Baldr EDC Light: A Pocketful of Sunshine!

Ever since I started carrying a gun on a daily basis, I have been carrying a handheld light as well. My EDC light and my knife are the two tools I use more than any piece of my EDC. Not for defensive purposes, but for everyday use. Because of a handheld light’s importance for defensive use and its daily practicality I am always in search of a better light.

Things have come a long way since my first SureFire 6P. And a lot more popular as well.

Handheld EDC Light — The Baldr EDC is a handheld light that solved many of the issues I found with other lights.

Baldr BLUF

Valhalla Tactical is named after Valhalla, the Norse hall of the fallen where the god Odin allows worthy warriors to live out eternity. Sticking with the Norse mythology theme Baldr is the god of light, joy, purity, and the summer sun.

The Baldr EDC is the sun. And it fits right in my pocket. It is aptly named.

Pocketful of Sunshine

So how’d this review get started?

I was chatting with Natasha Bedingfield the other day about her EDC gear and she had this to say about the light she carries every day:

“I got a pocket, got a pocketful of sunshine.

I got the lumens, and I know they’re all mine.

Oh, oh whoa”

I took her little tune to heart but it took some coincidence to actually have my own “pocketful of sunshine.”

Musical Lights

The opportunity began when Cloud Defensive supplied me with an Optimized Weapon Light (OWL) at a Alliance Police Training course a few months back. I found its fully integrated pressure switch and throw to be significantly superior to my Surefire M600DF. The Surefire came off the rifle and the Cloud Defensive OWL took its place.

The next little opportunity was provided by good ole TSA. They decided that my Elzetta Bravo was much too tactical to be safe on an airplane. They confiscated it and dropped it into the container before I even had the option to check it. Don’t get me started…

I quickly replaced the Elzetta with a brighter, but not quite as stout Streamlight Protac HL-X. It has 1000 bright lumens, but after carrying it for a while, the head diameter and overall length were just a bit too much.

I really liked the Elzetta, but at 625 or so lumens, it was sitting at the low end of performance back in 2019 — by the end of 2020, it’ll be all but obsolescent.

Valhalla Tactical provided the final piece to the puzzle with the Baldr EDC.

Handheld EDC Light - The use of a rechargeable 18350 battery makes the Baldr EDC smaller than other lights with similar outputs. — The use of a rechargeable 18350 battery makes the Baldr EDC smaller than other lights with similar outputs.

Baldr EDC Light

The Baldr EDC isn’t a light per se. Instead, it is a body. Really, it is an aluminum tube that has the right threads for a head on one end and a tail-cap on the other. The threads at each end happen to match up perfectly with a Surefire M600DF head and tail-cap with just the right amount of room for a rechargeable 18350 battery in the middle.

This little gadget allows you to shrink the overall length of the M600DF to make its size appropriate for daily carry. Maybe even more importantly the Baldr is primarily in the shape of a cylinder with two flat surfaces. The design of the body also removes the integrated Picatinny mount that is standard on the M600DF. At the same time, the Baldr maintains the significant 1500 lumen output of the original light.

The Baldr EDC turns the Surefire light from a weapon light to a pocket light.

Handheld Light - The Baldr EDC is simply the tube you see in the foreground of the image. the head, tail-cap and battery are all purchased separately. — The Baldr EDC from Valhalla Tactical is simply the tube you see in the foreground of the image. the head, tail-cap, and battery are all purchased separately.

Baldr takes on many forms.

My light is built with the Baldr EDC body, but this version isn’t the only light body offered by Valhalla Tactical. Valhalla also offers light bodies with weapon-mount lights for the M600DF, the M300 Mini Scout, and even has an option for Streamlight and Nitecore owners. These bodies streamline and lighten the mounting system. They also allow the head and allow use with the 18350 batteries.

Soon Valhalla will begin shipping their new bodies with a pivoting mount which should allow for even more adjustability when mounting a light on your rifle (in fact they might already have started by the time you read this).

What I appreciate about the Baldr EDC Light

There is a lot to like about the Baldr EDC light. I’ve been carrying it now for around two months and it has met and exceeded my expectations.

Form Factor

The removal of the Picatinny mount is crucial for pocket carry. The reduction in length that the 18350 provides is also a clutch for making the light work for daily carry. I often wear Vertx Hyde pants that have a side pocket designed to carry a spare mag or other gear. When I carry a backup m&p mag, I carry it on my belt. This leaves that side pocket open and it’s where I carry my Baldr EDC.

When I’m not wearing my tactical pants I keep the light in my back pocket next to my wallet. It fits just like it should. The length is just right to be carried in my hip pocket.

Handheld Light - I carry my Baldr EDC body daily. I don't need a special pocket to carry it comfortably because of its size and design. — I carry my Baldr EDC body daily. I don’t need a special pocket to carry it comfortably because of its size and design.

Price

The Baldr EDC isn’t exactly inexpensive with a price tag of $79.99 when you consider that you can buy lesser lights for about that price and with the Baldr, you still need a head and a tail cap.

However, the Baldr EDC shines if you already have a spare SureFire M600DF. That was my situation and the Baldr allowed me to have a top of the line light for $80.

If you don’t already have a head and tail cap the Baldr EDC may not be a good value.

Handheld Light - The clip is an add-on feature but is well worth it. I selected the flush mount. — The clip is an add-on feature but is well worth it. I selected the flush mount.

Pocket Clip

The pocket clip for the Baldr EDC body is an excellent edition for everyday carry. It comes in three different heights to carry deep, flush, or extended out of the pocket.

I selected the flush-carry pocket clip. It offers the level of security and concealment I was after and still allowed quick access to my light.

The clip is stout and it is attached to the light with two hex cap screws. This clip isn’t coming off the light, and when I clip the light to my pocket it stays put.

Handheld Light - The pocket clip is secure and handy. It stays put and the light stays where you put it. — The pocket clip is secure and handy. It stays put and the light stays where you put it.

Baldr EDC: Overall Assessment

I have carried a lot of lights over a long period of time. In addition to carrying lights, I use them.

The Baldr EDC mated with the SureFire M600DF head and cap provide a conveniently sized and very bright light for everyday carry. The rechargeable 18350 batteries provide a reasonable run time but more importantly, they deliver lumens in a package that is easy to use and comfortable to carry.

I’ve spent a lot of time looking for the best EDC light. I’m not looking anymore.