If you regularly carry a flashlight as part of your EDC, you know of the benefits. I use a flashlight way or another on a daily basis and it’s an item I expect to have when I need it. Part of being a gear guy is that I use and test a lot of different gear.
A while back, OLIGHT reached out to me and offered to send me their Warrior Mini 2 to review. This light was not available to the public at the time and I thought it would be a good opportunity to get some legitimate feedback out to you all to help you decide whether you would like to buy one or not.
As with all my reviews…you will get the good, the bad, and the ugly.
I’ve been carrying this flashlight for a bit now and I want to share my initial observations. While actual use and personal preference are very subjective, maybe I can give you enough information to determine if this light would be a good choice for you.
Overview
After carrying the OLIGHT Warrior Mini 2 for a bit, I’ve come to a few conclusions. This light checks a lot of the boxes in regards to what an EDC light should be. The output is unbelievably high for such a compact light, while still offering a setting with low enough lumens to make it useful for utility purposes at night. The size is spot on, the texture on the body affords great purchase, and the functionality of the pocket clip gives you solid options.
Let’s dig a little deeper!
Specifications and Features
- Lumens
- Turbo: 1,750/500/200
- High: 500/200
- Medium: 120
- Low: 15
- Moon: 1
- Runtime: 4 mins to 45 days
- Beam Distance: 220 meters
- Pocket Clip: Removable
- Length: 4.65” overall
- Weight: 4.3 ounces
- Metal: Anodized aircraft aluminum
- Battery: 3500 mAH
- Activation: Tactical tail switch and daily use side switch
- MSRP: $89.95
- Street Price: Father’s Day Flash Sale $67.46
- 10% Coupon Code: optiongray
Basics of Use
Tail Switch
The Warrior Mini 2 offers a couple of options when it comes to activation. The first way we will discuss is the dual-stage tactical tail switch. Based on how hard you depress the switch, you can either activate medium output (half press) or turbo output (full press). These are momentary activations. You can also give it a full “click” to turn it on and off.
The tail switch offers you the ability to quickly access turbo output in a self-defense situation. Be sure to check out our article on “How to use a flashlight for self-defense” if you haven’t done so.
Side Switch
The side switch offers more options for daily use than the tail switch does:
- Single click for on/off
- Change the brightness level when on
- Access moonlight mode by depressing for more than one second
- Fast double click to access turbo mode
- Engage lockout mode
Pocket Clip
I’m a big fan of pocket clips, and like most folks, I have preferences in the way I like to carry my lights. One of the things I like about the pocket clip on the Warrior Mini 2 is that it has two-way functionality. Meaning, the way the clip is designed and shaped allows it to be utilized from either direction depending on your preference. The clip can also be switched to either end as well, again, depending on personal preference.
In addition to the pocket clip, there is a detachable lanyard clip that some may find useful. Since I never use lanyards on my EDC lights, I removed this attachment and relocated the pocket clip to this location.
It should be noted, this light also comes with a lanyard and a carabiner style ring to use for various carry and attachment methods.
In the Field
Output
Lumens are always debatable, and while I don’t have a way to test this number myself, I can you tell you this light is extremely bright on turbo mode. I recently used this on the beach at night hunting crabs with my kids and I was a bit amazed how far this light would reach down the shoreline.
As mentioned earlier, I like high lumen flashlights for self-defense purposes. This light hits mark in regards to output and I’m really fond of what it can do.
On the other end of the spectrum you have moon mode. This modes is great for a lot of utility focused tasks. I use it “A Lot” when I don’t want to ruin my vision at night or when the task just doesn’t warrant “all the lumens”.
Having easy access to both turbo and moon is a big plus to me when it comes to functionality.
Battery life
Since we are talking about output, we may as well talk about batteries. I would say the battery life is good when compared to the amount of output you are getting. I was so impressed with turbo mode, I found myself using it a lot. As such, I chewed up a bit of battery those first few nights.
Fortunately, this package includes a rechargeable battery with an included magnetic charging cable. This made it super easy to keep a fresh charge on a daily basis during high use. This is a bonus for me because I hate having to replace expensive batteries on a regular basis.
Proximity Sensor
Another cool feature built into this light is the proximity sensor. One of the problems with high output is the possibility of inadvertently hitting “close” objects or structures with a high intensity beam. You run the risk of overexposing yourself when this occurs.
However, OLIGHT built in a proximity sensor into the Mini 2 which automatically drops or lowers the brightness level to protect you from this occurring when operating on the highest settings. This is definitely a nice feature.
Ergonomics
This is another one of those subjective areas. For me and my hand size, this light pretty much fits the sweet spot. It pretty much as the standard 1-inch (ish) tube size, which is pretty common, but for me, the length is just right.
Again, for self-defense and for use as an impact weapon, I like overall length to be somewhere around 4.5″ – 5″. At least somewhere in that range. I basically like the light to rest in my palm with my thumb on the tail and enough of the head protruding to use when striking. Again, the Warrior Mini 2 hits the mark in this area.
While we are on this “area” of focus, I would like to mention the texture/knurling on the body of the light. When it comes to anodized aluminum bodies, this is mandatory. The key is finding the balance between too little and too much. On a sliding scale, I would say the Warrior Mini 2 is on the more aggressive side, but I have not found it to be too much for my liking.
The Good and the Bad
Pros
Price
The price of the OLIGHT Warrior Mini 2 is probably its most attractive features, as it can be found around the $XXX price range. This price is hard to beat for the quality you are receiving.
Fit and Finish
With the use I’ve put into this light, I would say the fit and finish are spot on. It has good tolerances and everything locks up nicely. I also like the black and blue contrast the light offers. It’s a nice touch.
Operation
One of the biggest pros to me is the ability to access both turbo and moon mode with simple clicks. This is a big deal because of how I typically use my lights. I like that there are no unnecessary steps to accomplish this.
Cons
Accidental activation
I have accidentally (user error) activated this light in my pocket a few times via the side switch. While this can be remedied with the lockout feature, It’s an extra step I have to go through to operate. This is not a big deal, but it is worth mentioning.
However, I will say, I have had this issue with pretty much every light I’ve ever used, so I may be splitting hairs.
Conclusion
There’s a lot of brand loyalty when it comes to gear, and I get it. However, I would recommend anyone to give this light a try. Especially for those looking for a rechargeable EDC light that offers both utility and self-defense functionality.
Again, for the price, it is hard to beat!