The M20-X and M21-X are essentially two of Olight’s most popular lights, with an upgrade to the new CREE XM-L LED.
The M20 and M21 have proven themselves to be amazing lights. The new upgraded LED makes an already great light even better. The XM-L LED allows both lights to have more output while also being more efficient. Not only will both lights be brighter than the previous versions, they will also run longer. The user interface is essentially the same as the previous versions but there have been improvements. Both lights still use the dual button system which has become widely popular in this class of lights.
The M20 and M21 are the epitome of the tactical light. Both will work well as a duty light, weapon light, or just an every day companion.
Some of our favorite lights here at GoingGear are the ones which are simple, and bright. The Olight i6 Paladin definitely fits those criteria, so naturally it has become a favorite with us and many others as well.
The i6 Paladin is the perfect example of a user friendly torch with tons of output. Using a CREE XM-L LED and 2 CR123 lithium batteries the i6 can push out 420 lumens on the max brightness setting. On low, the i6 still pumps out 80 lumens, which is more than enough light for most day to day tasks. When the low setting just isn’t enough, a simple turn of the head delivers over 5x as much light. The user interface is just as simple as it sounds in that last sentence. Unlike most other lights in this category, switching between brightness settings doesn’t require a complicated maneuver. When the light is on, twisting the head allows the user to choose between high and low. It really is just that simple.
Sometimes we stumble across lights that just work, and work well. The i6 Paladin is definitely one of those lights.
The Olight i1 EOS is very similar to the Quark mini that 4Sevens makes. Both lights are ultra compact with super output and run time relative to their small size.
The i1 uses a CREE XM-L LED which is powered by a single CR123 lithium cell. The i1 has three different brightness settings which makes picking the amount of light you need very convenient. Instead of only having a very low and very high output, you have the choice of choosing a middle ground between the two. Something that I really like about the i1 is that it has a pocket clip, unlike most other lights its size. A flashlight this size with a pocket clip can pretty much disappear when you’re wearing it. Instead of sitting at the bottom of a pocket, the light is clipped just inside the pocket which keeps it out of the way.
I’ve long praised the virtues of the small but powerful flashlight. This i1 is a perfect choice for someone looking for a tiny torch.
The Olight i2 and i3 are essentially the same light. The main difference between the two is the power source. The i2 is powered by one AA battery, and the i3 is powered by one AAA battery. Both lights have roughly the same output being only 5 lumens apart. The i2 maxes out at 75 lumens, and the i3 tops out at 70 lumens. The larger reflector of the i2 will give it more throw than its smaller counterpart, the i3. Both lights have enough power to illuminate objects at 100 feet out, which is amazing considering the size of these torches. With power like this available in keychain size there is no excuse not to carry a nice EDC light. Having bigger flashlights on you is great, but having something like the i2 or i3 on you at all times is pretty much invaluable.
The JETBeam RRT-15 is the upgraded version of the RRT-1. The new upgrades improve the functionality immensely and also provide higher output than the previous version of this light.
The RRT-15 is now equipped with a CREE XM-L LED which provides a higher overall volume of light. The new larger XM-L give the beam more spill while still maintaining a bright hot spot. Along with the LED upgrade the RRT-15 got a new infinitely adjustable rotary ring. The rotary ring allows the user to choose minimum brightness, the max of 480, and anything in between. The end user can quite literally choose the exact amount of light he or she needs for the task at hand. Three CR123 batteries power the RRT-15 instead of 2 like the old version used.
If you liked the RRT-1 then you will definitely love this light. The rotary ring combined with an XM-L makes this one fun to use!
The RRT-21 is JETBeam’s new super pocket light. Most of JETBeam’s lights are very bright for their size, but the RRT-21 is on another level.
Using a CREE XM-L LED and two CR123 lithium batteries, the RRT-21 spits out 460 lumens on high. That is enough power to do pretty much anything that you would need this light to do. Since the XM-L LED is larger than the previous XP-G LED, the hot spot will be a little bigger on this version of the RRT-21. The wider hot spot and higher output of the RRT-21 makes for a larger over all volume of light. This increase in volume allows the RRT-21 to light up a larger area at once than previous versions with the smaller LED. Having more of a floody beam is very useful in EDC tasks since you don’t get the tunnel vision effect that comes along with a lot of other lights.
JETBeam puts out some of the highest quality and most unique lights available today. The XM-L LED combined with JETBeam’s rotary system makes the RRT-21 an instant favorite.
I love writing about fun items, and the Fenix TK70 definitely qualifies as a fun item!
In the flashlight world almost all of the super high output lights are powered by some form of lithium battery. The TK70 bucks that trend by utilizing the ubiquitous D cell battery. Using a D battery makes the TK70 super convenient for the regular Joe that wants to play around with a light brighter than anything he’s seen previously. The D battery is much easier to find and a lot cheaper than its lithium counterpart. Thanks to the D cell, battery changes are safe, quick, and most of all inexpensive. Rechargeable NiMH batteries are definitely recommended, although regular alkaline cells will work.
The TK70 tops out at 220 lumens, so it is definitely brighter than anything else in its class. The poor Mag lite doesn’t stand a chance!
The Maelstrom S18 is one of 4Seven’s brightest lights, as well as one of the biggest.
The S18 is powered by 6 CR123 lithium batteries which push a Luminous SST-90 LED. Those 6 batteries push the SST-90 all the way up to 1200 lumens on high. The S18 uses a unique rotary system that allows the user to quickly switch between output modes just by twisting the tail cap. The light is still powered on by pressing a button on the tail cap, but switching between modes is made much easier with the use of the rotary system.
I’m sure all of the specs sound impressive, but you really can’t get a good idea of just how bright this light is without seeing it in action. Lucky for you we attached a video below for your viewing pleasure. You may want to put on some shades before pressing play!
Paracord is definitely a do-all prep that is worth its weight in gold. Paracord can literally be used for thousands upon thousands of things, so having a nice hank of it handy is definitely a good thing. In this video we show you how to make a fast rope, which is essentially a length of rope which can be easily unwound for use. Having the paracord in a fast rope means that you have cordage at the ready when you need it, without having deal with a tangled mess.
I recommend making at least 2 or 3 of these fast ropes for each gear bag. We sell super high quality 8 strand paracord that is perfect for this kind of thing. All paracord is not created equal, so buying it from a reputable dealer is recommended.
The Osprey Manta 30 is easily one of our favorite hydration packs. When most people hear “hydration pack” they think Camelbak or Maxpedition. While both of those companies do make great hydration packs, sometimes being a little different is a good thing.
The Manta 30 is one of our favorites because it is just so well thought out. Every feature of the pack works as expected, and is as intuitive as it possibly can be. Little things like the magnetic holder for the mouth piece, the generous pull tabs for the zippers, and the built in rain cover really set the Manta 30 apart from the rest of the crowd. Along with the great layout and functionality, the Manta 30 (like all Osprey packs) is extremely well made.
The Manta 30 really is an all star in the hydration world. Osprey knows how to make a good bag with all of the features that you want and need, without any of the ones you don’t.
