Energizer Weather Ready 3 in 1 LED Review

[UnknownVT]

This is a very interesting and practical flashlight from Energizer - that's supposed to be purpose built for preparedness/emergencies.

When I think about power outages (flashaholic dreams? ) - the lights - that's plural - should have long runtimes with adequate light - be able to throw a beam on the scene - but also an area light and have a locator light.... that's fine for multiple lights - but quite a tall order for a single light.

Well I think this Energizer Weather Ready 3 in 1 LED light manages to do those things.

Packaging (I got the photo on the left off the web)

size -

head -

This light as its name suggests has 3 functions -
regular flashlight
lantern/area light
night light/locator.

As a flashlight it does pretty well, using 2 "premium" Nichia LEDs with a simple reflector and two focussing lenses - it manages to throw quite a wide even spot of light - with some pretty patchy and strange side-spill (which was very reminicent of their 3 LED HeadLamp )

vs. sMJLED PR2 bulb in Ray-O-Vac plastic 2D

Despite the differences - they are about the same ballpark in brightness - the Ray-O-Vac 2D with sMJLED throws better because of the reflector design - the 3 in 1 has a much wider hotspot which is better for indoor usage - which is mostly what this light is about - remember in a real power outage any light is better than no light at all.

vs. Energizer LED HeadBeam - 2x Brighter

seem quite a bit brighter than the LED HeadBeam (which also uses two white "2x brighter" Nichia LEDs with two focussing lenses) but we're talking about 2-3 years on so perhaps the Nichias used in this 3 in 1 are brighter than the circa late 2005 LED HeadBeam.

Lantern mode - this uses three white LEDs housed in a white frosted tube - there is some kind of convex cone reflector toward the top which helps bounce the light out.

left - lantern mode in darkened room - exposure adjusted for the light.
right - -2 stops flash fill showing the flashlight.

NightLight/Locator Mode - this uses a single amber LED in the same area as the three white lantern LEDs -

All-in-all this is very good purpose built multi-functional light for emergencies and power outages - it has claimed very long runtime of 100 hours on the flashlight (2 LED) mode.

I inquired at Energizer.com about the runtimes on the other modes and got this reply:

"Runtime using the 3 LED's in Energizer Weather Ready 3 in 1 Flashlight (WRTWL41E) will be approximately 55 hours. The amber nightlight will run about 140 hours on a fresh set of batteries."

The light is well constructed using pretty high impact grade plastics - how so I know it's high impact? - well embrassingly during my beamshots the light fell (while On) over 4.5 feet onto concrete floor - and I was sure it was going to damaged/cracked - but not a sign of the fall.......

It is weather sealed with an O-ring on body tube where th head screws on, the single button switch is also covered.

The only aspect that might be annoying - since the light only has a single button switch (advantage - simple to use) it switches on the light in flashlight mode - then the next click switches on the lantern mode and next nightlight mode. This sounds quite simple and logical - except when using in the flashlight mode - I kept expecting the switch to turn off the light and it still catches me by surpise that the body lights up in my hand.... DoH!- obviously lantern mode !

This light was available at WalMart normally for about $13.88 -
but I found it at (I think) a closeout for $7
- now that's a bargain!!

EDIT to Add -
found on web - Video review of this light
- gives very good idea of the aspects of this light - check it out.

Index to Follow Up parts -

Stairway "beamshots" of lantern mode - Post #38

Stairway "beamshots" of lantern mode compared to ceiling bounce shots of Cree Q5 and Rebel 100 flashlights - Post #41

 

[Flying Turtle]

Thanks for the review, Vincent. Excellent, as always. I find multi-purpose lights like this interesting, and hard to resist. Might have to make a run to WalMart.

Geoff

 

[UnknownVT]

I find multi-purpose lights like this interesting, and hard to resist.

Thanks for your kind words and feedback Geoff.

Same here, I really like the aspect of this 3 in 1 light -
purpose built for power outages/emergencies;
(claimed) long runtimes at good practical brightness(es);
3 ways of using the light.

The video review I found on the web gives a much better idea of how the light works.

and at what looks like a closeout for $7 (at least at my local WalMart) -
it has to be a bargain.

 

[alfreddajero]

Very nice review.......need to check walmart for them.....the last time i was there to check the coleman lights in which i just bought 2, the 3AAA and also the 2AA i did'nt see these on the shelves.....is it in there flashlight section or would i have to look elsewhere.

 

[UnknownVT]

.....is it in there flashlight section or would i have to look elsewhere.

At three local WalMarts they were kept in the regular flashlight section - usually toward the lower left side, among the cheapo plastic 2D flashlights.

As most can figure I had been looking at thes for a long time, and when I saw a lot of flashlights red tagged at one of the WalMarts - I scanned the barcode of this 3 in 1 and saw it was at the low $7 - I just could not resist .

 

[alfreddajero]

I might just have to check it out then......you cant beat the price at all.

 

[kramer5150]

Nice, thanks for the review. I may pick up some for around the house. IMHO we need more multi-AA lights. The added run-times and broad selection of AA cells over AAA can be worth the size penalty... IMHO.

 

[DM51]

Looks like a very useful all-purpose light, at a great price. A handy one to keep around for power outages, for lending to non-flashaholics, and very useful for camping too. Thanks for this!

 

[UnknownVT]

Energizer actually has a whole page of emergency preparedness lights which included a long time favorite -

compact fluorescent+LED combo light

whenever people on other forums mention power outage flaslight usage I suggest looking at these more purpose built lights with long runtimes and area lighting ability.

Of all those Energizer emergency preparedness lights - I thought this 3 in 1 LED seemed to be the most suitable....

so time to put my money where my mouth is....
it still took a clearance price :huh:

 

[alfreddajero]

yes you are right.....im going to get some to add to my collection.

 

[Lynx_Arc]

Energizer actually has a whole page of emergency preparedness lights which included a long time favorite -

compact fluorescent+LED combo light

whenever people on other forums mention power outage flaslight usage I suggest looking at these more purpose built lights with long runtimes and area lighting ability.

Of all those Energizer emergency preparedness lights - I thought this 3 in 1 LED seemed to be the most suitable....

so time to put my money where my mouth is....
it still took a clearance price :huh:

these CCFL lights are my favorite ones, big floody light for a small size although the single 5mm LED is not that good, I have 2 arcwhite with incans I want to convert to high power LEDs. The 3 in one almost looks like a challenger to the 4AA flip lanterns perhaps someone that had both of them could compare pros/cons.

 

[bitslammer]

This is the great thing about being a Flashoholic. I'm almost as excited to run out and grab one of these at lunch tomorrow as I was in just buying a $200 Lumapwoer MVP. :twothumbs

 

[Lynx_Arc]

This is the great thing about being a Flashoholic. I'm almost as excited to run out and grab one of these at lunch tomorrow as I was in just buying a $200 Lumapwoer MVP. :twothumbs

I am like that, some of my favorite lights are my bargain ones because they are almost guilt free in cost if I break them it is not a big deal so I can tear them apart and improve them. I destroyed one of those red CCFL lights trying to replace the LED and ended up putting the LED in a broken dorcy AAA light and the CCFL in a 4AA lantern making it the smallest flouro lantern I have seen. Since I only paid $7 for the doublebright (that is what they used to call it) now it is weather ready? I hope one day they make a version with a cree in it that would be really neat then

 

[Phaserburn]

This seems to be a great camping or sleepover light for children. They have a bright beam to play with, an area light to play beside, and a nightlight for sleeptime. I'd get one for $7.

 

[senna94]

This seems to be a great camping or sleepover light for children. They have a bright beam to play with, an area light to play beside, and a nightlight for sleeptime. I'd get one for $7.

+1

Found some of these on clearance at Wal Mart for $7.00 and got 7 of them. They will make great holiday gifts if I don't keep them all!!!!!

Paull
:thumbsup:

 

[LED-holic]

Cool review. Thanks for the heads up.

I'll have to stop by Walmart. I have several of the rechargeable weather ready LED lights, which I bought before I got my first Fenix light. They do come in handy as gifts, throw-around lights, and night lights.

 

[bltkmt]

I need to stop coming here...more lights to buy...thanks!

 

[tvman]

I saw one of these at Walmart this morning. The clerk whom I asked for the clearance flashights came over and said it was $2.50 or $3. I passed on it but I might go back in the morning. it's about a 10 mile drive one way.

 

[Flying Turtle]

I went looking for one at the local WalMart today. No luck. Maybe I'll check another tomorrow, if I can somehow justify using $5 in gas to do it.

Geoff

 

[richardcpf]

Today I went to the mart and the only good light I saw was the energizer Flip light with 2xfluorescent tubes and 1 yellow led (uses 4xD) it was only $15 so I bought it (review soon).

Really wanted to buy the 3in1...