flashlight

Icon's Rogue 2 flashlight can also protect you

I'm a big fan of flashlights. This is not a secret as I've written about a lot of them--from one that hugs you, to one that can stick to anything, to one that doesn't contribute to the greenhouse effect.

Earlier this week, however, I ran into a torch that instantly became my most favorite: the Rogue 2 from Icon.

Unlike other flashlights I've written about that come in unusual shapes, the Rogue sports the same tube shape as most traditional flashlights. But that's the only thing traditional about it.

First of all, according to Icon, the Rogue 2 is equipped with a microprocessor-controlled LED that produces an intense yet smooth beam. I don't know about smooth, but when I tried it out it was indeed intense, possibly the brightest I've seen among flashlights that use two AA batteries.

Fortunately, the Rogue 2 comes in two modes, one that shines at 100 lumens and the second at only 10 lumens, low enough not to hurt the eyes. You can toggle between these two modes and the off state with the tail-cap switch. It's too bad, however, that it doesn't have a third mode that shines at 50 lumens, which is as bright as most AA battery-based flashlights.

The second impressive thing about the Rogue 2 is its body, which is made out of super durable aerospace-grade aluminum with an open architecture design. The new design creates openings along the flashlight's body to offer a better grip, even when your hand is wet or oily. According to Icon, this also makes the torch virtually indestructible. You can drop it or even strike it into the wall or let it get run over by a truck and it will supposedly still work. … Read more

mPhase emergency flashlight stays lit until 2030

mPower Technolgies, Inc. will debut a flashlight with a shelf life of 20 years: the mPower Emergency Illuminator.

The idea came about when a technology company executive found himself changing a flat tire in the dark, as his flashlight battery was dead. He was then inspired to create a flashlight that would never let him down.

His company, mPhase technologies, happened to be working on an extended battery technology for defense and computer purposes, but he saw how it could be useful for all consumers.

mPhase Technologies has since partnered with the Porsche Design Studio to fashion a sleek flashlight … Read more

Behold, the Porsche of flashlights

Flashlights are becoming more and more sophisticated, as well as rather expensive. Case in point: the upcoming mPower Emergency Illuminator, which made its press debut this week at an event in New York. Designed by the Porsche Design Studio to be "a stylish product with emergency utility, it will cost somewhere between $250 and $300 when it comes out in March of 2010.

Aside from the fetching design, the mPower Emergency Illuminator boasts some innovative battery technology. One battery "tube" stores two CR123 batteries, while the other has what's called an OnCommand Reserve Battery that the … Read more

Beamer, the iPhone case for night owls

It's not like us to get too excited about an iPhone case, but this one shines--literally--because it's the very device I was wishing for last month while traveling in Europe.

Beamer, as the name connotes, is an iPhone case with a built-in LED light you can turn on to use as both a flashlight and a camera flash. Just the thing I needed when I wanted to shoot the Leaning Tower of Pisa at night with my iPhone, having left my real camera back at our hotel.

And it sure would have helped in Paris when we returned … Read more

Get three LED flashlights for $5

I really dig the new breed of LED flashlights. (Of course, I'm easily impressed by bright, shiny things.) LED flashlights are supercompact, but give off way more light than the big, bulky, skull-cracking glow sticks of my youth.

Today only, daily-deal site Froobi is offering a three-pack of 9-LED flashlights for $0 (plus $4.95 shipping).

Each light measures about 3.5-inches long and promises a whopping 100,000 hours of bulb life. (Take that, tungsten!)

You'll have to supply the batteries (three AAA's per flashlight). Speaking of, I'm a big fan of Duracell precharged rechargeable … Read more

Crave giveaway of the week: Duracell Smart Power goodies

For this week's installment of the weekly Crave giveaway, we have an assortment of Duracell Smart Power accessories that are just about to hit stores. Included in the package is an Instant USB charger, a sweet Daylite LED flashlight, a Go Mobile charger with two AA and two AAA rechargeable batteries (plus a car adapter), and last but not least, the myGrid cable-free conductive charger (you lay your phone on a mat and the battery juices up). Out of the box, the myGrid only works with the Blackberry, Motorola, and Nokia models pictured, but additional charging adapters are available … Read more

Flashlight + flexible tripods = Gorillatorch

I tried out the HUGlightrecently and thought it was really cool and practical. Now, I've run across something that brings both coolness and practicality to a new high: the Gorillatorch flashlight.

Introduced by Joby on Tuesday, the Gorillatorch appears to be the first flashlight that comes with a set of flexible tripods. The three legs, made of medical‐grade ABS plastic and German TPE rubber, are flexible enough to be easily bended into any shape. This flexibility, plus the fact that they have strong magnets, means Gorillatorch can grip to virtually anything, leaving your hands free for other … Read more

Campers' dream: Flashlight/emergency whistle/raver toy

Given that I'm a city girl about to go camping for the first time in years, I couldn't help but pay attention when information on Life+Gear's 200 Hour GlowStick popped up in my in-box.

The glow-handled LED flashlight offers 200 operational hours on three replaceable AG-13 batteries (first set included). LED flashlights, of course, aren't new, but this one also functions as an emergency flasher and a signaling glow stick. And that's not all campers. The little GlowStick has a built-in high-decibel whistle, just in case you get lost or a bear shows up (… Read more

Flashlight wants to hug you around the neck

I was playing cards with some friends the other night and the power went out. Fortunately, we got a few flashlights and were able to continue the game, but not without some level of awkwardness as it was hard to hold the light in one hand and deal the cards with the other.

Things could have gone a lot more smoothly, however, if we had a few of the flashlights I just got in.

It's aptly called the HUGlight. Unlike most traditional flashlights, the HUGLight is a malleable steel alloy wire stick, covered with thick soft foam rubber, with … Read more

Battery-free LED flashlight recharges in 90 seconds

Last year, 5.11 Tactical, which makes clothes and gear aimed at law enforcement officers (but sells to civilians), announced a new high-tech flashlight called Light for Life. Only recently, however, has it become available to order.

What's special about it? Well, the flashlight uses three LEDs, but its key component is Flashpoint Power technology, an ultracapacitor energy storage system from Ivus Energy Innovations.

Light for Life recharges in just 90 seconds and shines at 90 lumens for 90 minutes per charge. The flashlight has three modes: bright (270 peak lumens), standard (90 lumens), and strobe, which is good for dance parties or scaring the neighbors' dog and kids (OK, I'm kidding, but you get the picture).

According to 5.11 Tactical, the 50,000-hour LEDs never have to be replaced and the flashlight is engineered to "offer 10 years of maintenance-free service under typical conditions." (You can recharge it up 50,000 times or one time a day for 135 years.)

I got a chance to play around with the thing at a recent event, and I have to say I was pretty impressed. It's lighter (16 ounces) than it looks, and it feels very durable. The one question I asked was: what happens when the power goes out and you have to recharge the thing? Answer: it comes with a 12V DC automotive charger, so you can use your car to charge it up in the event of a power outage.

The only drawback: Light for Life costs a whopping $169.99. But 5.11 Tactical says that when you add up the cost of all those D batteries over the lifetime of a battery-powered police flashlight, it's still a deal. And then there's all that good karma you get for not chucking those batteries into the garbage or landfill. It's hard to put a price on that.

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