Best Mechanic Flashlights: Light Up Your Projects | Autance

From maintenance to car repairs, this light is a reliable companion. I stumbled across the Nebo Swyvel on the display counter of my local Napa parts store. I was impressed with the headline light output of 1,000 lumens for such a tiny, relatively inexpensive, light. I bought one and ended up using it for nearly two years straight in a heavy industrial environment as a backup daily-carry light. The swiveling head allows you to point the light in different directions, which is most effective when paired with the clip and worn like an old-school right-angle light, or when attached to a metal surface with the magnetic base. I actually clipped this to a Leatherman Wave case so it was as available as that multi-tool. The magnetic base isn’t super strong, but I found it strong enough to place on all kinds of surfaces. Vertical spots were a bit of a challenge sometimes, as the light would rotate on its own, but knowing it won’t roll away is a big plus.

Be careful not to lose the charging cable, as there is no alternative to charge the battery otherwise. I worked around a lot of metal shavings and would occasionally find them stuck to the bottom of the light, so use caution if you work in a similar environment.

The G20 is a no-frills basic light that takes two triple-A batteries and has a single light mode. Coast is one of the most respected names in the flashlight world. I carried one of their more expensive models, the Coast HP3R, for a couple years until the rechargeable battery started to lose capacity. It’s a great light, but it’s about three times the price of the simple Coast G20. The G20 is billed as an inspection light and is helpful for tasks where a larger light might be hard to hold. The pocket clip should keep it in place. The light comes with a lifetime warranty. For those who want something even smaller, the Coast G19 is a single-AAA sized light for roughly the same price.

It’s versatile and will accept either a trio of AAA batteries or a single 18650 battery. In the search for a cheap versatile flashlight, I came across this GearLight S1000 flashlight. It had more than 60,000 reviews on Amazon and fits the bill for something to keep in the toolbox. It’s versatile and will accept either a trio of AAA batteries or a single 18650 battery. The kit includes two flashlights, adapters for both types of batteries, and holsters so they can be worn on a belt. The lights have three light modes (low, medium, high) and two strobe modes. An aluminum body that includes a telescoping zoom feature means this light can be used in many situations. For certain uses, you want something cheap and adaptable, which fits the bill for these GearLight flashlights.

Less expensive lights often don’t come with batteries. Some reviewers pointed out that light output, which is not rated or listed by the manufacturer, is dependent on what kind of batteries you use. There are reports that light output and quality vary from light to light.

The lamp is rechargeable and has two modes, each with several different brightness modes. Streamlight puts out quality, but it sure isn’t cheap. I weighed a lot of the options and landed on the Streamlight Twin-Task USB for best headlamp. The versatile headlamp is a mechanic’s best friend on the job and is similar in use to the LED safety glasses I recommended, but with lots more light output. The lamp is rechargeable and has two modes, each with several different brightness modes.

For more than $50, buying the quality associated with the Streamlight name isn’t cheap. There are cheaper headlamps, even from Streamlight, but the Twin-Task strikes the best balance between brightness, battery life, and ergonomics. With the battery pack on the back of the headband, these headlamps feel more balanced and not front heavy.

The Anker Bolder is a simple light that puts out a maximum of 400 lumens and recharges via a Micro USB cable. I have used several other Anker battery packs and been impressed. The Anker Bolder is a simple light that puts out a maximum of 400 lumens and recharges via a Micro USB cable. The basic light lacks all the frills of tactical lights, and it only puts out 400 lumens. I see that as an advantage. When you combine cheap construction with an LED module that puts out 1,000 lumens, even the most reputable manufacturers struggle with heat management. Some of the cheapest high-output LED lights I’ve used become uncomfortably hot to hold with your bare hands. When left on the highest setting, some reviewers noted that it gets warm.

If you just want a simple, rechargeable light to keep in your toolbox then the Bolder LC40 is a solid contender. But, if you want something with all the bells and whistles, look at another light on this list.

Having a light that uses the same battery you use to power your other cordless tools can be a huge time saver. I used and abused DeWalt stuff for a few years, so I’m sold on them. We all have our favorites, and all the major players make a worklight that’s compatible with their tools. DeWalt makes two lights for their 20v Max products: the Work Light and the Spot Light. The Spot Light is about double the price but puts out 500 and 1,500 lumens. Having a light that uses the same battery you use to power your other cordless tools can be a huge time saver. I’ve used these for maintenance projects, and they’re durable.