TechLite Lumen Master Product Review
 By: Brad Staggs
I remember my first really cool flashlight. It was a three D cell Mag Light. It was da bomb! It wasn't just an illuminating tool, it was a weapon - in trained hands, of course. I loved that light - and today I put it in the garage sale pile with a price tag of $2.00. What could turn my affection so completely and quickly? The TechLite Lumen Master. It rocks!
First off, it falls under the "tactical" flashlight category, so it's not going to make a great tool for smashing anyone's head in. It will, however, blind any assailant! Seriously, this is the perfect little flashlight for the glove box, workshop, bedside table, purse pocket - you get the picture.
Let's start with the grip. It fits comfortably in you hand and comes with a wrist strap in case you get a bad case of fumble fingers. The aluminum body is textured, so it's not likely to slip out of your grip easily. The switch is located on the bottom of the light and has 4 positions: Off, High-Intensity, Low-Intensity and "Disorienting Strobe". Seriously...it is a good mode for making sure you're seen by oncoming cars if you're on an evening walk. At its brightest setting, it puts out 160 lumens (the rating at which I'll compare all flashlights that I review). On High-Intensity, I'm able to see quite well into the upper branches on a 60-foot-tall oak in my backyard. On Low-Intensity, I can still see pretty much three fourths of the way up the tree.
The real benefit to the high and low settings is in their power conservation. The unit runs on three triple-A batteries, and the low setting takes about half the power as the high setting. There's even a low-battery indicator light that comes on when the flashlight has twenty percent power remaining. According to the manufacturer, the tool is water resistant for thirty minutes at about three feet. Nice to know - although I haven't tested that feature.
Overall, I give this flashlight 5 fingernails (when in Rome).  I like it a lot. And best of all, the price...I got a two-pack at Costco on sale for $15.00 (regular Costco price is two for $19.99). And I kid you not - I even bough some for friends - just because. The older I get, the geekier I get. I'm now at the stage in life where flashlights turn me on to the point that I must share the excitement. What I didn't spend on this flashlight I can now spend on therapy. The bottom line - I recommend you buy several of these. They really are that cool.
|
