In this article, we’ll discuss the best flashlights for mechanics, along with their pros and cons.
These flashlights can be used by virtually anyone; however, each may have its separate set of advantages and purposes.
There are multiple brands available within the market, however, the use, accessibility, durability, and price may differ accordingly.
Therefore, before you shortlist a flashlight, it’s important to understand your requirements and needs from it.
Buyers Guide
For a normal individual, buying a flashlight is a decision that does not notably require any intuition or thought-process; it is a simple, straightforward task.
However, if you’re looking for insight or believe you might need to specify your needs or are a professional with a particular eye for a product, here are a few things to keep in mind when fishing for the best flashlight!
Purpose
For starters, you need to be sure what purpose you’ll need the flashlight for.
For example, if you need it for outdoor activities such as camping or hiking, make sure you get flashlights with the good battery light.
Several factors contribute to what sort of flashlight you want, based on its purpose.
Accessibility
Portability and accessibility are important when buying flashlights.
If you want a flashlight you can carry around with you always; it’s best to get one that is small and can easily fit into your pocket.
If you feel you need something stronger, you can choose for the bigger one, albeit at the expense that you can’t carry it around that easily.
Control over the light
For some individuals, they need to alter and adjust the lighting given the environment.
Several flashlights have this feature; several don’t. Make sure that you know which one you’re buying.
Battery
Batteries often denote the general quality and intensity of the flashlight.
When buying flashlights, after defining your purpose you can choose flashlights that use the appropriate battery to facilitate that goal.
For example, Lithium batteries are best for outdoor maneuvers whereas CR123 batteries are famous for lighting up the whole place.
Durability
It’s a common sight to see flashlights run out of battery or juice after a short while, or generally, start working.
When buying flashlights, make sure that you gather relevant information about the duration and then invest in a flashlight that suits your needs best.
Budget
Flashlights come in virtually all range of prices. As mentioned above, once you’ve decided on your intent and purpose, you can start to narrow down the options that you have.
Once done, you can play around with your budget and then choose a flashlight that falls in it.
These factors have the power to either ‘make or break’ your flashlight.
As mentioned above, the importance of a clear-cut end goal is essential when choosing the right type of flashlight for yourself.
Reviews of Top 15 Flashlights For Mechanics
We are primarily focusing on the size, material and battery life of the flashlights.Along with these key factors, we’ll also point out the different features that might give an edge to a particular flashlight.
All the relevant details have been gathered from multiple customer reviews and an in-depth yet concise analysis has been made for your convenience.
1. Infra LED Flashlight
The infra LED flashlight is famous for its size and range, which can be roughly approximated to about the length of two basketball fields.
Used in a variety of professions, this pocket-sized light has a variety of features that you can manipulate to your desire, such as zoom-able beams, and its long-lasting durational hours.
5.7 inches in length, it can also fit easily in your back pocket which gives credit to its accessibility and versatility.
Furthermore, the material that the pen-light is made from is rain-proof, so you won’t have to worry about working in the open environment!
More photo & price on amazon.com
Pros:
- Easy to carry around
- Good battery timing
- Corrosion-resistant material
Cons:
- Strobe function can alter the light setting
2. Vont Bright LED Headband Flashlight
With several brightness modes, tillable body, and compact size, the Vont Bright LED flashlight is one of the most versatile and functional product in the market.
Including red lights, strobe modes, and the ability to light up spots a 1000 feet away, Vont Bright is the forefront in the current market.
The flashlight is water-proof along with highly durable material, which is why it is best suited for emergencies.
More photo & price on amazon.com
Pros:
- Comfortable to wear
- Easily accessible
- Strong and waterproof
Cons:
- Not rechargeable
- Have to put on before use.
3. LED Flash Lamp Headlight by Aennon
Coupled with an adjustable headlight that can cater to 4 different levels of light, the headlight by Aennon can be used for a variety of things, such as reading, camping, hiking or running.
Due to its easy adjustment and fitting, this flashlight can be used indoors and outdoors.
The headlight can also tilt by 90 degrees, which means that you can direct the light to wherever you want.
More photo & price on amazon.com
Pros:
- Lightweight and durable
- Comfortable fit
Cons:
- Headband might slide out of place, if not inserted correctly or loose.
4. Coast G20 LED Flashlight
With a range of 22 meters and a 10-hour runtime, the Coast G20 is a favorite amongst among mechanics.
The penlight is tough, reliable, and easy to carry. Furthermore, the whole package comes with additional batteries and adjustable pocket clips.
Coast G20 is also waterproof which means you can use it indoors and outdoors.
More photo & price on amazon.com
Pros:
- Easily stored and lightweight
- Waterproof
- Great battery life
Cons:
- The pocket clip snaps easily under stress
- 2) The beam is smaller (not suitable for everyone)
5. Cree XP – L LED Flashlight
With a built-in USB port to facilitate charging, this flashlight is different from the rest!
With the lowest mode churning out 370 hours of light, the Cree XP is lightweight, waterproof and durable.
It can be used for a plethora of services and reasons and is very easily accessible.
More photo & price on amazon.com
Pros:
- Shock-resistance
- Easy to carry
Cons:
- Might heat up if used for a long duration.
- Battery drains pretty quickly if used on the highest mode.
6. COB LED Work Flashlight
The COB LED work light is an innovative 2-in-1 design that provides both focused and spread light for multiple uses.
The adjustable clip that comes attached means that you can hook the light to any spot and then rotate the face to direct light to wherever you want.
The batteries are rechargeable. Furthermore, this flashlight regardless of its functionality is light and easy to carry around.
More photo & price on amazon.com
Pros:
- Accessible
Cons:
- Prone to breaking due to its lightweight.
7. Telescoping Rechargeable LED Flashlight
This flashlight comes along with a USB port, a car hook, and a magnetic base, which means that it is optimal for mechanical use.
Furthermore, the device is rechargeable and lightweight, which means carrying it around isn’t a hassle.
More photo & price on amazon.com
Pros:
- Great run time
- Rechargeable
Cons:
- The magnet is only on the base (limits its adjustment)
- Fragile slide mechanism
8. Tracklife 10000 Lumen LED Worklight
The tripod extension means that you can fix this flashlight to a spot and not worry about carrying it around.
The Track life 10000 lumen LED Work light is mostly applicable for lighting up big places.
The flashlight is also waterproof and has good heat dissipation, which prevents excessive heating due to long use.
The design is overall durable and stable, which means that it can withstand virtually all working conditions.
More photo & price on amazon.com
Pros:
- Saves the electricity bill
- Can light up a huge area evenly
Cons:
- Strong winds or impact can knock the light over
- The ‘legs’ can wobble when under duress
9. ThorFire Mini Flashlight
The ThorFire mini flashlight is very lightweight and easily accessible, which means you can easily carry it around in your pocket.
With clips fitted in, you can also hook the flashlight up to wherever you want and then work easily.
With a total length of 3.7 inches, this is as small as you can get in the flashlight industry and still deliver quality material.
The ThorFire mini flashlight also comes with rechargeable batteries and has a good runtime.
More photo & price on amazon.com
Pros:
- Small size means it can be carried wherever you want
- Versatile, due to its various light modes
Cons:
- Can easily get lost
10. LED Spotlight by EAGems
The LED spotlight is easy to carry around and does not require any wires or plugs to work.
The spotlight also has a very bright light, which means it can be used outdoors easily and save up on the electricity bills as well.
With an adjustable face that can rotate 360 degrees, the spotlight is rechargeable and can also operate when it is charging.
The spotlight is also virtually waterproof due to the material used, so you won’t have to worry about raindrops, water, or sand seeping into its small holes and crevices.
More photo & price on amazon.com
Pros:
- Bright light and functionality
- Takes up little space
Cons:
- Power buttons are hard to find by feel
11. LED Flashlight by Coquimbo
Made of hard rubber, which is both anti-sweat and anti-slip, the LED work light by Coquimbo has an aluminum head that dissipates light evenly without heating due to extended usage.
The work light comes with five modes, which you can adjust accordingly and use in whatever situation you want.
The model is also rechargeable, so you don’t have to worry about replacing batteries that often either.
The bases and magnets can rotate 360 degrees, which means that you can easily hook them or fix them wherever you want and then have the head facing you.
Since your hands are virtually free, you can use this work light for a plethora of activities which can be either indoor or outdoor.
More photo & price on amazon.com
Pros:
- Light adjustment can help save the battery timings
Cons:
- The magnets that come with aren’t strong (can be knocked off easily)
12. Saydu Tech LED Work light
The 72inch model has a 15000 MCD to 18000 MCD Lumens Capacity and can light up any place very easily.
The material that the frame is made of is also very light and non-slip, which means that you don’t have to worry about it slipping from your hand due to sweat etc.
The work light is also rotatable to 360 degrees and come with magnets attached at the base, so that you can attach the light to metal and then adjust in a manner that suits you best.
The product also comes with batteries included.
More photo & price on amazon.com
Pros:
- Easy to grip
Cons:
- Small hanging rod
13. K Kernowo Mini Tactical Flashlight
This is a small super-beam LED flashlight that can reach up to a 240-lumen output with a 164 beam distance.
Due to its size and professional design, this tactical flashlight is easy to carry around and generally looks very aesthetic.
The body is waterproof and has an attack head, which can be used to break glass or to attack someone in case of an emergency.
The K Kernowo Mini Tactical flashlight also has a very high lifetime, roughly up to 100000 hours.
More photo & price on amazon.com
Pros:
- Easy to carry around
- Lightweight and durable
Cons:
- No adjustable beam
14. VonHaus Two-Head LED Work Light
This work light can generate an output of about 10000 lumens and has a bright white color temperature.
These work lights are sealed in waterproof encasements which are also impact-proof, which is why they are optimal for both indoor and outdoor use.
With a height of about 80 inches, the tripod length can also be adjusted. The product also comes with a long power cord, which is generally about 8 feet.
The LED lamps also have a tilt factor – they can rotate 90 degrees upwards and about 30 degrees downward, which mean that you can direct the light to a particular place if you want.
Overall, they can very easily light up an empty room.
The operation of it is handled by the power switch, which eliminates any on/off switch that other work lights have.
More photo & price on amazon.com
Pros:
- Good light distribution
- Sturdy tripods
- Lightweight
Cons:
- Cord short for outdoor use
- No power switch
15. EverBrite 2-pack Pocket Work Light
This work light comes with portable magnets, which means that you can adjust and hook them onto a plethora of surfaces and then work with your hands-free.
The heads can also be adjusted to about 180 degrees so that you can direct the light to wherever you want to as well.
With a run time of about 5 hours, the EverBrite 2-pack work light gives superbright 3K work light and can easily function as a floodlight.
Due to its size and accessibility, the model can also be used for other applications, such as indoor home use or emergencies.
More photo & price on amazon.com
Pros:
- Compact
- Easy to carry around
Cons:
- No magnet at the base
- Switch button on the top
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the highest lumens in a flashlight?
A lumen refers to the amount of light intensity that is emitted in a second. Normal flashlights for commercial use have lumens which range from about 50 to 100.
The highest Lumens that has been recorded goes up to about 10,000, which makes it the brightest flashlights there is.
This feat is credited to the Acebeam X60M 3 x CREE MT-G2 Q0 1000LM 5000K LED Flashlight.
How many lumens is a bright flashlight?
An average flashlight, as mentioned above, is roughly about 100 lumens.
If you’re exceeding that value, the chances are that the flashlight is generally brighter than normal and has good light coverage.
How many lumens should a good flashlight have?
A good flashlight, one that can serve you on a personal scale and can be easily indoor, should have about 50-100 lumens.
However, as mentioned in the beginning, this is subject to what you may potentially need the flashlight for.
Is more lumens better flashlight?
In short, yes. Lumens refer to the amount of light intensity that the head emits in any given second.
Hence, in layman terms, the lumen is the brightness.
So when buying a flashlight, look for those with a higher lumen output as compared to lower.
Are LED lights bad for your eyes?
LED lights are bad for your eyes if there is exposure for a long period.
Like all other sources, they can cause irreparable damage to the retina.
Furthermore, LED lights have also been noted to cause psychological effects, such as disturbing the body’s inner clock.
Conclusion
In the end, the choice is mostly dependent upon your own personal preference.
There isn’t a key differential that makes one flashlight dominate over all others.
You should go to your local store and see the flashlights yourself and try to get a hang of them.
However, don’t just focus on the design of the product but rather on the utility of it as well.
Keep it simple; flashlights for mechanics are a tool and hence need to be really handy.
Why should I prefer headlights over the hand-held ones?
The basic reason why some mechanics prefer them is when their work includes things where they don’t have any room in their hands to hold the light, and they can’t bound a person for this task along.
I recently ordered a COB LED flashlight as my helper, but it broke. Very disappointed.
Well, I am very sad to hear that. However, I did warn customers about the fact that they are prone to breaking due to their lightweight. I suggest you go for something stronger this time.
I need a very strong light, which doesn’t have a huge effect on my bills. What do you suggest?
You can give Tracklife 10000 Lumen a try. Being very powerful and lighting all the place up, it doesn’t have a huge effect on the bills as well.
Suggest me something which is suitable for short uses and is as easy to keep as a cigarette.
You certainly sound like you need Thorfire mini flashlight. Being very compact, it is great for minimal periods of usage.
Is there a model that is both easy to carry but more powerful than a headband flashlight?
Sure. Check out EverBrite Pocket’s work light. Regardless of its size and power, it is still quite handy and doesn’t give you a hard time carrying it.