I bear in mind the day I added the Olight S1R Baton to my on a regular basis carry (EDC) assortment. I used to be in my native clothes and gross sales store on base in Germany and had zero intention of including this mild to my cart that day. I had learn rave critiques and watched a couple of movies, every touting its compact measurement, highly effective output, and total versatility. On the time, I used to be in search of a dependable, pocket-sized flashlight that wouldn’t simply be one other gadget, however one thing I may genuinely depend on in varied conditions. Reflecting on my years with the S1R Baton, I notice it’s the flashlight I’ve carried with me probably the most.
The Olight S1R Baton was independently bought on my own and Olight has not been allowed to preview this Evaluate. I’ve been utilizing this mild for the previous 4 years for EDC duties because it goes into my bag day-after-day.
First Impressions – Olight S1R Baton Flashlight
Regardless of its small measurement—barely bigger than my thumb—it felt sturdy and well-crafted. The physique was fabricated from aircraft-grade aluminum, with a matte black end that exuded a way of sturdiness and stealth. The knurling on the physique supplied an excellent grip, which I discovered particularly helpful throughout moist or chilly circumstances.
The sunshine got here with a useful rechargeable RCR123A battery and a magnetic USB charging cable. I appreciated this characteristic, because it eradicated the necessity to continually substitute batteries. The magnetic charger snapped onto the tail cap with a satisfying click on, and I may simply join it to any USB port to high up the battery. This characteristic alone could appear form of gimmicky but it surely’s a real-time saver ultimately. The person interface was easy—a single aspect swap managed the whole lot, from turning the sunshine on and off to biking via the totally different brightness ranges. The simplicity of this design made it straightforward to make use of proper out of the field, which was a plus.
Efficiency and On a regular basis Use – Olight S1R Baton Flashlight
Over time, the S1R Baton has confirmed itself in varied eventualities, from mundane duties to extra demanding conditions. One of many standout options of this flashlight is its output. With a most output of 900 lumens on turbo mode, it punches effectively above its weight class by way of output, and that’s from a light-weight that’s considerably older at this level. The beam is huge and well-balanced, with an excellent mixture of throw and flood, making it good for close-up duties but it surely falls quick if you attempt to use it at any actual distance.
In on a regular basis use, I discovered myself ceaselessly utilizing the decrease brightness settings. The moonlight mode, which outputs a mere 0.5 lumens, was good for duties like studying in mattress or checking on one thing in the course of the night time with out disturbing others. The medium and excessive settings have been greater than enough for out of doors use, whether or not I used to be strolling the canine at night time or engaged on a venture within the storage. The clip system is ingenious and permits it to be simply connected to a ball cap or perhaps a helmet. This implies you’ll be able to go arms free whereas climbing or strolling your canine everytime you need.
Limitations and Drawbacks – Olight S1R Baton Flashlight
Whereas the Olight S1R Baton has many strengths, it’s not with out its limitations. Probably the most noticeable downside for me was the scale of the aspect swap. Given the flashlight’s compact design, the swap is kind of small, and I often discovered it troublesome to find by really feel, particularly at nighttime. There have been a couple of instances once I fumbled with it, attempting to show the sunshine on or change the brightness stage.
The magnetic charging cable, whereas handy, was additionally a little bit of a double-edged sword. The proprietary nature of the charger meant that if I misplaced or broken it, I couldn’t simply substitute it with an ordinary cable. Thankfully, the charger has held up effectively, but it surely’s one thing to contemplate in case you’re vulnerable to misplacing equipment.
Wrap Up – Olight S1R Baton Flashlight
Wanting again on my time with the Olight S1R Baton, I can confidently say it has been a helpful addition to my EDC lineup. Its compact measurement, highly effective output, and construct high quality make it a dependable instrument for a variety of conditions. Whereas it has its minor flaws, the general efficiency and sturdiness far outweigh any drawbacks. For anybody contemplating a small but succesful flashlight, the Olight S1R Baton is a stable selection I’m positive that they’re on the 4th technology of this mild and it has many enhancements of the gen 1 iteration.
