I’ve got a silly riddle for you. It’s silly because you already know the answer, but for a second let’s pretend you don’t. Oh, here goes:
What’s compact, lightweight, built with an anti-roll shape out of lightweight aluminum, covered with a textured grip material, equipped with a push button tail cap and multi-mode emitter, and throws up to 160 lumens of LED light output?
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Learn More: Lumens, Lux and Other Flashlight Jargon Explained
It’s also said to be waterproof up to 1 meter (3.3 feet), and able to endure drops of up to 5 feet.
Do you give up yet? It’s this Ryobi LED flashlight, RFL905, that’s now available in a 2-pack for $20!
Update: A single flashlight is also now available, for just under $10. Maybe that 2-pack will drop in price for the holidays?
Each Ryobi flashlight is powered by 3x AAA batteries, with a max runtime of 24 hours on the low setting. The flashlight is said to have 4 “positions” – low, high, strobe, and off. So… it’s a 3-mode flashlight.
It’s got a push-button switch, suggesting the positions are figurative. When I think “position,” I think rotary switch, but the image of the tail cap suggests it’s just a button.
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That’s… pretty much it.
Ryobi came out with a 2-pack of LED flashlights, each capable of delivering up to 160 lumens of light. 160 lumens? That’s quite bright. And it’s surprisingly inexpensive, at $20 for 2.
Price: $20 for 2, $10 for 1
Buy Now(2-pack via Home Depot)
Buy Now(1 via Home Depot)
When did Ryobi start making AAA LED flashlights? *Shrug*
I’m in for a pack the first time I see ’em at Home Depot. Equipped with lithium batteries, which I’ll have to supply on my own, it might be a good glove box flashlight. Right now I’ve got a tough Rayovac 2x AA LED flashlight in my center console, of course equipped with lithium batteries, and I’ve sometimes wished for something a little more compact.
Read More: Which Batteries for Tools and Flashlights in Cold Weather?
And while I’m at Home Depot, I’ll likely pick up some more Husky LED flashlights too. Husky? Yep. They sent over some test samples, and the build quality impresses me. At a holiday season preview a few months ago, they showed off a waterproof model that was kept submerged in a tub of water.
If you’re strolling down the holiday tools section in a few weeks, you’ll see lots of super cheap “how can they pull so many lumens out of flashlights so cheap” models. I am severely distrustful of those types of flashlights. Maybe you’ve had good experiences with them, but I’ll continue to steer clear.
Ryobi, on the other hand, and Husky too, are brands I trust. I’ve had good experiences with Husky flashlights, and I trust Ryobi enough to where I’d be willing to give this one a try.
Sorry for the somewhat goofy tone at the start of the post. But, c’mon, let’s face it. This new Ryobi LED flashlight looks like a cheap no-name model, but a little more refined and with a trusted brand emblazoned on the side.
Without the Ryobi name on it, or other trusted label, it’s completely and utterly unremarkable. For the price, it’s awfully tempting, but only because of that Ryobi branding – that alone is how it caught my eye. Allowing myself to be a little goofy helped stave my boredom away, and hopefully yours to.
Buy Now(via Home Depot)
P.S. Do you find it more convenient or more of a nuisance to have “buy now” links in more than one place in a post? I find I usually introduce a tool, post a price and purchase link option or two, and then I sometimes go into a more opinion-oriented discussion. Is it helpful to repeat the link after this section too, as I did just here?
Sam
Also look for twin packs of Maglite LED 3C and 2C (ML25’s) at HD for a very attractive price in the weeks ahead
Stuart
It’ll take insanely great pricing for me to get excited over C-battery flashlights.
Hopefully the promo packs come with batteries. In the past, some Maglite deals were so-so because some stores’ promo versions didn’t come without batteries. I think HD’s came without batteries, Lowes’ did. HD’s price was appealingly lower, but higher when you factored in having to buy D batteries separately.
Jon
No kidding. C-size batteries are remarkably uncommon and, as far as I’ve seen, never priced affordably. Go larger or smaller. The C-size battery is the Mervyn’s of the alkaline battery world: it lost its market long ago.
schill
I tend to shy away from flashlights that use 3 AAA batteries. Typically, they use a carrier to hold the batteries (I don’t know if this is true of the Ryobi lights). The carrier slides out and you insert the batteries into it. I’ve had a few lights like that and some of the carriers have not looked very sturdy – and at least one failed (plastic cracked) just due to the pressure of the spring-loaded batteries.
Except for one cell or two inline cell AAA flashlights, I tend to avoid AAAs as well. AAs last a lot longer and the flashlights don’t really need to be that much larger. I EDC a Nitecore D10 on my belt (others in my backpack).
My go-to recommendation for years has been variations of the 4AA (or 3AA for intrinsically safe) Streamlight Propolymer LED lights (single LED).
However, the Ryobi lights look like they might be a good deal for the price for lights to leave around the home. I prefer AA lights in the car, though. It’s easier to get replacement batteries (easier to pull them out of other things) and I usually have a lot more rechargeable AAs (eneloop or amazon) around than AAAs. For lights that I want to know will be good when I need them, I like to use lithium – even though they are more expensive (although around the home, I have plenty of charged batteries so I use them).
firefly
It took me awhile to go 18650 mostly because I didn’t want to having to deal with another type of battery. Plus I was worried about the availability of the battery. However the availability of better flashlight on the 18650 batteries finally won me over. Once I do I am very glad that I made that investment…
schill
I have a number of 18650 based lights (and some other “odd” rechargeables as well). I like them, but I don’t always keep track of the batteries and their charge levels like I should.
Jon
I have never had a good experience with a flashlight with a AAA battery insert. I’ve had some break, but more often I’ve seen them just get stuck inside. I’m not sure if it’s a matter of batteries swelling or what, but they go in and never come back out and then the entire device is useless.
MT_Noob
I’m fine with the multiple links in the body, since I do sometimes change my mind as I read through the page. I also appreciate that we can still put in link in comments. And I also appreciate the work you put in to link back to previous related entries. It is all very helpful.
Stuart
Thanks for the feedback!
With more people browsing on mobile devices, I’m looking at lots of little things to figure out what works well, and what might be more a nuisance than anything else.
Do you like these separated link-backs work better than inline? Normally I link to previous posts inline, within a paragraph or sentence, because it makes sense to, and only create a separate kind of side note link for parallel discussions.
MT_Noob
I think in line works better. It seems to flow better. Otherwise my brain assumes it is an add and I skip over it. But is is not a deal breaker either way for me. I keep coming back for all the great content.
Blair
I agree with Mt Noob, it’s not a deal breaker either way, but I read this after work on a larger screen, so maybe I’m not the typical viewer.
The yeti
Well I gotta say . As far as brand names goes . Ryobi is not high on the list . Ryobi is essentially no name .
Stuart
True. But what I mean is that I trust Ryobi more to conduct due diligence with a design, compared to a no-name brand that has no reputation at risk.
daniel
Maybe the Yeti is saying that if he were to buy a Ryobi flashlight today and it stopped working tomorrow, he would not be surprised…
The yeti
Sort of . I have some faith in the brand . I own one small Ryobi chainsaw and it is great for what I need. However if I were using it more than 2 days a yr . I would spend the money and get a better one . Regarding flashlights . If u want to spend get a Fenix . If u want cheap type Cree led into amazon and order 10 cheapo no name lights maybe one or 2 r junk . But for 50 bucks u will have 8 decent lights
The yeti
Love your page btw
928'er
These look like they may be part of the Tec4 line of tools. I believe there was an adapter to use 3 AAA batteries with the Tec4 tools. Any indication of whether these can use the Tec4 Li-Ion batteries? I’ve got a few of the Tec4 tools and batteries….
Stuart
You could try, but I’m guessing they were designed to be as inexpensive to produce as possible. There’s no mention of Tek4 compatibility.
Looking at older posts, I have to say that this looks to be a completely different AAA-from-the-ground-up design.
https://toolguyd.com/ryoi-tek4-5pc-combo-kit-with-scredriver-snips/
https://toolguyd.com/ryobi-tek4-cordless-electronic-tool-system/
James C
Zero interest in 3xAAA lights. I’m interested to hear from others who know more about this than me, but my impression is 3xAAA in series is a cheaper way to get the voltage needed to drive the LED (vs using a boost driver chip). Often these are direct drive (again, no extra cost of a regulator) so they will gradually dim as the batteries deplete.
Spend a few bucks more and it will be worth it.
Stuart
AAA flashlights tend to be a lot more compact than AA lights, especially if talking about 3-cell ones. A 3AA light is often going to be long, while a 3AAA can have the cells arranged in a triangular setup.
For higher power, I prefer CR123.
Alkaline cells usually won’t do well with higher power emitters, let alone AAA.
I think I would be disappointed with these lights if I needed to use them frequently at high power and for long stretches.
But for a casual use light, the high illumination should be fine for short bursts.
A lot of people get hung up on lumens, and that could be what Ryobi is counting on to sell these flashlights.
For daily use, these might be fine as one’s first non-throwaway flashlight. But I doubt that’s what they were designed for. I’d consider Pelican, Surefire, Streamlight, Fenix, FourSevens, Maglite, or a couple of other brands. But for keeping in the kitchen junk drawer, glovebox, etc., this one should be okay.
James C
I’m more taking about the popularity of cheapo 3xAAA targeted at the mainstream consumer and the technical reasons behind it.
I think 3xAA arranged longways is quite uncommon. BTW, there are a few 3xAA side-by-side, like the Eagletac GX25A3, but they haven’t seemed to catch on in the niche high-end flashlight world. It’s a pity, because that’s a good way to avoid using li-ion cells if not comfortable with them.
I’ll take a high-quality, single AA over any 3xAAA.
matt
I actually miss the Tek 4 line. I have 2 different Tek4 flashlights. They are not the best out there but are still awesome mainly because I don’t have to fuss with the batteries. It was cool seeing these new flashlights on ToolGuyD, however I’ll take a pass since they are AAA and not rechargeable.
Bruce
I gave up on AAA and AA battery lights years ago. A 18650 cell light is lighter, brighter, more compact, usually waterproof, and batteries last forever. I have no use for non-rechargeable lights anymore.
Jerry
As someone who has lost more than one round flashlight as it slowly rolled off what I thohjgbt was a level surface into the depths of nothingness (or the innards of a combine) I will only buy non rolling toolbox lights from now on. As we go through harvest I’m up to my 3rd one. Combine innards are steel so if I cant reach it, it won’t destroy anything. These look like the other Ryobi tools I own, decent for what they cost, with user friendly features. I’d rather have hi/med/low instead of hi/lo/strobe, but that is personal preference. Much prefer tailcap clicky over rotary switch. My idea of an ideal toolbox light would be one that uses a single AA or AAA battery, with a tailcap clicky switch, and hi/lo settings, in some sort of anti roll feature, whether it be a hex design or pocket clip. I prefer hex on larger diameter lights and a clip on slim ones that would use a single battery. I’m OK with the 3 AAA batteries, at least they are available everywhere in alkaline and rechargeable.
Oh, and multiple links are fine. Sometimes an item seems more interesting the more I read about it. If only one link, put it at the end of the article.
Adam g
I also appreciate a single AA flashlight that wont roll and so far I like
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IEMUOWU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Works great for me.
Oleg Kuperman
Aluminum, especially anodized (colored) is prone to scratches, 160 lumens is really not a lot of light, besides, a flashlight is a tool one wants to depend on, Ryobi’s quality assurance isnt exactly “legendary”, plus, I’d I prefer Coast or Maglite making things visible for me, they make their flashlights out of plastic that doesn’t scratch, dent or break. They’re also much brighter and use higher quality led bulbs… I’d only get this as a gift or out of necessity.
These are my $.0.02, disagreements welcome!
Benjamen
I saw these at a local HD today 1 for $10. This is a 3AAA flashlight?
When I think 3AAA flashlight, I think of something the size of the Harbor Freight specials you get for free. You can fit those in your pocket. My wife can fit one in the pocket of her jeans (have you ever seen how small they make pockets in women’s jeans?)
The Ryobi flashlight is huge, maybe I could fit it in my pocket, but there’s not going to be room for much else.
I was going to pick one up, but I passed. I’d rather have something smaller.