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This solar-powered hand-crank emergency LED flashlight is only $7

Compact yet versatile, this is an ideal light to throw in a pocket, purse, glove compartment or backpack.

Rick Broida Senior Editor
Rick Broida is the author of numerous books and thousands of reviews, features and blog posts. He writes CNET's popular Cheapskate blog and co-hosts Protocol 1: A Travelers Podcast (about the TV show Travelers). He lives in Michigan, where he previously owned two escape rooms (chronicled in the ebook "I Was a Middle-Aged Zombie").
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Rick Broida
2 min read
meco-flashlight

A hand crank on one side, a solar cell on the other, a carabiner on the end. This is one versatile mini flashlight!

 MECO

Like to camp? Always fumbling for a flashlight during power failures? Putting together a go-bag because you're freaked out about hurricanes and wild fires? I've got you.

For a limited time, and while supplies last, Vadiv Brands via Amazon has the MECO solar and hand-crank emergency flashlight for just $6.99 with promo code CYF3UOLR. It normally sells for $13.98, though in the past it's been as low as $5.85.

See it at Amazon

Running off a rechargeable battery, the light draws power in two ways: its solar panel and its hand crank. According to MECO, 6 minutes of hand-cranking will yield a full hour of light. But if you leave it under the sun or even an artificial light source, it should draw enough power to stay charged until you need it.

Read more: Pick the best LED light bulb for 2020

Meanwhile, there's a built-in carabiner for easy clipping to a bag, backpack, belt loop or the like. And if all that isn't enough, how about the 4.5-star average from over 1,200 buyers? To me this is a no-brainer, everyone-should-have-one product -- especially at this price.

Originally published last year. Updated to reflect new price and availability.

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