Milwaukee Tool has created the brightest single LED flashlight on the market and powered it with their versatile M12 system.
The Milwaukee 2355-20 LED Metal Flashlight should be a great addition to the tool kits for automotive, mechanical, MRO and utility worker, and particularly those who already use M12 or M18 tools. The new M12 Metal Flashlight has an innovative one-handed mechanism to adjust from floodlight to beam lighting, and a 6000 series aluminum housing to stand up to punishing drops. Boasting 5 hours of runtime on its high output (800 lumens) setting and 7 hours at low output (325 lumens) this tool, which ships at the end of June 2016, exceeds the light output of nearly every competitive flashlight on the market.
As far as features go, the M12 Metal flashlight has independent On/Off and mode buttons so the light remembers which mode it is in, a knurled aluminum housing for excellent gripping, and sealed connections to protect the electronics from dust and water. It can be used in momentary or lock-on, with high, low, and strobe functions. It also features Milwaukee’s High Definition LEDs, so you should be seeing colors as they really are without the blue-ish tint that other LEDs can cast.
The Maglite ML300L comes at bit of a lower price point. However, it is powered by 3 D-cell batteries, meaning that you are paying $8 for each charge, and you need to keep D-cell batteries in your work bag in case you flashlight runs out of juice (typically 15 hours or less of runtime on 3 batteries). Not only that, but the Maglite only has 625 lumens of output, and requires two hands to change from flood to beam lighting.
As far as rechargeable competitors, the real advantage here comes from the M12 system. While other rechargeable flashlights have batteries that take 3-4 hours to charge, M12 batteries reliable charge in 30 to 40 minutes, and are compatible whit a system of over 70 other tools. Also, the M12 still has the highest light output, and the one handed beam adjustment not found on other tools all at a lower price point. The Milwaukee will retail for $99 as a bare tool, and $149 as a kit.
These M12 flashlights are supposed to ship late June (probably early July) so not in time for Father’s Day, but I don’t think that dad in your life would be too upset if he got one of these a week or so after the fact.
