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]

“500 lumen lights generally sell for $200+. That is what makes it interesting.”

I did not have the instruments to actually measure the lumens.

It subjectively seemed very bright.

[KarlInOhio]

Over the past few years Lowe's has had various Maglites on sale for half price the day (maybe the whole weekend) after Thanksgiving. Always worth the trip to get the real thing for half off.

[ansel12]

You need to design a (very, very) simple plan for one, for the prepper threads for us, preferably one designed so that it won’t be ruined if an old Alkaline battery bursts and leaks badly.

Right now I’m at the 74 hour mark of testing the runtime for an old single led model of a ‘Planet Bike’ Beamer flashlight that I just picked up at a thrift shop for a dollar.

I put in two well used AAs that measured 1.34v each, one of which was dated from 2008, and one with no date on it.

It looks like it is going to go for quite some time, I will probably use it for a loaner since I generally have to supply lights for neighbors during blackouts, or gift it to someone who doesn’t own a battery vampire.

[ansel12]

500 lumen lights generally sell for $200+.

Maybe in an over priced light like Surefire, or years ago, but not today.

Today you can get high quality lights, regulated, and producing an actual ANSI 850 Lumens, for $75.00, see the PD35 link in post 23.

If one is willing to use the 18650 battery, he can get a mind blowing light for $30.00 that is very highly regarded, and which I own (I paid more) here is the link.

At some point, any one interested in bright flashlights, that will throw hundreds of yards, will need to switch to 18650 batteries for their high power lights.

[AlaskaErik]

I can’t believe they never put it into production!

[cquiggy]

No one else seems to have pointed this out yet but that was a whole lot of Crap to read just to find out that everything sold at a Wal-Mart is CRAP!

If you want a very good quality light with 350 Lumens Hi, Low, Strobe. Also Red, Green, and Blue beams. Red: For Night Vision. Green: For Map reading. Blue: Helps Identify Blood. And it uses the more modern ten year shelf life 3V CR123 batteries. Get the Gander Mountain Item # 754235 GSX Tactical light. On sale right now for $49.99 It’s also available from Overton’s for the same price. I have four of these one in every car and one that goes in my pocket every night when I walk my dog thru the country. The strobe is powerful and has enough blinding and annoying flash to scare off coyotes and foxes pretty easily. The batteries will usually last for three to four months with a pretty good amount of use. The ones that are in my cars are rarely touched but always come on and are just as bright as new ones even after sitting for extended time periods months and months. When I ordered my second one of these it had a defective switch and Gander Mountain sent me a new one and a return envelope for the defective one no problem at all.

[ansel12]

No one else seems to have pointed this out yet but that was a whole lot of Crap to read just to find out that everything sold at a Wal-Mart is CRAP!

Because it isn't true.

Is Surefire lights the top light for the military, as you describe? Walmart sells them.

[ansel12]

I sure could have written that better.

When I wrote “”Is Surefire lights the top light for the military, as you describe? Walmart sells them.””

I was meaning to write ‘Is Surefire lights, the top light for the military, as you describe(”crap”)? Walmart sells those.

[Moonman62]

The Fenix lights are well built, and have accurate lumen and run time ratings. They are worth the money. I also like sticking with the aa nimh batteries. They are cheap, widely available and safe.

[ansel12]

LOL, you write like I usually write, a simple collection of plain facts.

When I read some of my posts on this thread, I see that I’m writing longer posts than I normally do though.

You are spot on, and clearly know a lot about it, no one just kind of accidently comes up with that collection of accurate and factual statements that you casually made.

[yarddog]

I noticed some time ago that Wal-Mart started carrying replacement LED bulbs for the old Brinkman 2 and 3 D cell flashlights.

They were originally around $20 but I have noticed they are now only around $2.95. I am not sure if they are the same as the early $20 ones or not. I bought one of the early ones and it is brighter than the original bulb and the batteries last a whole lot longer with the LED over the Xenon ones.

[ansel12]

I would strongly recommend that freepers leave the world of Maglites and Brinkman.

I personally detest Maglite, because they still go for the profit over the quality.

They survive on their old reputation from the 20th century, today they are a joke,AND THEY STILL SELL Their OLD LIGHTS, with the old bulbs, money before integrity.

[eartrumpet]

I saved my pennies and got a 6 cell Maglight in the early 80s to replace the free plastic Radio Shack 6 cells that I got with coupons from Parade magazine. I turned on that luxurious Maglight and said, “That’s it?”

[trebb]

I bought a couple wind-up lights for our cars. 3 LEDs and will cycle through low/high/flashing. While not good for distance, they will show the next 10’ of a trail and aid under the hood in a pinch. Don’t know how long they go before fading, but it only takes a few seconds of cranking to fire them up and I recently took mine out after 7-8 months of disuse and it still fired up bright w/o cranking so the unit holds a charge very well.

[traderrob6]

I was kidding of course.

[ansel12]

There are led drop ins that will make that 6 cell Maglite a better light, but then you have to skip meals to be able to afford 6 D cells, to feed a light that you can beat with AAs today, but it is cool looking, isn’t it.

They were something in their day though, while Maglite still has a lot of flashlight guys who remember it fondly, some of us really despise them for their continuing (to this day) to promote high profit, but inferior lights to a public that fell in love with them in the 1980s and 1990s.

If you still have it, you can buy an led drop in, some AA to D cell adapters, and keep it in the car as a club.

[ansel12]

I own the only version of a forever light that I have real confidence in, the Nightstar, Gen 3, it was a military grade (and purchased by the military) shake light with a high grade capacitor to store the charge.

The light can store for generations, is waterproof, and fail safe, doesn’t wear out, it even uses magnets as the buffers during the shaking so that there is no contact, and the switch is magnetic as well, with no contact.

Here is a review from 2005, for the $40.00 shakelight.

http://flashlightreviews.com/reviews/ait_nightstar2sc.htm

Here is one of the company’s crank lights. http://www.appliedinnotech.com/product/lightstorm-sl1-no-battery-crank-lantern/

[Political Junkie Too]

You need to design a (very, very) simple plan for one, for the prepper threads for us...

I really couldn't do better than the linked article from my post.

In fact, I found that the original article moved to a new webhost. It can be found here.

The main difference is that I didn't try to make it small enough to fit in a flashlight bulb casing.

To summarize: This article is simple to follow.

The transformer that I made looks like the second from the left in the first picture in the link.

I put the circuit into a Radio Shack AA Battery Holder Catalog #: 270-408. I trimmed the wires and connected the LED through the wire hole.

For I switch, I cut a notch in the side of the holder and added a toggle switch like this one from Radio Shack: DPDT Micromini Toggle Switch Catalog #: 275-626.

Just insert it somewhere between the ground and power in the circuit.

-PJ

[TexasTransplant]

2 C Cells in a sock delivered properly will make the bad guy see lights he has never seen before and may never see again.

Good night (vision)

Back to lurking

TT

[deoetdoctrinae]

I’m glad I remembered this thread of yours. Walmart has a sale (through tomorrow I believe) on these for $20 bucks. Just grabbed one and will see if it stands up to being put through a little testing.