Cloud Defensive OWL

Cloud Defensive Optimized Weapon Light
Clouddefensive.com

Stats
Width: 2.76” (It's THICCC)
Height: 1.26”
Length: 5.255”
Weight: 9.0 oz (empty)
11.00 oz (with battery - he's bulking and not show ready yet)
Cost:$369.99 (from Cloud Defensive)
Notes: Comes with case, Nitecore charger, and two 18650 batteries. One provides higher output, the other provides longer run time.

I've been in the market for a new high output weapon light for a bit. I was happy with the performance that I was getting from my surefire, but then I came across the OWL from Cloud Defensive. In the past 2 years or so, high output weapons have come into their own with the advent of reliably mass produced high discharge mAH batteries.

If you’ve ever used a modern handheld cordless powertool, laptop, messed around with RC model kits, Helos, or drones you’re familiar with LiON batteries. Most of these battery packs are unsuited to use in a weaponlight, until the 18650 came along. This roughly two CR123A sized LiON battery can provide unreal levels of output rated in mAH. The higher the mAH rating the longer the battery will roughly last in a high output device like the OWL. This does come with a safety downsized – namely in a fire hazard if the battery is discharged too low, or the protective covering is punctured, or the battery shorts. Don’t try and rewire the battery cells yourself! Last note, you can't interchange some 18650's because they're different dimensions that the ones that Cloud Defensive recommends. For example, the Surefire 18650s you can purchase for the 600DF are too long to fit properly. Every woman's fantasy right?

What you get in the end is 50,000+ candela at the business end of this light. While most handhelds and wmls measure their output in lumens, it’s usable light that matters the most. If the lumens aren’t focused enough what you get is great spill light up close and usable light to a certain distance out front but there isn’t as much focused light. Focused light out front is critical in trying to positively identify something in the dark/dusk.

While you can go onto the Cloud Defensive website and read for yourself all of the features of the OWL, I’m going to focus on the two that I feel that set this light apart from the rest of the lights out there – durability and performance. I can confirm Garand Thumbs' test at night and at somewhat similar distances. It really depends on you, but my eye can pick up a little more detail with he "warmer" light of the OWL than the more "clinical" absolute white from a Modlite.

Are you a devil handed because your mother was a witch? Cloud Defensive has got you covered fam, just switch the head and tail cap. The OWL doesn’t require any other mounting surface other than a clear picatinny rail. The pressure pad is sure to the touch and in the past 6 months hasn’t given me any trouble.

Since I spent my own money on this light, I couldn’t subject it the durability tests but through the power of the internet, other gents have kindly done so for us. Skip to about 9:53 to watch them hit it with a hand sledge a bunch of time until it fails. Now, he didn’t hold the OWL down securely, but this impressive considering they'd dropped it, run it over, and dropped a cinder block on it.

So this light will definitely stand up to the rigors of everyday use and what most of us could throw at it. Bomb proof for sure IMO. Bet the guys in this car could’ve used one. Then again, the only thing left would’ve been the OWL.

In summary, Pros: Performance and durability. Cons: Cost and weight. IMO you get a lot for what you're paying for that so far I haven't found in another light of similar price point.

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