Ombu LEDWAVE Flashlights

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.

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).

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.

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.

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 it’s 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.

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.

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.

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 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.