Hello everyone, today we will see the PL-1 II Valkyrie sent for the occasion from the store Olight ® Direct IT, whom I thank for the opportunity and trust given to me.
CLICK HERE to go to the official page on the Olight's website.
I want to clarify that the reviews are done at the amateur level and without the aid of scientific instruments or test in secret cutting edge Labs therefore, between the lines that will follow, there will also be my humble observations.
Official features taken from Olight:
- Applicable on MIL-STD-1913 and Glock sized rails
- Uses a single CR123A battery delivering an output of 450 lumens and a beam distance of 106 meters
- Switch on/off silently. Push forward directly or hit the side of the switch to activate
- Heavy duty stainless steel lever making it easy and fast to attach and release
- Hardened glass coated with an anti-reflective coating on both sides allowing for 99% light transmission rate for maximum clarity
- IPX6 Waterproof
The packaging and accessories
The PL-1 II Valkyrie comes boxed in a paperboard box. In the front of it, along with the name of the brand and of the model, we find the flashlight leading data and the flashlight's photo
At its the back we find a description of the product and the characteristics of the model.
Once opened, we will find a clear plastic blister that encloses the flashlight and all its accessories.
Once extracted all from the various blisters, we will have:
- the flashlight
- 1xCR123A batteries (NOT-rechargeable)
- T6/T8 L Torx key
- the adapter for Picatinny rail (or MIL-STD-1913), the one for the Glock is already attached to the flashlight
- 2 spare screws
- the manual in several languages
To see the manual scan, you can still browse and/or download it from HERE.
The Flashlight
The PL-1 II Valkyrie is the Olight's small flashlight maded for the gun's under barrel.
It have a small, almost totally aluminum, one-cell body with the 2 tails rubber buttons and rubbery material coverage of the hooking system.
The structure of the flashlight is linear: there are slots on top of the body to dissipate the heat and the attack for the rail, while in the belly there is the housing for one battery. The flashlight can accept both NOT-rechargeable CR123A (1 is included in the package) or 16340 rechargeables (or RCR123). But be careful to what you buy because you may not have the right size in order to get into the battery compartment.
On the two flanks there are the brand name and the product name, whose lettering has no smudging.
the 2 electronic rubber buttons for interacting with the UI are in the tail and are antislip. The ride is short, they not emit any sound and are easily usable by both left-and right-left-handers. You can turn on the LED by pushing them towards the front and inward.
In the head there is the CREE XP-L in CW tint, centered in its seat and surrounded by a parabola of SMO type.
The lens that overlooks the whole is anti-glare treatment.
Looking at the head of the flashlight from the side, stand out the horizontal ribbing that follow the entire circumference. This checkering is tasked to facilitate the opening of the battery compartment.
By removing the head, stands out the generous thread and the o-ring. Even if the thread is not anodized, the LED will not light up if the head is not completely tightened.
Opposite to the LED there is the positive terminal contact , slightly protruding and golden. Part of the circuitry is in sight and, on the outer edge, there is a ring which is also Golden.
Within the body, to the negative, there is a golden spring. At the base of the thread on the right, there is the touch that once touched the golden ring, does turn on the LED.
Here's the adapter for Glock already mounted.
Here is the attachment for the rail when closed and seen from the keys.
It looks like the lever to open the locking system. It is covered with a rubber sheath that facilitates its opening.
Just then rotate 180° lever to widen the engagement.
Here is another photo with view by buttons but with broader engagement.
Removing the adapter for the Glock, remains the compartment where you can insert the adapter Picatinny.
Here is the Picatinny adapter into the compartment with the Glock.
Here's the full kit: 2 adapters, 4 screws and torx.
To follow the 2 side-by-side adapters. Note the difference between the 2: one for the Glock is thinner.
To attack the PL-1 II to any gun with compatible attack simply open to the tongue,
support rail as close as practicable to the trigger
and close the tab to tighten everything up. There is no play between the parties.
Small digression for friends who practice Airsoft: not all guns are 1:1 replicas of the real thing. For example, in my tests, the attack of some guns was totally off the charts. Or was too wide or recesses under the barrel did not have the proper depth to allow proper tightening of the flashlight. Inform yourself well before making a purchase.
Following there are some photos of the PL-1 II mounted on a gun for Airsoft, taken from different angles. With this model the flashlight protrudes slightly beyond barrel.
How does that work
The Olight PL-1 II Valkyrie has two modes (normal level + strobe) composed by the same brightness level.
According to official data, the level has 450 lumens. Since the UI is the same seen in Olight PL-2, I limit myself to only return instructions from that review.
The UI have a disarming simplicity, is impossible to forget and can be learned in a bunch of seconds.
When it is off, a single click either button will light the flashlight. Another click, again by either button, make it turn off.
When it is off, a long click with either button will turn on the momentary on. When you release the button the light goes off.
When it is off or on, if one click run simultaneously on both buttons, will turn on the strobe. One click to turn off.
Dimensions: dimensions and weight
The flashlight measures 7.85 x 3.08 x 2.60 cm.
Weighs 86gr empty, 103 gr with CR123A and 104 gr with 16340.
Following pictures for dimensional comparison between a big BIC,
with a 18650,
and with two CR123A.
Lumen, runtime, candles and beamshot
N.B. The tests to follow were made with the CR123A (non-rechargeable) that comes out from the box and a battery Olight ORB-13P06 from 650mAh battery (rechargeable). The whole thing was done in a homely environment at 23° and, depending on the test, with and without forced ventilation.
The following values were taken with rechargeable battery charged and are considered peak.
The following values were taken with either the rechargeable and non-rechargeable battery charged and are considered peak.
N.B. Discharge curves are obviously indicative and the result may vary in either positive or negative depending on the batteries used by the end user or by the conditions of use, which may vary from mine during my tests.
Any read discrepancies about the tests made on the same level are due to a different positioning of the measuring equipment.
The following values were taken with rechargeable battery charge and are considered peak.
The following photo was taken at a distance of 20 cm from the wall.
Beam width.
Photo taken at one level available. The tree line is at 25 meters.
The House at the end of the street is at a distance of 70 meters.
Personal considerations
As for the other models of the brand Olight, high quality and attention to detail is also present in this small PL-1 II.
The ease of UI, the compactness of the product and the ease of replacing batteries with the flashlight attached to the rail are the strengths of this product. The power of LED is correct for this model viewed the drawing mass that allows the body to never become too hot.
As for the PL-2 it takes very little time to memorize the location of keys, whose pressure is really quiet and their non-slip finish is very useful.
I didn't find defects and, as for the PL-2, I did not find a lowest level necessary to preserve the battery, since it would be useless to the end use to which it is intended this PL-1 II.
I find honesty the total battery life and, given that the flashlight will not be turned on for long periods, the power generated will be used whenever the lights.
What do you think about? The would you buy?