![O'Pen Glow Rechargeable Penlight: Writing in Low Light [O - Fan Review]](https://cdn.olightstore.com/image/0g1a7992-xpdup7.jpg)
When you think of Everyday Carry, or EDC, the items that fall into this category are generally small, functional, and something you will use daily. Ideally, these items can fit into a pocket, and often they are multifunctional. If you have been around Olight long enough, you have probably discovered and fallen in love with their pen series, the O'Pen. The O'Pen 2 introduced us to a pen with a light on the body and then the O'Pen Pro moved the light to the clip and incorporated a laser pointer on the end. As an EDC item, the O'Pen 2 and O'Pen Pro fit in well and are useful from the classroom, to the boardroom, and even out on patrol if you are in law enforcement or in the medical field. But what if your situation requires being able to write in no or very low light situations? The newest member of the O'Pen series by Olight is the O'Pen Glow and it aims to solve this issue. The O'Pen Glow expands the functions of the O'Pen Pro to now include a light at the tip of the pen. To make this even better, Olight is officially launching the O'Pen Glow in 3 primary colors, olive drab green (ODG), black and blue. And they are also including a limited-edition Stars and Stripes version!
The Design of the Stars and Stripes Limited Edition
Olight has released several products over the past several years honoring the American flag, and all have been very well done and highly coveted by fans and collectors alike. The Stars and Stripes edition of the O'Pen Glow is no exception. It is a beautifully crafted multifunction light that is truly a stunner in person. The top of the pen is a deep blue that is encircled with five rows of ten white stars. The body of the pen contains alternating red and white stripes, and the tip of the pen is solid red. The colors are bright and vivid and represent the colors of the American Flag very well. The overall dimensions of the O'Pen Glow are very similar to the O'Pen Pro. The end of the O'Pen Glow has a dimpled texture providing a comfortable and non-slip grip for extended writing.
Comparing the O'Pen Glow to the O'Pen Pro
While the overall dimensions are very similar between the O'Pen Pro and the O'Pen Glow, there are a few very distinct improvements and differences. As mentioned, the O'Pen Glow adds the ability to illuminate the tip of the pen, making writing in low or no-light situations much more manageable. The amount of light is more than sufficient to see the area of the page where you are writing without disturbing or creating issues for those around you. This is ideal for law enforcement or medical professionals who find themselves taking notes in dark rooms or at night while on shift. The addition of the lighted tip is the most impressive upgrade compared to the O'Pen Pro.
Another feature added back is the ability to “lock out” the light when not in use. This feature was available on the O'Pen 2 but was not available on the O'Pen Pro because the activation of the light moved from the end to the bolt. The O'Pen Glow brings this often-requested feature back because the light is once again activated by the top of the pen. Pressing and holding the top switch down momentarily will toggle lock-out mode either on or off. Using the top switch enables you to activate the light on the clip, as well as the cycle between high, medium, and low. When the pen is extended, pressing the top switch will activate the light at the tip.
Another significant difference between the Glow and the Pro is the method for charging the pens. The O'Pen Pro is charged using USB C after unscrewing the top to reveal the charging port. The O'Pen Glow on the other hand uses a charging base (included) to recharge the pen. Some may find this disappointing since the charging base is designed to be secured to a desk via the included magnetic base, which makes it a challenge should the pen need to be recharged when you are away from your desk. Perhaps in a future upgrade, Olight might consider adding the USB recharging port into the top section of the pen like that of the O'Pen Pro. In the meantime, owning more than one O'Pen Glow enables you to have a charging base at your office and possibly one in your travel bag or briefcase.
The ink cartridge for the O'Pen Glow is electrically conductive to facilitate charging from the tip while inserted into the charging port. This may be a concern for some as they may have a preference to utilize other ink cartridges. However, the Olight ink issues were resolved quite a while ago and I find that the O'Pen Glow writes extremely well on a multitude of surfaces. While I understand the hesitation due to proprietary ink cartridges, rest assured that these are very well made and written incredibly well.
What is included
O'Pen Glow x 1
Charging Base x 1
Blue Refill x
1 Magnetic badge x 1
User Manual x 1
Type-C Charging Cable x 1
In Summary
The O'Pen Glow is a must-have addition to anyone’s EDC gear. It is a 4 in 1 multifunction device that has proven to be indispensable in a variety of situations. You have a laser pointer, which comes in handy for students, teachers as well as professionals, and training organizations (this doesn’t even include the hours of fun you can have with your pets). The light on the clip is impressively bright and very useful, while the light from the tip is more than enough for illuminating the page without disturbing those around you. The pen itself writes extremely well with the included ink and has proven to be a great writing instrument. The Stars Stripes Edition being released during this sale will be very limited and I highly recommend adding this version to your cart as soon as you can.
Thank you for reading!
