For the past year, I have been pounded with emails asking about Wicked Lasers and their very popular laser, the Spyder Arctic S3. This was the first commercial handheld laser to claim 1W of blue output, and because of that it received a lot of attention from the media. There has been a lot of controversy over this laser, so the best way to find the truth was to actually try one out for myself.
The Spyder is in my opinion the most impressive handheld on the market today. This is not completely due to the 1W 445nm blue output, but more to the fact that is clearly a level above DIY style lasers available. This is not a flashlight hacked into a laser, it is a professionally and commercially produced unit intended for mass sales. The very advanced “SmartSwitch” and FDA compliant safety features are a one-of-a-kind when it comes to laser in this price range. Class IV lasers are one of the most dangerous things someone can legally own, so these safety features are a great at preventing an accident.
In conclusion, I am pleasantly surprised with this laser. I have read a lot of hate towards this unit, yet I am 100% satisfied with the Arctic. There are some that argue that Wicked Lasers as a company is not geared towards safety, yet they include safety goggles, training filters, electronic safety locks, and a written manual on how to use it safely. You simply don’t find that with other companies advertising to the same market.
Link to this laser:
Wicked Lasers has also recently released the Krypton Spyder laser, with models up to 1W of green in a handheld unit. 1W of DPSS green in a handheld laser is quite a feat of engineering, and I’ll eagerly wait for reviews to see if I should try one out for myself in the future.
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