I have heard nothing but great things about Olight for years. But I’ve not had a chance to get my hands on one of their lights until recently when Olight contacted me to test out the S10R Baton III and I3T (review coming later). With that said, I can definitely see why people like these lights. So, here are my first impressions of the Olight S10R Baton III.
Olight S10R Baton III Specs
I’m not typically much of a “specs” guy. But, with flashlights, I look pretty closely at the specs to see what I’m getting and I can imagine you’re probably the same. So, here’s a quick overview of this flashlight:
- Battery Source: Rechargeable CR123A (comes with a 650mAh battery and magnetic charger)
- Max Output: 600 Lumens
- Weight: 2.05oz (including the supplied battery)
- Moonlight Mode: 0.5 Lumens (15 Days)
- Low Mode: 12 Lumens (33 Hours)
- Medium Mode: 120 Lumens (160 Mins)
- High Mode(s): 300-600 Lumens (1.5 – 60 Minutes)
- Strobe Mode
- IPX8 Waterproof to 2 Meters
- 118M Throw
- Magnetic Tailcap
- 2.7″ (Length) and 0.91″ (Diameter)
- Deep Carry Pocket Clip
Olight S10R Baton III Performance
I won’t leave you in suspense…Let’s just jump right in and talk about the performance of this little light. Honestly, the 300 Lumen Mode performs very well and is often the brightest thing that I need. But cranking 600 Lumens out of a light this small is super impressive.
You can easily illuminate a large field in total darkness with the S10R Baton III’s 300 or 600 Lumens. Just the same, you can dial it down to Moonlight mode (1/2 a lumen) to find your way around your house at night, without waking your wife or kiddos with a blinding light. I love this kind of versatility.
Browse EDC Lights at OlightStore.com
Olight S10R Baton III Modes & Features
Moonlight Mode:
With a simple “long-hold” of the side switch (2 Seconds), you enter moonlight mode, which is half a lumen. I use this mode all the time when I don’t want to ruin my night vision or when I’m trying to be discreet while others are sleeping.
Low/Medium Mode:
I use Low (12 Lumens) and Medium Mode (120 Lumens) quite often as well. It’s very handy in dark situations when you need that extra bit of light. The bump between 12 Lumens and 120 Lumens is a fantastic bit of versatility as well.
High/Burst/Strobe Modes:
I mostly find myself utilizing the High (300 Lumens) & Burst Modes (600 Lumens) for “bump in the night” moments when I need to illuminate an area or subject very quickly (with blinding light). As for strobe mode, I love that you can easily get to it with a quick triple-tap of the side switch. You won’t accidentally turn it on, but it’s there when you need it.
Timer and Lockout Feature:
The Olight S10R Baton III has a timer that can easily be programmed to shut the light off after 3 or 9 minutes…Which is super handy so you won’t drain your battery. You can also “lock-out” the light so it cannot be accidentally switched on. This is ideal if you’re putting it into a pack or if you’re prone to accidentally switching it on in your pocket.
Bonus Points for Olight: There is a glow-in-the-dark ring around the inside of the bezel. I think this is a super smart design move by Olight. I could personally see this coming in handy if you’ve stepped away from your light in total darkness and it shut off. The slight glow will help you find it more easily.
Olight S10R Baton III Ease of Use
Learning a new operating system is always a bit of a hesitant process for me. I always wonder how easy it’s going to be to figure out and how natural it’s going to feel within my kit.
With the Olight S10R Baton III I figured it out very quickly after reading through the instruction manual and playing with it for a half an hour or so. The modes are well thought out with different methods of getting to each one (as I mentioned in the modes breakdown above).
Olight S10R Baton III Ergonomics
Size & Weight: Simply put, I love the size of this light. It’s perfect to integrate into an everyday carry kit. And it’s small and light enough that I never second guess clipping it into my pocket.
Pocket Clip: The Olight S10R Baton III features a true deep carry pocket clip. Which allows it to fully seat into your pants pocket with only the face of the bezel showing. This is a win in regards to keeping it secure and not accidentally falling out. But I’ve found it’s a bit slower to pull out of your pocket when in a hurry since there’s nothing protruding out to grab onto.
Side Switch: This is my first light without a tail cap switch, so it has taken some getting used to. In the dark, I find myself searching for the side switch a bit more since it could be anywhere around the 360° circumference of the light. But overall, the side switch is very well designed, it lays relatively flat so you’re not going to accidentally turn it on and it has a nice click to it.
Olight S10R Baton III Likeability
As I mentioned at the beginning of this article, I have heard a lot of people rave over Olight. And the S10R Baton III makes me understand why. This is a very high-quality light with easy to use modes and a whole lot of power. I have really been enjoying this light and will continue to use it within my EDC Kit.
Browse EDC Lights at OlightStore.com
Olight S10R Baton III Value
For roughly $60 you are getting the S10R Baton III Light, magnetic charging dock (USB powered), and a 650mAh Rechargeable RCR123A Battery.
Based on my experience with this light so far, I would have no issues paying $60 for this setup (and then an extra $10-15 or so for some spare batteries).
Who Would Love It?
Olight is very popular within the EDC (Every Day Carry) Community and I can see why. These lights are powerhouses, with a very small footprint. So, I can certainly see anyone who takes their EDC seriously loving the Olight S10R Baton III. Just the same, I could see this being a fantastic backup light for law enforcement officers.
As for me, it will definitely be staying within my EDC Kit. It will also be a light that I carry with me in the field while camping. I will make sure to secure an extra set of batteries before I take it out for an overnight, just to be safe.
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Ethics Statement: Olight sent the gear mentioned in this article for the purpose of me reviewing it and sharing my honest opinions. Olight have not previously proof-read or influenced this article in any way. All opinions, statements, and content are my own.
