The Olight Otacle D2 Review
Hello, my name is Patrick and welcome to my review. I’m a mid 30’s Australian who likes to collect knives, torches and EDC type gadgets. I am a firm believer in “value for money” which to me means that a product should be something that is reliable, high quality and could potentially last a very long time. I am always searching for the ultimate “Buy It Once For Life” product and things that I can genuinely recommend to other people.
Today I will be talking about the Olight Otacle D2 Titanium edition. Let’s begin.
The Olight Otacle D2 is a small Multi-Bit driver with a built-in fidget slider. Its design is heavily inspired by the incredible Arkfeld flashlight series, but does it live up to the legacy? Let's take a closer look…
Presentation:
Given my previous experience with Olight products, I was really looking forward to unboxing the Otacle D2. However when it arrived I must say I was a little disappointed by the packaging. Instead of the sleek, premium white box I have become accustomed to, I was greeted by a very basic plastic bag containing a small, turquoise coloured transport case. It kind of looks like one of those cases you see in the movies the bad guys use to transport some special black market device to a secret rendezvous. It is a cool looking case and it does a great job of keeping the Otacle 2 safe and secure with its pre-cut foam insert and translucent lid, but I will say the unboxing experience did feel pretty anticlimactic to me unfortunately.
But what about the product itself?
Well that is a different story! The Olight Otacle D2 design is inspired by the phenomenal Arkfeld flashlight and is available in 3 different variations: Black, Titanium and the Limited Edition Ti Gears version. I chose to purchase the limited edition Ti Gears variant because I’m a sucker for limited editions and I have a few other milled titanium EDC items so I wanted to see how well Olight could handle the milling side of things.
On the website it looked like a very intricate and interesting design that would require extreme precision to execute well; which Olight executed perfectly. The stunning design of the gears has been milled flawlessly, and on the underside of the device you can find some more impressive micro milled texturing that is so fine it actually feels almost smooth! Along with “Otacle D2 Ti Gears” and the serial number - which I think has been laser engraved.
Adding to the fantastic aesthetic of this version is the beautiful dark stone wash finish which provides a glorious contrast that really makes the design stand out. It is extremely impressive and the pictures online don’t really do justice to how high quality this unit is.
I am so glad I went with the limited Ti Gears variant as the quality of the machining alone is worth the price. While I was a bit dissatisfied by the lack of an unboxing experience, after doing some further reading I discovered the website actually states that the regular Black version comes in standard packaging but without the special storage case so I guess it’s a bit of a trade off?
Personally, being limited to only 1500 pieces worldwide I think Ti Gears edition deserves the full regalia with its own premium white box and maybe even a sticker or two to really bring the “wow factor” when you open it up. It is such a cool design and it’s executed so beautifully, I kind of feel bad for it not getting the premium packaging it deserves - even though the case is very cool. I give the Otacle D2 Ti Gears variant a Presentation rating of 4/5.
Performance:
The Olight Otacle D2 is very compact but not so small that it becomes a struggle to use. The Arkfeld type design means this thing almost completely disappears in your pocket. It’s a beautiful, slim design and it isn’t too heavy either as it manages to ride the line between “durable heft” and “pocket brick” quite nicely.
The attached pocket clip is able to secure it perfectly without the worry of shredding your pocket like some EDC pocket clips tend to do. I would discourage keeping it in a top shirt pocket as they are notorious for having things fall out of them, (they’re mostly for business cards or lightweight pens anyway) but in a pants pocket or in a jacket or a bag, the D2 feels right at home.
What attracted me to the D2 the most - apart from the overall appearance - is the fact that it comes with 4 double ended hex bits and holds them securely in place with magnets in the bit compartment. This eliminates the need to carry an extra container of bits and the worry of inevitably losing some of them.
The sliding bit compartment cover also works as a fidget device which is yet another amazing example of Olight’s functional design mastery! Being metal though means it can be a bit loud when sliding it open and closed so don’t be surprised if people get a little annoyed by the constant “click click click CLACK” sounds while you're repeatedly fidgeting with it. I personally like the sound and it closes with a very satisfying authority. It also features a locking switch on the tail end to prevent it from opening accidentally when in use or in your pocket which is very handy!
Fidget factor aside, it works incredibly well for its intended purpose too!
It features 2 magnetic bit holders: one on the end for precision use and one on the side for those times you need to apply extra torque to undo screws tightened by Hercules or break through some tough thread locker.
The included bits are of very high quality, but it is also compatible with standard 4mm hex bits.
I have used the included bits to adjust some knife pivots and replace screws, having successfully done so without any strip outs. T6 screws are notorious for stripping (at least for me anyway) but the bits and the driver itself have performed exceptionally well.
Performance wise I honestly can’t fault it at all. It’s comfortable to hold, carries well, is fun to fidget with and it performs better than any other bit driver I have ever used.
I award the Olight Otacle D2 (Ti Gears Edition) a full 5/5 rating for performance.
Pricing:
This could be where the Otacle D2 may lose some people… The official listing on Olight’s website states the non sale prices are:
$154.95 for the Limited Ti Gears Edition,
$123.95 for the regular Titanium version,
and the standard Black version comes in at a very affordable $61.95. These prices may seem a bit high to the average consumer for a bit driver, but this isn’t JUST a bit driver. This is an actual “Buy it once for Life” product. The incredible design and phenomenal quality of the D2 means that you will never need another bit driver again - unless you lose it, that is.
Olight also has a great many sales throughout the year too so if it’s not an urgent need you can always wait for the next sale.
It is definitely a “Must Buy” item though and even at full price, the value for money of this amazing product earns a 5/5 rating.
Final Thoughts:
If you are someone who does lots of folding knife maintenance, works electronics or are just looking for a great quality bit driver in general, the Olight Otacle D2 has got you covered. This is the perfect EDC bit driver! It combines the beauty of form, function and ingenuity like no other bit driver I have seen before.
The D2 itself deserves a perfect score, but in all honesty the packaging and unboxing experience did feel a bit underwhelming - especially considering how epic this little beauty is! I give the Olight Otacle D2 a total rating of 14/15 stars but also my first “Buy It Once For Life” stamp of approval! You will be extremely happy with this product no matter which variant you choose.
