EDC

Kodiak

Kodiak Kompact Review: The $24 Walmart EDC Light

Name: Kodiak Kompact
Brand: Kodiak

The Kodiak Kompact is a 1,000-lumen, USB-C rechargeable EDC light that sells for about $25 off the shelf at Walmart, and it's a genuinely good budget keychain and cap light. The hat clip is the best feature. The catch: the 1,000 lumens lasts 30 seconds and the 24-hour runtime is a 5-lumen eco mode, so it's a backup light, not your main one.

// By Craig Stirland · Published November 1, 2026

// Quick verdict

Is the Kodiak Kompact worth it?

Price: About $25
Brand: Kodiak

Who it's for: Dads who want a cheap, bright backup light for the keys, truck, tent kit or junk drawer, especially hat wearers tired of holding a flashlight in their teeth. Skip it if you need a light that holds high brightness for long stretches or one you'll use hard every day.

See the Kodiak Kompact at Walmart

I bought the Kodiak Kompact with my own money at Walmart. Kodiak didn't pay me or send me anything for this review, and there are no affiliate links in this article. All opinions are mine.

Last updated November 1, 2026.

Who the Kodiak Kompact Is For (and Who Should Skip It)

Buy the Kodiak Kompact if you want a cheap, bright backup light for your keys, truck, tent kit or junk drawer. It's especially good if you wear a hat most days and are tired of holding a flashlight in your teeth. It's also good if you'd rather grab a light on a grocery run than order one online.

Skip it if you need a light that holds high brightness for long stretches, or one you'll use hard every day for work. As I say in the video, you're not getting the performance of a hundred-dollar light, so temper your expectations.

Does the Kodiak Kompact Really Give You 1,000 Lumens and 24 Hours?

Yes, but not at the same time. The Kodiak Kompact hits 1,000 lumens for 30 seconds in turbo, and the 24-hour runtime only applies to its 5-lumen eco mode. The front of the box sells you a monster. Then you flip the box over, and the five modes tell the real story. Or, as the legendary Lee Corso would say: "Not so fast, my friend."

Here's the full mode list from Kodiak's spec sheet: Turbo, 1,000 lumens for 30 seconds. High, 300 lumens for 1.5 hours. Medium, 100 lumens for 3 hours. Low, 30 lumens for 8 hours. Eco, 5 lumens for 24 hours.

The useful middle is low mode: 30 lumens for about 8 hours is a full work shift of up-close light. High mode at 300 lumens for an hour and a half is plenty for a trip to the shed or an evening walk with the family.

Is the Kodiak Kompact's Eco Mode Brighter Than an iPhone Flashlight?

No. Eco mode is 5 lumens, and by my estimate an iPhone flashlight puts out somewhere around 40 to 60 lumens. So eco mode is dimmer than your phone. It still matters, though: it's enough to find a keyhole or something you dropped in the truck without burning your phone's battery, and it'll keep going for a full day.

Kodiak Kompact vs. Olight Oclip Pro vs. Nitecore TUP

On price, the Kodiak Kompact wins easily: it claims the same 1,000 lumens as the Nitecore TUP for well under half the cost, and twice the Olight Oclip Pro's 500 lumens for about $15 less. When I first saw the Kompact's runtimes I was a little underwhelmed. Then I looked at the competition.

Kodiak Kompact: about $25, 1,000 lumens max. Olight Oclip Pro: about $40, 500 lumens max. Nitecore TUP: about $65, 1,000 lumens max.

The Olight Oclip Pro is one of the most popular clip lights out there, and the Nitecore TUP is about as close to a gold standard as keychain lights get. The TUP costs almost three times as much as the Kodiak Kompact.

Why Can't the Kodiak Kompact Hold 1,000 Lumens Longer?

Because no light this small can. A tiny body can't get rid of the heat that 1,000 lumens makes, so every brand steps down fast. Olight's spec sheet gives the Oclip Pro's turbo 1 minute before it drops, and the Nitecore TUP's turbo is a short burst too. That's not a Kodiak problem. That's just physics. Big brands, small brands, it's not gonna happen.

The Hat Clip Is the Kodiak Kompact's Best Feature

The clip that lets the Kodiak Kompact ride on a cap brim is my favorite thing about it. This is a little nerdy, and not everyone will agree, but I wear a hat almost every day. I can't count how many times I've ended up holding a flashlight in my mouth to free up both hands. Not anymore. Clip it to the brim, and it points wherever you're looking.

The magnetic base is the other hands-free trick. Stick it to the truck, a breaker box or a toolbox lid and get both hands back. And it hangs on your keychain if you don't already have a ton of stuff on there.

Charging, Build and Where the Kodiak Kompact Comes From

The Kodiak Kompact takes about 2 hours to charge over USB-C. That's not the fastest, but for a backup light, it's not a deal breaker. It has a zinc alloy body, IPX4 splash resistance and a built-in battery you can't swap out.

The packaging says the company is based in Peru, Illinois. Like nearly every light in this price range, it's made in China, but the company behind it is here in the US.

I'm a marketing guy, so I'll admit it: I love the look. The black-and-green packaging and the light itself look super sharp.

Is the Kodiak Kompact Worth $24?

Yes, as a budget keychain or cap light. At around $25, the Kodiak Kompact competes with Olight, Nitecore and Wuben for a lot less money. For reference, my Wuben G5 tops out at 400 lumens. The best part is you don't have to order it online or go to a specialty store like Cabela's or Scheels. I found it walking through the aisles at Walmart.

Have you tried the Kodiak Kompact or any other Kodiak lights? And if you're a Walmart shopper, what do you carry every day that you found there? Tell me in the comments on the video.

If you want a light you'll carry every single day, the Wuben G5 is my pick. See my Wuben G5 review.

Pros and cons at a glance

Pros

About $25 and sold right on the shelf at Walmart
1,000-lumen turbo for quick bursts, plus four sustained modes
Cap clip makes it a true hands-free light
Magnetic base and keychain holes for more ways to carry
USB-C charging, under 2 ounces
Claims the same max output as the Nitecore TUP at well under half the price

Cons

Turbo lasts only 30 seconds
The 24-hour runtime is a 5-lumen eco mode, dimmer than a phone flashlight
About 2 hours to charge
The battery is built in and can't be replaced
IPX4 means splash-resistant, not waterproof
Not built to be a hard-use, all-day work light

FAQ

How long does the Kodiak Kompact last on 1,000 lumens?

About 30 seconds. After that, high mode gives you 300 lumens for about 1.5 hours.

Where can I buy the Kodiak Kompact?

Walmart carries it in stores and online for about $25 at time of writing. Kodiak also sells it on its own site for $24.99.

Can the Kodiak Kompact clip onto a hat?

Yes. The clip is designed to grip a cap brim so the light points where you look, and it also works as a pocket clip.

How do you charge the Kodiak Kompact?

With the included USB-C cable. A full charge takes about 2 hours.

Is the Kodiak Kompact waterproof?

No. It's rated IPX4, which covers splashes and rain, not dunking it in water.

Is the Kodiak Kompact the same as the Kodiak KUB?

No. The KUB is a separate Kodiak flashlight that Walmart sells at a similar price. This review covers the Kompact, the one with the cap clip and magnetic base.

The bottom line

Is the Kodiak Kompact an everyday light? I'd say no. It's not the one that'll be in my bag, my truck and on my walks with my family every single day. But as a budget keychain light, it nails it pretty good. Toss one in the tent kit, keep one in the junk drawer or by the door for taking the trash to the curb at night. It's great for those late-night trips to the car, and at around $25, that's hard to beat.