oLight ArkPro Ultra
Um…the naming convention is confusing, the battery can’t be removed, and the tint could be better. That’s it. That’s the sum total of bad news. But wait, this is an oLight. I thought I was supposed to dislike their mainstream stuff (because, let’s just say I am in love with the Marauder III, review coming soon). Here is the review of the S1, the S1A, the Baton Turbo, and the Arkfeld Ultra. This is a mid length review because, well, I have reviewed this form factor about a dozen times, especially if you include the Batons in all of their variety (the TIR is similar, so the body tube doesn’t really matter). All of these lights have centered on a very squashy TIR. Their outputs have been dazzling, but that optic has throttled them in terms of performance and throw. It resulted in a 1,100 lumen light that struggled to illuminate stuff even 50 feet away.
This light, however, fixes the failing of the Arkfelds of the past by adding a THROW optic. It is so great, comparatively speaking. This isn’t the Surefire EDC-1 DFT, but it is a legitimate night walk light. It can give you a wash of light close up, a ton of light down range, and a laser pointer, which I found surprisingly useful (“Look over there, I think it is a rabbit.”). I still don’t know why non-TSA or cashiers need a UV emitter, but whatever. At least it no longer costs me a serious throw beam.
But there is more to like about the ArkPro. It is the first light in the Baton/Arkfeld series that has a USB-C port. I like the mag charger that powers this whole product ecosystem, but it’s not the most convenient, especially when traveling. I want to pack one charger and one cable that does as much as possible and the mag charger oLight uses prevents me from doing that. But now you can charge this candy bar with a good ole USB-C. Even the port door is nice. Love it.
I still dislike non-user replaceable batteries and the tint is not great, but this is leagues better than any Baton/Arkfeld in the past, with the exception of the throw Baton (aka Baton Turbo). That light is probably this one’s equal (the Good Lord giveth—user replaceable battery; and the Good Lord taketh—no USB-C charging port). In all, this is a banger of a torch from a company that has sold a lot of tubes (and bars) of aluminum but has always been a little dictatorial with their feature set. Those changes are welcome and this is my favorite candy bar on the market (actual candy bar top five: Butterfinger, Snickers, Milky Way, Three Musketeers and Hundred Grand).
Overall Score (note the changes in the system as of this year): 17 out of 20 (two off in Battery for non-user replaceable battery and 1 off in Beam for a bad tint).
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As a special side note, I am looking for a Christmas Arkfeld for my niece. Here is the epic-brother-burn-48-years-in-the-making reason why.
My Dad has the Ultra and he took it with him when he went to visit this fall. He showed my niece how the UV works and how it can show stains our eyes can’t normally see. My niece delighted in using it to point out to her mother, my sister, that my sister wasn’t as clean as she thought. I feel a true bond with my niece because my sister was always neater than I was and so I got the ration of stuff when I was little. Now, my niece, who is a little messier than my sister, is giving her a bit of her own medicine. When my sister found out she made my niece promise that she would return the Arkfeld to my Dad. She did not, however, say anything at all about me getting my niece her own Arkfeld to continue the torture.
I cannot forsake my duty as an uncle and a brother and pass up this opportunity to help my niece use her OWN Arkfeld to tease my sister. This is my version of Lauren Eats Chipotle Day from The Dad. I’d really like to give it to her for Christmas and she definitely not into the tactical look (as most 11 year old girls are), so the decorated version would be awesome. If you have one and want to make a trade or sell it to me, reach out over Instagram. My handle there is Everyday Commentary.
