches can be turned on accidentally when holstering the flashlight in the nylon sleeve (Its not a big deal, but it is what it is). My only regret was I didnt get the 28 LED S&W for only 8$ more.

I use it most often when taking the dog out at night and snooping around the attic. Its small enough to be used for examining the crevices in my engine. I guess when you consider the Smith & Wesson brand, Im using paramilitary gear for walking the dog!

Excelent Backup Flashlight

On: 2008-06-13

Its a well made product by Smith & Wesson... Its not heavy or too light that will fall without care...
I recommend to use/buy rechargable batteries so you can forget about batteries :D
The two button feature is awesome!! The While LED light is bright enough to find things in the night, the Red Leds is a smart touch for night use too. Thumbs up!

Excellent light for night flying

On: 2008-06-03

Purchased this flashlight for night flying and it has been very useful. Sturdy design. LEDs provide plenty of light with low battery consumption. Separate switches for white and red light makes sure you do not accidently destroy your night vision.
I took one star away because you could accidently press the buttons while stowing the flashlight away. It wont happen as long as you are attentive to it though.
All in all a very good buy.

Okay, but not great!

On: 2008-05-18

It does the job, although my expectations where higher...

Pros: Well built, sturdy and with a good holster... Good customer support, when you are in the US...

Cons: Not as much light as I was expecting. No adjustable beam.

At first I was very disappointed. When I got my fist flashlight it turned out to have used up batteries and after I changed those the light was somehow dim. I talked to the customer support to find out, if this was normal and I first got the impression this was normal indeed, but after insisting they had me send in the flashlight and replaced it with a new one without problems. This one was much better and works well for me. It seemed the first one had some electric issues, so LEDs did not get the full power of the batteries. If you dont expect a longe range and adjustable beam, they work great, but are certainly no tacticle ops lights...

Not that great.

On: 2008-05-03

Smith & Wesson Galaxy 13 LED Flashlight (10 White LED & 3 Red LED)First, I have to admit that light light output is great, and that 3 red LEDs, and separate switch for white and red light are nice features. After saying that I have to point out that the size and weight are ridiculously big for a flashlight powered by 3 AAA batteries. The diameter of flashlights body looks like you could fit a D cell in there or at least couple of AAs.... AAA batteries for something this big is just a wrong choice. Position of switches on a side of lamp is really convenient if you want to play with them, once you have the lamp in your hand. Otherwise, their position is a poor choice, and they can easily be accidentally turned on while lamp is in its carrying pouch or in a bag.
Overall: It has some nice features but it just seems like it was designed
by a person who never ever used and had to carry a flashlight outside of his home.

Very Nice!

On: 2008-04-25

Very nice flashlight, that is very well made. The red LED works very well to save your night vision. I have purchased 3 of these flashlights.

Clunky feeling and soft wide beam. Other reviews seem to be bogus.

On: 2008-04-10

Light is weak, relative to other higher end flashlights that can be bought for just a few dollars more. I owned the Swiss Army LED but my 3 y/o lost it so I decided to try the Smith and Wesson based on great Amazon reviews. Sadly, the reviews are misleading.

Ergonomically, this light is a failure. Its a little to fat and a little too heavy considering it takes AAA cells, sorta stubby-ish, and it doesnt have a lanyard or provisions for one. On first use, youll notice that this flashlight falls short of the sensuous tactile quality of a mag light or the Swiss Army Light. Its sorta well made but just not quite satisfying to hold -- not bad but not quite right.

The light quality is not the dazzling and almost blinding light that I expect from an LED. The beams focus is very broad but it seems to sacrifice brightness and distance for breadth. This is a frustratingly "soft" light. You just dont get a powerful illumination and you cant get a focused or pointed illumination.

I guess the red light option is neat but I havent needed it yet and I dont expect I will. If you just want a decent flashlight at a decent price. This will be OK but dont expect anything special or especially satisfying to use or hold. Overall its OK but disappointing.

Well-made, useful light

On: 2008-04-06

Received this light as a gift. Seems to be well-made. The switches are easy to use, but the switch buttons are covered with rubber that probably wouldnt last under constant use. The white beam is typical of non-reflector type LED lights: broad and flat, perfect for finding your way along a path, but not applicable to long-range use. The red beam is bright enough to use for astronomy or other after-dark activities that require reading or map use.

This light is ideal for personal use, but a professional would be better off with a Xenon-bulb light equipped with a focusable reflector.

Great flashlight, not so great button switch

On: 2008-03-13

I love the flashlight. Its really bright and Im getting good battery life. So far I havent had too much trouble getting the white light to come on when I push the button for white light, but the red light button doesnt work most of the time (you can see in the photo that there are two buttons, the one closest to the light is the white light button and the one under that is for the red light). The flash light is about the size of my small mag lights, in length, but considerably wider. It feels good and solid. Id love the flashlight if the switches werent so difficult to use. I push them in, but nothing happens, no light. I have to keep pushing until I get it just exactly right, which is fine when Im not panicked or in a hurry.

versatile for outdoor use

On: 2008-02-22

I expected this to be good from other reviews. What surprised me in a less positive way is that it is relatively large and heavy for using only 3xAAA batteries, but it is very solid. What surprised me in a good way is that the red LED set is brighter than I expected, and I use that almost exclusively for walking the dogs at night. Enough light to walk with if there is any ambient light at all. The white beam is relatively broad, so this is not good for illuminating a spot well, but it suits my dog-walking use very well. overall, it exceeded my expectations.

Puts out twice the light of a Maglight, but weighs twice as much

On: 2008-02-12

I got this for walking a dog on narrow sidewalks in the area in which I walk. After DST comes in in October, there are two walks in the dark, and those ^&%&$! seed balls from liquidambur trees can trip the most nimble of us.

Ive been using a Maglight for the past couple of years. Its lightweight but not light enough to see either to the sides or far enough ahead. There are still plenty of uses for the MagLight, so this was no loss. The S&W gives a very wide and very bright light and keeps us on a narrow path, so to speak.

I must admit, I dont know why theres the red LEDs, but I suppose it it were pitch black out, thered be a better reason. And, Ive taken to bringing THIS flashlight along in the care when we do go on hiking trails at sunset -- just in case. The red LEDs can always be used for signaling.

Its not that heavy, will fit in a back pocket or coat pocket, has a nice belt-loop holder. Yep, its worthy of 5 stars.

Good value

On: 2008-02-07

The S&W 13 LED flashlight is a great compromise between the cheapo lights found at your local store (e.g. Wal Mart) and those found at premium vendors (e.g. Surefire). The LEDs will last forever, emit an acceptably bright beam (20 lumens for the white and 5 for the red), and offer great battery life (30 hours when using the white light). The flashlights are fairly small, come with a black canvas holster, and construction feels about like a Brinkman (aircraft grade aluminum). The flashlight takes three AAA batteries that fit in a neat little cradle inside the tail and come with the unit.

I was so impressed with this flashlight that I include it in the Disaster Preparedness Auto Kits that I sell. Definitely recommended.

Written by Arthur Bradley, author of "Process of Elimination" - an intense thriller that pits a martial artist against a world-class sniper out to shape the next presidential election.

Please be kind enough to indicate if reviews are helfpul.

Great Light, Great Value

On: 2008-01-21

This is the first LED light I have owned. Im use to 3D & 4D cell Mag Lights. This light is about 6 & 3/8ths inches long, outer tube about 1 & 1/4 inches wide and the head about 1 & 3/4 inches wide. It works off 3 AAA batteries and lite weight. I new it was not going to put out the light of 4D cell mag when I bought it. I was looking for something small, easy to carry for close up too 30 or so feet out and with a long run time on the batteries.

I like the light a lot! It does everything I was hoping for and I do intend on buying another.

Great Light, Great Value

On: 2008-01-20

This is the first LED light I have owned. Im use to 3D & 4D cell Mag Lights. This light is about 6 & 3/8ths inches long, outer tube about 1 & 1/4 inches wide and the head about 1 & 3/4 inches wide. It works off 3 AAA batteries and lite weight. I new it was not going to put out the light of 4D cell mag when I bought it. I was looking for something small, easy to carry for close up too 30 or so feet out and with a long run time on the batteries.

I like the light a lot! It does everything I was hoping for and I do intend on buying another.

What a LED LIGHT!!!

On: 2008-01-11

This s one great light! For those in Law Enforcement, Security, or other Public Safety jobs, here is the light you want! Other than its big brother the S&W 28 LED flashlight (also sold here at Amazon), this light is what you want! It comes with 3 AAA batteries, and a holster to keep it in (belt adjustable). One button is for the 3 red LED, the other for the 10 white LED.

One thing (I dont know where my brain was) when I took the cap off to put the batteries in, I thought the batteries just slid in the back. Im looking for where to put them in, then turned it around and out falls the little piece where the batteries go! Luckily it did not crack on the floor.

And the end is a waterproof! When you unscrew it, you can hear the air whoosh with the tight fit. Plus the ends are flattened so it does not roll when you put it down. And the flashlight has a good polished feel in your hand.

The white lights are bright! The red not as bright, but the red does not screw up your night vision as white light does.

LED flashlight

On: 2008-01-07

excellent light. If red leds light and white do not there is nothing wrong with light, you need to replace batteries. Takes more current to light white leds than red ones, because there are 4 times as many.

Excellent!

On: 2007-12-22

This product delivers on all counts! And, it costs much less than comparable products out there!!

1) Brilliant LEDs
2) Neat red LEDs which come in handy for looking at a map while assisting a driver at night
3) Design prevents the flashlight from rolling when set on its side on the floor
4) It has weathered the abuse of a 2 year old for several weeks now without any visible signs of damage!!!

LED flashlight

On: 2007-12-12

Up front I am a big fan of LED lights, since my first one in 1999, lets say I have a few, this one the Smith & Wesson is the best of both worlds, what I mean by that is the white and red leds, the technology has come so far since 99, this light has 10 very powerful white leds but the red light from 3 leds is what I am talking about the advancement in light output from just 3 small leds.

The housing is very impressive alum the two button switches is a vast improvement over the more simple single button to select either white or red, which makes one cycle through the light you may not want or need, I keep this model next to my bed, if I have to get up anytime at night, I reach for it, knowing the bottom push button is the 3 red leds, its great not to grab your eyes when switching on a electric bulb and holding a hand over your eyes while finding your way down the hall, there is so much light out of those 3 red leds one can see anything in one way, great for outside at night to keep one "night vision" but also just a touch switch away for more white light just in case, a great light for people walking a dog, using the red light you have enough to see and the benefit of not blinding the dog when the dog looks up at the owner and gets a face full of white light.

Powered by just 3 small "AAA" alkaline batteries, I am still on the first 3 I got with the unit ! its been months of course that is the other benny of LEDs very long battery life.

It you want this kind of light with a choice of white or red, in a very well built unit, and the fit and finish was a surprise when I first opened it, and with a outstanding price, go for it.

cj

Compact and effective flashlight

On: 2007-12-12

This is a solid, well-built flashlight. It fits the hand well and the buttons are easy to use. While it does not cast a particularly long beam, it is quite effective in illuminating your surroundings. The separate controls for the white and red lights give you the option of using either or both. The compact size makes it convenient to carry.

Ir Really Works!

On: 2007-12-07

After having read so many positive reviews for this flashlight on Amazon, I was very much impressed. My husband and I had always wanted a flashlight with red light, so we each purchased one. The positve reviews on Amazon mirror our esperience with the Smith & Wesson. We really are enjoying our new flashlights. They are not large, bulky and really heavy like some other LED flashlights I have come across. They fit nicely into your hand and give off just enough light to find an object by your bed in the middle of the night or lead you down a path in the dark. The carrying case that comes with the flashlight is really nice too. I havent had my flashlight long enough to tell how long the batteries last.

Very very good for the price.

On: 2007-12-03

Metal case, rugged, good quality, and the red leds is very usefull in some situations.

Super bright, small, and durable

On: 2007-11-30

We bought this because of the higher than normal LED wattage.

It is exceptionally bright and my husband loves it.

Very compact and durable.

Would definitely buy again.

EXCELENT

On: 2007-11-29

I CANT SAY ENOUGH GOOD THINGS ABOUT THIS PRODUCT. IT WORKS JUST FINE ALL THE TIME.

Great Flashlight!

On: 2007-10-28

I really like being able to switch between the white and red LEDs, or have them both on at the same time. This is definitely not a light for really long distance lighting, but is great for inside buildings and close areas outdoors.

The case is very rugged and the size of the flashlight is fantastic. I would definitely recommend this flashlight to anyone that needs a reliable multi-function light.

Great Flashlight!

On: 2007-10-27

I really like being able to switch between the white and red LEDs, or have them both on at the same time. This is definitely not a light for really long distance lighting, but is great for inside buildings and close areas outdoors.

The case is very rugged and the size of the flashlight is fantastic. I would definitely recommend this flashlight to anyone that needs a reliable multi-function light.

Defective

On: 2007-10-18

A vividly bright white and red light is what this flashlight projected the first night and a half of its use. On the second day both lights began to fade from dim to bright at random and periodically the buttons would not work. New batteries were tried with the same effects and the flashlight was gently handled the two days of its use.

Reading the reviews of the other cheaper LED flashlights idetical problems can be noted. This leaves me to wonder if the same manufacturer in China also created this flashlight. On the package it shows that a Chinese based company made the light not Smith & Wesson.

Best flashlight I ever owned

On: 2007-10-07

This flashlight is both well-built and performs as expected. My biggest complaint: I wish you could focus the beam (you cant). You can only do that in LED flashlights costing a lot more.

My only other criticism: if youre not careful, putting the flashlight into its holster can turn the flashlight on - even though you want it off when carrying it. In other words, I wish the carry case was designed as nicely as the flashlight itself.

But for the money, this is a great deal.

Like the first one, so I got another

On: 2007-09-30

I was looking for a good flashlight to keep in a car for safety and convenience purposes. I found it. Its lightweight, stores easily and is bright enough to illuminate the cargo area or tool box to find what is needed. I havent taken it hiking yet, but the sturdy case should keep it safe & secure. The second one is for the other car.

Like the first one, so I got another

On: 2007-09-29

I was looking for a good flashlight to keep in a car for safety and convenience purposes. I found it. Its lightweight, stores easily and is bright enough to illuminate the cargo area or tool box to find what is needed. I havent taken it hiking yet, but the sturdy case should keep it safe & secure. The second one is for the other car.

Smith & Wesson Galaxy 13 LED Flashlight - Great Product

On: 2007-09-19

I do appreciate a well build flash light and Smith & Wesson Galaxy 13 LED Flashlight is one of tham. Im very happy with this product, the only think, it can be improve upon is the on buttons, that is cover with a layer of rubber that if my 5 year old boy get his little hands on I know that the first thing he will do is nail it off, just he did with my other LED flash lights. but other then that its a heavy duty and bealtiful metal black finish, and most important it does a excellent job iluminating. I recommend!!! SK, NYC

All it's advertised to be

On: 2007-09-19

I was impressed with the quality for the price. Great attention to detail and, for a flashlight housing 3 AA batteries, I was surprised how much it felt and handled like a "real" flashlight. The white LEDs are very bright and clear. I only wish I had the option to dim them and narrow the beam. The red LEDs are surprisingly ample in lighting up an area. Ill be purchasing several for Christmas gifts.

Smith & Wesson Galaxy 13 LED Flashlight - Great Product

On: 2007-09-18

I do appreciate a well build flash light and Smith & Wesson Galaxy 13 LED Flashlight is one of tham. Im very happy with this product, the only think, it can be improve upon is the on buttons, that is cover with a layer of rubber that if my 5 year old boy get his little hands on I know that the first thing he will do is nail it off, just he did with my other LED flash lights. but other then that its a heavy duty and bealtiful metal black finish, and most important it does a excellent job iluminating. I recommend!!! SK, NYC

Great flashlight for camping

On: 2007-08-19

I bought this flashlight to take on a camping trip. Its small enough to easily fit into a large pocket or backpack, and the holster that it comes with can easily attach to a belt or a backpack.

The ten white LEDs are bright enough to help you find your way around the campsite at night time. They wont light up the whole campsite, but the beam is bright enough and just wide enough so you dont trip over something in the dark.

The three red LEDs are significantly dimmer and much less blinding so they work great when you need to look for something in the tent at night. Theyre definitely bright enough to illuminate everything in front of you in a tent, but they wont blind everyone. I used red LED setting to look around my corner of the tent to find my water bottle or my glasses and it worked perfectly.

Great flashlight for camping

On: 2007-08-18

I bought this flashlight to take on a camping trip. Its small enough to easily fit into a large pocket or backpack, and the holster that it comes with can easily attach to a belt or a backpack.

The ten white LEDs are bright enough to help you find your way around the campsite at night time. They wont light up the whole campsite, but the beam is bright enough and just wide enough so you dont trip over something in the dark.

The three red LEDs are significantly dimmer and much less blinding so they work great when you need to look for something in the tent at night. Theyre definitely bright enough to illuminate everything in front of you in a tent, but they wont blind everyone. I used red LED setting to look around my corner of the tent to find my water bottle or my glasses and it worked perfectly.

Great item

On: 2007-08-14

One red LED is not working but thats ok, its super bright and light weight and the pouch makes a good fit for my belt. Using it to play paintball in an gutted truck depot at night.

good general light, great viewing light

On: 2007-08-09

this flashlight is bright enough to provide general light for any pathway or dark street ahead. for trying to see what youre doing, its the best flashlight I have ever used. reading, cooking, just looking at stuff- this lights great. viewing area spreads out quickly but not too quickly so as to hold the aimability were used to with classic flashlights. all 13 lights are bright enough to leave a perfect image of their arrangement and color burned into ones vision for several minutes after taking a full hit from this flashlights light, even from a distance. a single red light is just as bright as a white one.

the whole item is decently lightweight, but has that thick well-built gunmetal feel. it feels strong enough to use as a hammer (though I wouldnt test this). the bulb glass remains clean easily and is highly scratch resistant. the diamond-grip handle is not too "pointy," but helps tremendously, especially if you have sweaty palms. matching ridges (though they may be offset depending on how tight you screwed the battery cap) near the LEDs and on the end cap keep the light from rolling when you set it down.

the lights are arranged with 10 white LEDs in a circle that can be divided 5|5 down the middle, and three red LEDs in a pyramid at the centre. the red lights actually bring back much of the color robbed by bluish-white LEDs, and make it easier to shine your light around a sleeping campsite without disturbing anyone. no more putting a hand over the front to limit light! the main lights do not dim when the red lights are turned on or vice-versa. no brightness is lost from power drainage until the very end of the battery life.

the case is sealed tight. it almost seems waterproof. the top does not screw off because the bulbs do not need replacement, but the bottom cap does for the 3 AAA batteries. the batteries are placed in a slide-out compartment about the size of a C battery.

button placement may seem odd at first, but makes sense as the tip of your thumb rests on the white light button while holding the flashlight and the red light button is big enough to press without moving that same thumb. both buttons can be turned on then depressed slightly to break the circuit again, presumably with the intent of signaling. its very easy to control without worry of accidentally deactivating one of the light sets.

it is possible to activate the light even when it is in the the black woven-nylon case, so be careful when putting it away not to accidentally turn and leave it on. accidental activation once the case is snapped with the light inside is not much of a concern. the case is the perfect size for the flashlight and contains a very small but adequately sized side compartment for 3 AAA replacement batteries. it has a belt loop and a velcro strap over the loop to secure the case around any other equipment or backpack strap.

overall, this is a well thought out and well built flashlight. usage for general area lighting is good but not great where its dark, but anything closer up (~10 feet or closer) can be ablaze with super bright light. the red lights are bright enough to take away night vision if youre not careful, but come in handy a surprising amount. battery life is good. a product for anybody whos ever needed a flashlight, this device could ride at your hip for the rest of your life and make it through easily, with durability to spare.
enjoy.

Galaxy Flashlight outshines the rest

On: 2007-08-06

OK, so maybe it isnt quite that bright, but it has already been used many times in both white and red mode. Its helped us to find missing Legos under the sofa when in white mode and is very good for reading maps with in the dark when in red mode. Red mode is a night vision saver!

Solid light, but a little big for 3 AAA batteries

On: 2007-08-02

This is a very nice solid aluminum light that offers plenty of light for LEDs and only three AAA batteries. The diameter is about what I expected (stubby), but its about twice as long as I expected. If youre looking for a compact pockatable light, this isnt it. If youre looking for a good household or vehicle light, this is it!

Solid light, but a little big for 3 AAA batteries

On: 2007-08-01

This is a very nice solid aluminum light that offers plenty of light for LEDs and only three AAA batteries. The diameter is about what I expected (stubby), but its about twice as long as I expected. If youre looking for a compact pockatable light, this isnt it. If youre looking for a good household or vehicle light, this is it!

Items appear larger in real life

On: 2007-07-12

I bought this to wear on my belt. While it does work, it is larger in diameter than most flashlights intended to be worn on a belt. The length is similar.

I really appreciate the red light and the white light LEDs. There are two buttons on the side of the light, one for each color. Both can be on at the same time.

A nice flashlight for pilots.

On: 2007-06-27

This is a very useful flashlight for a pilot. It has separate on/off buttons for white and red LEDs. It is compact, yet has heft.

It would not be great for general outdoor use because the white LEDs do not throw off enough light, compared to a normal outdoor flashlight. But it is great for close work in a small area.

I love it

On: 2007-05-31

Nice aluminum casing, and extremely bright in such a small package. Dont have much use for the red led lights.

I love it

On: 2007-05-30

Nice aluminum casing, and extremely bright in such a small package. Dont have much use for the red led lights.

Great Flashlight

On: 2007-05-11

I bought this to replace the 2 D Cell mag light flashlight that I keep bedside. This light is nice and bright, plus much more compact than my old mag light. The red lights are much brighter than I expected, and you can easily navigate your house or a hiking trail with the red lights. LED flashlights are well worth the extra money, and this one is a good one.

Great Flashlight

On: 2007-05-10

I bought this to replace the 2 D Cell mag light flashlight that I keep bedside. This light is nice and bright, plus much more compact than my old mag light. The red lights are much brighter than I expected, and you can easily navigate your house or a hiking trail with the red lights. LED flashlights are well worth the extra money, and this one is a good one.

S&W Galaxy 13 LED Flashlight

On: 2007-03-20

Solid design, no complaints. I was a little leary of the red only having 3 leds. But it did its job and then some..

Great Camp Light

On: 2007-03-17

Small size is a big plus. More than ample light to use at night on pathways. Red LEDs are handy for use at night for reading maps/directions or just finding your way around without waking others who might be sleeping.

blinding light

On: 2006-11-01

There are flashlights and then there are FLASHLIGHTS. The S&W Galaxy is a real must have!Powered by 3 AAA Batteries it beams a bright white light out that can be seen for hundrets of yards and the red light function is perfect at night. The price is hardly beatable, unless someone wants to spend 300 bucks for a flashlight (vortex luxeon).
I hve been a fan of Mag Lights for years, which cost the same as this one but I had to alter my opinion. After I bought one for myself and tested it I gave one to my wife, have one at work and tell everybody whos looking for a Flashlight about this one.
If Amazon would allow more than five stars to give, I would always give the max!