Review: Ozark Trail 500 lumen flashlight, model 20047

Gun Watch ^ | 10 November, 2013 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

Ozark Trail is a lower end brand marketed at Walmart.  Just because something is inexpensive does not mean that it cannot work well.   Value for the time spent is an important consideration.  Flashlight technology has advanced so rapidly with light emitting diodes (led) that inexpensive lights of today can easily outperform expensive lights of a few years ago.

I have been looking for a light that is very bright, so it could temporarily blind an assailant at  night, yet be tough enough to use as a makeshift  blunt instrument if necessary.

My brother recommended this light to me, as he had purchased one, abused it, and it was still working well after a few weeks.  I went to the local WalMart and picked one up for the sticker price of $29.97, which is a bit cheaper than I used to pay for a 4 cell Maglite.    The light is very sturdily made, and can take quite a bit of abuse.  I takes six AA type batteries, which are included in the price, a nice extra that would cost an additional $3 if bought separately. 

The light has a single switch with two settings, high and low.  The high setting, at 500 lumens, is said to last for 7.5 hours, the low setting at 100 lumens, is supposed to last 38 hours.   All of that can be read at the WalMart web site.

The switch cycles through the three modes.  Click once, high mode, click again, low mode, click a third time, off.   It is a momentary off switch, so you can flash it by holding partly down to turn it off, and letting it return up to turn on.

It is a reasonably  tough light, so it can be used as an improvised short billy if need be.   I found the diameter to be about right for a good grip.  Here is the light with batteries alongside for scale:

The light is 9.5 inches long, with the body 1.5 inches in diameter.  The end cap reduces down to 1.1 inches, and is flat, so the light can be stood upright on either end.

Note the flat reduced end and the ridges running along the length of the body.

Subjectively, the light is very bright.  If shown in an aggressors eyes at night at less than 10 feet, they will be dazzled for several seconds while their eyes adjust.  On an overcast and moonless night, I could make out individual tree trunks across a field 250 yards away.  Having once had to traverse 20 miles at low speed while using a flashlight as a makeshift vehicle headlight, this light would perform that function with authority.

There are some caveats that need to be considered.  First, WalMart is notorious for having items that are desirable, only to run out in a few days, never to stock them again.  Second, a light is of marginal use if it does not work.

My brothers light has always worked well, in spite of considerable abuse to see if it would break.  I did not have that fortunate experience.

The first light that I purchased seemed to work... I put it on the night stand and went to bed.   I woke at 0100, and decided to try the light.  Push switch.. nothing.  After a few iterations, it came on and worked fine.  I wondered if I had fumbled something so shortly after waking up.   That morning, I went hunting with my brother and some friends.  The meet up occurred well before dawn, so I took the light.   I pressed the switch.   No joy and no light.  After a few iterations, I tossed it on the car seat.    A couple of hours later, when I returned to the car,  I noticed that the light was on.

I returned to WalMart and exchanged it.  The new unit seemed to work.    A couple of days later, I stuck it in my back pocket as I went for a 4.5 mile hike to get some exercise, only an hour before dark, with the temperature about 40 degrees.    On my return an hour later,  I pulled out the light and clicked the switch... no joy, no light.   I set it down on a table and worked on more urgent matters.  A few minutes later, the light came on.   Could temperature be the problem?  I placed the light in the refrigerator and waited.

Two hours later, the light would not turn on.  I placed the light beside the wood stove.  15 minutes later, the light worked fine.  I put the light back in the refrigerator and repeated the results the next morning.   My brother put his light in the refrigerator, and never noticed any difference in performance.

Back to WalMart for the third trip and third light.  This one has had no problems.  I found that if I held the light at the head end, so that I  could trigger the switch with my trigger finger, and thrust the light hard against a heavy bag, my hand tended to slip forward.   It would be possible to cut one's hand on the raised ridges on the light's body.

To alleviate this problem, I wrapped the body with hockey stick tape at a point where the grip seemed natural and secure.  Several wrappings of tape were used to create a sloping stop that was comfortable and prevented the hand from slipping forward.   Numerous hard thrusts to a heavy bag proved this to be effective.   Several side impacts were done as well.   The light continues to function well.  I found that the middle finger worked well to control the switch with this grip.

I have always thought that a bright light at night gives an excellent option for evading an unpleasant encounter.   If the threat is more serious, the light could serve as an improvised short billy club.

Caution must be observed.  A hard and fast thrust with the reduced end cap to the solar plexus  will almost certainly result in loss of breath for many seconds, but if the solar plexus is missed, the flat and focused nature of the end cap could easily result in a cracked sternum or broken ribs.   If the body of the light were used in a side strike against the upper thigh, there is an excellent chance that the leg would be temporarily paralysed; hit a bit lower at the knee and the joint could be dislocated.   It is even possible that the patella could be fractured, resulting in long term disability.  If a side stroke were delivered to the head, it is likely that the ridges would result in superficial cuts and lots of blood, not to mention the real possibility of a concussion or worse.

I have never had a TSA agent stop me from carrying a flashlight in my carry on, though I have done so on several occasions.   I once carried a four cell mag light into a high school graduation where firearms and knives were forbidden.   The ceremony would end about dark, and it was a bit of a walk to the parking lot.  No one complained about the light.  While this light is not a weapon, care must be used if it is forced into that role.  Some police departments have banned the use of substantial flashlights because suspects have been severely injured and even killed when such lights have been used as bludgeons.

If you decide that the trouble is worth it, and obtain one of these lights, be sure to keep the receipt and to test it rigorously for several days.  Do the refrigerator test.   If you purchase one that works, it can be a useful tool.

I like the light and intend to keep it.  It is not as heavy as the bigger Maglights, and the size and weight seem about right to me.


©2013 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.
Link to Gun Watch

[marktwain]

I am sure that there are other, excellent lights available. This one was enough of an interesting experience to write about.

[Dark Knight]

There are also inserts for Maglites and new rechargeable batteries that don’t discharge much. Bike light tech is useful for that. I’ve always liked my maglite.

DK

[dglang]

Check out Meritline.com. I have purchased THREE 1200 lumen flashlights from them and they all work great.

I gave away some to friends and family.

Be sure to buy the lights which use the Ultrafire 18650 4000 Mah 3.5 volt Li-ion battery. As these batteries are slightly oversize, they require the use of the Ultrafire charger model wf-139.

The lights I mentioned have multiple modes from low to high power and strobe including an SOS mode.

[yarddog]

I have noticed light power is now expressed in lumens instead of candle power. I had gotten used to candle power and have no idea how lumens compares.

[jsanders2001]

Nice find. I agree. Things on’t have to cist an arm and a leg to be good.

Found these binoculars at Walmart for $10 the other day and they’re better than many 4 - 5 times as much that I’ve owned:

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Bushnell-Tasco-10-x-25-Binoculars-Black/16767717

[Hot Tabasco]

I placed the light in the refrigerator and waited.

I think the light in my refrigerator stays on all the time since it's lit every time I open the door. I think the cold gives added life to the bulb since I've never had to replace it.......

[marktwain]

No doubt. Too bad it had the opposite effect on one of my lights. It must be the difference between AC and DC... ;-)

[traderrob6]

Sorry, don’t take recommendations from anyone who drinks Buttermilk.

[marktwain]

I hate the stuff, but it works for my Mother...

[ansel12]

When it comes to “Lumens”, there are ‘Chinese Lumen’ which are just made up, versus ANSI Lumens, which are an actual standard.

One light can be 1,000 Chinese lumens and actually be a couple of hundred, while the ANSI standard uses the actual lumens.

Myself, I only buy lights that have regulated battery life, an unregulated light is only as bright as the battery is fresh, regardless of what the claim is.

[musicman]

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[ErnBatavia]

That’s about the most dumbass “product review” I’ve ever read.

[driftdiver]

If I’m buying something to save my life I don’t think cost is my main concern. Anything that took 3 tries to get one that works is something I don’t want.

Sometimes things are cheaper because they aren’t as well made.

[Vigilanteman]

A bud of mine who is an engineer and avid outdoorsman recommends lighting by a company called High Uinta Gear. While the Wal-Mart flashlight mentioned in this thread gives pretty good bang for the buck due to cheaper and better LED technology, it apparently falls well short of expectations in switching technology. That is the main reason you are better off paying a little more money for something from Meritline or High Uinta Gear.

[ansel12]

Be sure to buy the lights which use the Ultrafire 18650 4000 Mah 3.5 volt Li-ion battery.

The flashlight guys advise to stay away from Ultrafire batteries, (or any batteries with "fire" in the name.

For one thing, there are no 4000Mah 18650 batteries in existence yet, so that tells you what Utrafire is.

Just like "Chinese" Lumens, such as the 1200 Lumen light from Meritline, Ultrafire uses "Chinese" Mahs.

[Baynative]

If you want a flashlight that doubles as a tool to ward off assailants; look no further!

[marktwain]

Do you know of a good light for the heavy bag? I like the AA batteries because they are so common.

[yarddog]

I bought a Browning LED flashlight from CDNN after they reduced the price from something like $96 to maybe $20. It appears to be beautifully made and has a 3 position switch for 3 different power levels.

On the brightest level it is far brighter than any of my old maglites. It takes 3 volt 123a batteries. I suspect they would not last long on full power but don’t use it very often

I will say it will light up things 60 to 70 yards away and even a couple of hundred yards if not as bright. If I shine it on a road sign half a mile away, the reflection is quite distinct.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

A very cheap dazzle light is a disposable paper flash camera. Though it only lasts for a fraction of a second, getting strobed with around 100,000 Lumen will definitely wipe out night vision for a long time. With luck, you’ll even get a photo of the fool looking stupid.

[Big Red Badger]

and he mentioned that He used it as headlights While driving at nite,,,boy got issues.