Being an infantryman means spending lots and lots of time outdoors; often under the stars, in the cold, and sometimes in the rain. In the mercy of the great Marine Corps, occasionally, you get tents. Tents bring a sense of shelter, and even a little privacy, which is much valued in the world of living outdoors. On deployments, living conditions can be as barren as a hole in the ground or as good as a Conex box turned into a dormitory. Regardless of where you sleep, there will be a time where you need light, and the OBulb from Olight offers you an awesome option for sleeping quarter’s lights.
The Obulb Solution
One thing I hated when sleeping around other people is the obnoxious power of modern lights. Headlamps have especially run afoul of my sleep to the point of me establishing ‘Headlamp etiquette’ for our squad sized tent on deployment. There is just too much light to be fussing around to get undressed or to read a book, or do some inane task, and that situation is where the Obulb shines. Literally, it’s a light, so it shines.
The Obulb is a light in the form of a ball that casts a soft white light or a dim red light. The Obulb has multiple brightness settings with a 55-lumen high mode, a 3.5-lumen low mode, and a 7 lumen red light. The soft white light illuminates at almost 360 degrees and casts enough light to let the user see what they’re doing while not casting a ray of literal sunshine down upon everyone else trying to sleep.
The Obulb is powerful enough in the high mode to grant enough light to illuminate a two-man tent without being ultra-powerful and uncomfortable. In a bigger berthing, squad bay, or tent, the low mode is soft and allows to see, read, and work without disturbing others.
Stick Around
The Obulb has a magnetic bottom that also allows you to stick to anything metal. That makes it perfect for attaching it to a cot, a bunk, or the roof of a small tent. It sticks on with ease and mounts right where you need it. A small metal badge is included with an adhesive to allow for a permanent mounting spot should you so choose. This makes it simple to mount for the purposes of reading, getting dressed for firewatch, cleaning weapons after hours, or just shaving and brushing teeth in a public area.
From a tactical perspective, light discipline is super important. Too much light will give away your position, draw attention, and possibly make you a target. The red light settings is superbly handy for reading maps on night patrols, collecting evidence and intel while remaining discreet. Illuminating a room rather than a direction can be quite handy.
Flashlights focus light in a direction, but the Obulb casts light around a room. It’s less intense but disseminates light in multiple directions. The Olight Obulb even has a red light strobe mode to mark locations and gain attention. This makes the Obulb better for both admin uses and tactical use. There are a wide variety of situations where the Obulb is a better choice than a flashlight. This includes both admin and tactical tasks.
Into the Breech
The Obulb uses a magnetic mount charger that allows for easy recharging and eliminates the need to pack batteries. The battery lasts for 3 hours on high, 56 hours on low, and 7 hours on red.
The Obulb doesn’t replace a flashlight by any means but compliments it very well. The Obulb is a small and handy little light that’s easy to pack. It’s perfect for the field and even deployments. It weighs a mere 1.94 ounces, so it won’t break your back when tossed in a pack. The light is IPX7 waterproof, which means it can be fully submerged for up to a meter for at least 30 minutes.
At the low price point, it’s a cheap option for extra light. It’s not a ray of blistering sunshine, and that’s a good thing. Too much light is a very real thing when your squadmates are trying to sleep. The Obulb is a cheap light that’s easily packed, surprisingly durable, and well suited for a multitude of tasks. Check it out and let us know what you think.
