So, I just got off the phone with my cousin, and somehow I persuaded her to buy some new flashlights.
Here’s how it started. I mentioned the little trouble I got into with Olight because of how I promoted their free flashlight offer (that’s all resolved now – details below – please don’t sign up for multiple accounts!), and then she went to see what I was talking about.
You know, I need to buy a gift for my friend’s husband…
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Following are the flashlight deals that I recommended, and the ideas worked out well. She placed some orders and now has several fewer people to shop for.
If you’re shopping for someone other than yourself, our flashlight and pocket knife gear deals won’t be the best idea. I typically post about those deals with other enthusiasts in mind.
When buying for someone else, it’s often better to go with something simpler that might suit a broader range of preference.
Here’s a good place to start:
This is the Olight i3T EOS, a compact AAA-powered flashlight with 180 lumen output. I bought one earlier in the year at full price.
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Right now, it’s on sale Amazon.
Sale Price: $12.76 ($15.95 – 20% coupon)
Buy Now via Amazon – EXPIRED
This is a good deal for a great flashlight that’s compact and bright.
Update: As an alternative, the desert tan i3T is on sale for $15.95 (I paid $22 for mine in June), and the Streamlight Microstream is $16.99 (I paid the same price in June).
Or, if you want something a little larger:
Enter the Streamlight Stylus Pro, a 2x AAA LED penlight.
The blue-finish model is priced at $17.99 right now. Although this isn’t the lowest price I’ve seen or posted about, it’s a good price for a great flashlight.
I told her that the tail cap power switch can be a little stiff, but it’s a fantastic flashlight that has never given me any trouble.
She ordered one of these for her husband.
Price: $17.99
I was also checking Home Depot’s website, to see if their Milwaukee penlight deal was still going on, and came across the Milwaukee Rover LED flashlight, model 2108.
It has magnetic mounting, rotating pocket clip, and 300 lumens floodlight. It’s powered by 2xAA batteries and with standard batteries it gives you 2 brightness options. (You lose one of the brightness modes if you use rechargeable batteries due to the lower voltage.)
It’s on sale for $20!
This is a very good floodlight-style worklight that is compact, bright, durable, and I like its magnetic mounting capabilities.
AND right now you get FREE SHIPPING with no minimum.
Sale Price: $20
This is a really good deal for a very versatile worklight. My cousin ordered one for her husband, and one for her friend’s husband.
While still on the phone, I happened to glance over to a deals website that I opened up a few minutes earlier. I noticed a deal thread about Olight, with someone mentioning they bought an i3E, shown here, at a discount.
The i3E is a less expensive flashlight than the i3T discussed above, and also a little smaller, which makes it very well-suited for keychain carry.
It delivers 90 lumens of light, which is still quite a lot for such a small AAA-sized flashlight.
Sale Price: $7.96 (but read further)
She registered an account, and so the Olight iR2 EOS rechargeable keychain-sized flashlight was added to her order for FREE.
You have to pay $5 shipping on orders under $49.
The deals website post also reminded me that if you register as a new customer with Olight, or log in, you can click to share about their promo on Facebook (visit the above register link for details), and you get a $5 credit.
So, the keychain light is free, the i3E is $7.96, and with the Facebook sharing, you get $5 credit off the price. You still have to pay $5 shipping on orders under $49, and so it ended up being $7.96 shipped for the two flashlights.
She ended up getting the i3E and a keychain for just under $8 shipped, with the plan to give them as stocking stuffers.
The “share on Facebook” credit works on anything except for shipping – I used mine early in the Black Friday sale to get this camo-pattern i5T.
Unfortunately, this one is not on sale for $20 or less.
Price: $26.36
There are a lot of other recommendable lights, but these seemed like good suggestions and for $20 or less (except for the camo i5T).
My cousin ended up spending ~$66 while we were on the phone. I tried calling again just now – I wonder why she isn’t picking up?
Would you recommend something different?
Brian M
Stuey, you’ve been busy! Thanks for all these posts on sales, this year it’s a bit harder for me to find deals.
Tom D
I’ve found a few but mostly I’ve sat here envying the Yellow guys. Red didn’t really do as much I feel.
fred
I got the feeling – maybe just an impression – that COVID has messed-up the supply chain from China and globally. So that may have something to do with the paucity of deals – and how fast some of the deals seem to have sold out. I’ve been doing all of my shopping (groceries included) on-line since early March – and picking up my meds at a drive-in window – so I can’t comment on what stock at the bricks and mortar places like Home Depot or Lowes look like.
Tom D
The brighter but more expensive and rechargeable version of that Milwaukee has an extra battery with it:
Model# 2112-21-48-11-2131
Internet# 314329684
At HD
blocky
Thanks for the heads up. I just ordered my 4th i3t. This is my most-used and favorite small light.
fred
I’ve given away EZ-Red branded COB penlight as Stocking Stuffers and have one myself that I find useful. I think I paid under $8 each – but probably bought them in multiples. Not sure its worth $13
https://www.amazon.com/Z-Red-Pocket-Flashlight-Magnetic/dp/B00K8WO768/
Dave
I was going to buy that Milwaukee Rover but then I read the reviews—without going back and looking again, I believe they often quit after a few seconds or something, and maybe the cap even pops off (I hope that’s right… but anyway the reviews were fairly negative)–enough people had the issue to scare me off.
Jim Felt
I’ve found them to be both stable and useful where other shapes of flashlights couldn’t illuminate what I was needing lit.
And I just now ordered a couple of more for gifts.
Jim
I have the Milwaukee light stuck on the side of my drill press. It’s there so that I can see the small chart that shows how to adjust the belts for a particular speed.
It been stuck there for about 8 months with no issue at all.
The magnet keeps it close at hand and allows it to provide hands free light when I stick it to the opened belt cover
Steve G
Have been impressed with rechargeable Milwaukee. Dropped from height multiple times. (Was magnetic to side of lift). One of them stopped recharging but still works. Just charge with other light. I’m probably the reason it doesn’t recharge btw.
Dave
This isn’t the rechargeable one–I have several of those–this is a lesser version w penlight batteries.
RayRay
Bought one if the Milwaukee AA powered Rovers (#2108) about 9 months ago when I saw priced at $20 when walking through the local HD.
I was skeptical but found it a super handy little light in the garage, around the house, in the cars, etc.
I’ll probably grab three at this price – one for the car we usually take on trips, one to stay in the entry, one to stick on the fridge and one to give for Xmas.
The 300 lumens is often enough light for a quick task, AA batteries are common enough and at $20 I’m not worried about loosing it or having to baby it.
RayRay
Dave,
Had one of these for just over 9 months. Not a tradesman but it got regular use around and the house, road trips and my kiddo loves to take off with it and play with it if I leave it where they can grabit.
Never had an issue or problem (other than trying to find it again when the kiddo has taken it to play with).
For $20 its well worth it.
Dave
Thank you- my use would be as a near-daily light, often “stuck” (it’s magnetic) to something in a harsh environment. I will stay with the rechargeable ones I think but I really appreciate the input.
Jared
I’ve had the tiny, AAA powered I3E for a few years now. Great little flashlight – even more so because of the price. 90 lumens is plenty to be useful.
Joe
Harbor Freight has their Braun slim folding light for $19.99 through tomorrow. Seems like these get good reviews from multiple folks. I picked one up but not really used it yet.
https://www.harborfreight.com/390-lumen-magnetic-slim-bar-folding-led-work-light-56329.html
Not sure I like the trend of using USB to charge but going to try it. Pretty sure I saw an almost exact copy of this light at Lowe’s branded as a Craftsman but it used AAA batteries.
Keith Allen
I3T shows $15.95 on Amazon. Am I missing a coupon?
Stuart
Looks like the coupon ended. Thanks, I’ll update the post.
If you’re going to pay $15.95 go for the discounted desert tan version. I bought this one for $21.95 in June. (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DLRK7Q5/?tag=toolguyd-20)
The non-black finish flashlights often cost a little (~$2) more. $16 is a better deal on the tan compared to the black. Black flashlights tend to get lost on my desk, workbench, and other surfaces.
Or wait for a future promo?
The Streamlight Microstream is $17 right now: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00143JZ08/?tag=toolguyd-20
$16 for a black Olight or $17 for the Streamlight, I’d usually lean a little more towards the Streamlight. The Olight has the edge when it comes to brightness.
Comparing the two (I have one in each hand right now), the Olight has more features and is brighter. I’ve been familiar with Streamlight for much longer, and while Olight has proven reliable, they’re still new to me.
Matt
Everyone should buy the Streamlight USB flashlights. I’ve bought a ton of microstream over the years and keep one clipped to my back pocket next to my wallet. I’ve had several ruined due to battery leak issues(which I’ve learned my lesson buying rayovac batteries from Home Depot). Once that acid leaks I cannot get the lights to unscrew.
If you avoid cheap batteries then I’m sure you’ll be fine. But with the recharging feature I highly recommend the USB stream lights.
TMedina
I knew this thread was a bad idea. I just ordered another one of those Milwaukee work lights – at $20, it’s a nice deal.