You want the world’s most potent weapon light, but you’re also a bit of a manlet. A big heavy weapon light is just too much for your underdeveloped biceps. The OWL is too heavy, as is the REIN. What’s a guy to do? Well, then I present to you the Rein Micro.
I tease, I tease, I get it. The OWL doesn’t work well with lasers for NODs guys, and the REIN is a bit large for an Mk18 or PDW-style rifle. Like Goldilocks porridge, the REIN Micro is just right. Cloud Defensive continually changes the game by producing high-end, high-power weapon lights that have changed the conversation.
Lots of people still talk lumens, lumens, lumens, but let’s change the conversation. Let’s talk candela y’all. Cloud Defensive weapon lights don’t ignore lumens, but they put greater importance on candela than lumens. We measure the raw power of light by lumens, but when you discuss candela, it’s all about usable light.
Candela pushes lumens forward and gives users range and power. While the REIN Micro is a smaller light, it doesn’t stray from the Cloud Defensive philosophy. Let’s take a look at the numbers.
Rein Micro By The Numbers
The REIN Micro is 4.91 inches long and weighs 5.75 ounces with the battery in place. Numbers matter, but let’s personify that. The Surefire X300 is a pistol light and weighs 4 ounces, and is 3.6 inches long. Surefire’s Scout light Pro weighs 4.8 ounces and measures 5.5 inches long.
As you can see, Micro seems a bit misplaced. More like REIN Medium, but let’s be fair… that doesn’t roll off the tongue very well. What about power? Well, the REIN Micro packs 1,300 lumens and is backed by 55,000 candelas. It outperforms the aforementioned Surefires by a large margin.
Lights this small usually use CR123s but do not use 123s with the Micro. They fit, but the use of CR123s will damage your light and void your warranty. Stick with 18350 rechargeable batteries. The Micro comes with one, as well as a Nitecore charger.
Combat Based Ergonomics
Cloud Defensive has made some substantial improvements to the ergonomics of all lights. All this work clearly shows in the REIN Micro. The controls are fantastic. At the rear of the light sits a tail cap push button that offers both momentary and constant modes. A soft push is momentary, and a hard, intentional press turns the light on constant.
The button is massive and easy to find in the dark. It offers some resistance, so negligently discharging the light isn’t easy. If you prefer a remote switch, then you’re covered too. Not only are you covered, but you get an outstanding remote switch too.
The REIN Micro uses a two-button remote switch. One button is dedicated for constant and one for momentary. When you fiddle around in the dark, it’s easy to understand which button is which. The constant button has a tactile and raised Cloud Defensive logo, and the momentary button does not.
The means by which the remote switch attaches to the light is rather brilliant. The rear of the light has four notches, and the tail cap has four slots that connect to the notches. One of these notches has a wire that leads to the remote switch. You can rotate the tail cap to allow the cord to travel in one of four directions.
This design allows for the use of both a remote switch and tail cap switch, as well as complete control over where the cable goes.
Why not make your cable management easy and your cable snag-free? Cloud Defensive seemingly cracked the code, and it works well.
Extreme Durability
Cloud Defensive is a bunch of animals when it comes to testing their lights. Check out their Instagram to see them using their lights to drive nails, tossing them off buildings, and beyond. The REIN Micro has a 3mm thick lens, making it the thickest in the industry. It’s capable of withstanding multiple 5.56 simmunition rounds.
Should it ever break, it’s user-serviceable and replaceable. Cloud Defensive uses an S7 Tool steel bezel ring, and heat treats it to a 53 Rockwell level of hardness. This makes the bezel an effective impact tool.
The light can be submerged for 24 hours and is shock and dustproof. It wears an NTOA Member Tested and Recommended badge. It’s a tough freaking light.
REIN Micro in Real Life
All the numbers in the world mean nothing until you blast a beam of light into the universe. So, how powerful of a beam do 1,300 lumens and 55,000 candelas generate? Well, powerful enough that you really need an optic to make the most of its effective range.
At 100 yards, I can see and make positive identification of a target and send lead downrange when necessary. Even out to 200ish yards, the combination of a magnified optic makes it possible to see and engage a target with confidence.
It’s not all about long-range power. The REIN Micro stairs down photonic barriers with ease too. A photonic barrier is essentially a wall created by light that makes it tough to see beyond the light. Ever have someone hit you with a flashlight, and you can’t see beyond the light? Well, that’s a photonic barrier.
Let’s say a streetlight is between you and something you want to see. It’s tough to see through the light to whatever is on the other side. That is a photonic barrier. A light like the REIN Micro blasts through those barriers. It will shine through a streetlamp and illuminate what’s on the other side, and overcome most flashlight beams.
Got The Beam
The beam itself is warm, and when I say warm, I’m talking about the color of the beam. It’s yellowish, almost like the old MagLite beams. However, it’s much more powerful than any MagLite. That beam warmth offers a few advantages.
First, the warmer color makes it easier to see colors, and the light won’t disorient the colors or make them appear slightly different in color. A cold blue beam can distort the colors and make them harder to see.
Second, besides the lumens and candela, the warm beam is why the REIN Micro penetrates photonic barriers so dang well.
A clear and distinct hot spot is present and will be the brightest part of your light. There is a fair amount of spill that gives you good peripheral vision illumination. It can be used indoors comfortably and is perfect for home defense.
You hit a home intruder with a beam like this, and they will be disoriented and in pain. This beam is punishing to be on the other side of. It hurts a lot and creates a powerful photonic barrier itself.
Since ammo has been what it is, I’ve been extending beyond my normal educational experiences. I’ve been learning about lights, lasers, and NODs, and as far as I can tell, this is the most powerful compact light on the market. Combine the power with the unbeatable durability the excellent ergonomics, and the REIN Micro comes out on top over and over.
I believe the REIN Micro is the best compact weapon light on the market.
