EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – If you read this column, you know I am an Olight fan.
Not only do I use them for my everyday carry, I have also started to collect them in different styles and colorways.
The collectibility factor is one of the things that Olight does that makes it really stand apart from other flashlight companies – that and their renowned customer service.
Every year, Olight celebrates its own birthday with a sale and some exclusive lights that are released just for that anniversary event.
Last year, I still hadn’t really caught on to everything that Olight has to offer and regrettably didn’t make an order for the company’s 17th anniversary.
This year, I rectified that and picked up two flashlights and got a third as a gift with my order, all in celebration of Olight’s 18th anniversary.
Let’s start with the i18. This light is a special version of the i1R 2 Pro that was made to celebrate the company’s birthday.
This is a small keychain light, about 2 inches long. This one is made of brass with a “distressed” or tarnished look to it and it’s in the shape of a rocket ship.
I just profiled the “compass” version of the i1R 2 Pro a few weeks ago.
But here is a refresher on how this light works. The same applies for the special anniversary edition, the i18.
It has two modes – 5 lumens and 180 lumens. You twist to turn it on and continue twisting to get to the high mode.
You twist in the opposite direction to turn it off. If you continue twisting in the “off” direction, the light will “pop” open and you will see a hidden charging port.
Olight estimates you get 23 minutes in high mode per charge and 12 hours in low. Basically, this is a light you use for quick bursts of high but mostly use in low.
What is really cool about the i18 is how it looks – the brass and the rocket ship design.
Just another example of how Olight shakes things up to make it fun to collect different versions of their lights.
This one will get safely tucked away and will only get used on special occasions.
Olight also had a special anniversary offering for its popular i3E EOS model, which is an even smaller keychain light.
The anniversary light is “royal” purple with some gold-color “intertwined” highlights including the number “18” written on it, also in gold. My boss said it gave her serious Kobe Bryant vibes.
Just gorgeous, anyway you look at it.
The i3E series are the first lights from Olight that I realized were collectible. It seems like every time they have a sale or a special event, the company comes out with a new colorway or even a slightly altered design on its i3E lights.
Again, this is a simple light. Twist on, twist off. It comes in just one mode – 90 lumens, which is incredibly bright for a little light.
It is powered by a standard AAA battery and the company estimates you get about 45 minutes of light per battery.
This one was a gift just for making an order.
Last but certainly not least is the Baton Turbo in a roadster design. This was also released for the anniversary sale.
This palm-sized light comes in aqua-marine, orange and black and is made to give it a race-car vibe. The black grip looks like tire tread.
This light is small but packs a wallop.
This rechargeable light has a maximum output of 1,000 lumens and a maximum throw of 510 meters (five football fields).
In total, it has five different modes or levels and a strobe.
It has a magnetic tail and a dual-sided pocket clip.
It’s a great little light.
My only issue: This is such a cool light, I don’t want to ever lose it.
Here is a link to the i3E EOS. The 18th anniversary light is still available for $12.99.
This light also has about a half dozen other color schemes and designs available, including a “stars and stripes” edition that was released over Memorial Day. Basic black is $9.99.
Here is a link to the Baton Turbo. The roadster colorway is still available for $59.99. It is also available in black, OD green and orange.
The i18, unfortunately, is sold out and is already becoming a collector’s piece.
Here is a link to the i1R 2 Pro, which is the rechargeable keychain light that the i18 was based on. This light is available in black and OD green for $21.99.
Here are some YouTube channels I enjoy and find informative on knives and EDC gear:
Baxters Blades (“Tired Tiger”)
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