Olight Oclip Ultra Clip-On EDC Light Review

The Olight Oclip Ultra Clip-On EDC Light has a handy clip, a magnet, and three light modes. When testing lights, we like to determine if we’ll actually use the different modes or just throw it on full blast every time, negating the need to pay for a light with extra modes and draining the battery. So, did we use all the features on this travel light? Let’s dive in and find out.

The Rundown

The light is crafted from OAL aluminum, which is more durable than standard aluminum. It’s rugged enough to be used in the workshop, on the trail, or in the city. In testing, we’ve dropped it on numerous occasions and tossed it into the main compartment of our sling and travel backpack, and it still looks brand new. This thing will eventually nick up, but it hasn’t happened yet.

A clip on the backside makes it easy to attach the light to almost anything. You can clip it onto your baseball cap, clothing, backpack, belt, sling, or anything with enough extra space.

In addition to the clip, there’s a magnet on the back side so that you can stick the light onto things. It’ll work on most metals, and is handy for use in the workshop or out in the world if you can find a metal fence or bench. Whether you’re working on your bike, taking a video call, or just want to look at something, it’s a useful feature.

The light has three modes. All three are accessed via the button on the side, which turns the light on and off. There’s a nob on the button with three notches, and you can change which mode you’re in using that knob.

The two standard light modes are spotlight and flood, which max out at 450 and 530 lumens, respectively. The last mode is a UV light (800mW), which is handy for inspecting currency, rockhounding, and checking for room cleanliness.

The two standard light modes have three brightness settings. Click the light once to turn it on and click it again to turn it off. If you turn the light on and hold the button, it’ll cycle through the brightness settings. If you double-click the button when the light is off, it’ll jump into the highest brightness mode. A triple click jumps into strobe mode, which is handy for safety uses. If you have a flat tire on your car or bicycle, you can use it to alert oncoming traffic. Or, use it as an emergency safety light if your bicycle lights are out of battery.

We don’t use the UV light often for travel purposes, and we wish the third light were more useful. Still, the other two modes and their various settings are handy.

The light charges using a USB-C cable, which is handy and means you likely won’t have to add something new to your tech pouch. The battery has a capacity of 580 mAh, which works fine, but the battery isn’t replaceable, which feels like a miss. Eventually, it’ll start to degrade, and so will this light’s performance.

The light has an IPX6 rating, too, which means it’ll withstand drops into and exposure to water, boosting this device’s resume for use on the trail or in the workshop.

Packability

The device is small enough to fit into the palm of your hand, making its power even more impressive. You can add it to your shoulder strap, hat, or sling strap without noticing much change, making it all the more useful. We often see modular gear you can attach to your person or bag, but these items can be cumbersome in practice. That couldn’t be further from the case here.

It’ll also fit into your tech pouch, admin panel, or sling. The power button might occasionally get accidentally hit, so we recommend attaching the light to something using the clip. That way, it is less likely to hit the button.

The light’s actual dimensions are 1.11 inches (28.3 mm) by 1.10 inches (27.9 mm) by 2.24 inches (57 mm).

Quick Comparison

Instead of comparing the Olight Oclip Ultra Clip-On EDC Light to another travel light without similar features, we’ll compare it to other Oclip lights in the product line. At the time of writing, there are three: the Oclip, Oclip Pro, and Oclip Ultra, which retail for $29.99, $39.99, and $49.99, respectively.

Both the Oclip and Oclip Pro are made of standard 6061 aluminum, which is durable, but not as rugged as the Oclip Pro’s O-Aluminum.

The Oclip has a floodlight and a red light; the Oclip Pro has a floodlight, spotlight, and red light; and the Oclip Ultra has a floodlight, spotlight, and UV light. Despite the UV light being perceived as a step-up here, we actually find that the red light is more useful for most travelers. It is less detectable, doesn’t mess with your vision as much, and is handy for hobbies like astrophotography.

The lights max out at 300, 500, and 530 lumens, which feels about right for the price difference between them and the other features on offer. The weights and batteries follow a similar ratio: 30 grams, 53 grams, and 55 grams, and 280 mAh, 580 mAh, and 580 mAh. The Oclip isn’t as serious a light, with a plastic lens compared to the other two’s glass, though we appreciate how simple it is. It has an IPX5 rating, too, which isn’t that poor, even when compared to the other two’s IPX6 rating.

The original Oclip is a more casual light, and it’s a tough pick between the Oclip Pro and Oclip Ultra. The latter is more powerful, but we like the red light more than the UV one. Even with the added durability of the Oclip Ultra, the Pro model is rugged enough for most travel uses. If you already own the Oclip, upgrading to either of the other two will be a big step up, but the move from the Pro to the Ultra won’t be as noticeable!