OWL Optimized Weapon Light – New from Cloud Defensive!

We’ve been following Cloud Defensive since its first product, the Light Control System (LCSmk1 and LCSmk2). Sean McCauley, the President over at Cloud Defensive, just gave us an exclusive announcement of their first proprietary Weapon Light System. They are calling it the OWL Optimized Weapon Light.

Fifty Shades of FDE – Photos courtesy of Sean McCauley*

OWL Optimized Weapon Light from Cloud Defensive.

OWL seems like a fitting name, after the nocturnal bird of prey.

*Images are of OWL prototypes to be displayed at SHOT Show 2018.

Optimized Weapon Light – Completely Integrated OWL

From my conversation with Sean and reading the fact sheet, the OWL is a complete integrated system without exposed wires. There are no mounts or supplementary parts needed. OWL represents a one-piece, tool-free solution. And it appears to be a one-piece solution that is going to work very well for a lot of people, law enforcement included.

OWL Optimized Weapon Light Features

OWL features a quick-disconnect head and tail cap. That may be the feature that’s most intriguing, though there are several here. Cloud Defensive did away with the traditional threads that hold a flashlight together, so replacing batteries or changing the setup of the OWL will be very fast.

Sean told me the head or tail cap can be removed from the light body, while mounted on a weapon, in less than two seconds with just a few degrees of rotation on the head or tail cap. And yes, batteries can be changed from either end, at any time. So there is no longer a need to work around the muzzle or a hot suppressor just to change your batteries.

Lux and Lumen – Optimized Weapon Light Output

The OWL has an estimated 1,600 Lumen/45,000 Lux output, running on three CR123 or 16340 rechargeable batteries. To my knowledge, this will be the highest output on a WML available. By making their own reflector in-house, they are able to shape the light pattern precisely to their own spec. Output and run-time studies are currently underway.

Speaking of manufacturing, the guys at Cloud Defensive are making this light 100% in-house, here in the USA. Even the electrical system is made here. Sean told me no expense was spared with the electrical system, which yielded the most efficient system possible. So the user is getting an industry-leading level of performance (output and run-time).

It also has a mode that allows it to run at 60% output – and that mode is entered via the pressure switch, at a time of the user’s choosing. Yet the programming features are protected in such a way that the end-user can’t accidentally program their light during duty use. As such there are no external buttons or switches that control output, which can represent a liability in the field.

The switch itself is interesting. The Cloud Defensive OWL features an integrated switch that functions as a momentary or constant and is user programmable for the three modes of operation. I’m told this is not a standard tape switch but rather a proprietary switch that is permanently sealed from the elements during the manufacturing process. The result is supposed to be bombproof. And they learned from the previous generation switches as well; it’s recessed and effectively shrouded in such a way that negligent discharge of the light is virtually impossible. Yet the switch seems big enough to easily engage instantly. The ergonomics appear impressive.

Some very unique features the OWL will have are the field serviceable lens and the dual-tool built in the tail cap. You can install it and replace the lens if it gets damaged without requiring any other tools. So no extra tools are needed for this system.

The OWL is currently in pre-production. Production will begin once testing is finished. The first units are scheduled to ship sometime in Q2 of 2018. So we don’t have to wait too long.

OWL Optimized Weapon Light features, as advised by Sean:

• One-piece integrated solution with optimized ergonomics.
• About 1600 Lumens and about 45,000 Lux (estimated as of publication).

‘Our lumen estimate is going to be very accurate as that’s a lot easier to calculate. Lux is a function of not only the LED but the reflector. Since we control the reflector geometry, we are able to tweak that design to optimize beam pattern which means the candela could be shifting a little bit before production. This light is being optimized for ‘throw,’ meaning we’ll be able to put light further downrange than the competition. And we’ll have nice useable spill in that pattern as well. We’re being very picky on the light beam.’

• A Quick-Disconnect light head and tail-cap. Battery changes are now lightning-fast and easy to do. Patented Lug-Lok technology gives you a light head and a tail cap that are removable without traditional threading. A few degrees of rotation and you can immediately remove the head or tail cap. The batteries can be changed from either direction, at any time. Working around the muzzle or suppressor is now a breeze as well.
• Precision machined from Certified 6061-T6 aluminum. Just like most other components on your gun. And just like the other flashlights on the market.
• Type III Anodized to MIL STD. “Hardcoat,” just like the rest of your gun.
• Made 100% in the USA. Made 100% in-house at our production facility. We’re proud of this fact.
• Uses either three CR123 batteries or three 16340 rechargeable. Our electrical system senses what batteries are present and adjusts for those batteries. This gives you maximal performance and ensures safety. Outputs are the same with both power sources but the 16340’s will run a bit longer. Due to the protected nature of the 16340s however, we recommend CR123 for duty-use.
• Run-time at 100% power is industry-leading. Nobody puts out this many lumens for this long. It’s not even close. (Performance and run-time studies are underway.) Admittedly, we have a 3rd battery where others do not. So effectively, we are pulling from a bigger “gas tank”. The efficiency of our electrical system is second to none. So is our heat-sync ability. As such, we have a light that runs longer and brighter than any other weapon-mounted light (as of publication).
• Run-time at 60% power (960 lumens) is also industry-leading. The run-time numbers here are really impressive when compared to the competition at those output levels.
• Multiple modes of operation. The OWL is user-programmable. Select what is right for your mission and change it anytime you need to.

1. 1.  Full power, all the time (momentary and constant-on)
   2. Full power for momentary, 60% for constant-on. Roughly 960 lumens at 60%.
   3. 60% power all the time (momentary and constant-on)

• Industry first multi-purpose switch allows for momentary and constant-on operation. Momentary until the switch is held down for seven seconds, then constant-on engages with a quick blink of the light for visual confirmation. Constant-on is disengaged with a simple tap of the switch. A hard-programmed safety mode exists within Power Mode 2. Tap the switch during 60% constant-on and you are immediately back to full (100%) output.
• Fully Ambidextrous. Our reversible design allows it to be mounted on either side of the host weapon.
• Field-Serviceable Lens. Our FSL system allows for a damaged lens to be changed out in a matter of seconds, by the end-user. The days of sending your light back for warranty on a broken lens are over.
• Dual-tool built into the tail-cap. You attach OWL to your weapon with the tool in the tail-cap. You replace your lens with the tool on the tail-cap as well. This dual-tool feature makes the OWL a tool-free design.
• Waterproof to exceed IPX8 standards. The OWL is fully submersible to reasonable depths.
• Shockproof. Dustproof. OWL is a hard-used piece of equipment.
• No external wires to deal with. No external plugs or sockets. Not susceptible to water/debris.
• Lifetime Warranty. Period.

A WML System Unlike Any Other

The Cloud Defensive OWL appears to be a WML system like none other in existence. It has an impressive output, is fully integrated, and is packed with features—many of which are very innovatively designed into the light.

I haven’t picked one up yet. There will be scheduled times at several booths showing off the production samples at SHOT Show 2018. Two of the known booths at this time are Strategic Armory Corps/Armalite – Booth #11771 and Geissele –Booth #15162, and a couple of other booths TBD. I look forward to seeing Sean there, checking it out in person at SHOT and getting a production model down the line for a full report.

If you are at SHOT Show 2018, this is one of those products you really want to check out. MSRP will be at $339.99 with an intro price of $299.99 at the Cloud Defensive site. The OWL is scheduled to ship the second quarter of 2018.

50SoFDE

Cloud Defensive: Read everything we’ve written about ’em.