Buy Energizer Hard Case Professional 3-LED Task Light, Black (Batteries

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I've bought 5 models of the Energizer Hard Case Professional LED flashlights. This is the loser of the lot. For this series, Energizer has obviously given a lot of thought to mechanical design, for the most part well-executed. The optical performance, however, ranges from poor to excellent. This 2-AA unit unfortunately is in the poor category.

(a) Price. This series is not widely distributed, and there does not appear to be much price competition. At one time, HD carried a selection of models at decent prices. But in my area at least, they've stopped carrying them. Amazon merchant prices are currently $24+ total. I got one for $16 elsewhere.

(b) Materials: Tough ABS plastic body and tough rubber bumper guards, including a bumper extending in front of the lens. Rubber O-ring seal on battery compartment. Rubber covered switch.

(c) Mechanical. Excellent ergonomic design. Bulky for the 2-AA size, but lightweight due to the materials. Contoured grip conforms naturally to the hand. Switch is on top, right under the thumb. Rectangular cross-section and textured rubber keeps it from rolling off a table or bench and going ker-plop (major gripe about Maglites). This is a very important consideration if you are working on a ladder and place the light on a rung or shelf. Butt has a molded loop to which you can attach a lanyard. Comes with a sturdy nylon belt holster.

(d) Battery Installation. Easy. Unscrew tailcap and pop in 2 AA batteries. As mentioned above, battery compartment has O-ring seal. Threads are robust and smooth acting.

(e) Switch. As mentioned above, rubber sealed and well-positioned. Positive click on/off. I like this much better than turning the head (classic Maglite 2-AA design) or tail. I also don't care for tailcap switches, so this is great for me. But if you prefer twist-and-turn switches or police-style tailcap switches, you won't be happy. Push down and release for continuous on. Once on, you can depress part way for momentary off (can signal this way if you wish). I like momentary on designs better (depress part way to turn on for a quick peek and release to turn off, or push down all the way and release to turn on continuously); but these are rare, except on the larger Maglite units (C or D cell).

(f) Beam. This is where the unit flops. It has three low powered LEDs mounted on a flat reflector with scalloped sides. Thus the beams do not merge; consequently, throw is good to only ~6 ft and the field is diffuse and uneven. Light has a slight cold bluish hue, but not too noticeable. This light is OK for taking a quick peek in closets, under beds, and under desks. But as a task light for extended use (working on engine compartments and in wiring closets, for example), the beam quickly becomes irritating.

Recommendation: In this series, there is a 2-AAA inspection light. It has a single higher-power LED with a longer throw, more uniform pattern, and a more neutral white color. It's also smaller and cheaper. See my separate review on that unit; I gave it 5 stars.

(g) Packaging. This series gets my nomination for "most frustrating", "most wasteful", and "most non-green" packaging. Some PR guy obviously took great pains to give the packaging a super macho look. The light comes strapped to a tough, heavy gauge sheet of plastic. The straps are industrial cable ties. Some people have complained that they've used scissors and broken them; others have complained that they've used a utility knife and gashed themselves. The *proper tool* is a pair of diagonal wire cutters ("dikes"). You need a medium size pair (~6"). If you do electrical work, you will have one. If you don't, try to borrow one. It's not a general purpose tool, and it's silly to buy a pair just to unpack a flashlight.

Batteries are included. Each battery is sealed in a tough plastic compartment, and it's not apparent how to remove it. So users have tried to cut through the compartment with a utility knife. Don't!! Very dangerous. If you look carefully at the back of the package, the back of the compartment has an icon of what appears to be a pair of pliers and the word "CUT". These symbols are hard to see, because they are molded black-on-black. The icon doesn't refer to pliers but to dikes. Again, if you don't do electrical work, you won't recognize it. It's also not apparent what you actually are supposed to cut. Close inspection shows the icon is pointing to a small plastic nub sealing the end of a plastic tab. You first cut off the plastic nub with dikes. Cup one hand over the nub and dikes before you snip. The nub will shoot out and you don't want it to whack you in the eye. Then use a small screwdriver to push the plastic tab through a slot to open the battery compartment and release the battery. Again be careful. The tip of the plastic tab is very sharp after the nub has been cut off. Don't press on it with your finger. Good grief. Although it is possible to cut the cable ties carefully with a utility knife, trying to cut the nubs with a utility knife or razor blade is very dangerous. Straightforward with dikes.

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I have carried a Maglite in one form or another for many years. They are great Flashlights! A few points about them that I dislike are:

They roll around.

The metal is cold to the touch.

The 'paint' scraps off from hard use.

Enter the "Hard Case" series from Energizer! Call it plastic, or rubber or some other man-made material, but I like the feel of them in my hand. They don't roll around either!

I have 3 of these, one in my car, one in my wife's car, and one my wife uses every morning to pick out her clothes by! In daily use, it has never failed her, and after almost a year, she is now on her second set of batteries.

I have big hands, and she has very small hands, yet we both like the size and shape of this flashlight. It is slightly more bulky than a 2AA Maglite, but not by much.

I like the switch being on the 'top'. A high-quality switch is critical for a great flashlight, and this is as good as Maglite quality.

You might as well buy at least 2, as you will like it so much, you'll just end up re-ordering more...

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My husband ordered several of these to have on hand whenever he walks at night. They are lightweight, bright, and sturdy so he would give them 5 stars. They are not large or heavy, making them easier for me to use with my arthritic hands. The on and off button is not too easy or too difficult for me, another plus. I did purchase a slightly bigger flashlight with a broader, brighter light to keep in my car. I think the bottom line is the purpose of the light for the buyer. For my husband's use, this flashlight was the perfect choice and a good overall choice for my use.

Honest reviews on Energizer Hard Case Professional 3-LED Task Light, Black (Batteries

The one led model is the best flashlight ever. this is twice the size twice the price half the light

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I got this for my son, he is afraid of the dark and sleeps on a bunk bed. He uses it to see around the house at night when he needs to go to the restroom. The rubber cover is great since he has a habit of dropping it. Its not a loud drop and it survives the drop off a top bunk. I recommend this product as a household flashlight.