Lowe’s has launched a new Kobalt 25-foot tape measure that features a built-in LED worklight.
The new Kobalt tape measure has a wide blade with 12′ standout and 15′ reach specs.
Lowe’s says that their new Kobalt tape measure is the most compact design wide blade tape measure in its class. It is unclear whether this is among 25-foot tape measures, or only 25-foot tape measures with built-in LED lights.
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The light is said to be “strong enough to light up any dark environment, ensuring an accurate measurement.”
The Kobalt tape measure is bundled with a USB charging cable.
Lowe’s description says that the tape features “lightning fast battery charges,” although they don’t specify the approximate charging time.
A full charge allows for 3 hours of continuous runtime.
The tape has a 1-year warranty.
Price: $21.98
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Discussion
This is not the only traditional tape measure to feature a built-in LED light. Komelon also has a 25-foot LED Light tape measure, and Milwaukee has a mini 10-foot model.
At the time of this post, the Komelon has been discounted to $15 at Amazon. The Komelon is also said to be compact, and “the size of a standard 16-foot tape measure.”
The Kobalt design is a bit different than the Komelon, such as with a wider LED lens and a covered USB port. The Kobalt blade is yellow and the Komelon is white.
Komelon does not have published standout or reach specs for their LED tape. The Kobalt has an “extra wide” blade, and although they have published standout and reach specs, we don’t know the width of the blade.
I wish that Kobalt elaborated a little more in their Lowe’s listings. For instance, how wide is the blade? They say the tape has an “impact resistant case [that] holds up to the toughest of job sites,” but are there drop-resistant height specs to back this up? How fast is “lightning fast” battery charging?
From what I can tell this far, it looks like Lowe’s and Kobalt did their homework with the new LED Light tape measure. It delivers a little more than its closest competitor that I could find – the Komelon 25-foot tape – and the $21 price seems reasonable.
While this might not be something I would buy for myself, I like that it seems thoughtfully designed.
Jason T.
I really don’t need another tape, but this is the kind of innovation that you would think would have happened years ago. Simple but useful! This would be a great item for seasonal sales like Father’s Day and Christmas.
MM
I agree, it’s one of those things you look at and it just seems so obvious. But at the same time, it’s really only quite recently that battery tech has gotten good enough to put a meaningful light in a tape measure without making it huge. These models (including the Komelon, etc, that Stuart mentioned) look like they’re not much bigger than a standard tape.
Wayne R.
Not to dump on the idea, exactly, but don’t we all have other lights too? My first reaction was “A rechargeable tape measure? Really?”
No doubt some users will find this to be an ideal solution, but I find myself at the other end of that spectrum.
Jason T.
I carry a light on me every day, two actually, one on my keys and one clipped to my pocket. But when measuring I often have a pencil in the other hand. So having a built in light on the tape does help instead of needing three hands or having to wear a headlamp. Is it a hassle to remember having to charge my tape periodically? I guess. Am I completely sold that I need one of these? No. But I would be willing to give it a try if they put it on a sale price of $12 to $15.
Wayne R.
I keep the single AAA LED types around on lanyards (Streamlight & Olight) specifically for those nooks that are too dark, and can hold them in my mouth. They aren’t specific to any one task, which is my disagreement with this thing, I think.
HushHouse254
I agree with your position. Is there really a need for this? Another power cord, batteries? I’ll pass.
Plain grainy
Off Topic: Home Depot has the Toughbuilt universal “Quick Set” miter saw cart marked down. Price has been $219.00 for a long time. Now at $179.99 w/ free shipping.
fred
Many of the recent (not sure about this one) Kobalt Tape measures seem to be sourced from Komelon. UPC’s starting with 650056 would confirm that.
I may put this on my list for Christmas gift giving.
Plain grainy
They could have incorporated a strobe light. That would illuminate the worker in dark job site environments. It’s nice to see some product innovation with this tape measure.
Mikedt
I picked up a 10 foot pocket sized Milwaukee tape recently because it had inch/metric AND a flashlight built in. All for $10. In this case the light runs off a 2032 battery. I think I prefer that given its intended use.
Plain grainy
It’s kind of a trade off. From keeping track of your charging cord, or buying batteries.
Jeremiah Ducate
I didnt know this exists, ill have to check it out.
this whole concept is new to me but im intrigued. Coming from someone who wears a tape while working about 75% of the time.
JR Ramos
I can think of extremely few times where this would have been (or would be) useful for me personally but I can see where it could come in quite handy.
That said, the USB charging suggests that it has a li-ion battery of some flavor, and for a tool that is often accidentally dropped from various heights, I would want to know details on contents and construction before I’d ever buy it or use it.
If a good drop happens to damage a li-ion battery then there’s a good chance you can see some magic smoke or flame. If that happens to be a slow burn effect, I don’t want it to happen inside the truck, inside a tool bag where it could damage other items, and I don’t want to breathe it. If it can survive significant impacts safely, then ok. If it’s NiMH, no worries. If it were primary lithium non-rechargeable cells, the risk is not zero but much less concerning.
Jeremiah Ducate
I had the same thought considering ive had a few times where i picked up tape measures and was happy they still worked.
Nathan
if I’m using a tape in the dark or a very dim place I’m probably also using a headlamp of some form.
just saying. Not needed. Instead of a led – how about a digital encoded tape with a digital backlit read out. to give you fractions, decimal, metric, etc.
I’d buy that first. basically simlar functions to a quality digital caliper.
Corey Moore
Shockforce Nite Eye. Don’t need a light on the tape, just a quality tape with great low light readability. Can’t speak for every make, model, and manufacturer of course, but I can attest to the Lufkin being badass in underground mining. Haven’t ever dropped tape measure specific electronics in an underground puddle of sludge and shotcrete before, but all the non tape measure specific electronics I have dropped in one, didn’t do too well lol
Wayne R.
That tape looks hi-vis for sure, but I gotta consider the black case as a negative feature in a mine, y’know, unless it’s for tactical assault purposes.
Corey Moore
Underground you’ve got a belt as mandatory PPE, and common use stuff gets attached to various straps integrated in it. I definitely make use of the tapes lanyard hole, and typically hang it off one of several upside-down D rings like I do with my speed wrenches and spuds. The black is a good observation to consider, though.
Saulac
Need to have built-in dynamo so it’s recharged each time the tape is pulled out.
Matt the Hoople
Makes me think of the Toto electronic faucets and flush valves that have the built in turbine that charges the fixture every time water runs through it.
Kilroy
At a previous residence I installed a backup sump pump that worked off of the mains (city) water pressure, as a source of energy to pump the sump (with the city waster being disposed if as well)… The idea being that it’s not too uncommon to lose electrical power (which powered the primary sump pump), but it has to be a really bad disaster to lose city water pressure. Figured it would be more reliable and work for longer than a backup pump powered by batteries. Thankfully, I never had to use it for real, but in testing it worked quite well.
Saulac
Fascinating. Never thought about such use, then I immediately over complicate the idea by picturing turbine/impeller…Googled “water powered sump pump” and turned out it is just venturi pump, and the “power consumption” is about 1 gal city water to 2 gal trash water. Make me recall an “As seen on TV” pump that was advertised (as a new invention) to empty fish tanks/ponds…etc using a garden hose…and I dismissed it as snake oil…a bit difficult to accept wasting treated water these day and age, but got to love the simplicity.
fred
We installed a quite a few of these – particularly for vacation homes that were not always inhabited – but had mains-water rather than well-water.
I spotted this – more temporary solution too:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Water-Pressure-The-Venturi-Effect-And-Vacuum-Pump-Marvel-For-Uses-Pressure-From-A-Garden-Hose/246416587
Jeremiah Ducate
I like the way you think, even darther outside of the box.
Dean in Des Moines
Can’t wait to sit my grandkids down and tell them stories about how we had to wait for sun-up to take our measurements.
Dave the tool
Seems gimmicky to me. The most important thing for a tape measure is easy reading numbers and standout length. There are so many mini flashlights out there it’s hard to imagine someone being without one ever! I personally use the Nitecore Tip SE. Some may think perhaps too bulky for a EDC but works great for me and since it has a clip on it I can easily free up my hands and clip on the brim of my baseball cap! Not sure if it would work on the brim of a hard hat however? Nitecore makes smaller similar lights but the Tip SE is my choice because of the clip! 3 modes of light plus a turbo mode of 700 lumen if needed. USB C charging port adds to its attraction. EDC lights are extremely personal for the users but I have found mine with this light.
Scott ALKB
I’m a 52yo DIYer. I’m a tech guy, but don’t need it to invade every aspect of my life. I don’t have a need for a light in my tape measures; I generally have light available from other sources when I’m using a tape. Also, I try to avoid using small batteries when I can (for reasons that may be obsolete or irrelevant these days).
That said, I don’t do much work where there’s no electric light or sunlight available, so I don’t think I’m the target market for this item. And I can see the usefulness where there’s no/low light.
That’s where I put my usefulness decision: Does it introduce complexity (with this, I have to charge yet another thing) for enough benefit? Do I get that benefit with something I already have or do? Does it significantly reduce the time to do a task, or significantly reduce my annoyance when getting it done the old way (which has value)?