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Ombu LEDWAVE Flashlights

Review by Phil Elmore

I have read several times that knifemaker Camillus imports tactical
flashlights made by Ombu, a Spanish company. While I haven’t managed
to find anything on the Web confirming this relationship (other than
second-hand references at resellers’ sites, where the lights are offered),
I don’t know as that makes much difference. Ombu makes the lights
and it is Ombu who will answer for their quality and features.
Fortunately for consumers and the manufacturer alike, the torches are
high-quality devices that make good personal accessories, tactical
defensive tools, and, well, lights.

The size difference of the 5 Watt X55 and the 3 Watt X33 is an optical

illusion. The X11 is significantly smaller and uses only one
battery.

For testing I secured four different Ombu LEDWAVE flashlights, all
purchased through one of The Martialist online store’s distributors:
the X-11, the X-33, the X-55, and the Z5. By now you’re probably a
little weary of constant photo comparisons of such-and-such a competing brand
of light compared to the lights being tested. I’ve provided lumens
figures that come from the factory and seem to be borne out in testing, though
I make no pretense of having scientifically and independently gauged the light
output. Beyond a certain point, a tactical light is either freaking
bright or really freaking bright. Below that point, its output is
useful for utility or it isn’t. I don’t think we have to complicate the
matter any further. I have, however, included some comparison shots of
the lights together so you can choose from among them (depending on cost and
preference).

The LEDWAVE torches are excellent striking tools.

Each LEDWAVE hand torch (the Z5 is a dedicated gun light) is a digitally
regulated Light Emitting Diode (LED) flashlight of knurled aluminum, o-ring
sealed for water resistance.
Length varies with model, but all are 28 millimeters (about 1.1 inches) in
diameter. Lenses are polycarbonate. Powered by one or two CR123A batteries, the
torches include metal pocket clips (a feature that more manufacturers should
offer more consistently) and have positive (“clicky”) on-off tailcap switches.
A belt holster is also
available for the larger lights.

The X55 is the top-of-the-line entry among LEDWAVE products.

No momentary-on feature is supplied, though the operator can simulate this by
clicking the torch on and then pressing the switch gently to hold it
momentarily in the off mode. Releasing the held switch produces the
beam and pressing the switch again extinguishes it. The lack of
dedicated momentary switches makes me hesitant to recommend using the handheld
LEDWAVES with firearms, but they’re certainly more than up to their roles as
personal utility and self-defense lights.

Torch	Output (Lumens)	Run Time	Length (mm)	Batteries
X11	30	3 hrs.	93	1
X33	45 or 12	3-4 or 20 hrs.	128	2
X55	65	1 hr. +	128	2

(All figures are taken from the Ombu

website
and affiliated web sources.)

All three hand torches exhibit good fit and finish. The deep knurling
provides a positive grip and a pleasant tactile sensation. Each light
has a crenulated bezel that is great for
striking in self-defense, though the X-11 is so short it is really only
suitable for use as a fist load. To be honest I found these lights
absolutely superb as self-defense torches they feel great, they’re sturdy, they’re well made,
they’re bright, they’re easy to carry and conceal, and they hit hard
when used as pocket sticks.

The X33 differs from the other two lights in that it has two brightness
settings. Clicking the tailcap switch once produces a 12-lumen burn from
the LED, which is fine for utility purposes and preserves the battery life
(theoretically, the torch will run for four to five times longer at the lower
setting). Clicking the switch again produces the X33’s maximum burn
(listed as 45 lumens). A third click switches it off again. The
X11 and X55 don’t have this feature. A single click turns them on and a second
click turns them off again.

Between the three X-series LED torches, users can find a light among the
Ombu lineup (which also includes Xenon-bulb tactical torches) that suits them.
The small X11, which the badly translated Ombu website calls “ridiculous,” is
an extremely convenient little pocket light that can be clipped just about
anywhere without getting in the way.

This light has a ridiculous
size, but its amazingly bright.
You get a 30 lumens concentrated spot. This light can sight a person or animal
at 40 metres.
Its design is compact, handy and agressive [sic]. Of course this model is IC
controlled to achieve the maximum capability of the LED.

The X33 and X55 are identical in size and feel, the only
difference being the power of the light output. The X55 is obviously the
top-of-the-line LED torch in the lineup, producing (as stated on the company’s
site) a very competitive 65 lumens. Strangely, the packaging in which my
sample shipped claims 75 lumens of output. I suspect the X33 offers the
lower-power utility mode to make it competitive with its other siblings, for
without this feature it is not as bright as the X55 yet not as compact as the
X11. Those looking for the most “tactical” torch from the company would
doubtless go with the brighter X55. Such users would not want to click
through a lower brightness setting to get to the maximum output mode.

My samples shipped in nice storage boxes, with
batteries.

The LEDs in the torches all have an operating life of
100,000 hours, at least in theory. That figure gets thrown around for
most of the LEDs I’ve seen and is only accurate for some of them. The
company’s website states that the 1-hour run time for the X-55 is for its
maximum output. Thereafter, Ombu claims, the torch is good for another 2
or 3 hours at “medium performance,” whatever that means in application.

All three lights feature handy pocket clips.

Those of you looking for a lower-cost firearms light might
consider the Xenon-bulb Z5 from Ombu, which can be used on the rail mounts of
most handguns and on Picatinny rails. It is slightly longer than a
comparable Streamlight M3 unit, constructed of aluminum, and has both a
momentary on and always-on setting. Its 65 lumens of output make it
comparable to other base models in the same product category.

Ombu LEDWAVE Z5 weapon light mounted on a Taurus 9mm.

I had one major gripe with my sample, however,
and that was that the always-on mode did not activate reliably. Pushing
the switch down on the right-hand side to activate the always-on feature
caused the light to switch on for a moment, after which the switch would pop
free and the light would shut off. Using the momentary switch feature
caused me no trouble and this is the mode I would use more often.

The 65-lumen output of the Z5 is adequate for
“tactical” use.

The cost-to-benefit ratio of the Ombu torches
is very high. You might need a pocket utility light, you might want a
full-blown tactical torch, or you might want a multi-use lamp that could
function in several near-tactical roles for emergencies. Regardless of
your specific needs, I think there is a LEDWAVE that can meet them reasonably
well.

As of this writing, The Martialist carries
these lights in its online store.

Shop, compare, and then come back to The
Martialist when you’re ready to add one to your gear.

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