Tag Archives: flashlight

Olight, oclip, oclip 2, flashlight, led, articulating, light, compact, red light, red, headlamp,

A Must Have: Olight Oclip 2

Introduction

If you are a handyman or outdoorsman of any capacity, then this one is for you. I have spent most of my life enjoying the wild country of the west, and doing so at night requires light. Flashlights are a must have necessity for outdoorsman and hunters, and today I am bringing you one of my latest favorites. Our topic today is the Olight Oclip 2, a battery powered variable output light that is compact, powerful and ready to move with you.

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as is usual with Olight, a very nice packaging and instructions are included

The Oclip 2 is a rechargeable compact light source, with an articulating robust clip from whence it draws its name. In addition to the articulating clip, the the head of the light also is articulating. Between the two motions, you can clamp the Oclip 2 to most anything, and point light wherever you might need it.

Shop all Olight Oclips on Optics Planet

The multi output head has a flood, spot and red/UV emitter. this allows you again to customize the light to your specific needs. The base of the Oclip is magnetic, which in typical Olight fashion help attach it to a charging base. And the Oclip 2 comes with a charging base that affixes to the light itself. The two pieces together are still smaller than many other flashlight options.

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the Oclip 2 attached to its charging base

Specifications

FeatureSpecification
Light sourcesWhite floodlight, white spotlight, red light, UV light
Maximum floodlight output580 lumens
Maximum spotlight output450 lumens
Maximum spotlight distance130 meters
Red light output40 lumens
UV outputUp to 800 mW
UV wavelength365 nm
BatteryBuilt-in 600 mAh rechargeable lithium-ion
ChargingUSB-C and magnetic charging
Maximum runtime144 hours (moonlight mode)
Floodlight medium output100 lumens
Floodlight medium runtime3.5 hours
Adjustable headTilts up to 115°
Rotating clip360° rotation
MountingSpring clip and dual magnets
Body materialOAL aluminum
Dimensions2.37 × 1.10 × approximately 1.38 inches
Weight2.80 oz
Water and dust resistanceIP66
Drop resistance2 meters
Special featuresMultiple lighting modes, adjustable beam direction, OclipBeat ambient indicator
Available colorsOlive green, onyx black, amber orange
Standard MSRP$69.99

Using the Oclip 2

I have used the Oclip 2 for several months now, and during my hunting season every day. The strong clip of the Oclip allows you to easily attach it to your shirt collar, backpack straps, or the brim of your hat. The large clip gets a good bite of whatever you attach it to, and holds on well enough to stay put. For example, attached to the brim of my hat, and riding miles through rough terrain on ATV’s didn’t phase it a bit. Staying put and pointed right where I set it.

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I very frequently use the Oclip 2 as a headlamp, attached just like this to my hat

Around camp it was also very helpful. When set in flood mode I found it perfect to illuminate directly in front of me while gathering firewood or cooking over the fire. The spotlight feature gives additional brightness at distance for investingating creepy sounds in the dark of the forest. And while I hiked miles through dark forest moving to my hunting spot, the red illumination was perfect for keeping a low profile until the sun arrived.

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USB-C charging jack is also built in, so you can charge it without the base.

The small selector can be rotated on the side of the body, there are three positions to use the flood, spot, and red features. Pushing and holding the button will cycle the light through various brightness settings until you get to the one you prefer. And the flexible emitter head can be folded out to aim the light as you desire.

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red illumination prevents wiping out your night vision

Also while working inside the toolbox of my truck, looking for things was easy by sticking the magnetic base of the Oclip to the side of the tool box. The same could be done working under the hood of the truck, and while changing a tire on my trailer in the darkness. The strong magnet held tight to the trailer frame keeping our work area lit up while we changed a tire.

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he magnetic base also allows you to use it for working on the car, or fixing plumbing under the kitchen sink

The battery life on the Oclip 2 is impressive, I have yet to run it dead yet. I keep it charged during the day, and then use it for several hours during the dark hours of the day.

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the Oclip 2 sticks neatly to the frame of my trailer when we had to change a spare in the dark

My Verdict

The Olight Oclip 2 is a FANTASTIC tool to keep in your vehicle. When you need it, you will be so glad to have it. I found that during the weeks of my hunting season, it was the only light I needed. Despite having others, I kept using the Oclip 2 out of convenience. If you do any of the activities I mentioned, or something similar, you will likely love this little light source.

-CBM

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Testing the Olight Ark Pro Lite Flashlight

Intro

Flashlight technology continues to improve, LED technology and batteries made from lithium and various electrode types have greatly improved many product lines. The days of oversized lights running on alkaline cells are long gone, replaced by ever smaller and brighter options. Today we are looking at one of those products, the Olight Ark Pro Lite flashlight. The Ark pro is a very compact multi-purpose light with various features making it very handy for a daily use tool. With rechargeable battery that comes with multiple charging options, and shift-on-the-fly controls giving the user a focused beam, a flooding beam, and even a UV option. Additionally there is a green laser pointer built into the unit. All his in a handsome little light you can have delivered on your Amazon Prime account for $100.

olight, ark pro, flashlight, laser, ultra violet, uv, charging port
here you can see the USB-C charging port open, as well as the coltrol panel

Unboxing the Ark Pro Flashlight

As I opened the Olight Ark Pro, it was a little reminiscent of Apple products. Nice packaging with intuitive directions built-in as the packaging opened further. As is typical with Lithium powered products, there are various warning stickers on the product. As well as others that indicate operational features. A charging cable is also included that uses the typical Olight magnet affixed charging port. As well as a card listing the various models of Ark Pro and the functions of the controls and how you can customize them.

olight, ark pro, flashlight, laser, ultra violet, uv,
the laser pointer located centrally

The light itself feels very robust, its heavier than I anticipated which often gives the feeling of added value. The controls are very simple, and tactile with clicks and smooth movements. I hate to bring it back to Apple product’s but it almost feels similar to the older ipod’s before touch screens were incorporated.

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the Olight Ark Pro fits nicely on a gun belt without cluttering things up too much between my Safariland holster and CRKT Knife

Olight Ark Pro Features

The solid construction of the Ark Pro gives a strong feeling of rugged quality. The construction also includes a strong dual belt-clip for carrying the light a variety of ways. And the compact slender size makes it easy to carry all the time, much like a pocket knife. And the dual-charging options give you a variety of choices to keep it powered up. And the magnet base that attaches one of the two charging methods also doubles as a hands-free mounting option.

Adjusting the brightness is done by holding down the power button. The Ark Pro cycles through different brightness levels until the button is released.

olight, ark pro, flashlight, laser, ultra violet, uv, mechanic, engine,
as one who frequents the underside of automotive hoods, I find the Ark Pro very handy for quick and easy lighting. Its magnetic base holds it tightly against the hood of vehicles

This light would be a great tool for maintenance and auto technicians, its quick operation and go-everywhere size is great for small places. The Ark Pro includes both a flood-style LED light, and a sharper spot-style LED light. And the UV light is great for identifying leaking systems like coolant or refrigerant dyes. And the laser pointer would also come in handy for pointing out locations to others without needing to get hands-on.

olight, ark pro, flashlight, laser, ultra violet, uv, flood, spot,
showing the two different LED’s emittance, above is the flood light, and below is the spot light. Both seen in pure darkness approximately 10 feet from wall

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Suspicious of your pet? the UV light will show things that regular lights wont, beware…

Real Use

This is not necessarily a light to take the place of a high lumen light you might need in a defensive situation. Though it is way better than no flashlight, it is more useful at distances inside 15-20 feet. On its highest setting it can be useful a bit further. Its comfortable to carry, making it easy to have with you anytime and anywhere.

olight, ark pro, flashlight, laser, ultra violet, uv, charging port
the magnet attached charger attaches itself to the light as soon as its close. And the colored LED inside shows red while charging until its reaches full charge and turns green.

It is fantastic during camping trips, easily keeping small areas lit. As well as intense light in small areas. It would be a great tool to keep on a tool or gun-belt, as a general all-purpose flashlight.

olight, ark pro, flashlight, laser, ultra violet, uv, EDC, EDC Dump, shadow systems, dr920, ruko,
the Ark Pro fits in perfectly with other EDC items like my Shadow Systems DR920

I’ve heard plenty of community lore about Olight products. Often what I hear is negative, but this is my first experience with any of their products. So I can only comment on what I have experience with. I have used other branded lights from popular manufacturers, and up to this point I’ve never had any issues with any of them. I look forward to keeping this Olight Ark Pro in my daily use to see how it stands up against its competition.

olight, ark pro, flashlight, laser, ultra violet, uv, belt, gun belt,
the Ark Pro Lite fits perfectly onto a gun-belt

Conclusion

I think the Olight Ark Pro will fill a great spot in my tool collection. Whether it be working on my car in the driveway, or searching for blood in the dark forest as the sun sets. It has a great set of features, and the simple operation make it a slam dunk for a general purpose flashlight. You can order yours direct through your Amazon account here.

-CBM

Nightstick, nightstick weapon light, LGL-160, silencerco, omega, omega 36m, Trijicon, trijicon MRO,

The Nightstick LGL-160-T Weapon Light

Preface

Today we touch on a brilliant subject (sorry for the cheesy pun), that subject is weapon lights. These bright illuminating tools when used together with a firearm can give incredible dexterity when in potentially dangerous situations. I say that because the implication with weapon lights is that they are mainly used for shooting in the dark. An activity, that is not a typical sport shooting condition. Unless you consider defensive shooting a sport. Of course there are some sporting purposes where weapon lights can come in handy, but lets get into the beam of this topic; today’s subject is the Nightstick LGL-160-T Turbo weapon light.

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The Nightstick LGL-160-T

Among the various lights made by Nightstick, the LGL-160-T is designed for long guns. Like other popular models the LGL-160-T can be mounted in a variety of ways, and can be used in conjunction with a remote pressure pad.

With 800 Lumens, the LGL-160-T gives a bright beam of white light. This can be very important when the moon is out, and you need to put a shot where it counts. You can use either dual CR123 batteries like most comparable units, or the single rechargeable 18650 LI-ion battery.

The impressive kit that comes with the light, includes various mounting options for both picatinny rail mounting and M-Lok mounting. There is also included brackets for offset 45-degree mounting. And a push-button end-cap can be used or a remote pressure switch pad. They even include a couple cable management blocks to help tie down the wires and pressure pad.

Nightstick, nightstick weapon light, LGL-160, AR-15, Aero precision, yhm Fat cat, suppressor, remote switch, pressure pad
you can see how the cable block can be used to manage cables

Features and Specifications

Features

  • LED technology
  • Features both tail cap and 6″ Remote Pressure Switches
  • Momentary or constant-on function
  • Standard and offset Picatinny rail mounts
  • Sharp focused beam for distance illumination
  • Aircraft-grade 6061-T6 aluminum housing w/Type III hard-anodized finish
  • Beam distance rated at 632 meters
  • IP-X7 Waterproof
  • Impact & chemical resistant
  • Serialized for personal identification
  • 2 CR123 batteries (included)

Specifications

  • High Lumens: 800
  • High Candela: 100,000
  • Drop Rating: 2 m
  • Water Rating: IP-X7 Waterproof
  • High Runtime (h): 2
  • Case Material: 6061-T6 Aluminum
  • Body Color: Black
  • Quantity of Batteries: 2
  • Package Contents: Weapon light with standard Picatinny mount w/thumb screw and tail cap switch, Remote pressure switch (6” cable), 45º offset Picatinny mount w/thumb screw, pressure switch rail mount, wire management clamp, (2) CR123 batteries, 2.5mm Allen wrench, Alcohol prep pad, Adhesive-backed Velcro mounting strip, Instruction manual
  • Warranty: Limited Lifetime Warranty

Dimensions

  • Length: 5.3 in (135 mm)
  • Width: 9 in (23 mm)
  • Depth: 0.9 in (23mm)
  • Weight: 6.3 oz (179 g)
  • Diameter: 0.9 in (23 mm)
  • Head Diameter: 1.4 in (36mm)

Mounting the Nightstick LGL-160

Using just the included tools, it was easy to mount the LGL-160-T in a variety of configurations on multiple firearms. I definitely prefer the M-Lok mounting system, as I don’t care for the large thumb-wheel of the picatinny mounts. For that matter, even on lower priced products these are unnecessary. And on expensive products they are unforgivable. The low-profile of the M-Lok mounts have far fewer snag points.

Nightstick, nightstick weapon light, LGL-160, AR-15, Aero precision, yhm Fat cat, suppressor,
note pressure pad mounting system and cable block, as well as the stubby YHM Fat Cat suppressor

This is also where the tediousness of every person’s individual preference dictates how buttons are mounted and cables are run. Who am I to say whether one way is better than another? I suppose if it works for you then rock what you’ve got.

Shooting Illuminated

Shooting with the Nightstick LGL-160-T made me appreciate my mounting location even more. The two o’clock position on my rifle’s handguard positioned it perfectly to keep light obscured from my aiming eye. The Trijicon MRO kept any reflective light off the suppressor or handguard obscured.

Nightstick, nightstick weapon light, LGL-160, silencerco, omega, omega 36m, Trijicon, trijicon MRO,
this little rifle fitted with the LGL-160-T goes well with the Trijicon MRO and SilencerCO Omega 36M

My target area on the other hand was not obscured, the bright white light greatly improved identification of the target area. It also doubles as an aiming crutch. At closer distances the white circle of light was the same size as the view through my sight. This meant that I could simply put my target in the middle of the white circle and pull the trigger.

The remote pressure pad was nice for operating the light. It gives the choice between short bursts of illumination, or you can push the larger button and with a click you get sustained light. The pad can be mounted in a variety of ways using the M-Lok or picatinny options.

Nightstick, nightstick weapon light, LGL-160

Pros and Cons

With an impressive beam of white light, the Nightstick LGL-160-T makes shooting in the dark much more detailed. The included mounting kit was a huge plus, allowing many different ways to mount and configure it. It also come in at a significantly lower price than some competitors, and a comparable price to others. You can also appreciate it being made in America by Texans. Many of these lights get pretty warm as they are used, and the Nightstick got about as warm as any other.

nightstick, lgl-160-t, weapon light,
in pure darkness at approximately 80 yards, you can see the beam (left) of the Nightstick LGL-160-T compared to a popular competitor

The only thing I could counter all that with; no matter how customizable products like this are, you will always want just a little more. Whether it be a tiny amount of occlusion with handguards or other accessories, or almost lining up with a slot or mounting hole. But to be fair this is the case with any of these products. Manufacturers have to keep their products universal enough for as many configurations as possible. This may come at the cost of universal adaptability. The two different included pressure pad mounting options are fine, though I wish they could be a touch lower profile.

Nightstick, nightstick weapon light, LGL-160, AR-15, Aero precision, yhm Fat cat, suppressor,
I also used the Nightstick on my Quattro 15 hybrid rifle with an Aero Upper

Final Thoughts

Having used the Nightstick LGL-160-T for a while now, I have been quite happy with it. I have several comparable lights from other manufacturers, and the Nightstick does everything they do. And the Nightstick comes with a great little kit of mounting options as well. With other options costing as much as three or four hundred dollars, the $195 dollar price of the Nightstick delivered next day from Amazon is pretty agreeable. I look forward to a bright future from behind this light.

-CBM

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