Olight has a new flash sale going on right now for Valentine’s Day 2023, where you can save a bit of money on their latest LED flashlight models and styles.
As part of the promo, they have the rechargeable Arkfeld and single AAA i3T eos flashlights with a new “pinwheel” color options.
They also have the Javelot mini and i5R eos (rechargeable AA) flashlights on sale, plus other models.
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There are bundle deals and free gift with purchase tiers. If you’re logged in, you can get a free “Olink” magnetic carabiner clip with your order, for use with Obulb lights.
The flash sale ends at 11:59 pm ET on 2/9/2023.
I’m a fan of Olight flashlights, and the i3T is a particularly good EDC flashlight that’s powered by a single AAA battery.
The i3T delivers 180 lumens (max) and has low and high brightness settings. I would recommend the black or tan versions any day of the week. It’s normally $20, which seems fair for what you get.
To be honest, I’m liking the new “pinwheel blue” color scheme, although it gives me a bedazzled “pocket jewelry” type of vibe. At the time of this posting, the pinwheel blue i3T LED flashlight is $16 plus shipping at Olight, or $16.99 at Amazon.
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Nathan
I was meaning to send a note asking about an edc flashlight update. There is a lot about the arklight I like.
There are a few other more rectangular lights on the market now and I think it’s a good form factor
Stuart
What kind of update?
I’ve been testing the Streamlight Wedge (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08XMG5TMW/?tag=toolguyd-20) , and am still not sure how I feel about the form factor.
Fazal Majid
I like the Arklight concept, but not the fact they used a garbage 70 CRI LED in it, with a strong color cast to make things worse. Sadly no one else seems to make a similar flashlight/laser combo.
Franco
Olight just recently introduced 1 or 2 models that have a good CRI. Everything else is super white.
James+C
The I5r is not rechargeable. The battery it comes with is rechargeable via USB C.
Stuart
You are correct, it comes with a rechargeable battery with built-in USB-C charging, but the body does not have a built-in charging port.
Olight explicitly describes the i5R as a “rechargeable tail-switch EDC flashlight” and “the rechargeable version of i5T.”
Blocky
This might be a good place to mention that nimh rechargeable batteries are great in the standard i5t and i3t and get notably longer runtimes in these lights than alkaline batteries.
The ‘rechargeable’ version of the i5t still works w aa batteries, which is a plus in my book, but it’s worth noting the included battery is a 2.4v battery that shouldn’t be used in most other electronics.
Blocky
I own both the i5tr hcri and this Acebeam:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B5BZLKWT
The Olight is better machined, but not by much. I prefer the color rendition of the Acebeam, but not by much. I slightly prefer the 2 mode button logic of the Olight, but the Acebeam remembers the last setting used, which is fine if you develop the habit of putting it back to low before storing it. (I often use these for close work). For the current price (in dark green), the Acebeam is a compelling alternative.
James+C
I really like the Convoy T3 for an AA/14500 light. The 12-group UI has options for just about any preference. It has hi cri options and multiple body colors. My only gripe is that it’s a little chunky.
DavetheTool
I bought the Green Acebeam back in December on a $17 sale. Impressed with using it as a hat light on my job. Being it comes with a rechargeable 14500 battery makes it a great deal! I just purchased a second one (green) for home garage use as it was back on sale last week! Green in color seems to be the only one that goes on sale but I am okay with the color. I wish it had onboard usb charging and that would make it damn near perfect!
JR Ramos
Another upvote for the Convoy T2 or T3. If you’re a fan of the old Minimag 2AA style, Convoy brought out the T4 which is outstanding and will take any battery you can throw in there.
The Skilhunt M150 is worth a look as well (they have those with the very nice Nichia 519A emitters but only if you buy it from them on their website or aliexpress…stock on Amazon is other emitters (still good just not AS good)).
There is also a really nice old design from Enogear (now known as Fireflies or Fireflylite). Very well build with good light, simple three modes with a quality metal tail clicky. These have been around forever but it’s hard to find them now….fellow in Hawaii still has a bunch and he’s a good outfit to deal with.
https://jlhawaii808.com/products/fireflies-ff-light-stainless-steel-aa-nichia-219b-sw45k-r9080-usa-direct
Franco
Not the same price, but do go on sale for 25% up to 50% off. This is a AA form factor
https://www.rovyvon.com/products/aurora-a8-keychain-flashlight-with-sidelights-4th-generation
You can order either a 6500k light or 90 CRI light, and have 3 options for the (very useful) sidelights. The sidelights have either different intensities or can also flash (red flashing as a warning light.)
Great light. You can also find Amazon knock-offs for cheap prices. I tried a couple to see how bad they would be. Surprisingly very good. If you can wait for a sale, the Rovyvon is a bit better and a like supporting a company that has quality and innovation. If you can’t wait, the Amazon knockoffs are very good also.
This model is beyond the simplicity of the other models mentioned, but still incredibly easy to operate.
Dust
I bought an arklight and it bricked after one charging cycle. Very disappointing. The construction made it impossible to open without ruining it with a hidden screw behind the lens.
I just can’t recommend anyone getting one, something that’s $80 should have a replaceable battery and be serviceable.
JR Ramos
The only thing I mostly do like about Olight is that they have some very nice host finishes and quality fitting/machining. They just WILL NOT get on board with “nice” light from better emitters, however. They made a couple attempts with pretty low end High CRI emitters but they were quite underwhelming. Crazy because for the prices they charge, using nice emitters would not affect their bottom line nor their supply chain, and they wouldn’t even have to make any design changes in their drivers. They just have an interesting take on where they want their lights to go/be. Flashy exterior is what gets attention, however, and they do look pretty. These etched patterns on the Arkfield look pretty nice, and although functionally about the worst choice you could make for a flashlight host, the carbon fiber model recently is very much eye candy (and props to them for actually doing carbon fiber for real…).
The Javelot Mini is a nice light but gosh it holds nothing over several other similar lights that cost considerably less (and a couple of those give better performance with better emitters to boot).
I’m not an Olight hater like many seem to be, but for the life of me I do not understand the hype. Have to assume that it’s from “rewarded” influencers and/or those who just aren’t familiar with the world of good flashlights.
Stuart
Olight has broad appeal because one doesn’t have to be familiar with “the world of good flashlights.”
JR Ramos
I think they got broad appeal because of some very early initial lumen-monster models (like 10-12 years ago or so) and moreso because they have an aggressive (and sometimes deceptive, in the past) marketing approach along with a “join the family get a discount” structure. Back then, users still “needed” to be familiar with flashlights because they had not yet implemented their proprietary cells/charging and were using the same-ish junk drivers that others were. They’re largely the same company today – the spotty customer service/warranty as well as repeated safety risks go a long way to prove that.
Lots of other mainstream big names have taken the same dumb-it-down approach that Olight has, for better or worse, but all of that from any of them has only been in the last several years. Some of them certainly offer a little more and/or are a better value for what you get, however. I’m not talking about the “budget” brands like Sofirn, Convoy, Wurkkos, etc.
The behind the scenes details of Olight’s “review” program are pretty shady – lots of stories I could share of experiences that others had. That, in particular, turned off many people to the brand as those details were shared over the years. It’s like that with a lot of these light vendors, though – can get really ugly.
Stuart
They’ve never been shady with me – I’d be interested in learning more about what you’ve read. You can email me if you’d like.
I have had different Olight affiliate and review brand contacts, and they all had different communication approaches.
Franco
Olight is particular when it comes to high end flashlights. It is the brand I have the most of…20-25 models.
First off, never buy unless they have a sale, which they do just about every 4 weeks or so. Full price they are overpriced.
Then, every sale will have 2-4 focus models that have great sale prices (at least 30% & up to 50%.) This is the time to get those models if you were interested in one. The next sale in a month or so, they will have different focus models on sale…and so on.
Maybe half of the rest of their inventory will be on sale also, but just in the 15-25% range, OK but nothing great.
Beyond that they have freebies, points which can be redeemed for good stuff and so on.
Aside from not having decent CRI models, just about everything they make is top quality. Yes, they have proprietary batteries, but what they sell them for is not bad. I look at Nitecore, Fenix and other brand batteries and do not find the Olights to be overpriced.
Their machining and quality is as good as any out there.
For Dust that had one break, contact them, they should change it out no problem. I had a Javelot Pro and after a year it died on me. Because everything is sealed, I couldn’t tell if it was the battery, the light itself, the switch or whatever. I contacted their CS and they sent me a new one, zero cost to me.
I have had issues with their CS, but that was not on a warranty problem (which the Javelot Pro is the only instance of a failure I had). It had to do with how lame they handled a product I never received, but that is another issue.
Olight is not perfect, but as good as any brand out there, depending on what you are looking for.
Franco
Sorry, unrelated and maybe I am late to the party, but I just saw Ridgid is now selling OPE. 18v line trimmer, hedge trimmer, blower and chainsaw; is this news or I missed Stuart’s column on it?
Stuart
https://toolguyd.com/ridgid-18v-cordless-outdoor-power-tools-launch-2023/
Franco
Geez, after clicking on the link, I remember seeing it at that time, but when I saw a Ridgid email today, it was like I never heard about it!?!?
Jason T.
I own several Olights. The i3T was my EDC light for a couple years. They are good lights, but I found with all Olight models, the runtime vs performance just isn’t as good as other manufacturers. I went back to Streamlight and I’m much happier. The Microstream and Macrostream are my two current EDC lights. Hard to beat rechargeable lights now.
Cr8on
I’m all in on Olight, I have around 30 objects that Olight taken my money for. The i3t is certainly easy to recommend but a slight bump up to the i5r is the way to go.
AP
I have so many lights! Why do I want more? Power tools, DAC’s, headphones, gadgets, lighting…..too many rabbit holes!