Marker Lights Overview and Review

Ive received tons of questions over time about the different marker lights Ive used on my plate carriers—like the Unity Spark Ill show you today—and also about the lights I use on my helmet setups. Recently, I had the opportunity to test a variety of marker lights, strobes, and other lighting tools to help you decide which ones are worth your money and which ones arent.

I originally planned to include 10–12 different lights in this video, but it got way too long. So, I trimmed it down to cover the high points and low points I want you to know about. Ill release a follow-up video later to include the rest, and Id love to hear your suggestions for what else to cover in that one.

Lights That Cost Too Much—and Those That Don’t

Some of the lights in this review are absurdly expensive for no apparent reason, while others manage to deliver great performance at a fraction of the cost. Ill highlight those and explain why you might want to skip or invest in certain options.

Marker Lights: Highs and Lows

Unity Spark
The Unity Spark is a small, ninja star-shaped marker light with a completely sealed design. Its single push button toggles between low light, high light, and strobe modes. It attaches easily to plate carriers or helmets using a hook-and-loop backing, thanks to its slight rear curvature.

Heres the catch: The Spark is disposable. Once the battery dies, youd need to cut it open to replace the battery, which ruins its waterproofing—and potentially its electronics. However, at $18, its affordable and lasts a surprisingly long time. My unit is over five years old, and while it looks rough, it still works.

• Pros:
  • Affordable and long-lasting for a disposable unit.
  • Simple functionality with three modes.
  • Easy to attach to gear.
• Cons:
  • Single-color output; IR and color options require separate units.
  • No feedback mechanism to confirm activation, which is a concern for IR use.
  • Disposable design feels limiting, especially for IR applications.

Overall, the Unity Spark is a B to C-tier product. Its a functional, budget-friendly light, but its disposable nature and lack of IR integration hold it back.

SNS Precision VLite
The SNS Precision VLite takes a different approach with a flexible, resin-coated design. It conforms well to helmets, MOLLE systems, or plate carriers. Like the Unity Spark, its a fully enclosed, disposable unit—but at a staggering $50 price point.

• Pros:
  • Flexible design molds easily to gear.
  • Functional in small spaces without overwhelming brightness.
• Cons:
  • Poor value for the price.
  • Limited visibility in open spaces.
  • Single-color output, requiring separate units for IR and visible light.
  • Lack of activation feedback can lead to accidental power-on.

In testing, the VLite performed adequately in close-quarters environments but fell short in open fields, where its dim output rendered it less effective. At its price point, the VLite feels like a C to F-tier product. While the flexibility is a nice touch, the high cost and limited functionality make it hard to recommend

HRT Marker Light

Now for our next product, we have the newly released HRT Marker Light. Similar to the Unity Spark, this unit features a hard-enclosed housing with a distinct hexagonal pattern. It appears to house multiple LEDs beneath its surface, and the HRT logo is prominently displayed on the top push-button section. The bottom of the housing is flat, lacking the slight rounded design seen in some competitors, but it incorporates a sleeker hook for mounting. Personally, I wish it had a slight curve like the Unity Spark or similar models, which would make it easier to attach to helmets. Pricing for the HRT Marker Light is comparable to the SNS Precision V-Lite at $50, so it’s definitely a contender. Let’s see if it’s worth it.

Features and Functionality

The HRT Marker Light takes a unique approach by ditching disposable batteries in favor of wireless charging, significantly increasing its value for the price. Heres a breakdown of its functionality:

1. Modes: The light cycles through low (dual LED), high, and flashing modes, with each mode accompanied by vibration feedback (e.g., two pulses for low, three pulses for flashing). It turns off with a long press and a corresponding long vibration.
2. LED Colors: The unit offers multiple LED colors, including white, red, blue, green, yellow, and IR. Additionally, it supports flashing combinations like red-blue, red-white, and yellow-white.
3. Mode Switching: Changing LED colors requires tapping the button nine times, then holding it—a slightly cumbersome process. However, it becomes more intuitive with practice.

While the variety of colors and combinations is impressive, one area for improvement would be easier toggling between a default color and IR mode. This would be particularly useful for users transitioning between visible and covert operations.

Performance

The HRT Marker Light performs well in both low and high modes, providing subdued illumination for close-range tasks while maintaining visibility in open fields. The dual LEDs enhance its ability to highlight a users position during movement. In IR mode, it offers a functional strobe and comfortable low setting for CQB scenarios, though the high mode could be slightly brighter for outdoor use.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Wireless charging adds significant longevity and convenience.
• Wide range of LED colors and flashing options.
• Vibration feedback enhances usability in low-light conditions.

Cons:

• Mode switching between colors and IR could be streamlined.
• Flat housing design makes helmet mounting less ergonomic.
• Slightly higher price point compared to some competitors.

Verdict

The HRT Marker Light is an innovative product with unique features like wireless charging and multi-color LEDs, making it highly functional for law enforcement, emergency services, and prepared citizens. However, its inability to quickly switch between color and IR modes and its flat design prevent it from achieving perfection. For these reasons, I place the HRT Marker Light in the A-tier. If future versions include a more ergonomic design and streamlined mode transitions, it could easily move to the S-tier.

Review: Princeton Tech MPLS

The Princeton Tech MPLS is a task light familiar to many and highly versatile due to its small circular housing and bendable head. Powered by a single 2016 internal battery, it comes with a variety of mounts, including the ARC rail mount for helmets. The MPLS is available in two configurations: red/white or red/IR. For most users, I recommend the red/white version, as IR can present unique challenges when used as a task light.

Features and Functionality

The MPLS is straightforward in operation:

• Press once to activate the red or IR light (depending on configuration), with a second press increasing brightness.
• A long press switches to the white light mode, though it lacks additional brightness settings.

Performance

The MPLS excels as an administrative light, with two brightness levels for colored LEDs that work well both indoors and outdoors. However, the white light is only suitable for close-range tasks like reading. Its simplicity and lack of complicated button combinations make it a solid choice for those seeking a reliable task light without unnecessary features.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Simple and intuitive operation.
• Compact and lightweight design.
• Affordable at approximately $60.

Cons:

• Limited functionality for white light.
• Price approaches the ceiling for task lights in this category.

Verdict

The MPLS is a dependable task light that delivers exactly what it promises. It pairs well with a Surefire Vampire for a comprehensive helmet setup. For its simplicity and effectiveness, I place the MPLS in the A-tier.

Review: Surefire M340V Pro Vampire Scout Light

The Surefire Mini M340V Pro Vampire Scout Light is essentially a scaled-down version of a rifle-mounted flashlight, adapted for helmet use. While it’s popular in tactical circles and social media, its $450 price tag and bulky design make it a questionable choice for many.

Features and Functionality

The Pro model connects to a helmet rail via the VAR ARC mount and features:

• A large push button for on/off functionality.
• A rotatable head for switching between IR and white light, though there’s no tactile feedback to indicate the current mode.

Performance

Indoors, the M340V is almost unusable due to its overwhelming brightness, which blinds both the user and their team. It’s more effective in outdoor or large open areas, functioning as a spotlight or for niche scenarios like illuminating caves. In IR mode, it delivers a powerful beam but lacks practicality in CQB environments unless configured specifically for canopy use.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Extremely powerful beam.
• Versatile as both a weapon and helmet-mounted light.

Cons:

• Overly bright for most practical applications.
• Expensive and heavy.
• Lacks tactile feedback for mode changes.

Verdict

The M340V Pro Vampire Scout Light is a niche product suited for specialized missions but overkill for most users. Its weight, cost, and impracticality in close quarters earn it a C-tier rating. While it pairs well with simpler task lights like the MPLS, it’s not a necessary addition to most setups unless you have a specific use case.

Streamlight Sidewinder Stalk

Ive been teasing you about this one—a light that does a little bit of everything. I think it’s the entry point most people would want, especially if youre running a bump helmet setup or a lightweight configuration. That light is the Streamlight Sidewinder Stalk

Features
The Stalk comes packed with versatile features. Its adjustable head lets you angle and direct the light exactly where you need it, and it houses multiple LEDs for different functions. It runs on a single CR123 battery placed in the rear and comes with a range of mounts for attaching to hook-and-loop, ARC rails, and more.

What makes this light stand out? It combines adjustable brightness, IR functionality, colored LEDs, and strobe features—all for around $120. The control knob at the top lets you toggle between off, white, IR, and red settings, while the large push button adjusts brightness through low, medium, and high levels.

Another great feature is the hidden IR strobe. To activate it, you simply flip down the locking collar and slide it left or right.

Performance
The Stalk delivers solid performance across the board:

• White and Red Modes: In low-light settings, these modes work great as task lights. Bumping up to medium or high provides enough output to light up a room or navigate outdoors.
• IR Mode: On the low setting, it’s not the most practical unless your NODs are perfectly dialed in. But the brighter settings shine in CQB environments, offering enough IR illumination without overwhelming your vision.
• IR Strobe: This feature works well for marking positions. While the angled helmet placement can occasionally obscure visibility depending on your movement, it generally performs as intended.

Verdict
For just over $100, the Streamlight Stalk delivers incredible value. Multi-color LEDs, adjustable brightness, a hidden IR strobe, a tilt-adjustable head, and compatibility with multiple mounting options make it a versatile, do-it-all solution.

Compared to other lights—like the S&S models that cost almost the same but only“turn on”—the Stalk is in a league of its own. Thats why Im putting it in S-tier.