Olight’s Latest Releases Shine Bright: A Look at the Arkfeld Ultra, Perun 3, and Baton Turbo
While the mass adoption of smartphones has left most consumers in possession of a pretty serviceable flashlight, a powerful and versatile torch can make all the difference for those with more specific lighting needs. Olight has been quietly dominating the EDC flashlight scene since it was established in 2007 and created our current favorite, the Baton 3 Premium Edition.
Today, Olight launched a series of updated versions of its core products and a few additions to the brand's lineup. I was given a chance to try them out, and based on my early impressions, Olight might be on to a few more winners.
What is Olight
Olight is a brand founded in 2007 that makes a wide range of lighting products, including flashlights, headlamps, bike lights, and more.
What are Olight's latest products?
As part of the Olight Fall Event, the brand has released a series of flashlights and devices designed to meet various needs and use cases. The products include:
Arkfeld Ultra
Arkfeld Pro Paws Edition
Perun 3
Baton Turbo
Sphere
I was sent each of these products about one week before launch and spent a few days putting them through their paces. I took each flashlight on a series of nighttime walks and runs. In addition, I spend some time with the devices to get a sense of their usability and brightness. I also kept a note of their battery life over a week.
Arkfeld Ultra and Pro Paws Edition
Arkfeld Ultra
The Arkfeld Ultra is the ultimate multipurpose flashlight.
The Arkfeld Ultra is a 3-in-1 flashlight that adds some welcome upgrades to the brand's EDC-centric range of flat flashlights. The Ultra packs three functions into its small frame: a white light, a UV light, and a green laser pointer. It also features a battery indicator, a belt clip, and a magnetic charging port. The Arkfeld Ultra eschews the standard tubular shape in favor of a flat, almost wedge design, which means it easily fits in your pocket without any unsightly bulges. While it looks very similar to the Arkfeld Pro, the Ultra has a couple of noteworthy upgrades. The white light is 1400 lumen vs the 1300 lumen found in the Pro, and the casing is made from Olight's priority OAL aluminum alloy. Olight claims that OAL is stronger and more durable than 6061 aluminum.
As someone who works remotely, I've never had much use for EDC items; however, if I did go into the office regularly, I would see the Ultra being a valuable addition to my work bag. I was impressed with the versatility and the powerful brightness of the white light. I generally don't have any use for a laser pointer in my day-to-day life, but my cat loved it. Similarly, I prefer a blissful ignorance approach to hotel cleanliness, so I'm unlikely to use the UV light, but I can see it being a great help to those who care about such things.
While I don't have much use for two of the three functions of the Arklight, I liked the Ultra's sturdy and robust construction and compact pocketable frame. It's pretty pricey at $119.99, but the Ultra is an excellent choice if you're in the market for an EDC flashlight.
Arkfeld Pro Paw Edition
Shed some light on a great cause with the Arkfeld Pro Paw Edition
In addition to the Arkfeld Ultra, Olight sent me the Arkfeld Pro Paws Edition. Internally, it's identical to the standard Pro but comes in an adorable pet-themed colorway. Olight will donate $5 for each Paw Edition sold to help homeless cats and dogs.
Perun 3
Perun 3
The versatile Perun 3 is the ultimate hands-free flashlight.
The Perun 3 is designed to offer hands-free illumination in various settings and features a right-angle flashlight that is useful in situations where a standard flashlight would be impractical. The flashlight provides an intense 3000 lumens, and the torch is powered by a 5000 mAh battery with 20 hours of life (in moonlight mode). The Perun 3 also features a red light, and each light source has a variety of brightness settings and configurations. The Perun 3 has IP68 weatherproofing and can be used in the hand, in the included headband, with the clip, and with a magnetic base.
I often use a headlamp for jogging at night and occasionally hiking and camping, so I was curious to see how the Perun 3 would compare to my current device. The weight and slightly awkward shape of the Perun 3 means that it's in no danger of replacing my current setup, but as something to use occasionally, it's excellent. The torch easily clips into the (pretty comfortable) head strap and was perfectly serviceable during my night run. It's also worth pointing out that the Perun 3 is considerably brighter than my dedicated headlamp and has the bonus of working as a regular hand torch.
I've never used a right-angle torch, but the Perun 3 has me pretty sold on the concept. The angle makes it incredibly easy to use when doing repairs around the house. It may be primarily marketed as a headlamp, but for me, the Perun 3 is the kind of product I would keep in my car or a tool kit for emergencies or repairs and only occasionally use it as a headlamp.
Baton Turbo
Baton Turbo
The Baton Turbo is a small but mighty flashlight.
The Baton Turbo is a long-range EDC flashlight that packs 1000 lumens into a tiny, compact form factor weighing only 3.21 oz. It has a range of 510 meters and comes with an 1100mAh rechargeable battery that lasts 50 days in moonlight mode. The flashlight can also take standard single-use batteries, but with limited brightness.
I'll be honest: I love this thing. Technically, the Baton Turbo does one thing: provide light and does that one thing exceptionally well. It has a perfect balance of lightweight, compact form, and intense brightness, and I can see it becoming a permanent fixture on my camping and hiking trips where weight is at an absolute premium.
Sphere
Sphere
The Sphere is an affordable and feature-rich ambient light.
Finally, we have the Olight Sphere, a tiny ambient light with various productivity and entertainment features. The Sphere has seven light options that can be cycled through using the power button. The companion app adds 20 more options to the mix. In addition to a wide range of colored light options, the Sphere has a visual countdown timer, a music rhythm mode, and a light-based bash-a-mole game. The Sphere has a 700 mAh battery, a magnetic base, and an IP56 rating for weather resistance.
At first glance, I was a bit confused by the Sphere. Compared with the rugged, utilitarian appearance and focus of the Arkfeld, Perun, and Baton, it seemed like an outlet with minimal function. However, while it has some fun features, the visual countdown timer is a great productivity device with some accessibility applications for those who are hard of hearing. The Sphere may not be something I would necessarily purchase for myself, but it would be a perfect productivity and entertainment device for hard-working and hard-playing students.
Which Olight products should you buy?
Whether you're an EDC enthusiast, a techie, a camper, or just need a great flashlighto, Olight's latest roundup has something for everyone. All the products I tried seem well-built and have excellent features. Most importantly, regarding usability and impressive brightness, I struggled to find any significant faults with the Arkfeld, Perun, or Baton. I also appreciated that Olight hasn't leaned too hard into the overly rugged aesthetic common to many competitors. The flashlights are hardy but have an appealing, understated design.
If I had to find any fault with Olight, it would be the price. Generally, the products are pretty pricey; however, based on my early impressions, it's money well spent.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Olight’s Fall Event: Arkfeld Ultra, Perun 3, Baton Turbo, and More
