We have reviewed and tested a lot of flashlights over the years, ranging in power from 500 to 1,000 lumens. Most were pretty good lights, although some were better than others from a durability point of view. Some of them used conventional AA, C or D cell batteries, while others used Lithium ion rechargeable batteries.

When we received the new POLYSTEEL 1000, our first thoughts were, "another flashlight, it will probably be like all the rest." Well, we were wrong, absolutely dead wrong. This light stands apart from all of the other flashlights we have tested and reviewed. It is now our light of choice when we venture out at night to check the animals.

What makes this light so special? Like the previously reviewed Coast POLYSTEEL 600, it has a stainless steel core wrapped with a textured nylon polymer that makes the light easy to grasp. It is also tough as heck, Coast referring to it as, "crushproof." We have no doubt that this light would survive the toughest environment that any outdoorsman might encounter and still keep working.

It meets IPX8 (waterproof) and ANSI FL1 (drop) flashlight standards. Only one other flashlight we have tested has ever met those standards and it did not put as much light on target as the POLYSTEEL 1000.

IPX8 standard requires that the light be watertight (waterproof) at depths of three meters. ANSI FL1 standard requires that the light withstand repeated three meter drops on hard surfaces and still function.

This light stands apart from every flashlight that we have ever tested, including the other Coast POLYSTEEL lights, which are outstanding. It features what is called "Pure Beam Focusing Optic."

Here is what Coast says about their Pure Beam Focusing Optic:

"The Pure Beam Focusing Optic combines our largest Ultra View Flood Beam with the Bulls-Eye Spot Beam making either up close or downrange illumination highly effective. While using the Ultra View Flood Beam, there is a consistent circle of light up to 11.5 feet (3.5 meters) in diameter at 6 feet (1.8 meters) in distance. While on the Bulls-Eye Spot Beam, you can illuminate up to 1151 feet (351 meters) downrange with a transition halo around the spot to increase the effective viewing area."

In layman terms, it has a powerful Cree LED and a very high quality magnifier surrounded by a highly reflective background. Coast has developed the technology to focus more pure (coherent) light on target than all of the other lights we have tested.

Put these features together and you have a torch that can throw out more than 1,000 lumens. You can quickly and easily adjust the light from a broad flood beam to a tight spot beam by twisting the head. This really comes in handy when you are coming off a mountain or checking things around camp in the dark.

The tailpiece unscrews to load batteries. The simple push of a button on the tailpiece cycles the light output through low (98 lumen), medium (345 lumen) and high (1000 lumen) settings. The maximum battery life is 85 hours in the low setting.

Features and Specifications

• Pure Beam Focusing Optic
• Twist Focus Technology
• High: 1000 lumen light output, 11 hour runtime, 351 meter (1151.6 ft.) beam distance
• Medium: 345 lumen light output, 24 hour runtime, 202 meter (662.7 ft.) beam distance
• Low: 98 lumen light output, 85 hour runtime, 109 meter (357.6 ft.) beam distance
• Poly casing, stainless steel core
• Length: 10.2 inches (25.9 cm)
• Weight: 21.2 oz.
• Diameter: 1.87 inches
• 9 x AA batteries (included)
• IPX8 (FL1 standard 3m drop & 3m waterproof)
• 2017 MSRP: $60

With an MSRP of $60.00, the Coast POLYSTEEL 1000 is a powerful and affordable flashlight for camping, backpacking, or use around the house. It is backed by the Coast lifetime warranty against defects in materials and workmanship.