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Product Description
If there was any lingering question, this Redline flashlight from Nebo is a testament to how far LED technology has come. Gone are the days when LED flashlights put out only a fraction of the light of incandescents. This compact flashlight, 4 3/8 inches long and 1 3/8 inches in diameter, puts out 220 lumens of white lights and has 5 modes. You can use it at 220 lumens, 110 lumens, 22 lumens, SOS mode, or strobe mode. The SOS (Morse code) and strobe might be handy for emergencies if you carry the flashlight in the car. At 220 lumens, the flashlight produces an amazing amount of light that can illuminate my entire living room. The 22-lumen mode is good when you want to find your way without disturbing everyone around you with a blinding light. The Redline also has a 4x adjustable beam, which is adjusted by turning a bezel near the front of the light. Nebo claims that the focused spotlight will shine up to 150 yards. It has a nifty ring around the front that glows red when the light is on. I can't see that it serves any purpose, but it looks nice. The button to turn the flashlight on and off and to change modes is on the back. The button glows in the dark -at least enough so that you can see it. Unfortunately, the button is recessed, which makes it impossible to depress it with my thumb while holding the flashlight. If I want to turn the light on with one hand, I have to depress the button with my index finger. This might not work if you have big hands. A button that protrudes would be preferable. When you first turn the flashlight on, it is in the bright 220-lumen mode. You cycle though the modes by turning the flashlight on and off in rapid succession. This can be inconvenient. In order to get the flashlight to come back on in bright mode, you have to wait about 15 seconds. If you turn the flashlight off and on again before that, it will come on in the next mode in the succession rather than the full light. Also, if you tend to use the flashlight in a less-light mode, as might be appropriate if you use it primarily in your home, you have to cycle through every time to find your mode. You can't set it to come on in the mode you use most often. That and the recessed power button detract somewhat from the Redline's ease of use. The flashlight takes 3 AAA batteries (included). It will last 4 hours at 220 lumens, 8 hours at 110 lumens, 15 hours at 22 lumens, and up to 72 hours in strobe or SOS mode on full battery power. The body is waterproof and made of anodized aircraft-grade aluminum. It does hold the temperature around it well, so it can get pretty cold or hot in your glove compartment. The back end of the flashlight is magnetic, which allows hands-free illumination in some situations. The LED bulb will last 110,000+ hours. At first I thought the Redline might be overpriced, but it is well-made, offers a lot of options and a lot of light. In my experience, most compact flashlights last only a few years. If the Redline proves itself more durable, it will have been well worth the money.
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