Olight S1A, S1R, S2R

Gary W. Graley

Gary W. Graley

“Imagination is more important than knowledge"
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Mar 2, 1999
Messages
27,330
I see that HalJordon also placed a review of this light, appears that we both were contacted near the same time from the company Olight to see if we might do a review of their light, as in HalJordon's review, this is also a review that declares that I was provided this light in order to do a review. I've not done flashlight reviews before so I'm not sure how they picked me from a crowd, but as with any knife reviews I've posted, I call them as I see them so while it is a free flashlight, I am posting as unbiased review as I know how.

Ok, that out of the way, this is a light by the company called Olight and it is their model S1A Baton, a small light measuring 3 1/8" long. The clip is fairly stout and is made to have the lamp facing up, or if worn on a hat brim it would make a good head lamp as well. There is a strong magnet in the base of the flash light which you can utilize to 'mount' the light to your best advantage, such as in your house it can fasten by the magnet to the side of a fridge, or since the lanyard is threaded out the side, it will sit up like a candle as well.

It is an LED light using a CREE XM-L2 led and it touted with a max output of 600 lumens when using a 14500 rechargeable lithium battery which I just happened to have and wow, this rascal throws out some light! It arrives with a AA not rechargeable lithium battery, you do need to remove the tail cap and take the protective cover off in order to put the battery into play.

Now with a lot of the new LED lights, they have many modes, usually they will cycle through various power settings and also go into a strobe mode for rescue type output.

This one is similar, with the touch of the button on the side, held down it will cycle though low, medium high and max. If you hit it quickly a double tap you will see the light flash once this indicates which 'TIMER' you are telling the light to use, one flash means after 3 minutes it will shut off, a double flash means the longer timer of 9 minutes.

To get to the Max output quickly, with the flashlight off, hit the switch quickly twice...here's a tip...DO NOT LOOK INTO THE END lol, man I still see spots!

To reach the strobe setting you need to press the switch quickly 3 times.

Like most knife knuts, I have several flashlights, you can never have too many! And I've a few that run on AA batteries, this is smaller and brighter than the few I have, making it a welcome addition.

Beam, now this is interesting that there isn't a hot center spot, but a really nice even filled spot, the end of the light has a raised bump you can feel, most lights have a flat end of glass there, this doesn't, at first I thought it was missing but I see that's how it's made.

a few other reviews I've done for Olight flashlights:
follow this link to see my review of the S10R iii

follow this link to see my review of the X7 Marauder

follow this link to see my review of H1R Nova head lamp

Here are some images of the flashlight;

S1A_box.jpg~original


the lanyard arrives with a very nice bit of metal to help you thread it through the hole of the light's base

S1A_threading.jpg~original


S1A_lanyard.jpg~original


S1A_on.jpg~original


S1A_lamp.jpg~original


and a closeup of the end you can see a frosted look on the raised center part

S1A_center.jpg~original


D.J.#1:...but the big question on everybody's lips...
D.J.#2: On their chapped lips..
(sorry, no extra points for those that know where the above quote comes from...)

Would I buy one? and I would say yep, it's a handy size, light and nice output, so G2 would pick up one if this ever got lost or needed to be replaced.

I'd like to thank Olight for this opportunity and if anyone has questions, please feel free to post here and I'll do my best to answer them.

G2
 
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Well dang, great pictures as always. Great review and I second your feelings. I would absolutely buy one had they not given me one.
 
Hah, :) thanks sir, nice light too and nice review on yours as well, I'd have posted there but didn't seem right when I was getting ready to post this one up.
But folks should also take a peek at yours seen here as you have some in use shots outside that is great to see too.

G2
 
Awesome photos and review. :thumbup: Thanks.

I carry a S15R in my work bag and have relegated the rest of my flashlights to secondary/emergency lights around the house. It's a fantastic light.
 
Nice review. I suppose the magnet is strong enough that you shouldn't carry your keys in the same pocket unless you want them stuck to the light?
 
Thanks, and the magnet does worry me sometimes as to any adverse effects, but I am carrying it in a side pocket of my trusty carrhartt pants and I've rotated the clip so it is over the button to help prevent any accidental turning on of the flashlight. Carrying it today at work and folks are quite impressed, especially when using the higher powered rechargeable battery, amazing output that provides!

G2
 
Be careful that this little powerhouse doesn't pull something else out of your pocket. The magnet is powerful. I love my Baton - I have dropped it several times over the past 6 months and it is still going strong.

Thanks for the review, Gary.
 
Be careful that this little powerhouse doesn't pull something else out of your pocket. The magnet is powerful. I love my Baton - I have dropped it several times over the past 6 months and it is still going strong.

Thanks for the review, Gary.
 
Thanks guys, I am careful on where I carry the light, with the smaller pockets on the carhartt pants, it makes it easy to keep things separate.

I was asked to provide some beam shots, moving through low, medium, high and turbo, but I find that rather subjective and often difficult to accomplish and so I'll not be getting images like that, if I were a true died in the wool light guy I might have the wherewithal to get some that would do it justice, don't get me wrong I love lights!, but I don't venture far from the knife forums. One vice is enough ;)

but, the light certainly throws a really nice light and I am impressed that the center of the beam isn't just a hot spot but is more a flood, folks at work were almost blinded today, it's very bright when using the higher rated battery and I'd say that's worth getting if you end up getting one of these lights.

G2
 
Gary W. Graley said:
Thanks, and the magnet does worry me sometimes as to any adverse effects, but I am carrying it in a side pocket of my trusty carrhartt pants and I've rotated the clip so it is over the button to help prevent any accidental turning on of the flashlight. Carrying it today at work and folks are quite impressed, especially when using the higher powered rechargeable battery, amazing output that provides!

G2
Click to expand...

I tried that and still had it turn on in jeans pockets. Now I loosen the tail cap slightly. It works for me and I don't have to turn the clip. I haven't had the tail cap loosten more than half a turn in my pocket or bag and it has enough thread to keep it from falling off.
 
Seems to be ok with this S1A baton as the button needs to be depressed (physically...not mentally :) ) further in order to turn on, but, I do have an S15 that I couldn't get to not come on, so that's relegated to live in my glove box of my car, also a nice light as well but a very sensitive switch.

G2
 
Stop or I'm going to buy one:D.

The hot spot and sensitive switch are my only issues with the S15.

A CRI (Color Rendering Index) of ~99 would make it perfect for my needs. :cool:
 
Between the two, there is a marked difference in the switch, I like the S1A a LOT better so I'm guessing they have changed what they were using?

And yep, I'd go ahead and buy one :)

G2
 
Thanks Bud, while beam shots might be nice, I hope what I provided will get you guys and gals some detail on how well it works and some of it's functions, it's very nice :)
G2
 
Gary W. Graley said:
I've rotated the clip so it is over the button to help prevent any accidental turning on of the flashlight.
Click to expand...

I'm not a fan of side-button lights for this reason. When pocket carried, or even in a sheath, the button is subject to unauthorized activation. My primary EDC light is the Streamlight Stylus Pro in the pocket, but it has a super stiff tail clicky that never actuates accidentally. That S1A looks sweet. But dealing with the side clicky, and possibly having to cover it up with clip like you do, just seems to be a little bit of a bummer when the market is full of tail clicky lights that don't have that (perceived) problem.

Thanks for your fine look at this light.
 
Thanks, I try to do my best when making a review.

As to the tail or side, I've carried this a couple days now without it ever coming on by itself so I am thinking the clip over the button may help but it also might not be necessary, but if you can, why not, unless you need to be a quick draw light beam thrower, the few seconds it takes to move the clip isn't that much.

Now tail button, yesterday when I brought in the light to work, I had my other light, also a AA model, but different mfg, on my kit bag, ok a murse if you must know ;) I have all my pertinent 'stuff' inside, ipod, cables, thumbdrives, and a side pocket full of Victorinox folders as well as the Swiss Army Tool, so it is a hefty small bag, one of the tool bags from Craftsman, on the side I had clipped this tail button operated light, because I've had that turn on by itself too many times and so I said enough is enough and just clipped it to the bag. I always have a AAA light in my shirt pocket, did I mention I like lights :) never be without a knife or a light is a good saying, hmm maybe I should get t-shirts made?

So anyways back to the story one of the guys at work asked me if I'd sell him my tail light flashlight and yep, it is a bit larger longer and just wasn't liking the tail light clicker on that one anyways so off she went, while this Olight S1A is still clipped into my side pocket.

If anyone does grab one, I'd recommend getting the more powerful battery thingy, those 14500 rechargeable batteries, that'll bump this light up to 600 lumens and that is BRIGHT !

G2
 
The Olight S1 does sound interesting. I have a Fenix PD22 that I carry every day, and actually end up using more than my folders that I carry. The Fenix is about 220 Lumens, I would like to have a little more. Fenix has a new version that is 500 lumens but it is longer. The PD22 is a good size even if it is a bit longer than the S1. I like the clicky of the Fenix but it won't stand on its tail.
 
Yep, ability to become a candle is a real plus with theses lights, that and the magnet is just one more thing that they tried to use to set themselves apart.
I have several Fenix lights as well, very powerful ones too, much larger of course but this one is plain handy to have around because of it's size.

And I'm not sure if there is just an Olight S1 also, but be sure to look for the S1A which is the more powerful model I think.
G2
 
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