Olight Open 2 Review: A Pen Light Combination That Actually Works

Introduction

Dual-function gadgets usually disappoint. One half works, the other feels like filler. The Olight Open 2 is a rare exception: a machined pen light where both the pen and the light are genuinely useful on their own, and better together.

What the Olight Open 2 Is

The Open 2 is essentially two functional pieces in one slim body. The front half is a bolt-action ballpoint pen; the tail section houses a rechargeable LED light charged over USB-C. The whole unit weighs just 1.1 ounces, and the machining is noticeably smooth, with no rough edges anywhere on the body.

Olight has been building a reputation with compact, feature-rich lights, and the company brings that same quick-moving design philosophy here. The result feels elegantly produced rather than gimmicky.

How the Light Performs

The output ladder is well thought out. A single press of the tail cap starts at 5 lumens, which is genuinely useful for reading in a dark room or finding your way around without blasting light everywhere. Double-click and you jump to the full 120 lumens, or you can cycle through intermediate levels.

Runtime scales accordingly: about 20 minutes at 120 lumens, roughly 50 minutes at 60 lumens, and up to 10 hours at 5 lumens. That makes it less a thrower and more a close-range utility light, and at this size that is exactly the point.

There is also a lockout mode: hold the switch for a few seconds and it shuts off completely, preventing accidental activation in a pocket or bag. Hold it again to unlock. One useful trick is setting the light down at an angle, or rotating the clip position, to use it as a small area light. It would not take much to turn it into a close-proximity headlamp with a simple headband.

The Pen Half

The bolt-action mechanism deploys the ballpoint smoothly, and the cartridge writes well. On coated or wet-weather paper there is some skipping, but on conventional paper it performed better in side-by-side tests than a far more expensive premium pen.

The cartridge is Olight-branded. It does not appear to accept the pressurized cartridges famous for writing upside down, which is worth knowing if all-weather writing is a priority. The bolt-action design and solid metal body do give it a mildly tactical character, though it is discreet enough not to draw unwanted attention, and at 1.1 ounces it is far lighter than most metal pens.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The main trade-off is runtime at high output. Twenty minutes at 120 lumens is short, but this is a convenience light, not a replacement for a full-size flashlight. If you need sustained high output, carry a bigger light; the Open 2 is about always having something capable with you.

It also has a slightly slippery finish if you are thinking of it as a tactical pen. And the dual-function value only holds if you will actually use both halves. Here, both halves are equal in quality, which is what separates it from cheaper pen light attempts.

Buying Advice

The Open 2 makes the most sense for anyone building an everyday carry kit or a compact survival kit, where a reliable light and a working pen in one lightweight body saves pocket space without compromise. It also makes a strong gift for anyone who appreciates well-machined small tools. If you already carry a dedicated pen and a dedicated light you love, the case is weaker, but as a single slim carry item it is hard to beat.

Conclusion

The Olight Open 2 nails the dual-function formula: a genuinely good 120-lumen rechargeable light and a genuinely good writing pen, in one elegantly machined 1.1-ounce body. For everyday carry, travel, or a compact kit, it is one of the more convincing pen light combinations available.