Optimal Everyday Carry Pocket Light
I have been a collector of many things throughout my life, including action figures, Funko Pops, and trading cards. Interestingly, if you ask someone if they collect things, they will likely mention one of the eight most commonly collected items listed on the newson6.com site: coins, stamps, baseball pins, vinyl, comic books, wine, trading cards, and toys. Yet, if you asked my brother-in-law what he collected, he would say knives and flashlights. Flashlights, you may ask? Is this a thing?
I initially did not believe it either, but then he introduced me to the world of OLIGHT flashlights. From that point on, I was awaiting their pre-sale, holiday bundles, new releases, following blogs, and keeping up with the proverbial flashlight Joneses. Even though the flashlight bug bit me, I could not bring myself to collect unopened lights. I wanted power, I wanted portability, I wanted mounting options, I wanted emergency preparedness, and OLIGHT had solutions to every one of the “I wants.”
The OLight i3E EOS light arrived in a 1 1/2 inches wide by 4 1/2 inches tall by 3/4 inches thick eggshell-white retail package. The i3E EOS name was displayed along the top of the cover panel in dark grey font. Beneath the name, you will find “Mono-Output Keychain LED Flashlight” and an attractive image of the hunter green keychain light. The top panel provided the blue-green OLIGHT name/logo, while the right-side panel provided a UPC barcode and the left-side panel provided a Learn more QR code and 5-year warranty promise logo.
The rear panel provided a useful list of product features: 1. Made of durable aircraft-grade aluminum with anti-scratch Type-III hard anodizing. 2. High light transmittance TIR lens delivery a homogenous beam. 3. Ultra-compact and mighty flashlight developing from an extreme design idea. 4. Fully tighten the head to turn the flashlight on. Slightly loosen the head to turn the flashlight off. Beneath the feature section, I found a grey 4×2 specifications table: 1. 90 Lumens. 2. 45 Min. 3. 44m throw. 4. 500cd. 5. 1.5m drop resistance. 6. 60.5x14mm. 7. 19.4g (flashlight + battery). Lastly, the panel provided information about the package contents, company address, UPC barcode, and product manufacturing labels.
To access the Olight, I pulled the small cardboard tab along the back panel, lifted the top flap, and slid the white tray out from within the packaging. I quickly noticed a yellow “READ ME” warning at the bottom of the tray that informed me about the internal thin insulating film. I removed the 2 1/4 inches long by 9/16 inches diameter (7/16 inches at the base) i3E EOS light, unscrewed the front segment, and found the aforementioned small yellow film affixed to the positive terminal within the cap.
I shook the cap a few times to dislodge the film and screwed the cap segment back onto the base. I was pleased to find dual o-rings, an oiled threaded segment, and an included AAA battery. The head cap portion had a 3/8 inches tall ribbed segment which improved the grip for tightening the head cap segment. To activate the light tighten the screw by turning the body clockwise and the head segment counterclockwise. Once the battery makes connections to the positive and negative terminals, the light will activate. To deactivate the light, turn the two segments in the opposite direction until the light extinguishes and then just a bit more.
The OLIGHT i3E OES may be the perfect EDC pocket companion. The anti-scratch aluminum frame allowed me to carry the light in the same pocket as my keys without damaging the outer coating. The body segment had three 11/16 inches tall grooves oriented around the OLIGHT i3E EOS LA21111807 name, a QR code, and a product manufacturing label. The white font contrasted nicely against the hunter-green coloration without feeling overdone or obnoxious.
Like the grooves on the head cap, the three longitudinal grooves enhanced the grip-feel and the ease to power on/off the light. The tail cap jutted outward 1/8 inch from the base and had a metallic keychain ring set into the nub. Lastly, two grooves, one adjacent to the head segment and another at the tail cap end, were cut into the sidewall of the midsection of the light. Each groove reduced the diameter of the light and created a noticeable step-off. I found that the step-off accommodated a segment of paracord for an additional attachment point. By attaching the cord at both ends, I created a temporary carry handle.
The instruction manual provided a helpful specification table followed by battery installation instructions. The subsequent operation segments were provided in English, Chinese, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish, Dutch, Polish, German, Hungarian, Russian, Spanish, Romanian, Ukrainian, Japanese, Taiwanese, French, Belgian, Italian, and Slovakian languages. The last panels detailed the product warranty; within the first 30 days you should contact the seller and within 5 years of purchase you should contact OLIGHT directly for problems (does not cover normal wear and tear, neglect, negligence, misuse, modifications, etc).
I felt that the manual successfully provided the bare minimum of information about the light, but would have enjoyed more science behind the technology. The packaging noted that the light provided 90 lumens and had a 44mm beam. However, both the website and instruction manual failed to provide the intensity/distance to test the light.
The OLIGHT i3E EOS cannot be beaten when it comes to portability and price. At sub $10, I have close to a half dozen for home needs alone. The ubiquitous nature of AAA batteries allows for easy light operation. I have an i3E EOS in each of the glove boxes of our vehicles, in each of the BSA packs for my 13 and 10-year-old sons and me, and one in my nightstand. I love the twist on/off light function and the reduced chances of a mechanical button failure.
Since the light has a keychain ring, I would love for OLIGHT to create a neck Lanyard similar to the sold-out wrist lanyard. To test the light output, I purchased a light meter from Amazon (review to follow) and tested the light at 1 foot , 2 feet, and 25 feet. At 1 foot, the light meter displayed 5370 Lux. At two feet, the light meter displayed 1355 Lux, and at 25 feet, the light meter displayed 14 Lux.
If you are looking for maximal power and maximal battery life, this will not be the light you want to purchase. Rather, this is the light you turn to as an emergency backup or an always-available cheap/efficient light source. I mean by the previous statement that specialized lights will outperform general lights for their given tasks but may underperform for other needs.
Sometimes you may want a thin, strong beam, or perhaps you want a floodlight or even a lantern. This light succeeds in the small, easily pocketable size, plus the relatively long beam and intensity. Perfect for walking to the mailbox at night, illuminating under your car hood on the side of a road, or providing light after a power outage, the i3E EOS will get to work.
With only a single AAA battery (included), you can rest assured that you can keep this light operational when others have depleted their rechargeable batteries. Add on IPX8 waterproofing (o-ring seals), and you have the optimal multi-environment backup light.
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