The packaging is great and of the highest quality, but why bother since most of the film, papers, rubber bands, plastic caps, and cardboard is single-use and then litters the environment. Personally, I am against it, but marketing-wise it creates the intended premium impression. The case is great, though it could be much smaller because there's too much empty space inside. The flashlight (this one as well as Marauder 2 and the mini - I have them all) is made to the highest standard. No complaints. It's worth considering whether you need focused lighting (then the Javelot or Javelot Turbo series beats the X9R, especially since the X9R does not have such a mode) or wide - then Marauder 2 or X9R are brilliant for this. Another thing: Do you buy a Bugatti Veyron just to know the maximum speed but drive it for only 10-12 minutes because that's how long a full tank lasts, or do you need something for longer distances? In that case, the practical level of use is even 3-4 levels below the maximum and it's worth considering this because at the highest level the Olight is good for showing off (and bragging that you have it) but not for SAR or tactical operations (that's why I think my Marauder 2 is definitely more versatile and handy). Moreover, at 25,000 lm (or even half), you need crystal clear air, otherwise you'll see dust, insects, water vapor in the air, and the practical effectiveness noticeably decreases because suddenly it turns out how much junk we have in the air. It's worth checking the working temperature and if it will be useful for us because those are significant limitations, especially in our latitudes when long nights occur in winter. It’s not negligible. Similarly, don’t just consider lumens, but check if the candela level is/will be sufficient (e.g., the Marauder 2 has twice the candela level, which gives it more range). And before buying, take 2kg dumbbells and see how handy the flashlight will be to carry. As a gadget collector, I bought it and I’m super happy, but as a portable flashlight (not one you drive around with), I would think several times because it’s just heavy and with every kilometer traveled even heavier - regardless of the comfortable strap. To sum up, IMHO I think the flashlight is kind of "art for art's sake." SAR actions from the air/helicopter or in mountainous terrain (when the beam doesn’t fall straight at your feet) are totally legit. Lighting for night photography too. But on flat terrain and with a round beam (personally, I’d go for some kind of aperture or rectangular beam shape like in the Marauder 2), at high settings, the closest area to you is “burned” by the amount of light and as a result you are blinded, which means you see less at greater distances (maybe that’s why all the X9R promo photos are either from a car roof or illuminating neighboring mountain tops). Raising the flashlight up to reduce the light falling at your feet makes no sense.
