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Olight T15 Review

The technology to create a light like this didn't even exist a few months ago. It's Olight's T15, which runs a CREE 7090 XR-E LED on a single AA battery. Though only four inches long, it packs 50% more light than the Surefire lights you see used by the military and SWAT teams. This light has been provided for review by EDC depot.

Skip to: Photos of Light, Beamshots, Video

Build and Construction

When I first picked up the T15, I noticed its exceptional construction. It is built of thick aluminum parts, coated with a Type III black anodization - the hardest kind that there is (mine still doesn't have a single scratch!). These are joined by long threads which are greased, and backed by o-rings. The rubber switch and anti-reflective (AR) glass lens make good seals with the metal. These features result in a rock-solid body which (though not designed for diving) survived the dunk test without any signs of a leak (shown in video below). It appears true that the Olight team really did design this light "[specifically] for water resistance". Because this light is LED based, there is no fragile filament susceptible to shock. This light has so far survived 13 (one dozen purposeful) five-foot drops onto a concrete floor. The bezel is epoxied in place, so it's impossible to remove the circuit board, LED, and reflector for inspection.

Ergonomics

The light's small size (105mm x 22mm / 4.1" x .85") and fact that it uses a commonly found battery (just one AA) make it excellent for EDC (every-day-carry) and hiking. It is comfortable in the hand, though because of its size, is not designed with ergonomics primarily in mind. The barrel is narrow and not textured, but its angled cuts keep it secure in the hand. Knurling on the front of the bezel makes changing brightness easier with slippery hands, while knurling on the tailcap makes it easier to change batteries. The rubber switch mounted in the rear is easy to operate. It is a reverse clickie; the light comes on as you are releasing the button. Olight has put in a nice touch by including two spare o-rings, an extra tailcap, and a lanyard. The lanyard is great; being very long, it always hangs out of my pocket for easy access.

Usability

This light has three modes: Constant-On, Strobe, and SOS
There are five brightness levels. The light uses a regulated circuit; instead of dimming gradually over time, the light maintains regular brightness until the battery dies. Having used this, I wouldn't consider purchasing a flashlight without it. These runtimes are from the manufacturer, and state the point at which the light's output is 50% of its starting output (which, being a regulated circuit, is very close to the end of all useable light).

Level	Light Output	Runtime
I	90 Lumens	.8 Hours
II	70 Lumens	2 Hours
III	40 Lumens	5 Hours
IV	20 Lumens	12 Hours
V	8 Lumens	25 Hours
I	90 Lumen Strobe	1.5 Hours
I	90 Lumen SOS	2 Hours
II	70 Lumen Strobe	2.5 Hours

I am very impressed by the "humanized operation" of the T15. Olight got things right by having the T15 start in constant-on no matter what, by it starting in the last used brightness level, and by separating the mode toggle from the brightness level toggle. The setting you want is always easy to get to, and there's no need to scroll through modes simply to light up what's in front of you. The video below shows how the light is operated. Strobe blinks the light very rapidly, and is designed to disorient an attacker or suspect. This is not an alternative to self-defense, but may allow you to command a situation before it evolves into physical contact. I doubt that I'm ever going to use strobe in this way, but I have tested it on myself, and it certainly does feel as though the world has been tipped upside down. The SOS function is pretty neat; I can easily see it being used either for signaling if stranded while hiking, or as an impromptu road flare if your car breaks down.

Here's a quick video on how the Olight works, and the dunk test:

Olight T15 Review - The best bloopers are here

The Beam

(Photos of beam are below) The light uses the brand new CREE 7090 XR-E LED, powered by a single AA battery. The light output is incredible, not just for its size, but for any handheld flashlight. It produces ninety lumens on high, compared to the sixty boasted by most lights in the Surefire line of 2x123 lights in the +$100 range. The bezel uses a very deep reflector which is unique in that it is textured (for an even beam) near the emitter, and becomes smooth near the ends. This results in an intense 'spot' of light which can be used at long distances, surrounded by a wide band of softer light which illuminates immediate surroundings. The beam is slightly bluish, but white compared to Luxeon LED's and most incandescent bulbs.

Let's take the T15 outside! The following shots were taken in complete darkness with camera settings that reflect how an eye that is not yet adjusted to darkness sees; shots taken in a series use the same camera settings. The eye is remarkably adaptable; though these objective photographs do not show it, even the minimag would enable you to stay on a trail at night. You can be assured, however, that the job is a whole lot easier and safer with even the lowest setting of the Olight. I sure wouldn't want to be trying to identify that rustle fifty feet away with a minimag!

The Bottom Line

High-end flashlights have evolved to a point where there's little room for imperfection. The T15 demonstrates this well, and pushes its size category to the next level. I now carry this light with me everyday; considering its size, there is no reason not to. It's amazing power to size ratio has earned it a spot on my hiking and kayaking trips where every ounce matters. I have no gripes with this unit, and don't expect it to disappoint me.

EDCdepot.com made this review possible and is a great company to work with. They carry the Olight T15, here.

T15 illuminating scene outside on Level I. Note the intense spot and wide angle of flood lighting: