Preface
The Olight I5T (or i5T) EOS is the latest iteration of the I Series (keychain) that runs on a single AA battery.
Prior to the I5T was the Olight I3T EOS model that runs on a single AAA battery.
Let’s check out the merits and demerits of this Olight I5T EOS model.
Note: This review is based on the Cool White version, there was a limited run (not for sale) Neutral White version that was distributed as a freebie during Shot Show 2020.
Packaging & First Impressions
This is what the light will come with as shown below.
- The threads and o-rings were well lubricated. Threads were smooth and clean (no gritty feeling).
- The tail switch can be easily accessed to activate the light and require a rather firm force to activate.
- Clip is not reversible. However, the dual-direction pocket clip enables for bezel up/down carries & allows for attachment of the light to a cap for hands-free usage.
- The pocket clip has sufficient tension to ensure that the light will stay clipped to any material to prevent the light from falling out.
- Anodizing of the light is uniform without any missing specs, as expected from Olight.
- No holster and/or lanyard is provided. However, there is a lanyard attachment point on the pocket clip if required.
- Battery compartment holds Sanyo/Panasonic Eneloops, GP ReCyKo+, Energiser Ultimate Lithium (L91) and (Energiser and Duracell) alkaline batteries without any fitment issues.
- Scanning the QR code with your phone/tablet on the box’s side would bring up the Olight I5T’s product page.
Notes:
- Before using the flashlight for the first time, remove the yellow insulating film from the battery’s terminal first (unscrew tailcap first).
- Battery is installed with the Positive end facing the head of flashlight.
Front:
Back:
Sides:
Top:
Bottom:
Box Contents:
Remove Insulation Film:
Quick Overview (Manufacturer Specifications)
- Body Material: Black HAIII Aluminium
- LED: OSRAM P9
- Battery Format (Voltage Range: 0.8V to 1.7V): 1 x AA (1.2V NiMH rechargeable/1.5V lithium primary batteries/1.5V alkaline [not recommended]) ONLY
- Output & Runtime (with included 1 x AA Alkaline battery):
- Low – (15 lumens / 20h)
- High – (300lumens / 3min) → (150 lumens / 25min) → (30 lumens / 2h 2min)
- Max Beam Distance: 60m
- Beam intensity: 910cd
- Waterproofness: IPX-8 Standard
- Impact Resistance: 1.5m
- Dimension: 95mm (length) x 17.8mm (diameter)
- Weight: 60g (including battery)
- Battery reverse polarity protection
- Accessories Included:
- 1*GMCELL AA 1.5V Alkaline Battery
- 1*Dual-direction (2 Way) Clip
- MSRP: ~$30
UI (User Interface)
UI for this light is perfect for Every Day Carry (EDC) as it is extremely simple and straightforward to use. In fact, this UI is identical to the Olight I3T EOS‘s UI.
Switching ON and OFF is done by the tail mechanical switch on the light, so momentary activation is possible.
Normal Operation
From OFF:
- 1/2 Press – Direct access to MOMENTARY LOW; depress switch entirely (1 Click) to get LOW.
- 2 * 1/2 Press – Direct access to MOMENTARY HIGH; depress switch entirely (1 Click) to get HIGH.
- 1 Click – Direct access to LOW.
From ON:
- 1 Click – Light will switch OFF.
- 2 Clicks (<~2 sec between the 2 Clicks) – Light will switch to the other MODE.
Notes:
- There is no mode memory for this flashlight, it will always switch ON in LOW then HIGH – light will default to LOW after >2 secs of being switched OFF.
- When the flashlight switches to HIGH mode, it will ramp up quickly to the HIGH mode (300 Lumens).
Form Factor
For flashlights that are intended to use on a daily basis (EDC)/tactical EDC and for possibly a long period of time, form factor is extremely important.
This light feels well balanced (not head/tail-heavy) and will almost disappear entirely in a clenched medium sized hand. Switching between overhand and underhand holding method is easy with its form factor.
As with the Olight I3T EOS, Olight utilises the “double helix” knurling. However, Olight decided to add blue accents/highlights to further enhance the aesthetic appeal “double helix” knurling. This knurling on the light enables the light to be sufficiently “grippy”, even with wet hands/gloves.
It has a protruding tail switch, which unfortunately takes away the ability to tail-stand, but helps in being able to thumb-activate the light from any angle effortlessly. This easy-to-activate tail switch is definitely in-line with the requirements of a more tactical-orientated light, which we believe is the reason for the “T” in its I5T name.
With the included clip, a portion of the I5T would be protruding out from one’s pocket and thus enabling the user to “quick deploy/draw” from said pocket.
Beam Style/Beamshots
For this light, the spill, corona and hotspot is somewhat predictable due to the TIR (Total Internal Reflection) optics. The LED is fully covered under the TIR optics but still visible from the outside. With the LED used, the beam is still sufficiently “throwy” for recognizing items in the up-close to near range distance.
The above beam profile is a rough interpretation of what is seen when white wall hunting. The beam has an almost circular hotspot with some slight corona and very little spill (almost all of the beam produced is focused into the hotspot). There are some beam artifacts in the beam when whitewall hunting but not visible in real world usage.
All of the beamshots taken below are done so with the following camera settings (LOW: 0.8sec, F3.5, ISO100, 5000K WB and HIGH: 1/5sec, F3.5, ISO100, 5000K WB).
Some pictures have been adjusted slightly to depict as close as to what is seen in real life. The distance of the light from the door is 4.6m.
Control shot:
LOW (15 lumens):
HIGH (300 lumens):
Mode (Output) Spacing
Mode spacing appears to be progressively brighter to the eye and the modes are well spaced enough to be able to know which mode one is currently in. With that in mind, TLR tend to view mode spacing as battery life indicators (amount of runtime left) rather than the specific output (lumens).
For most tactical-orientated lights, users tend to prefer a simple HIGH/LOW interface, especially under duress. That said, with the UI starting with LOW of 15 lumens for up-close tasks and HIGH for other usages.
However, it would be nice if Olight had chosen a lower HIGH mode of say ~250 Lumens that can be sustained at a longer duration (rather than a shorter burst of 3 minutes @ 300 Lumens) instead.
Tint & CRI
Olight did not disclose the tint (color temperature) and/or the CRI (Color Rendering Index) for the LEDs used in their light. For this light, a guesstimate would be in the ~6000K and 70CRI ballpark.
There are tint shifts throughout the beam profile. Both the hotspot and corona have a slight yellow-green tint; and the spill having a slight purple tint.
This is however, not as noticeable in real life.
Waterproofness
The light was subjected to warm water submersion, followed by cold water submersion and left under room temperature running water tap whilst running on HIGH.
No signs of water intrusion in the head, switch or body was seen.
Lockout Capability
Both electronic lockout and mechanical lockout are not available when needed, like during transportation in a bag.
Although the I5T starts from LOW mode, it is not the best workaround for the lack of mechanical and electronic lockout.
As such, we recommend removing the battery from the flashlight for transportation in a bag or in your Bug-Out Bag (BOB).
Scale Comparison (Ruler)
Summary
To sum up, we believe that the most important part of any review is if given the chance to purchase the same light for our own usage or to gift to our loved ones out from one’s pocket (wallet), would we still do it?
For this light, it is a definite YES, if the tint shift is not an issue for your usage.
The extremely straightforward 2 modes UI, great for up-close usage beam profile provided by the TIR optics, ease of finding replacement AA batteries and dual-direction (2 Way) clip are all plus points for this flashlight.
However, the lack of the mechanical and electronic lockout might be seen as a disadvantage for some. As mentioned earlier, the best way to use this flashlight would be for those looking for a tactical backup EDC (or EDC backup) and carried in a pocket. When carrying/transporting it in an enclosed area such as a bag, we definitely recommend removing the battery from the flashlight.
In addition, it will be nice if Olight sells the Neutral White option as well (the same one that was distributed as a freebie during Shot Show 2020).
Here is a bonus size comparison with some of the other similar-sized flashlights we reviewed previously.
From Left to Right: Provided GMCELL Alkaline AA battery, Olight I3T EOS, Olight M1T Raider, Olight I5T EOS, Streamlight ProTac 90, ReyLight Ti Lan V3, Fenix LD12 2017, ASP Guardian AA DF and Malkoff MDC HA 1AA.
As with all gears, two is one and one is none.
Stay safe,
The Lite Review
Disclaimer: Light & battery were provided for by Olight for this review. No other compensation was provided.
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Olight I5T EOS
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