EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) - People often ask me why they should carry a dedicated flashlight.
This is my thinking: A cell phone is for making phone calls or looking up information.
Sure, your cell phone has a built-in light, but using it can run your phone's battery down in a hurry. That can leave you without the ability to make what could end up being a life-saving call if you ever need to a pinch.
Regular readers of this column know that I absolutely love flashlights, maybe even more than pocket knives (sacrilege!).
My favorite light for everyday carry is Olight's i3T or i3T 2 (the second generation of this light).
They are both powered by a AAA battery and fit easily in the palm of your hand - 3.5 inches long, a bit over a half inch in diameter and weighing just about 1.5 ounces.
I have lights that are bigger, are brighter and throw lighter much farther. But for everyday carry, these are pretty close to perfection.
Both versions are lightweight and simple to use. Both are operated by a tail switch and have just two modes - low and high.
The first-generation version comes in at 5 lumens in low and 180 lumens in high.
Generation 2 remains at 5 lumens in low but comes in at 200 lumens in high. With the latest version, you can also sub in a 10440 lithium-ion battery and bump up the max output to 300 lumens.
Olight also says the second generation has a 31 percent longer battery life under continous use than the original.
Anyway, both are great lights.
One of the fun things about these lights is they come in different colorways and designs. Olight also is pretty good about coming up with some special versions and limited editions.
Let's take a look at what I have in my ever-expanding collection.
One of my favorites is an i3T 2 with a dragon and phoenix design, hearkening to Olight's Asian roots as a company. This one is so cool, I rarely use it for fear of losing it.
It is a beautiful flashlight with great workmanship and attention to detail. I tend to take this one out for special occasions or when I want to show off a bit.
I also have two of the original generation - one in basic black and the other in a plaid design that I just got in a recent order.
The plaid version of the i3T is just gorgeous. Photos really don't do it justice. The workmanship is also exquisite with some grooving in the upper end of the body which gives it a better feel in your hand - making it a little extra grippy.
The other fun thing about the plaid light: I got it for free by redeeming some bonus points I had accumulated through Olight's loyalty program.
The original version of the i3T is listed for $17.99 on the Olight website. The one exception is the black lava version at $19.99.
The second generation ones are listed for $19.99 for most offerings. The dragon and phoenix design is listed at $26.99.
If you are interested in Olight, they have frequent sales and they always include a free gift (a lot of times a free light) when you make an order during a sale.
Here is a link to the Olight website.
On a more somber note, I would like to mention my good friend Randy over at YouTube channel Randy's WSG. Randy died this past weekend after a sudden medical problem. I had gotten to know Randy over the past year. He made wonderful YouTube content but was also a great mentor to me as I ventured into this crazy EDC hobby. He will be greatly missed.
Vaya con dios, amigo.
Here are some YouTube channels that I find informative and fun: