The Olight i3T 2 EOS EDC flashlight is on sale again – the black and green versions are $15 each (save 25%), and the orange and blue are $16 each (save 20%).
I have a bunch of the older model in different colors, and it’s been fantastic. I load them up with rechargeable NiMH or Lithium (non-rechargeable) AAA batteries – but they also work with alkaline cells – and take them anywhere.
Sometimes you’ll find one in my pocket. If I’m travelling, I’ll toss one into the car’s glove box, or into my carry-on bag when I’m flying. My wife sometimes takes one when she travels.
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The i3T 2 is said delivers 200 lumens max brightness, and has a max battery runtime claim of up to 21 hours. The tailcap switch gives you two output modes – high and low.
You can get up to 300 lumens of output if you use a protected 10440 L-ion battery, which is not included.
It’s waterproof to IPX8. Olight also redesigned the i3T 2 housing with a captured and deeper-carry pocket clip compared to its predecessor’s.
You get a lot of flashlight for $20, and it’s a bargain when on sale.
Deal Price: $15-$16 depending on color
I have a couple of i3T’s and have already given a bunch as gifts. They’re making it awfully tempting to upgrade.
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I considered the i3T to be the perfect go-anywhere flashlight, and the i3T 2 is an upgrade in several ways (brighter, longer battery runtime, longer runtime at high, deep-carry pocket clip).
The i3T desert tan version (this is the first one I bought, and rated at 180 lumens max brightness) is priced a little lower right now – $14.39 at Amazon.
Want something different? The Streamlight Stylus Pro (better brand, not as bright) is a few dollars more – see Save a Few Bucks on this Excellent EDC Flashlight.
Alexk
Glad these aren’t available in person, where I shop. Don’t need another flashlight, but would impulse buy this if it was convenient. Looks great.
My key ring has had a tiny rechargeable Olight for over a year and that fits my need. All my other pocket flashlights are just because I like flashlights. When I need a light for work, a headlight is usually the best choice.
Mark
I’m the same way with flashlights and knives as well, lol.
Calvin
I have bought so many olights thru the years and the i3t 2 is a dud in my book . I’ve had multiple arrive with bad switches and the replacements either are the same or fail a few weeks later not good when I use them as gifts . Having to send them off has turned me off on all olights. Its like the hype has made there quailty control go down .I still use my warrior and prerun and you really cant beat their tactical lights for my home defense tho i have been looking for alternatives. I’ve been using this flat rechargeable ad my daily for almost a year. It is often on sale for under 20 if you watch it is a game changer. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D66SHL2C
Alexk
For pocket carry, I’m liking flat shaped lights. They are less noticeable when I sit down.
Stuart
Flat-shaped lights are multiple times the price since they have customized rechargeable batteries. They’re going to be more convenient for daily carry or regular users, but I think this one is better for more casual users.
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=olight+arkfeld&i=tools&tag=toolguyd-20
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Streamlight+wedge+flashlight&tag=toolguyd-20
Those are the two I’ve tried, but the category has been expanding as more brands jump onboard.
David
I picked up a Wuben G5 for myself and a family member recently, and it’s become my go-to light. Flat, pocketable, able to tail-stand, with a clip and magnet base, flexible head you can aim, and a rotary control for brightness. They’ve been running $20 on sale pretty regularly, and for utility purposes I think they beat a lot of other pocket lights. I’d love to hear what you think if you try one!
Stuart
I’ve been only mildly interested in the brand. Took a look at the G5 just now – https://www.amazon.com/WUBEN-Rechargeable-Flashlight-Flashights-Flashlights/dp/B0DT6SS412?tag=toolguyd-20
Very unique form factor. I’ll keep it in mind!
David
It wasn’t on my radar until I saw a sale pop up, then bought one. It took me less than a day of playing with it to ship one to my family member who I knew would fall in love with it for what he uses lights for in the professional audio and video space, as well as for camping and outdoor recreation.
It’s not perfect – if you’re wearing heavier gloves the wheel would be hard to manipulate, and the lockout slider can move around on you. But for the price it checks a LOT of boxes.
TomD
My flat shaped flashlight is made by Apple. 😜
I should get some of these but they always end up with dead batteries when I need them.
Plain+Grainy
I’m kind of intrigued with the Baton4 light w/ charging box. On sale for $75, I probably won’t have one. But quite a unique light!
Stuart
You don’t have to buy the charging case. The Baton 4 is ~$46 in blue right now (other colors $55) https://www.amazon.com/OLIGHT-Rechargeable-Flashlight-Magnetic-Emergencies/dp/B0CKL59BDJ/?tag=toolguyd-20 .
There’s also the Baton Turbo https://www.amazon.com/OLIGHT-BatonTurbo-Rechargeable-Flashlight-Flashlights/dp/B0CX1HYX7P/?tag=toolguyd-20 .
I recently gave away the last of my rechargeable Olights (although I keep digging up more), and the Baton 4 was really hard to part with.
It really was a superb light in a compact form factor.
There will be more flashlight deals and promos over the next few weeks, and so there’s no reason to rush into a purchase, especially pricier ones.
mark w
I bought this last year during a tool guyd amazon sales roundup article I think. The orange was the first to sell out last year I think. Didn’t make it far into the holiday season.
Zero complaints and it’s well refined for the price. Simple and tactile in the right places. Desert tan looked great to me finish wise.
mark w
Stuart I saw an add for the Olsa Tools flexible tube work light today on yt shorts. The guy stuffed it in a wheel well and the lighting it gave was very impressive. $80 looks like. Like 2 foot tube. Looks super useful for deep engine Bay work, wheel wells, under dash.
Would love your thoughts on it if it intrigues you.
Stuart
Not available in USA (yet?). Yes, it looks intriguing, but it’s a very specialized light. It’s 44″ long and not rigid. Seems suitable for close-up work in very challenging spaces – like a wheel well.
S
It definitely intrigues me.
I’ve got a couple of other under hood lights currently, and none of them seem ideal, especially for Ford’s and their aluminum hoods.
TMedina
The Amazon link in the post isn’t working for me.
TMedina
All good – the AWS issues must have been complicating things.
Stuart
Should be working now. But yes. Amazon had an outage and is still experiencing issues.
Todd
Stuart, do you have any recommendations on AA and AAA rechargeable battery chargers? I want to switch over to rechargeable but know nothing on the topic besides Eneloop seem to be popular.
Stuart
Panasonic/Eneloop chargers are decent. But slow. And I’ve seen some that don’t charge every spot at the same time. I used an IKEA charger for a bunch at a time.
I bought the Powerex MH-C980 in February, and it’s noisy but I like it. I can’t seem to find it in stock anywhere to link to.
Amazon link for reference: https://www.amazon.com/Powerex-MH-C980-Charger-Analyzer-Batteries/dp/B07QYCJKJK/?tag=toolguyd-20
One of the other stores I’d order from say it’s backordered into December.
I keep my charged batteries in Storacell caddies – https://www.amazon.com/stores/Storacell/page/875AF730-8910-4AFC-86A2-B5AA07E76D24?tag=toolguyd-20 .
I have… 16AA and 2AAA batteries that need to be recharged. I’ll do a batch or two tomorrow.
Basic Eneloop charger is okay – https://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-BQ-CC17SBA-eneloop-Individual-Indicator/dp/B00JHKSLM8/?tag=toolguyd-20
Sometimes the bundles are economical – https://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-K-KJ17MCA4BA-Individual-eneloop-Rechargeable/dp/B00JHKSMJU/?tag=toolguyd-20
I just learned that Panasonic has an 8-position charger, but can’t find any info on how it plugs into the wall. https://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-BQ-CC63SBA-8-Position-Individual-Rechargeable/dp/B0FGDX8S8M/?tag=toolguyd-20
When starting out, Eneloop is good, and IKEA’s Ladda are comparable.
Eneloop and Ladda NiMH are pre-charged and ready to go. They have slow self-discharge rates.
A 4-position charger is fine to start out with. I always have plenty on hand.
An 8-position charger is convenient. Mine has a fan and is noisy. The IKEA one I still have has more charging slots, but is large, bulky and hard to store, and slower.
The price difference between a basic Eneloop or Panasonic charger and a fancier 8-position charger could pay of lot of spare batteries.
That’s why I have 16 AA’s on my desk – I’d rather charge once or twice every few weeks than whenever I swap batteries out.
Having an 8-slot charger around means less infrequent charging, and having a faster charger means a morning and afternoon charge and I put the charger away for a couple of weeks.
I keep a Sanyo and Panasonic charger around for my lower capacity NiMH batteries.
Some brands have different batteries for i) high power and high capacity, and ii) low drawer and lower capacity. So I bought the lower capacity and cheaper cells for the TV remotes. It save a little money but I have to use my slower charger for them. Not a big deal, but I wouldn’t buy them again, I’d just buy the same batteries for everything.
Tom
Great little light. Works well on bill of baseball cap as a headlamp. Have one clipped to my toolbag and another in the center console of the car all the time.