I have 3 Olights: a BALDR Pro and 2 BALDR Minis on 3 different firearms and I don't understand the hate. All of them work perfectly. The laser doesn't drift. Never had an overheating issue. I play all day with them having my dog chase the laser around and then I go recharge the minis. And I bought the 3 of them for the price of one Surefire or Streamlight. When I have a problem with one, I'll let you know. I get that they're made in China, which I don't like but even the "Made in USA" brands are assembled from components made in China. If you want to hate something, hate the fact your politicians sold us out to China.
Have my BALDR PRO on my home defense shotgun... it works perfectly. Batteries can also be changed out. Not much is made in America - the only car today made in America, with "mostly" American made parts is a Tesla.
Carrying a rechargeable battery around right over your crotch probably isn't the best idea though. I have an Olight as well, and I am going to have to replace it with a Streamlight. If I had been thinking I never would have bought an Olight, or at least not the one with the lithium-ion battery.
@@themightypen1530 I don't see how a rechargeable or non-rechargeable battery changes anything. Your cell phone gives off way more EM radiation than any battery, especially one not in use.
I was a cop for 16 years, I love this light. I have a few olights on my pistols. If they light goes dead, I have two handheld lights. 1 is none 2 is 1, its a simple idea. I had the same conversation with a buddy of mine also in law enforcement said the same thing about batteries. Personal preference I guess.
I assume you're not satisfied with the quality or the performance. Have you sold them all yet? And I'm lazy so what are the lumens on that particular model? I've been really wanting to buy some Nightcore or FedEx but I've been broke because I'm scumbag roommates who don't know how to pay the rent so I have to pay $1,000 a month to let two scumbags set my cockroaches in the bedroom and I have to go through Court to get him out turn my flashlight by and days are over for a bit unfortunately. My brother-in-law got me into flashlights and I collect flashlights watches and hats baseball caps to be exact and watches but the biggest question is probably the Hat then the flashlight I'm north of I'm north of 50 flashlights. I'm in love with the Bushnell series that Walmart has has had for the past few years the only one in the series that didn't get is the 1500 Lumen one but I didn't realize that there's a USB port for charging devices so I've had like over 10 different flashlights and even more Bluetooth speakers that have charging capability for other devices which I was unaware of. And that's a big deal because I'm a tech Hound and usually know a lot about electronics and it it was a crackhead on the street in the city where I live that tell me about the charging capabilities of my Bluetooth speaker :-) sad huh
StreamLight doesn’t dim after being on for 5-10 minutes cleaning a building or property. The olight dims over time of being on and gets super hot. Yes it’s a lot more technology packed into a small package with unique features however you can’t use Those olights the same way you can a StreamLight or surefire. The light is no good if you can’t see after clearing only the first floor of 10 story building or a expansive property. The StreamLight is either on or off and it takes 30 seconds to throw in fully charged battery no matter where you are and the olight is handicapped by needing to be charged by power station or outlet. For an apartment or condo or small 3 bedroom rancher with small plot of land the olight is more then adequate. However for real duty use or home defense use there’s just no way i would go with olight
I don't understand why people hate on olight. I have never had issues with mine and in the off chance you actually end up needing a light for self defense the olight will work just fine. It turns on, it's a light. No need to spend 3x the money just to say you have a stream light cuz at the end of the day most people are mindless and obey marketing geniuses without even knowing it. Thanks for not being biased.
I have the balder mini on my nightstand.. I always know it is at 100% if something ever goes bump in the night. I can practice with it regularly and not spend a fortune on batteries
It was cool to see the olight next to the expensive competition. I already bought 2 of those bundles last night. I have a feeling holster companies are about to get busy busy. Millions of new gun owners with a brand new AWESOME laser / light combo......Make the holsters people. The money is there to be made
I have been running a Baldr mini GL for years and it’s been set and forget and I really like the recharging feature 🤷♂️ sometimes is a panic I charge it on the way to the range and it lasts me my whole range trip
So stoked I bought one last night. Got it in the FDE too. Can't wait to get it! Putting a lot of work into my pistol right now and it'll really come together with this. Thank you!
Great review.. I use Olight products on most of my firearms... never had any issues with "recharging".. to me considering price, functionality & ease of charging Olight wins, the Streamlight appears to be slightly brighter & with a little more spill but that's the only slight advantage. Excellent video & review.
I have a Streamlight TLR-8 and now have since bought 2 of the Olight Baldr Mini's after seeing the evaluations here. Both Olights have functioned perfectly over several months and hold laser zero nicely. I am happy with how long both hold their charge as well. Still love the Streamlight, but the Olight is a great value at this price.
Hey, for the Olight, everywhere I read I keep getting told that after each shot, the green lazer is not "moves/not precise?" since the light somewhat moves a bit??? How true/noticable is this with your experience? Thank You! in advance!
@@krithin19 tbh..I don't use the laser for any sort of precise targeting I don't think anyone should. I have redots on all my handguns so I center my targeting on those. As far as the laser shifting, it's not that it can't happen I haven't noticed it enough or paid attention to it enough to bother me. I think lasers on rails arent that accurate overall. Hope that helps.
@@submissions72 lasers on rails are *EXTREMELY* accurate so long as the laser is correctly made and the rail is properly fitted to handguards that are properly mated to the receiver. Loss of accuracy comes from the adjustment screws being improperly sized or lacking a locking/ratcheting system, causing them to slip. Putting some basic Elmer's glue or thread locker and then zeroing to your preferred sight picture will resolve that. Some firearms are also inherently unable to utilize lasers because the mounting rail system is attached to handguards or frame that have/has slop/play. Any wiggle, deflection, bending, or warping due to deathgripping polymer or thinner metals adjacent will cause the laser to change your point of aim/point of impact. That all being said: the sloppiest hand rails on the sloppiest screwed laser will still be enough on target at 10-15ft if you're aiming center mass to ruin someone's day. That covers the longest distance down most hallways in 90% of the houses built in America. As a result, unless you're balling out in a mansion or some crazy long house style home: not really too much of a concern. Thus: would I trust the worst combo to make a headshot on someone holding my wife hostage? No. The worst combo at the end of a hallway shooting center mass? yes. Would I trust the excellent laser on my fantastic rifle to make a headshot on someone holding my wife hostage at the 100 yards to which it is zeroed? Yes. And just for reference: this is coming from someone that shot a 139 out of 140 on a Recon night rifle course while using a laser through a monocular shooting his rifle behind his back, behind his head, and between his legs to demonstrate why we use them (I'm an ex SF attached corpsman, with many years acting as a secondary RSO/RSI).
@@krithin19I'm willing to bet that most people who claim that the lasers don't hold zero are unfamiliar with QD lever lock systems and didn't read the installation instructions. After you latch it down, there's a flathead screw on the other side of the unit that you can snug down before you dial in the laser sight.
I've been on the Olight wagon for just over a year now and I'm a big fan...their products just work and the light output is ridiculous. I'm waiting for my Baldr Mini as I'm typing...LOL
I like the recharging aspect, but what are you gonna do when you have no power to recharge them. I have 2 olights, one for my glock and one for my M4, I love them they’re great, but I do have other lights as backup with batteries.
@@chezmoe2000 not worry about it. I have a ham radio, diesel generator that I can run off multiple fuel sources, I have 30 mile range walkies for me and my family, we also have property where we will be going with plenty of water in the well and cistern, lots of wildlife to hunt. And a group of people who all have the same interest and have known for 15 years
I have both of these lasers including the TLR-6. Olight Baldr wins all the time. As far as in the field if your battery dies, you fumble to look for another battery, if you have it with you. Just like any other device today, like your smartphone charge before you leave
Hard choice, but probably going with the Baldr S (green) Not worried about charging for me… I think battery option is best for our troops that don’t always have electricity, but for me the magnetic charger is awesome
My Olight batteries have lasted 3 years because that was when I first bought one. I've had a PL Mini sit static in my truck for 6 months and still had a full charge. I bought 2 extra batteries for a hand held S1R Baton II, charged them up 3 years ago and took them out last week to recharge them and they were 80% or so. The red light was on but it turned green in 10 minutes, and that is 90% and I left them on charge for another hour just to get them up to 100%. Green light means 90-100%. So. That's my experience with Olights. I now have 14 with 6 more on the way for gifts. I sold all my other lights and use Olight exclusively from now on. The charging cables are a breeze. Any USB port will work. From a phone brick to a port on your computer or any of the handheld chargers everyone buys on Amazon or eBay. And there are videos on the China Plant and the Plant is a very nice one. They do all the work there except for the anodizing as you have to have a special plant to do this. But all lights are made there, hand assembled and tested before shipping. And the best prices for quality I've ever seen.
My issue is their charging cables are super jenky, and I don't really bend them at all. I would like to not only see everything USB c charging from now on, but if it's going to be proprietary, make the cable, charging port and USB higher quality.
All my O Lights work perfectly. Mine hold charges and battery life longer than I expected. Can't beat the price and as many firearms as I own they can stay mounted and ready to go.
The O-light is nice especially for a gun youre not carrying in a holster. But the ability to replace a dead battery with a fresh battery is why the streamlight costs so much more. The O-light’s onboard battery will be toast in a few years where as the streamlight will run till you physically break the thing.
Lol. I had two Balders with laser. First one I bought it would not hold zero for the laser so they sent me another one and same thing. So I actually replaced it with TRL-8G and don't regret it a bit. I also don't think the battery run time is as long as advertised by Olight
Most important thing I want to know is if the the Up/down and windage positions hold or if they need to be readjusted. I've heard they are not like dots that hold forever and need to be adjusted. Anyway, 4 years later the prices are the same.
Just ordered the Baldr Mini last night and can’t wait to mount it up. It looked like the Olight was a smidge brighter at further distance and other one brighter on the ground at closer distance but pretty much the same. I’d rather pay the 90-140$ the 250-280$! A bit to much for such a little light.. I imagine there losing a lot of customers, being so expensive..
I have the TLR-8AG. It has adjustable back levers that are different than this guy reviewed. It is ten times better and more durable than any O-Light. I have the O-Light Mini2. It is like a plastic toy compared to the Streamlight line. Not sure why this dude didn’t review the adjustable version, instead of the older TLR-8G without the back lever switches.
Shawn that’s just insane price and no light should be more then 150$!! Now if I was rich no problem but damn you could buy a new or half a gun for that price...
@@hardcore4476 these aren't regular flashlights. They have to be able to withstand the abuse that comes along with being mounted on a firearm. Every shot fired is essentially the equivalent of dropping it on the ground.
I get that it’s just ridiculous price and what’s the warranty on those things lifetime I’d hope.. unless you lose it. Seriously though there losing a lot of business being so expensive. If they made them at 150$ each I’m sure there sales would double..
I own two PL-MINI 2'S and just bought the Baldr today I personally carry a portable power bank with the charger cable in case I need to top off the charge in any of my rechargeable olights. To be honest I find this method easier than carrying a bunch of loose batteries in your backpack or what have you. Also trying to change out batteries in the dark isn't easy.
Amen to that. I still have a bunch of CR123s in my Get Home Bag from when I carried older flashlights. Those batteries have been in that bag for years since I switched to Olight.
But what happens when your battery doesn't work like it should after their 1-year battery warranty or 5 year flashlight warranty expires? I don't think even sell replacement batteries so you'll have to send it in to get fixed. But will they still make them 10 or 15 years down the line? I expect a $150 flashlight to last a lifetime.
@@JohnSoh do you really trust the contact points from multiple battery changes over the years dust moisture getting in the body of the flashlight from opening and closing it? This might just be me but I've never had any light really last more than 5 years rechargeable or replaceable battery versions.
@@flugel6856 That's interesting to think about. I've had cheaper flashlights fail that way but it's not something I worry about with my better ones. I'm not a flashlight guy but I've heard of people using dielectric grease and other products to clean and maintain their lights. I imagine better built lights are more durable overall and come with better warranties but you have to check people's experience with the service. Half my lights are like 10 years old now but they haven't been run hard. The ones that broke consistently for me were my keychain lights that I don't take care of. For example, I had a Fenix fail on me after 4 years. They offered to fix it but I went with a Lumintop that also has a lifetime warranty.
I’m not pushing one over the other but I don’t see why olight is not a forerunner in quality pistol lights. There excellent quality, function perfectly, and are reasonably priced. I have no loyalty to light makers by name just want the best quality light that meets my needs for a reasonable price. Olight all the way until something changes. Excellent review.
All else being equal the fact that the olight has the capability to slide and marry up to different hand sizes makes it the winner. The less you have to manipulate your grip to activate your light the better. Been using olight for few years in tactical setting and really like it.
I have a streamlight and now two of the Olight Baldrs. I can honestly say that the Olight is significantly more functional and even seems like it's higher quality. Would recommend the baldr mini hands down!
Don't get me wrong, my EDC for over 5 years has been an Olight (And I don't plan on changing), but, you should have compared the Olight to the new Streamlight TRL-8 A. The new switch configuration makes a difference. Good video anyhow!
For anyone still looking for a holster, Orpaz defense makes a pretty nifty T40 that fits the baldr mini on subs all the way up to full size (there is a 30 dollar kit to accept short or long slide) but its as close to a true universal light bearing L2 holster as ive found. Not cheap, cheaper than normal duty gear but still near 200 once you add the accessory kit.
I have several streamlights, but I'm choosing olight over streamlight because of the charging capabilities. I have another olight on another pistol and love the ability to shoot or train with my light and not have to purchase more batteries. I have animals I have to check on at night sometimes, and the olight has come in handy, and yes I have used it to kill predators attacking my chickens.
Well I'm a streamlight tlr8a guy myself. And as a retired federal law enforcement officer. The ability to change batteries are a must during operations were your operating in areas without access to electricity. And the tlr8s flex useing the low switch that was included. Made a good light a great light. Basically most lights of these types are chosen for personal and home protection. Both will accomplish their goals with the both lights. But in my experience the ability to change out batteries is important and worthwhile. Yes you have to pack extra batteries. But if you're on extended operations out in the middle of nowhere. You will really appreciate that feature. I also do carry two rechargeable flashlights. And I have two solar chargers to keep them powered up. And they are great lights. But for my weapons mounted lights including my streamlight protac HLX. I carry two rechargeable batteries to recharge and s third in the light. During day light unless there is a dimly lit or no light area that I might have to inspect. I've got two spare batteries for my rifle light. And several batteries for my pistol mounted light. Is one better than the other? Not really. It just boils down to your personal needs and preference.
@@brandonmacon3317 Still would be easier to change batteries in a protracted gunfight than find a working electrical outlet. That also applies to a sort of power grid down/shtf scenario where it's better to have some batteries on your person than to look for a working electrical outlet. As for my choice, I'd go with the baldr mini on a single stack/subcompact edc. It'll likely flush fit those much better too. I'd go with the tlr8a with a duty purpose/sized gun like a glock 19.
I love my olights. They get a lot of hate, but they have held up very well on my daily carry and my rifles. They have better features than the overpriced brands too. I love being able to change them magnetically. Thanks for the video.
I have a solar powered portable power cell for charging devices, I do not have room for 100Ibs of disposable batteries. Olight is the easy decision of you don’t have an ego over brands
@Patriot5.56 Your right. I just know from what I have seen and personal experience that it is significantly less likely a surefire or streamlight will fail. If your talking edc, just about anything will do, all down to personal preference. if its a weapon, defensive, or duty light i want every bit of extra security I can afford.
I've had my Baldr Mini / green laser for nearly a year now. (Also got the Valkerie, model, light only, no laser). Both are 600 lumens. The Baldr Mini is excellent for where I live in the woods of SW Colorado. I became a big fan of lasers here after bagging a porcupine late one night / locked forearms into my sides for stability and turned out his lights. For night critters the Balder is really hard to beat (we have repeated problems with skunks and raccoons (9 raccoons and 7 skunks in a 12 month period, NOT counting the ones that got away). I DO have the Baldr mini on a house gun and I'm totally happy with it. With training, I have learned to "find" the light/laser switch by feel rather quickly. But I leave both in the on position - I can ignore the laser if I wish, and my sights show up well against the bright light. By home defense pistol shoots 3 inch 30 yard groups, so even 40 - 50 yards is doable on raccoons, if I do my part. Thanks esp. for the measurement comparisons. My 2 Olights have been flawless.
I live out in the boonies and my yard usually looks like a Disney movie, but can't say I've ever considered porcupines, skunks or raccoons a "problem." They mind their own and we do the same. Heck, raccoons rarely even make an appearance where people are present unless you're just leaving trash everywhere.
I have an Olight Bolor Mini and it does not hold zero. There is so much I like about it I can't even begin to tell you BUT the fact that it doesn't hold zero, not good. You can wobble it from up and down on its mounting bracket tried tightening the screws, that is not the problem. I will definitely be sending it back.
For those people who don’t like not being able to swap the battery out... buy 3 Olights 🤣 it will cost you the same amount of money. If one dies throw another one on. Problem solved! LoL 😝
Let’s not forget how they dim after only a few minutes of use. That doesn’t happen with the higher end StreamLight or Surefire lights. Also part of argument he made was the switches but he’s comparing the wrong comparable model, he would need to be using the streamlight tlr8 flex or the tlr7 flex if you compare non laser model.
On the battery thing, so the Streamlight fans say they don't like the Olight because they don't like the rechargeable battery system? They want to be able to carry and use a spare battery? Well, so what? Given that the Olight is half the price of the Streamlight, and given that the Streamlight battery is almost as big as the entire light itself, and given that the Olight takes only seconds to install on the pistol, then buy two Olights for the same price as one Streamlight, put one Olight on the pistol, and carry the second Olight for backup, just like you would carry a spare battery for the Streamlight.
I kind of agree. But my wifie has been screaming at me to stop pointing that gun around as I try to test how good the OLight longevity is, and thus far I only charged it once on a whim and she was Bright AF before I did that
I mean what's the price difference between this and a streamlight or surefire? I know we always want to find a cheaper and better product, but why do that with something your life may depend on? Im not knocking anyone, I am the definition of it. But not when my life is on the line. I wouldn't buy a parachute from oChutes because some paid promotions said they were good, and they were cheaper than all the others. I'd buy the one used day in and day out and proven successful. The normal response to this is usually "my cousins sisters husband is a cop and his streamlight quit working". Every product has a failure rate, even parachutes. It's your money, I'm just trying to help others look at it from a different perspective. We can still be friends.
I like them both, but I need to get one for duty that will fit in a level 3 holster. So it will probably be the streamlight even though the olight is cheaper and charges way easier.
I got an olight mini green lazer. Had it for years now mounted on my glock 19 as my carry shot with it, dropped it, recharged it hundreds of times and its still working strong! My only complaint is the battery doesn't last long but honesty i never tested the time which i will but it kind of died on me when we were camping once or twice... other than that its a solid light super bright and laser goes FAR and accurate! Its my only pistol light so i cant compare it to anything time wise but i love it and would 100% recommend!
Yea it doesn’t last long at all, Ive timed mine at around eight minutes. I think we got duds, I’ve only found one other complaint on the Internet and they said there’s only lasted 10 minutes. I love it because it’s convenient to charge, but the charge doesn’t last .
One difference I've noticed is the Olights get hotter than the streamlights. However I love the olights for the affordability and excellent performance.
Had a funny thought watching this, ok I could carry extra battery but for the price difference you could just as easily carry an extra Olite with the quick disconnect looks like it might be faster and easier than changing the Streamlight battery.
Great review. Great comparison. Thanks for being up front with what you receive from Olight. I have subbed, and wished I had known of your channel prior to me placing an order several days ago. My three Balder Minis and other stuff will be delivered on the 17th -shipping directly from mainland China! ! !
So ima be honest . The olight is great for at home or the range . The more expensive battery operated ones are more for survival situations where u can have a bag full of batteries with out having to worry about charging places. Especially in power outages
I have a couple of olights and they work perfectly fine. It will likely come down to budget as not everyone can afford streamlight. If you are a super operator running through the caves of Afghanistan, it might make a difference but for most, either will suffice.
On a budget, I prefer something else. I bought a QR-Laser blue laser sight on eBay a while ago, and it's a beautiful blue colour and very clear at night.
I agree completely. I think they represent the best bang for buck wl on the market. I'm no fan of the Chinese government, but 1 thing that Chinese companies tend do very well is adjust quickly to what the market desires
@@Timewaits4no1 pardon me but why was China or Chinese products in your review? oh light are made in Macon Georgia I thought. Are you just saying that the Chinese are awesome at knockoffs at inexpensive prices?
I totally agree with you brother. I'm a flashlight junkie or flashaholic :-) my brother-in-law turned me onto old light and I've been hooked ever since. I have over flashlights from all shapes and sizes and features. I guess my most expensive flashlight right now is the Warrior X Pro (0live drab) out of the limited edition run. I have 2 micro edc's from Plight as well. Both micros were free, 1 came w/Warrior X and the other was from their weekend sales and I only needed 2 pay 4 shipping. F I remember correctly I only had 2 join mailing list for the micro edc. I really want the job a lot Pro or the Marauder.
@@marcussweetser I'm assuming you meant my comment. No, I'm not saying they make knockoffs. They make nice quality lights that are well priced in the market. I have several of them, and like them. Their US headquarters is in Georgia, but they are made in China.
I like both Olight and Streamlight, I have had very rare instances with a PL2 Olight not turning on the first couple times pressing the button but it would always turn on by the 3rd attempt or so and that only happened like twice. Other than that no issues with Olight.
I just got the Pl Pro last week. Trying to convert my friends that own or want Streamlights. Im all about savings when there's quality and reviews have convinced me Olights the real deal. Waiting on my Baldr mini.
@@GW2964 I get all mine tonight! From all the reviews and videos I've seen, I'm starting to think olight is the real deal. We will see from personal experience!
@@Teggy123 Strobe on a flash light. Typically is 1 click steady light. 2 clicks strobe where the light flashs. However no proffesional would ever use Strobe.
@@MichaelSmith-gu3tt Yes and No. If you have a proper high lumen light. Just constant light will blind any human on earth. Strobe gives the user poor visibility on any suspect/perps. Strobes a gimmick in most cases.
I have both the Baldr and the PL-Mini. Both are great lights. For the price and quality you cannot beat the Olight. Alot of Streamlight fanboys saying how much Olight is “trash” and “sucks”.. etc. obviously keyboard genius’s that have never used either.
Wireless charging is the only way. I can buy 2-3 olight for the price of competitor, so the longevity argument doesn’t stand up. Sure I guess after 7+ years you’ll want to replace it but you’d want to upgrade anyways to a more efficient light.
One thing people bring up is if they are out somewhere they could have an extra battery but not recharge. I would argue that you might have a hard time finding a extra oddball battery and might be easier to find a usb charging port in a car or the fact that EVERYONE has chargers everywhere. Heck you could even have a small solar charger and recharge anywhere from light.
who the fuck uses a light long enough to run out of batteries anyways??? like buddy if you aren’t active duty military or a cop then you really have nothing to worry about when it comes to battery life 😂😂
I own one of these balder minis and 2 tlr 8’s (red laser). I prefer the tlr 8’s on and off switch over the o-light. However, the tlr 8’s laser tends to lose sharpness and begin to spray over time. Plus, the tlr 8’s battery life is abysmal. They burn through cr 123’s like crazy. The recharging feature on the o-light is convenient and amazing. So overall, I recommend the o-light over the streamlight.
all weapon light burn through cr123s like crazy they are a compact hight output light. Problem is a rechargeble will go even faster, and it will discharge sowly when not in use, unlike a cr123. Rechargeables are good for training, bad for real world use.
I have a Olight Odin and I love the interior battery with the magnetic charger. I haven't met a flashlight that I didn't like and have probably 50 of them. I am getting to the point where I won't buy another one that doesn't have a rechargeable interior battery.
Also, the comparison on recharging was interesting. I suppose if you are a LEO, and the maintenance and attention to the accessory is a daily thing, then recharging is also a routine. But if the light is used occasionally, I would prefer the battery option. Keep in mind these devices have a constant drain for the logic circuits to always be watching for the switch to be activated. An unattended rechargeable system will deplete, and immediate usage is impossible unless you have an extra one that is ready to swap out. The battery option has the greatest flexibility for readiness me thinks. Thanks for the content.
The laser on this light is just a plus. You shouldn’t rely on a laser for aiming. It can be a guide but usually when you put the hot spot of the light on the threat it will hit them within most close distance ranges. I have several Olight’s and use them often and haven’t had any issues. I do have steam light and Surefire in my dedicated duty use guns but I wouldn’t feel that I’m at a disadvantage if I had an Olight in them. They are an aggressive marketing company and I like Lucas from Trex arms who hates them but I disagree with him that this light isn’t trustworthy.
The non-removable battery of the Olite was a deal breaker for me so I went with the TLR...Recharging pretty much any rechargable battery is somewhere between 300-500 times...I'd much rather buy a replacement battery than a whole new light/laser unit.
But consider the price difference. The olight is 1/3rd the cost and never needs batteries. The streamlight is 3x the price. And will need to replace the batteries constantly
@@jaydenblain3599 the price difference is negligible when you consider all the other things the Streamlight does better, more candela, stronger mounting, etc. Stop being poor.
@@SouthValleyKnifeCo "More candela". Is it that big of a difference between the Streamlight and Olight..?? "Stronger mounting", does the Olight have problems with falling off the rails..?? You're saying the Streamlight is that much better than 3x the price is justified..?
I have been in the shooting game for along time and have had many lights from pretty much all manufacturers, for the price and overall build quality you can't go wrong with O-Light.
I have an Olight on both my pistol and my AR. They both use the magnetic charger interchangeably. I keep one bedside and charge each light once every 4-6mnths. This is with minimal standard use. I have a streamlight on a shotgun, I like it as well, very bright. I prefer the Olight because of the switches, recharging, and the easy mount/dismount bar. The quick release makes cleaning or changing your loadout quicker. Also, I've never had an Olight go bad. I had a flicker with a streamlight once.
What is your experience regarding the green lazer moving and not being as precise after a few shots? I been reading that a lot for the reviews, which have been making me hesitate to buy it...
@@krithin19 Hmm. Can't say I've ever had that problem. Stays fairly consistent for me, maybe the mounting job? I tighten everything down pretty hard though.
They are identical to me. I'm the same as the older laser lights have the laser at the bottom. It's bulky and look ugly as hell too. This Baldr Mini caught my eye and ordered one the other day during their big sale. Not sure why you'd want to buy a Streamlight over the Olight. Thanks for the review.
I have Olights on a couple of guns. When it comes to quality and price, they're unbeatable. I have a 600 Lumen mini on a Glock 19, and a 1350 lumen Pro R on a .45 1911. Both of them are of killer quality and price.
@@heartlandhawk4513 ... go do research. they used to not have a good seal and would explode when too much moisture..... I havent seen them say they fixed the design
@@Gnolomweb I've done research, and..... that only happened once, the seal thing is bs, someone stacked two weird batteries and they vented, the sealed chamber just popped after enough pressure built up.
Wish you compared them Baldr Pro Mini with the TLR-8AG, since that light has similar switch paddles like the Olight. It’s still expensive, but I think a much better improvement over the old TLR-8G.
I have an Olight Baldr Pro, it was around $100 and works great. Would prefer an American made light but the damn Streamlight cost nearly as much as my pistol. I am ok paying a premium for made in America, say 20-50% but 300% just seems like a rip-off.
sorry, the proprietary sealed rechargeable on the BALDR is a no go for me , I would rather have CR123's that are already in my bag or CR123R's for reuse. Jus sayin.
This was a good function comparison, but functions only matter when a light is reliable and durable. Would be great if you'd include drop tests / push these lights to failure.
Thanks for breaking these down. I purchased the Olight and used your code. This video was helpful, despite some comments below to the contrary. Thanks again!
I'm not normally a laser guy, butI couldn't resist the sale they have going so I picked one up. This will be my first Olight so will see how it does. Will need to find a holster though.
I've had 2 Baldr - S mini's for a couple years. Never a stumle. If they could make these duel-fuel it would help but would probably introduce failure points. Being unable to swap in a fresh battery in the field keeps these from being taken seriously. Good for night stand duty andr home defense.
I think having to use a replaceable battery in a rechargeable world is UNACCEPTABLE. The ONLY 2 times you know exactly how much is left is when it's FIRST installed and when it dies...the rest of the time is a crap shoot
@IronChefBklyn Having to use replaceable yes, is bad. Being ABLE to use replacement batteries is critical for field units. That's why 'dual-fuel' is important. Those units can use rechargeable or throw-away batteries. A dead recharge-only unit like the Baldr Mini or Balder S is worthless in the field and relagates them to home defense or occasional use.
@@XrayMike17plus1True, but nobody's carrying a Micro-Compact Pistol into Combat. ...But the Valkyrie Pro models have options available that take standard CR123's. The tail housing has a hatch that swings open for battery swaps. Get a rechargeable model for your CC/HD unit, and get a standard model to use on deployment. ...You've got *2* Light/Lasers, ...and you Still Saved 100 bucks.👍
I use the valkyrie 2 mini right now but thinking about switching to the baldr s mini so that I have a laser sight as well , I like olight products I have several flashlights and the one gn light and they all work great and are very affordable I actually like the rechargeable feature it keeps me from buying as many batteries I dont mind to plug it in ever week or so
It's a no brainer, Olight. There is one additional reason. I have found that wit all the guns I have set up for myself and customers, the Olight has had less issues for the user and most importantly, has always held zero when taking off and putting back on. Just much simpler.
Excellent review. It's pathetic how we are abused by the word police. They have no shame and full deserve what they have coming. I am using the Olight Baldr and it is most excellent. It fits perfectly on the Austrian Twenty-Nine model daily carry.
For the Olight, I carry one charger cable for three different lights. For two, I don't even need to take the mount off. The older lights were at the top of their game in the past. Use them until they need to be replaced or they no longer can keep up with the new dog. Besides, 2 is 1.
Two of my olights lose their charge after about every two months just sitting in my safe. I have to charge them every time. Ive only had them about two years with hardly any use. I think I prefer replaceable batteries more than a disposable light after only a couple of years of very light use. I like olights design overall, but don't like the rechargeable battery.
Contact Olight , none of my 8 olights or the 6 others I have given as gifts do that. I ordered the wrong color Olight mini baldr and thier customers service was spot on , polite and quick with the exchange
@@edstringer1138 Thanks. I'll contact them. Im assuming they have my info on file I hope. Regardless, I will contact Olight, and see what they can do for me.
Mount the Olight onto your pew pew as you say, turn it on, aim it at something and wiggle the bottom of the light. Mine will move 3 inches to either side of the target at 10 yards. It's just horrible and in no way will it hold zero. The sliding mechanism is a huge weak point which is the cause of the wiggle problem. It feels nice and tight but it's actually not. Now imagine how much worse that is going to get after sliding it in and out of a form fitted kydex holster and it's just going to keep getting worse. The battery life on my Olight is less than 2 minutes use and it's dead. The warning light don't even have time to come on before it dies or it just doesn't work but it goes dead so fast the warning is useless anyway. I can't wiggle the laser on my TLR8 and it's been slid in and out of a very tight holster at least a thousand times and the laser is always sitting right on top of my front sight. I trust my life to my streamlight and would never trust the Olight. I have other Olight products that I love but the Baldr mini is a very bad design. My life and the lives of people I may be protecting are well worth the price difference.
@@HarleyWood23 Yes I did mount it properly. I even mounted it on 2 different pistols using the 1913 rail mount supplied. First on a CZ P07 which is my carry tool and then on my M&P C.O.R.E which has a 3 MOA red dot just to make sure the laser was moving that much to either side of the dot. I tightened the screw on the clamp that attaches to the rail as tight as it will go. The sliding mechanism on the baldr mini is the problem. Like I said it feels tight but in reality it's not and the laser will not hold zero. 6 inches of movement at 10 yards is a lot, and that's with it brand new and like I said it would get a lot worse after going in and out of a holster. Just inspect the sliding mechanism and you can see it's a weak point. I love Olight and my M&P wears a PL pro which is awesome but the baldr mini is a very bad design. Read the reviews on the Olight store and you'll see this is not just my opinion.
Maybe you got a bad unit. They’ve sold literally thousands of these and the comments here as well as the FB group are full of happy owners who don’t have this issue. Contact Olight support. They’ll help figure out what’s up.
@@HarleyWood23 Maybe I did. I am sending it back. You have to think though how many people put mounted it and just turned it on and left a glowing review without really testing it. I thought it was an awesome little thing until I started to fire my weapon and the battery died before I could get a shot off. I even tried charging it overnight and still no better but I did get off enough rounds to see it was not holding zero and then I did the wiggle on it test with the red dot. For everyone that loves yours I'm very happy for you but as bad as mine is I just want my money back.
@@tracycouch246 Being your on a youtube channels comment section commenting about this light , I think you can count on people actually playing with thier gear vs normies with one gun who attached a Olight and who doesnt handle it or test it .................................
Tuff reviw, lol, but nice. I understand however. They both seem similar. But Hands down, I take the Baldr. I am actually considering the Baldr Olight Pro R 1350 Lumens for my P320 Full.
Do it! I've 2 Pro G's, and more than half a dozen other Weapon Lights and Flashlights from them that I've accumulated for over 5 years, and they have all performed flawlessly for me.👍 They have a Pro model that's Magnetically Rechargeable now too. ...But I've run out of guns with empty rails.😂
I have 3 Olights: a BALDR Pro and 2 BALDR Minis on 3 different firearms and I don't understand the hate. All of them work perfectly. The laser doesn't drift. Never had an overheating issue. I play all day with them having my dog chase the laser around and then I go recharge the minis. And I bought the 3 of them for the price of one Surefire or Streamlight. When I have a problem with one, I'll let you know. I get that they're made in China, which I don't like but even the "Made in USA" brands are assembled from components made in China. If you want to hate something, hate the fact your politicians sold us out to China.
@@Noneofyourbusiness99 is it a mini or a PRO? I found that my minis drift slightly but my PRO laser doesn't seem to drift at all.
Have my BALDR PRO on my home defense shotgun... it works perfectly. Batteries can also be changed out. Not much is made in America - the only car today made in America, with "mostly" American made parts is a Tesla.
Carrying a rechargeable battery around right over your crotch probably isn't the best idea though. I have an Olight as well, and I am going to have to replace it with a Streamlight. If I had been thinking I never would have bought an Olight, or at least not the one with the lithium-ion battery.
It's the button for me. I'm a streamlight button fan
@@themightypen1530 I don't see how a rechargeable or non-rechargeable battery changes anything. Your cell phone gives off way more EM radiation than any battery, especially one not in use.
I was a cop for 16 years, I love this light. I have a few olights on my pistols. If they light goes dead, I have two handheld lights. 1 is none 2 is 1, its a simple idea. I had the same conversation with a buddy of mine also in law enforcement said the same thing about batteries. Personal preference I guess.
NOW that is a Review....I have NEVER seen a review this NON-Biased...I have 3 TLR-8's and I am ready to sell them!!
How much for 1?
I assume you're not satisfied with the quality or the performance. Have you sold them all yet? And I'm lazy so what are the lumens on that particular model? I've been really wanting to buy some Nightcore or FedEx but I've been broke because I'm scumbag roommates who don't know how to pay the rent so I have to pay $1,000 a month to let two scumbags set my cockroaches in the bedroom and I have to go through Court to get him out turn my flashlight by and days are over for a bit unfortunately. My brother-in-law got me into flashlights and I collect flashlights watches and hats baseball caps to be exact and watches but the biggest question is probably the Hat then the flashlight I'm north of I'm north of 50 flashlights. I'm in love with the Bushnell series that Walmart has has had for the past few years the only one in the series that didn't get is the 1500 Lumen one but I didn't realize that there's a USB port for charging devices so I've had like over 10 different flashlights and even more Bluetooth speakers that have charging capability for other devices which I was unaware of. And that's a big deal because I'm a tech Hound and usually know a lot about electronics and it it was a crackhead on the street in the city where I live that tell me about the charging capabilities of my Bluetooth speaker :-) sad huh
@@marcussweetser lol i took the time to read everything you said and man you have some minor problems but very fixable hehe
I'll buy one if you seriously want to to sell
StreamLight doesn’t dim after being on for 5-10 minutes cleaning a building or property. The olight dims over time of being on and gets super hot. Yes it’s a lot more technology packed into a small package with unique features however you can’t use Those olights the same way you can a StreamLight or surefire. The light is no good if you can’t see after clearing only the first floor of 10 story building or a expansive property. The StreamLight is either on or off and it takes 30 seconds to throw in fully charged battery no matter where you are and the olight is handicapped by needing to be charged by power station or outlet. For an apartment or condo or small 3 bedroom rancher with small plot of land the olight is more then adequate. However for real duty use or home defense use there’s just no way i would go with olight
I don't understand why people hate on olight. I have never had issues with mine and in the off chance you actually end up needing a light for self defense the olight will work just fine. It turns on, it's a light. No need to spend 3x the money just to say you have a stream light cuz at the end of the day most people are mindless and obey marketing geniuses without even knowing it. Thanks for not being biased.
I have the balder mini on my nightstand.. I always know it is at 100% if something ever goes bump in the night. I can practice with it regularly and not spend a fortune on batteries
It was cool to see the olight next to the expensive competition. I already bought 2 of those bundles last night. I have a feeling holster companies are about to get busy busy. Millions of new gun owners with a brand new AWESOME laser / light combo......Make the holsters people. The money is there to be made
I have been running a Baldr mini GL for years and it’s been set and forget and I really like the recharging feature 🤷♂️ sometimes is a panic I charge it on the way to the range and it lasts me my whole range trip
So stoked I bought one last night. Got it in the FDE too. Can't wait to get it! Putting a lot of work into my pistol right now and it'll really come together with this. Thank you!
Great review.. I use Olight products on most of my firearms... never had any issues with "recharging".. to me considering price, functionality & ease of charging Olight wins, the Streamlight appears to be slightly brighter & with a little more spill but that's the only slight advantage. Excellent video & review.
I have a Streamlight TLR-8 and now have since bought 2 of the Olight Baldr Mini's after seeing the evaluations here. Both Olights have functioned perfectly over several months and hold laser zero nicely. I am happy with how long both hold their charge as well. Still love the Streamlight, but the Olight is a great value at this price.
I have both, Olight and Streamlight tac gun lights, because both are great lights.
I have over 7 olights different models all work great never had an issue.
I have 5 Olights. Their presentation, customer support is absolutely top notch. I've had 0 issues with any of mine, I'd trust my life with it.
Hey, for the Olight, everywhere I read I keep getting told that after each shot, the green lazer is not "moves/not precise?" since the light somewhat moves a bit??? How true/noticable is this with your experience?
Thank You! in advance!
@@krithin19 tbh..I don't use the laser for any sort of precise targeting I don't think anyone should. I have redots on all my handguns so I center my targeting on those. As far as the laser shifting, it's not that it can't happen I haven't noticed it enough or paid attention to it enough to bother me. I think lasers on rails arent that accurate overall. Hope that helps.
@@submissions72 lasers on rails are *EXTREMELY* accurate so long as the laser is correctly made and the rail is properly fitted to handguards that are properly mated to the receiver.
Loss of accuracy comes from the adjustment screws being improperly sized or lacking a locking/ratcheting system, causing them to slip. Putting some basic Elmer's glue or thread locker and then zeroing to your preferred sight picture will resolve that.
Some firearms are also inherently unable to utilize lasers because the mounting rail system is attached to handguards or frame that have/has slop/play. Any wiggle, deflection, bending, or warping due to deathgripping polymer or thinner metals adjacent will cause the laser to change your point of aim/point of impact.
That all being said: the sloppiest hand rails on the sloppiest screwed laser will still be enough on target at 10-15ft if you're aiming center mass to ruin someone's day. That covers the longest distance down most hallways in 90% of the houses built in America. As a result, unless you're balling out in a mansion or some crazy long house style home: not really too much of a concern.
Thus: would I trust the worst combo to make a headshot on someone holding my wife hostage? No. The worst combo at the end of a hallway shooting center mass? yes. Would I trust the excellent laser on my fantastic rifle to make a headshot on someone holding my wife hostage at the 100 yards to which it is zeroed? Yes.
And just for reference: this is coming from someone that shot a 139 out of 140 on a Recon night rifle course while using a laser through a monocular shooting his rifle behind his back, behind his head, and between his legs to demonstrate why we use them (I'm an ex SF attached corpsman, with many years acting as a secondary RSO/RSI).
@@krithin19I'm willing to bet that most people who claim that the lasers don't hold zero are unfamiliar with QD lever lock systems and didn't read the installation instructions.
After you latch it down, there's a flathead screw on the other side of the unit that you can snug down before you dial in the laser sight.
I've been on the Olight wagon for just over a year now and I'm a big fan...their products just work and the light output is ridiculous. I'm waiting for my Baldr Mini as I'm typing...LOL
The rechargeable battery is a plus for me. I have several Olights and the charger makes it simple to use.
I like the recharging aspect, but what are you gonna do when you have no power to recharge them.
I have 2 olights, one for my glock and one for my M4, I love them they’re great, but I do have other lights as backup with batteries.
RanchRange 45 I don’t let it run out, besides I don’t anticipate using it as a primary light source.
@@jtam70 yeah I hear ya, they're great lights though, I'm very impressed how durable they are, and how much light output you get from them
@@Whiskey5_ what do you do when you're cellphone goes dead??
@@chezmoe2000 not worry about it. I have a ham radio, diesel generator that I can run off multiple fuel sources, I have 30 mile range walkies for me and my family, we also have property where we will be going with plenty of water in the well and cistern, lots of wildlife to hunt. And a group of people who all have the same interest and have known for 15 years
I have both of these lasers including the TLR-6. Olight Baldr wins all the time. As far as in the field if your battery dies, you fumble to look for another battery, if you have it with you. Just like any other device today, like your smartphone charge before you leave
Hard choice, but probably going with the Baldr S (green)
Not worried about charging for me… I think battery option is best for our troops that don’t always have electricity, but for me the magnetic charger is awesome
My Olight batteries have lasted 3 years because that was when I first bought one. I've had a PL Mini sit static in my truck for 6 months and still had a full charge. I bought 2 extra batteries for a hand held S1R Baton II, charged them up 3 years ago and took them out last week to recharge them and they were 80% or so. The red light was on but it turned green in 10 minutes, and that is 90% and I left them on charge for another hour just to get them up to 100%. Green light means 90-100%. So. That's my experience with Olights. I now have 14 with 6 more on the way for gifts. I sold all my other lights and use Olight exclusively from now on. The charging cables are a breeze. Any USB port will work. From a phone brick to a port on your computer or any of the handheld chargers everyone buys on Amazon or eBay. And there are videos on the China Plant and the Plant is a very nice one. They do all the work there except for the anodizing as you have to have a special plant to do this. But all lights are made there, hand assembled and tested before shipping. And the best prices for quality I've ever seen.
My issue is their charging cables are super jenky, and I don't really bend them at all. I would like to not only see everything USB c charging from now on, but if it's going to be proprietary, make the cable, charging port and USB higher quality.
All my O Lights work perfectly. Mine hold charges and battery life longer than I expected. Can't beat the price and as many firearms as I own they can stay mounted and ready to go.
$288 for a pistol light is crazy. I'll go with olight.
The O-light is nice especially for a gun youre not carrying in a holster.
But the ability to replace a dead battery with a fresh battery is why the streamlight costs so much more. The O-light’s onboard battery will be toast in a few years where as the streamlight will run till you physically break the thing.
Except you can just get the Baldr pro S. I believe that takes one AA or something of the sort. Only the R is rechargeable.
Lol. I had two Balders with laser. First one I bought it would not hold zero for the laser so they sent me another one and same thing. So I actually replaced it with TRL-8G and don't regret it a bit.
I also don't think the battery run time is as long as advertised by Olight
Nothing is as olight advertises they lie and then pay schmucks like this for favorable reviews on shit that doesn't matter.
Most important thing I want to know is if the the Up/down and windage positions hold or if they need to be readjusted. I've heard they are not like dots that hold forever and need to be adjusted. Anyway, 4 years later the prices are the same.
Just ordered the Baldr Mini last night and can’t wait to mount it up. It looked like the Olight was a smidge brighter at further distance and other one brighter on the ground at closer distance but pretty much the same. I’d rather pay the 90-140$ the 250-280$! A bit to much for such a little light.. I imagine there losing a lot of customers, being so expensive..
I'm guessing that you haven't looked at Surefire or Viridian lights. There are lots of people that don't buy anything other than those two.
I have the TLR-8AG. It has adjustable back levers that are different than this guy reviewed. It is ten times better and more durable than any O-Light. I have the O-Light Mini2. It is like a plastic toy compared to the Streamlight line. Not sure why this dude didn’t review the adjustable version, instead of the older TLR-8G without the back lever switches.
Shawn that’s just insane price and no light should be more then 150$!! Now if I was rich no problem but damn you could buy a new or half a gun for that price...
@@hardcore4476 these aren't regular flashlights. They have to be able to withstand the abuse that comes along with being mounted on a firearm. Every shot fired is essentially the equivalent of dropping it on the ground.
I get that it’s just ridiculous price and what’s the warranty on those things lifetime I’d hope.. unless you lose it. Seriously though there losing a lot of business being so expensive. If they made them at 150$ each I’m sure there sales would double..
I own two PL-MINI 2'S and just bought the Baldr today I personally carry a portable power bank with the charger cable in case I need to top off the charge in any of my rechargeable olights. To be honest I find this method easier than carrying a bunch of loose batteries in your backpack or what have you. Also trying to change out batteries in the dark isn't easy.
Amen to that. I still have a bunch of CR123s in my Get Home Bag from when I carried older flashlights. Those batteries have been in that bag for years since I switched to Olight.
@@HarleyWood23 haha same here. Now I just wish I could save some money... damn you Olight and your sales.
But what happens when your battery doesn't work like it should after their 1-year battery warranty or 5 year flashlight warranty expires? I don't think even sell replacement batteries so you'll have to send it in to get fixed. But will they still make them 10 or 15 years down the line? I expect a $150 flashlight to last a lifetime.
@@JohnSoh do you really trust the contact points from multiple battery changes over the years dust moisture getting in the body of the flashlight from opening and closing it? This might just be me but I've never had any light really last more than 5 years rechargeable or replaceable battery versions.
@@flugel6856 That's interesting to think about. I've had cheaper flashlights fail that way but it's not something I worry about with my better ones. I'm not a flashlight guy but I've heard of people using dielectric grease and other products to clean and maintain their lights. I imagine better built lights are more durable overall and come with better warranties but you have to check people's experience with the service. Half my lights are like 10 years old now but they haven't been run hard. The ones that broke consistently for me were my keychain lights that I don't take care of. For example, I had a Fenix fail on me after 4 years. They offered to fix it but I went with a Lumintop that also has a lifetime warranty.
The TLR-8 comes in two versions with different switches: side switch like shown in your review and a rear switch similar to the Baldr Mini.
Oh so the rear switch doesn't stick out then?
I’m not pushing one over the other but I don’t see why olight is not a forerunner in quality pistol lights. There excellent quality, function perfectly, and are reasonably priced. I have no loyalty to light makers by name just want the best quality light that meets my needs for a reasonable price. Olight all the way until something changes. Excellent review.
All else being equal the fact that the olight has the capability to slide and marry up to different hand sizes makes it the winner. The less you have to manipulate your grip to activate your light the better. Been using olight for few years in tactical setting and really like it.
I have a streamlight and now two of the Olight Baldrs. I can honestly say that the Olight is significantly more functional and even seems like it's higher quality. Would recommend the baldr mini hands down!
How long would you say the battery last, and would it fit on a p80 g19
@@angel_4153
Sure will. I have olight on p80 g17. Plenty of over hang to fit the 19.
I love the Olight mini's! I have two mini Valkrie 2's, i also have a little handheld flashlight. Great company.
Don't get me wrong, my EDC for over 5 years has been an Olight (And I don't plan on changing), but, you should have compared the Olight to the new Streamlight TRL-8 A. The new switch configuration makes a difference.
Good video anyhow!
Helifano Dobezanozi Exactly! The model is actually called TLR-8AG with the green laser. I have it and love it over O Light.
@@KonaLife What do you like about TLR-8AG over the OLight Baldr Mini?
For anyone still looking for a holster, Orpaz defense makes a pretty nifty T40 that fits the baldr mini on subs all the way up to full size (there is a 30 dollar kit to accept short or long slide) but its as close to a true universal light bearing L2 holster as ive found. Not cheap, cheaper than normal duty gear but still near 200 once you add the accessory kit.
I have several streamlights, but I'm choosing olight over streamlight because of the charging capabilities. I have another olight on another pistol and love the ability to shoot or train with my light and not have to purchase more batteries. I have animals I have to check on at night sometimes, and the olight has come in handy, and yes I have used it to kill predators attacking my chickens.
And the tlr does have a strobe feature you have to press down 10x to activate it
Well I'm a streamlight tlr8a guy myself. And as a retired federal law enforcement officer. The ability to change batteries are a must during operations were your operating in areas without access to electricity. And the tlr8s flex useing the low switch that was included. Made a good light a great light. Basically most lights of these types are chosen for personal and home protection. Both will accomplish their goals with the both lights. But in my experience the ability to change out batteries is important and worthwhile. Yes you have to pack extra batteries. But if you're on extended operations out in the middle of nowhere. You will really appreciate that feature. I also do carry two rechargeable flashlights. And I have two solar chargers to keep them powered up. And they are great lights. But for my weapons mounted lights including my streamlight protac HLX. I carry two rechargeable batteries to recharge and s third in the light. During day light unless there is a dimly lit or no light area that I might have to inspect. I've got two spare batteries for my rifle light. And several batteries for my pistol mounted light. Is one better than the other? Not really. It just boils down to your personal needs and preference.
Yep because unlike charging changing batteries is way faster and easier to do when your being shot at in the field?
@@brandonmacon3317
Still would be easier to change batteries in a protracted gunfight than find a working electrical outlet.
That also applies to a sort of power grid down/shtf scenario where it's better to have some batteries on your person than to look for a working electrical outlet.
As for my choice, I'd go with the baldr mini on a single stack/subcompact edc. It'll likely flush fit those much better too. I'd go with the tlr8a with a duty purpose/sized gun like a glock 19.
Have the Baldr mini and love it. I totally recommend it. Have not tried the TLR but it cant be two times better like the price suggests.
I love my olights. They get a lot of hate, but they have held up very well on my daily carry and my rifles. They have better features than the overpriced brands too. I love being able to change them magnetically. Thanks for the video.
Compare to TLR-8A more compatible......really needs to tested in what current holsters fit it?
I agree more spill on the Streamlight. But for the price. And what you get I gave all my streamlights to my kids. And only use Olights
I am a BIG Olight Fan!
NEVER had one fail yet!! I am VERY Hard all on my lights!
Same here, I'm 0-3 with Streamlight, 2-2 with Surefire and 15-15 with Olight. They make good shit.
I have a solar powered portable power cell for charging devices, I do not have room for 100Ibs of disposable batteries. Olight is the easy decision of you don’t have an ego over brands
Yes I just got the black olight from flas sale. Less than $90 for a light and green laser is unbeatable for 600 lumens
unless it does not work when you need it to...
@Patriot5.56 Your right. I just know from what I have seen and personal experience that it is significantly less likely a surefire or streamlight will fail. If your talking edc, just about anything will do, all down to personal preference. if its a weapon, defensive, or duty light i want every bit of extra security I can afford.
I've had my Baldr Mini / green laser for nearly a year now. (Also got the Valkerie, model, light only, no laser). Both are 600 lumens. The Baldr Mini is excellent for where I live in the woods of SW Colorado. I became a big fan of lasers here after bagging a porcupine late one night / locked forearms into my sides for stability and turned out his lights. For night critters the Balder is really hard to beat (we have repeated problems with skunks and raccoons (9 raccoons and 7 skunks in a 12 month period, NOT counting the ones that got away). I DO have the Baldr mini on a house gun and I'm totally happy with it. With training, I have learned to "find" the light/laser switch by feel rather quickly. But I leave both in the on position - I can ignore the laser if I wish, and my sights show up well against the bright light. By home defense pistol shoots 3 inch 30 yard groups, so even 40 - 50 yards is doable on raccoons, if I do my part. Thanks esp. for the measurement comparisons.
My 2 Olights have been flawless.
I live out in the boonies and my yard usually looks like a Disney movie, but can't say I've ever considered porcupines, skunks or raccoons a "problem." They mind their own and we do the same. Heck, raccoons rarely even make an appearance where people are present unless you're just leaving trash everywhere.
Lazers are great for shooting when you can't poke your head out but still have vision.... under cars, around doors, etc
I have an Olight Bolor Mini and it does not hold zero. There is so much I like about it I can't even begin to tell you BUT the fact that it doesn't hold zero, not good. You can wobble it from up and down on its mounting bracket tried tightening the screws, that is not the problem. I will definitely be sending it back.
Do you have the right insert in? One is for Glocks the other for Pic Rails. It comes with Glock insert in place which is lose in a Pic Rail.
For those people who don’t like not being able to swap the battery out... buy 3 Olights 🤣 it will cost you the same amount of money. If one dies throw another one on. Problem solved! LoL 😝
So wheres that $60 baldr mini?
Let’s not forget how they dim after only a few minutes of use. That doesn’t happen with the higher end StreamLight or Surefire lights. Also part of argument he made was the switches but he’s comparing the wrong comparable model, he would need to be using the streamlight tlr8 flex or the tlr7 flex if you compare non laser model.
The Streamlight has a better lock up once mounted, so it will hold zero slightly better than the Olight. I like em both. Pro's and cons...
On the battery thing, so the Streamlight fans say they don't like the Olight because they don't like the rechargeable battery system? They want to be able to carry and use a spare battery? Well, so what? Given that the Olight is half the price of the Streamlight, and given that the Streamlight battery is almost as big as the entire light itself, and given that the Olight takes only seconds to install on the pistol, then buy two Olights for the same price as one Streamlight, put one Olight on the pistol, and carry the second Olight for backup, just like you would carry a spare battery for the Streamlight.
I kind of agree. But my wifie has been screaming at me to stop pointing that gun around as I try to test how good the OLight longevity is, and thus far I only charged it once on a whim and she was Bright AF before I did that
I mean what's the price difference between this and a streamlight or surefire? I know we always want to find a cheaper and better product, but why do that with something your life may depend on? Im not knocking anyone, I am the definition of it. But not when my life is on the line. I wouldn't buy a parachute from oChutes because some paid promotions said they were good, and they were cheaper than all the others. I'd buy the one used day in and day out and proven successful. The normal response to this is usually "my cousins sisters husband is a cop and his streamlight quit working". Every product has a failure rate, even parachutes. It's your money, I'm just trying to help others look at it from a different perspective. We can still be friends.
I like them both, but I need to get one for duty that will fit in a level 3 holster. So it will probably be the streamlight even though the olight is cheaper and charges way easier.
Olight all day! I felt streamlight is just over priced imo plus I like the magnet charging olight offers.
I got an olight mini green lazer. Had it for years now mounted on my glock 19 as my carry shot with it, dropped it, recharged it hundreds of times and its still working strong! My only complaint is the battery doesn't last long but honesty i never tested the time which i will but it kind of died on me when we were camping once or twice... other than that its a solid light super bright and laser goes FAR and accurate! Its my only pistol light so i cant compare it to anything time wise but i love it and would 100% recommend!
Yea it doesn’t last long at all, Ive timed mine at around eight minutes.
I think we got duds, I’ve only found one other complaint on the Internet and they said there’s only lasted 10 minutes.
I love it because it’s convenient to charge, but the charge doesn’t last .
One difference I've noticed is the Olights get hotter than the streamlights. However I love the olights for the affordability and excellent performance.
Wyndham H&R Have you noticed Anymore heat with the Olight vs. stream light? Really I’m sure it won’t burn you so not a big deal
This is very true. OL lights get really hot. It’s because they’re cheap Chinese products.
Yeah. Think its because of the lithium rechargeable
ALMOST a year later, STILL a great review..and YOU’RE right
Had a funny thought watching this, ok I could carry extra battery but for the price difference you could just as easily carry an extra Olite with the quick disconnect looks like it might be faster and easier than changing the Streamlight battery.
Great review. Great comparison. Thanks for being up front with what you receive from Olight. I have subbed, and wished I had known of your channel prior to me placing an order several days ago. My three Balder Minis and other stuff will be delivered on the 17th -shipping directly from mainland China! ! !
My mini baldr has markings for windage and elevation adjustments for the laser. Not sure why yours doesn't have it.
Erin Newman
Earliest batches didn’t. Glad they added it
So ima be honest . The olight is great for at home or the range . The more expensive battery operated ones are more for survival situations where u can have a bag full of batteries with out having to worry about charging places. Especially in power outages
I have a couple of olights and they work perfectly fine. It will likely come down to budget as not everyone can afford streamlight. If you are a super operator running through the caves of Afghanistan, it might make a difference but for most, either will suffice.
On a budget, I prefer something else. I bought a QR-Laser blue laser sight on eBay a while ago, and it's a beautiful blue colour and very clear at night.
I love streamlight but o find myself buying way more Olights lately based on the value and innovation.
I agree completely. I think they represent the best bang for buck wl on the market. I'm no fan of the Chinese government, but 1 thing that Chinese companies tend do very well is adjust quickly to what the market desires
@@Timewaits4no1 pardon me but why was China or Chinese products in your review? oh light are made in Macon Georgia I thought. Are you just saying that the Chinese are awesome at knockoffs at inexpensive prices?
I totally agree with you brother. I'm a flashlight junkie or flashaholic :-) my brother-in-law turned me onto old light and I've been hooked ever since. I have over flashlights from all shapes and sizes and features. I guess my most expensive flashlight right now is the Warrior X Pro (0live drab) out of the limited edition run. I have 2 micro edc's from Plight as well. Both micros were free, 1 came w/Warrior X and the other was from their weekend sales and I only needed 2 pay 4 shipping. F I remember correctly I only had 2 join mailing list for the micro edc. I really want the job a lot Pro or the Marauder.
@@marcussweetser I'm assuming you meant my comment. No, I'm not saying they make knockoffs. They make nice quality lights that are well priced in the market. I have several of them, and like them. Their US headquarters is in Georgia, but they are made in China.
@@marcussweetser Olights are Chinese made.
I'm a big olight fan, I have 3 and they have never failed me yet
just bought one myself not spending over 300 dollars on something when the olight does the same or better
Mine, Bladr Pro, sometimes doesn't come on when you press the button. maybe like 1 out of 50 times
I like both Olight and Streamlight, I have had very rare instances with a PL2 Olight not turning on the first couple times pressing the button but it would always turn on by the 3rd attempt or so and that only happened like twice. Other than that no issues with Olight.
I bought 4 olight flashlights yesterday morning. Can't wait to receive them!
Lol same here got a bundle last night
This my 3rd purchase got them for my guns good stuff i wait whrn they got good deals
I just got the Pl Pro last week. Trying to convert my friends that own or want Streamlights. Im all about savings when there's quality and reviews have convinced me Olights the real deal. Waiting on my Baldr mini.
So, having terrible time finding holster for my CZP10F W/PL PRO. Did I hear you right, if it fits tlr1 it should fit Pl Pro Valkyrie?
@@GW2964 I get all mine tonight! From all the reviews and videos I've seen, I'm starting to think olight is the real deal. We will see from personal experience!
Excellent comparison. The Streamlight laser seems a little brighter but it's a toss-up. My pew-pew would be happy with either one.
Has anyone noticed the streamlite tlr-7a flex now changed their switches to copy the olight design?
Like the quick release on olight. And price. But I really am disappointed in no strobe
Could you explain what strobe means Boss?
@@Teggy123 Strobe on a flash light. Typically is 1 click steady light. 2 clicks strobe where the light flashs.
However no proffesional would ever use Strobe.
@@Rob_Nasty Thank You Robert I appreciate that 🙏🏻🚀
@@Rob_Nasty strobe is to disorient when you have the upper hand. Especially in in the dark
@@MichaelSmith-gu3tt Yes and No. If you have a proper high lumen light. Just constant light will blind any human on earth. Strobe gives the user poor visibility on any suspect/perps. Strobes a gimmick in most cases.
I have both the Baldr and the PL-Mini. Both are great lights. For the price and quality you cannot beat the Olight.
Alot of Streamlight fanboys saying how much Olight is “trash” and “sucks”.. etc. obviously keyboard genius’s that have never used either.
O Light for the win! Price! Better ergos, colors! And I love the magnetic charger its one of the reason I go with the O light!
Wireless charging is the only way. I can buy 2-3 olight for the price of competitor, so the longevity argument doesn’t stand up. Sure I guess after 7+ years you’ll want to replace it but you’d want to upgrade anyways to a more efficient light.
I’ve got the mini 2 Valkyrie and it’s been a great light! Cannot wait for my Baldr to come in
One thing people bring up is if they are out somewhere they could have an extra battery but not recharge. I would argue that you might have a hard time finding a extra oddball battery and might be easier to find a usb charging port in a car or the fact that EVERYONE has chargers everywhere. Heck you could even have a small solar charger and recharge anywhere from light.
who the fuck uses a light long enough to run out of batteries anyways??? like buddy if you aren’t active duty military or a cop then you really have nothing to worry about when it comes to battery life 😂😂
I own one of these balder minis and 2 tlr 8’s (red laser).
I prefer the tlr 8’s on and off switch over the o-light.
However, the tlr 8’s laser tends to lose sharpness and begin to spray over time.
Plus, the tlr 8’s battery life is abysmal.
They burn through cr 123’s like crazy.
The recharging feature on the o-light is convenient and amazing.
So overall, I recommend the o-light over the streamlight.
all weapon light burn through cr123s like crazy they are a compact hight output light. Problem is a rechargeble will go even faster, and it will discharge sowly when not in use, unlike a cr123. Rechargeables are good for training, bad for real world use.
I have a Olight Odin and I love the interior battery with the magnetic charger. I haven't met a flashlight that I didn't like and have probably 50 of them. I am getting to the point where I won't buy another one that doesn't have a rechargeable interior battery.
Absolutely, feel bad for people buying any lights that don’t recharge. Olight wireless charging is next level/more durable even.
Very informative, thanks for taking the time to post this video.
You are a scholar and a gentleman.
Not a fan of Olight but having green laser inside the reflector is genius.
Also, the comparison on recharging was interesting. I suppose if you are a LEO, and the maintenance and attention to the accessory is a daily thing, then recharging is also a routine. But if the light is used occasionally, I would prefer the battery option. Keep in mind these devices have a constant drain for the logic circuits to always be watching for the switch to be activated. An unattended rechargeable system will deplete, and immediate usage is impossible unless you have an extra one that is ready to swap out. The battery option has the greatest flexibility for readiness me thinks. Thanks for the content.
The laser on this light is just a plus. You shouldn’t rely on a laser for aiming. It can be a guide but usually when you put the hot spot of the light on the threat it will hit them within most close distance ranges. I have several Olight’s and use them often and haven’t had any issues. I do have steam light and Surefire in my dedicated duty use guns but I wouldn’t feel that I’m at a disadvantage if I had an Olight in them. They are an aggressive marketing company and I like Lucas from Trex arms who hates them but I disagree with him that this light isn’t trustworthy.
Ordered 2 of the olight, anxiously awaiting the arrival on the 24th.
The non-removable battery of the Olite was a deal breaker for me so I went with the TLR...Recharging pretty much any rechargable battery is somewhere between 300-500 times...I'd much rather buy a replacement battery than a whole new light/laser unit.
But consider the price difference. The olight is 1/3rd the cost and never needs batteries. The streamlight is 3x the price. And will need to replace the batteries constantly
@@jaydenblain3599 the price difference is negligible when you consider all the other things the Streamlight does better, more candela, stronger mounting, etc. Stop being poor.
@@SouthValleyKnifeCo You're so butthurt, it's almost comical at this point.. =)
@@TubeDeviant I really am not. I just don't praise shit gear in absolute delusion. Stay mad poor.
@@SouthValleyKnifeCo "More candela". Is it that big of a difference between the Streamlight and Olight..??
"Stronger mounting", does the Olight have problems with falling off the rails..??
You're saying the Streamlight is that much better than 3x the price is justified..?
I have been in the shooting game for along time and have had many lights from pretty much all manufacturers, for the price and overall build quality you can't go wrong with O-Light.
I have an Olight on both my pistol and my AR. They both use the magnetic charger interchangeably. I keep one bedside and charge each light once every 4-6mnths. This is with minimal standard use. I have a streamlight on a shotgun, I like it as well, very bright. I prefer the Olight because of the switches, recharging, and the easy mount/dismount bar. The quick release makes cleaning or changing your loadout quicker. Also, I've never had an Olight go bad. I had a flicker with a streamlight once.
What is your experience regarding the green lazer moving and not being as precise after a few shots? I been reading that a lot for the reviews, which have been making me hesitate to buy it...
@@krithin19 Hmm. Can't say I've ever had that problem. Stays fairly consistent for me, maybe the mounting job? I tighten everything down pretty hard though.
They are identical to me. I'm the same as the older laser lights have the laser at the bottom. It's bulky and look ugly as hell too. This Baldr Mini caught my eye and ordered one the other day during their big sale. Not sure why you'd want to buy a Streamlight over the Olight.
Thanks for the review.
I have Olights on a couple of guns. When it comes to quality and price, they're unbeatable. I have a 600 Lumen mini on a Glock 19, and a 1350 lumen Pro R on a .45 1911. Both of them are of killer quality and price.
How long have you had them / use them? "Olights blow up" really makes me raise an eyebrow
@@Gnolomweb Gee, better not mount it to a Glock. They might both "blow up". Don't be a douche and perpetuate internet rumors.
@@heartlandhawk4513 ... go do research. they used to not have a good seal and would explode when too much moisture..... I havent seen them say they fixed the design
@@Gnolomweb I've done research, and..... that only happened once, the seal thing is bs, someone stacked two weird batteries and they vented, the sealed chamber just popped after enough pressure built up.
@@Panda_man880 I like my bunch of different o lights
Wish you compared them Baldr Pro Mini with the TLR-8AG, since that light has similar switch paddles like the Olight. It’s still expensive, but I think a much better improvement over the old TLR-8G.
Very true. Honestly. I didn’t know about that one.
I have an Olight Baldr Pro, it was around $100 and works great. Would prefer an American made light but the damn Streamlight cost nearly as much as my pistol.
I am ok paying a premium for made in America, say 20-50% but 300% just seems like a rip-off.
streamlight is made in china 2
I've had no issues with any of my streamlight products but for the price and nice looks I'm wanting to give them a try!
sorry, the proprietary sealed rechargeable on the BALDR is a no go for me , I would rather have CR123's that are already in my bag or CR123R's for reuse. Jus sayin.
Fair enough 👍🏻
This was a good function comparison, but functions only matter when a light is reliable and durable. Would be great if you'd include drop tests / push these lights to failure.
Does the Streamlight come in FDE ish color..looking for a match for my 19x
Thanks for breaking these down. I purchased the Olight and used your code. This video was helpful, despite some comments below to the contrary. Thanks again!
I have a couple of Olight PL mini’s and a streamlight tlr7. I prefer the Olight. My 2¢
I'm not normally a laser guy, butI couldn't resist the sale they have going so I picked one up. This will be my first Olight so will see how it does. Will need to find a holster though.
I found my holster at patriotholsters.net. A bit pricey but custom made by hand in Texas...
I've had 2 Baldr - S mini's for a couple years. Never a stumle. If they could make these duel-fuel it would help but would probably introduce failure points. Being unable to swap in a fresh battery in the field keeps these from being taken seriously. Good for night stand duty andr home defense.
I think having to use a replaceable battery in a rechargeable world is UNACCEPTABLE. The ONLY 2 times you know exactly how much is left is when it's FIRST installed and when it dies...the rest of the time is a crap shoot
@IronChefBklyn Having to use replaceable yes, is bad. Being ABLE to use replacement batteries is critical for field units. That's why 'dual-fuel' is important. Those units can use rechargeable or throw-away batteries. A dead recharge-only unit like the Baldr Mini or Balder S is worthless in the field and relagates them to home defense or occasional use.
@@XrayMike17plus1True, but nobody's carrying a Micro-Compact Pistol into Combat. ...But the Valkyrie Pro models have options available that take standard CR123's. The tail housing has a hatch that swings open for battery swaps.
Get a rechargeable model for your CC/HD unit, and get a standard model to use on deployment. ...You've got *2* Light/Lasers, ...and you Still Saved 100 bucks.👍
I use the valkyrie 2 mini right now but thinking about switching to the baldr s mini so that I have a laser sight as well , I like olight products I have several flashlights and the one gn light and they all work great and are very affordable I actually like the rechargeable feature it keeps me from buying as many batteries I dont mind to plug it in ever week or so
LOVE MY BALDR MINIs!! Got one on my G17 n one on my G26
It's a no brainer, Olight. There is one additional reason. I have found that wit all the guns I have set up for myself and customers, the Olight has had less issues for the user and most importantly, has always held zero when taking off and putting back on. Just much simpler.
Excellent review. It's pathetic how we are abused by the word police. They have no shame and full deserve what they have coming. I am using the Olight Baldr and it is most excellent. It fits perfectly on the Austrian Twenty-Nine model daily carry.
For the Olight, I carry one charger cable for three different lights. For two, I don't even need to take the mount off. The older lights were at the top of their game in the past. Use them until they need to be replaced or they no longer can keep up with the new dog. Besides, 2 is 1.
My only complaint is that the charger for the gun lights is different from their normal one.
@@7duke77 A very valid point
Two of my olights lose their charge after about every two months just sitting in my safe. I have to charge them every time. Ive only had them about two years with hardly any use. I think I prefer replaceable batteries more than a disposable light after only a couple of years of very light use. I like olights design overall, but don't like the rechargeable battery.
Contact Olight , none of my 8 olights or the 6 others I have given as gifts do that. I ordered the wrong color Olight mini baldr and thier customers service was spot on , polite and quick with the exchange
@@edstringer1138
Thanks. I'll contact them. Im assuming they have my info on file I hope. Regardless, I will contact Olight, and see what they can do for me.
Thank you for your patience in this video. It helped me a lot lol.
Mount the Olight onto your pew pew as you say, turn it on, aim it at something and wiggle the bottom of the light. Mine will move 3 inches to either side of the target at 10 yards. It's just horrible and in no way will it hold zero. The sliding mechanism is a huge weak point which is the cause of the wiggle problem. It feels nice and tight but it's actually not. Now imagine how much worse that is going to get after sliding it in and out of a form fitted kydex holster and it's just going to keep getting worse. The battery life on my Olight is less than 2 minutes use and it's dead. The warning light don't even have time to come on before it dies or it just doesn't work but it goes dead so fast the warning is useless anyway. I can't wiggle the laser on my TLR8 and it's been slid in and out of a very tight holster at least a thousand times and the laser is always sitting right on top of my front sight. I trust my life to my streamlight and would never trust the Olight. I have other Olight products that I love but the Baldr mini is a very bad design. My life and the lives of people I may be protecting are well worth the price difference.
You didn’t tighten it down properly. Read the instructions on how to tighten the clamp to accommodate various rails.
@@HarleyWood23 Yes I did mount it properly. I even mounted it on 2 different pistols using the 1913 rail mount supplied. First on a CZ P07 which is my carry tool and then on my M&P C.O.R.E which has a 3 MOA red dot just to make sure the laser was moving that much to either side of the dot. I tightened the screw on the clamp that attaches to the rail as tight as it will go. The sliding mechanism on the baldr mini is the problem. Like I said it feels tight but in reality it's not and the laser will not hold zero. 6 inches of movement at 10 yards is a lot, and that's with it brand new and like I said it would get a lot worse after going in and out of a holster. Just inspect the sliding mechanism and you can see it's a weak point. I love Olight and my M&P wears a PL pro which is awesome but the baldr mini is a very bad design. Read the reviews on the Olight store and you'll see this is not just my opinion.
Maybe you got a bad unit. They’ve sold literally thousands of these and the comments here as well as the FB group are full of happy owners who don’t have this issue. Contact Olight support. They’ll help figure out what’s up.
@@HarleyWood23 Maybe I did. I am sending it back. You have to think though how many people put mounted it and just turned it on and left a glowing review without really testing it. I thought it was an awesome little thing until I started to fire my weapon and the battery died before I could get a shot off. I even tried charging it overnight and still no better but I did get off enough rounds to see it was not holding zero and then I did the wiggle on it test with the red dot. For everyone that loves yours I'm very happy for you but as bad as mine is I just want my money back.
@@tracycouch246 Being your on a youtube channels comment section commenting about this light , I think you can count on people actually playing with thier gear vs normies with one gun who attached a Olight and who doesnt handle it or test it .................................
Tuff reviw, lol, but nice. I understand however. They both seem similar. But Hands down, I take the Baldr. I am actually considering the Baldr Olight Pro R 1350 Lumens for my P320 Full.
Do it!
I've 2 Pro G's, and more than half a dozen other Weapon Lights and Flashlights from them that I've accumulated for over 5 years, and they have all performed flawlessly for me.👍
They have a Pro model that's Magnetically Rechargeable now too. ...But I've run out of guns with empty rails.😂