Tool Talk
Don’t get lost in the dark. Find the light at the end of the tunnel—or in this case, the top drawer of your toolbox
Try these hands-free lights to make your life 10x easier
It’s time to give up your battery powered flashlight and join the big leagues. Senior techs aren’t walking around with battery powered glow sticks. They’ve got the lights that make their lives easier. You might think they spent an arm and a leg to get the tools in their box, and you’re probably right, but you don’t have to.
Start with the one tool that will make everything easier–the flashlight.
You can spend hours on a job positioning, dropping, replacing and swapping out batteries just for your flashlight. You might’ve thought, “I’ll get a headlamp—problem solved.” Think again. Give it a couple hours and your head will be pounding with a painful red mark in the middle of your big kissable forehead. So, use your brain and ditch the pain. Start with getting the tools that make work an afterthought.
I made a list of my top three hands-free flashlights—all built to make your life easier, your work cleaner, and your head a little less sore.
Number 1: Icon Rechargeable Light - Icon® Tool
My top pick—and here’s why:
Lights up everything – 800 lumens with multiple modes, plus a precision tip light for narrow spots where normal flashlights tap out.
Sticks, swivels, and stays put – Magnetic base locks on; head rotates 180° to shine where you need it, hands-free.
Charges fast, works harder – USB-C powered, water-resistant, and built for flight line-level abuse.
Number 2: Braun Magnetic Flood Light
Coming in at a strong second place, and a tech favorite for a reason:
Big light, small frame – 750 lumens packed into a flood beam that lights up the whole hangar
Point it and forget it – 360° swivel lets you lock in the angle without fighting the light
Built tough, charges fast – solid aluminum housing, USB-C charging, and a magnetic base that makes it versatile
Number 3: Milwaukee Neck Light
Last–only because it’s fashionably late–number 3:
Bright where you need it, all day– 400 lumens of output with 8+ hours of runtime and 130° adjustable heads
Hangar-tough build– Chemical resistant, 6ft drop-tested, and tough enough for the flight line
Comfort-first design – Sweat-resistant band, fast 2-hour USB charge, plus it’s quite the conversation piece
Heavy check, NDT, engine removal, you name it. The last thing you need is to wrestle a flashlight. So get one of these instead.
Stop eyeballing other people’s gear. Upgrade your own, get ahead—and look sharp doing it. 😉
Author: Nathan LaVoie