Illustration courtesy of Olympia Outdoor Products.

While at the 2016 SHOT Show we scored a real find. Maybe no one gets as excited about a superior penlight like a doctor or nurse, but to us this device is worth its weight in gold.

We have spent our careers gazing down patient's gullets looking for the culprits of illness. Light quality and beam intensity is indispensable for making such diagnoses. The light can be held several inches from the mouth, allowing excellent visualization of the nasopharynx. Operation is convenient with an end cap on/off button.

We were impressed with the Olympia Wand Penlight. It is an LED penlight of convenient size and weight that securely clips into a shirt pocket, but has a whopping 160 lumens. This is just the horsepower needed for superb illumination.

The black case is made of aircraft grade aluminum, which is knurled and checkered for a secure grip. A toughened lens survives real world abuse. The Olympia Wand is ANSI/FL1 rated and carries a IPX7 Weatherproof Rating (1 meter for 30 minutes). The CREE(R) XPG R5 LED has a 50,000 hour lifespan and a two year guarantee.

When armed with its included AAA alkaline batteries, it lights up the world. There are basically three modes of operation: High, Low and Strobe, as well as momentary operation. The high intensity setting provides over two hours of continuous use and its low setting (70 lumens) exceeds seven hours.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Light Output: 160 lumens (high), 70 lumens (low)
• Runtime: 2.25 hours (high), 7.25 hours (low)
• Strobe: 9 Hz
• Weight: 1 oz. w/o batteries
• Length: 5.43 in.
• Diameter: 0.57 in.
• Case Material: Aircraft grade aluminum
• Batteries: 2xAAA (Included)
• Warranty: 2 years
• 2016 MSRP: $19.99

This penlight exceeds our expectations. Our clinical colleagues think this penlight is superior to the hard-wired lamps used in the ER and free hand devices vended by medical supplies.

Placed in a glove compartment, pocket, purse or fanny pack, it is a valuable companion for navigating low light conditions. Always have a small flashlight handy when traveling by commercial carrier or staying in a hotel. Emergencies, such as fire, are typically accompanied by power failure and require supplemental light to aid escape. A powerful penlight, such as this Olympia Wand is ideal for the purpose and occupies minimal space.

During a month of practical testing, we are still discovering its utility for nocturnal applications. It is a miniature floodlight, without the cumbersome weight of a standard flashlight. We consider the Olympia Wand to be the best penlight we have seen.