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Let’s start by saying that I am not a flashlight aficionado, so when I got the chance to try out a high-quality flashlight, the Olight Baton 3 Premium Edition, I was excited to see what I was missing out on. My previous flashlight was one that I got for less than ten dollars and was held together with duct tape.
So, it was with lots of anticipation that I unwrapped the Baton 3 Premium Edition as soon as it arrived. I became even more excited when I found out that only 9,999 were ever made. I like to feel like one in a million, but how about one in ten thousand!
Let’s take a look at what makes the Olight Baton 3 Premium Edition so special and the main features of this flashlight.
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Unboxing and Unwrapping
The Olight Baton 3 Premium Edition comes in a neat little box that is secured by a magnet on one side. This means that there is no accidental tearing of the box as you are unpacking and repacking, and you can safely store the flashlight in the box when you are not using it, and this helps to keep everything together.
The Baton 3 Premium Edition is available in black, red, and blue. As you may have already guessed, I was shipped the red one, and I love the rich brightness that the red brings.
When I saw the image of the flashlight on the outside of the box, it was unlike anything that I had ever seen before, and I did not know initially that I was looking at the flashlight inside the charger. I thought (mistakenly) that the flashlight was bigger than it actually is when, in fact, it is extremely small (something that I was pleasantly surprised by).
So, what do you get in the box?
You get the flashlight, obviously, the wireless charger, a USB cable, and a microfiber cloth.
There are no real surprises here, though there is a nice rubber clasp around the USB charging cable that keeps it tightly wound when you are not using it. There is also an instruction manual, which is easy to follow.
First Impressions
The packaging for the flashlight says that it is ‘designed to stand out,’ and it definitely does that. The case looks almost like an oversized old-school lighter, and the flashlight sits neatly inside.
When I realized the flashlight was inside the case and not part of it, I was amazed at the size of it. I am used to bulky flashlights, and this one comes in at slightly under 2.5 inches and weighs under 2 ounces. With the case, of course, it is bigger and heavier.
Both the case and flashlight look and feel durable, though only time will tell with that. From initial impressions, I am expecting the flashlight to last, and look forward to taking it out camping and hiking.
The handle of the flashlight has an engraved design which adds some texture to the look and adds grip (which is welcome, considering the small size of the flashlight), and there is a clip on the side of the flashlight that is tight enough to be attached to a belt (or anything else) without it falling off if you are hiking.
The best part, though? The magnet on the end. Not only does the magnet secure the flashlight to the charging case, but it can be attached to an iron surface too for hands-free use.
Function
Check out the included videos in each section for live action brightness checks.
Let’s get down to what you really want to know, the lumens and modes.
There are three main modes on this flashlight:
Low: 12 lumens (beam distance 59 feet / 18 meters)
Medium: 60 lumens (beam distance 124.6 feet / 38 meters)
High: 300 lumens (beam distance 269 feet / 82 meters)
Here is the flashlight in action, scrolling through Low, Medium, and High modes:
Keep the flashlight on low, and it will last for 33 hours on a full charge. With medium, you have 7.5 hours, and high lasts for 95 minutes.
Next, you have Moonlight and Turbo.
Let’s see the difference between the lowest lumens (Moonlight) and the highest lumens (Turbo):
Moonlight basically simulates the same glow that you get from the moon and gives you 0.5 lumens for 20 days.
Turbo gives you a whopping 1,200 lumens for 1.5 minutes and then 300 lumens for 75 minutes and will reach up to 544.6 feet / 166 meters. The Turbo setting automatically moves from Turbo to high after 1.5 minutes to protect the flashlight from overheating.
If you want a strobe light, then you have that too. This is a great self-defence feature, and the max-lumen strobe output is great for warding off unwanted people or animals when you are walking home at night or out in the wild.
There is a timer setting, and you can set the flashlight to turn off after 3 minutes or 9 minutes. You also have a lockout mode, and you can set the flashlight so that it is not accidentally switched on. This can be a lifesaver when you need the light and want to protect the battery (especially if you have curious children around).
Ease of Use
This flashlight only has one button, and you can control the settings with different presses and holds.
This made learning how to use the flashlight easy, as there is only one button to press, and it is just a case of taking the time to remember what presses you need to access the function that you want.
On/Off
The most basic function is turning the flashlight on and off. Press the button to turn the flashlight on, and press it again to turn it off.
Low/Medium/High Output
When you turn the flashlight on for the first time, it will be set to low. To cycle through the three main options, you hold the button down, and it will move from low to medium to high and back to low again. Let the button go when you have the desired setting.
When you turn the flashlight on after using it, it will be set to whatever setting it was set to before you turned it off.
Moonlight/Turbo/Strobe Modes
When the flashlight is off, hold the button for over one second, and it will turn on the Moonlight setting.
At any time, press the button twice quickly to activate Turbo.
When the flashlight is on, triple-press the button to access the strobe setting.
Timer/Lockout
The timer is activated by double-pressing and holding the button, and lockout is activated by long-holding the button. The user manual has the exact information, and it is easy to follow.
Charging
This is where the Olight Baton 3 Premium Edition sets itself apart from the competition, and the ground-breaking portable wireless charger is like nothing else out there. When I started to use it, I have to admit that I was pretty blown away by the feature. When you place the flashlight in the case and plug it in with the USB Type-C charging cable, the flashlight will be charged from the connected power source, and the charging case will too. There is a 3,500 mAh battery inside the case that contains enough charge to charge the flashlight 3.7 times.
This makes it a great flashlight when you are on the go and do not have a nearby power source. As long as the case is fully charged, you can have enough battery to last you continuously for days on the low setting without having to connect it to a power source.
To charge the flashlight, the flashlight is placed in the case, and is connected to a magnetic charging port. When I placed the flashlight inside, I could feel the magnet pulling it into place. It dropped into place with a satisfying click.
The USB charging cable allows you options when you charge, and I charged straight from my laptop. I did not time the charging time, but the manual states that it takes 1 hour to fully charge the flashlight and 2.5 hours to charge the case fully.
What Else?
The flashlight does come with an IPX8 rating, so it can be submerged in water up to 1 meter, though don’t do it just for the fun of it. However, that does mean that you can use this in the rain without worrying about water getting in.
The flashlight is also impact resistant to 4.9 feet / 1.5 meters. Again, don’t drop this flashlight purposely just to test that out.
The flashlight comes with a 5 year warranty, and a 2 year warranty for the charging case. A lengthy warranty is something that I always look for, and it gives me confidence in the longevity of the product.
Who Is This For?
The fact that it is small and accessible makes it a good flashlight for anyone who is looking for something that has a lot of battery life and a decent number of lumens, and is a perfect everyday carry (EDC) flashlight.
Related: Review: Olight Warrior Mini 2
With the waterproofing, impact resistance, functionality, and portable battery, this is a perfect flashlight for anyone out in the great outdoors. If you like to night-hike or fish, are taking a camping trip off the grid, or need something to pack in your survival bag, then this flashlight is going to be compact, light, and will not need to be charged as often as other flashlights.
Conclusion
The Olight Baton 3 Premium Edition is an impressive flashlight. It has a variety of options, and they are easy to cycle through with the single button on the side. When it comes to everyday carry flashlights, the 1,200-lumen turbo mode is up there amongst the best of them, and the ground-breaking portable wireless battery is something that definitely cannot be overlooked. For every-day carry, hiking, camping, and everything else that you want to do in the dark, I can wholeheartedly recommend this flashlight.
You can buy the Olight Baton 3 Premium Edition on Olight’s website.
