Continuing my reviews of Olight flashlights I've purchased over the last year and a half or so, the next up is the light that I generally take with me on evening walks. This one is the Freyr tactical light. The light normally sells for $139.95, but at the time of this writing, Olight has a flash sale price of $111.96, which is probably pretty close to what I paid for mine. The light comes in what appears to be an orange color, or in black (which is what I bought).
This is a pretty large flashlight for modern LED flashlights, measuring just a tad over 5-1/4 inches long. The housing for the lamp and reflector is also quite broad for modern flashlights, being 1-1/2 inches in diameter. But, although it comes with a pocket clip (which I haven't used), it really isn't designed or intended as a pocket light. Rather, it is a flash light for outdoor use, whether for law enforcement, hunting, hiking, or anyone else that needs a powerful flashlight for outdoor use.
So, let's go over the specs. The maximum output of the flash light is a white light of 1,750 lumens with an advertised throw of 360 meters. As I've mentioned in relation to other lights, I found a tree that according to my laser range finder is just over 300 yards away. At night, I was able to easily illuminate that tree with this light on the bright setting, although the beam was not as tight as on my Odin weapon light. But I can tell you from experience that it lights up the neighborhood at the max setting the few times I've used it while walking. It is incredibly bright!
Of course, being incredibly bright, you can't run it at that brightness for very long because of heat concerns. Although the aluminum body has sort of swirl shaped radiating fins around the base of the housing/bell for the lamp, it will only stay at the brightest setting for a couple of minutes, after which it will drop to 850 lumens for 150 minutes, and thence to 300 lumens for 28 minutes--or so Olight advertises. I haven't run it in the high mode for more than 10 or 15 seconds at a time because I haven't wanted to anger any neighbors. Did I say that it is bright?
There are two lower white light settings you can select.: a more sedate 300 lumens at which the light can operate for 9.5 hours from a full battery charge according to Olight; and a moonlight setting of 5 lumens on which setting the light can run for 15 days from a full charge. The latter may be of particular interest to someone backpacking or hunting.
In addition, the light can be switched to different colors: red (30 lumens, 22 hour run time), green (60 lumens, 14 hour run time), or blue (25 lumen, 12 hour run time). Obviously, the different colors are good for signalling. Red is often used as a means of preserving night vision. And blue is often used to aid in following a blood trail. Finally, there is a strobe setting for the white light.
As far as other statistics and features, the light has a sensor on the front that will drop the lumen output from the high setting to a lower setting if you move it too close to an object. The light has an IPX8 water resistance rating, and can supposedly survive a drop from 1.5 meters. So, it is going to be a tough flashlight.
It comes with a holster/case that has a magnetically latching cover. The holster has a strap on the back that is MOLLE compatible or can be used as a belt loop. I've attached the holster to a carrier vest with MOLLE loops. There is also a D-ring for hanging the holster off something. Like many other of Olight's products, it uses an induction charging cord that attaches by magnets to the base of the flashlight.
And, one feature I found I really liked, is that it comes with a silicone cone that can be fitted over the bell housing and used for directing traffic, signaling, etc. The cone fits into the holster, and then the light can be slipped into the cone, tail first, allowing you to carry both in a compact package. Although the cone is intended for signaling, I've used the cone with the white light to get a "lamp" effect.
Operation of the light is via two switches: a tail cap switch and a smaller side switch. If the tail cap switch is depressed half-way, it goes to the medium 300 lumen white light; all of the way, and it activates the max white light setting. Like other Olight products, if you quickly depress and release the switch, it will remain on; if you hold the switch momentarily, the light goes off as soon as you release the switch.
The side switch is used for the other light functions. Pushing and releasing the switch will turn the light on to the last setting used. You can hold the switch down to change between red, blue, green, and moonlight settings.
I purchased the light for a couple of reasons. First was to use as a handheld tactical light in or around the home. The light, at least in the high setting, is too bright to use in the house, but is great for investigating noises in the yard.
The second reason was for outdoor activities. In fact, the inclusion of the blue light setting was a big selling point if I was hunting and wound up having to track a shot deer after dark. And, as I mentioned above, I like the fact that the light could potentially be used for over a week of constant use without charging.
And even though I didn't buy it for this reason, it has been excellent for use when walking at night. It comes with a signal cone attachment, as I mentioned earlier, and I like using the cone in combination with the red light when crossing streets at night because it is so highly visible.
So, in short, it is a tough light with a lot of features that should appeal to the outdoors enthusiast, law enforcement officer or security guard, or any other situation calling for signaling options and, if necessary, a high power light.
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