Reviews > Lighting > Accessories > Nite Ize Flashlight Friend > Owner Review by Steve Brunkow

Nite Ize
Flashlight Friend

Name: Steve Brunkow
Age: 40
Gender: Male
Height: 6' 0" (1.83 m)
Weight: 180 lbs (82 kg)
Email address: dewchugr (at) yahoo (dot) com
City: Champaign
State: Illinois
Country: USA
Date: March 31, 2004

Background: I am an Eagle Scout and assistant scoutmaster for the same troop that I was in as a youth. I have been camping year round in all types of weather, down to -20 F (-29 C). Most of my camping has been in the Illinois and Indiana area. I am back in scouting along with my son and we do at least one outing a month. I have done a lot of hiking and camping, but not much backpacking. This will be changing as we are going to begin preparing for a 12-day trip to Philmont scout ranch in New Mexico in June 2005. I have a lot of experience cooking with wood and tabletop gas stoves but want to learn to use backpacking stoves. I have also done quite a bit of cross country skiing, and some canoeing.

Product Information

Manufacturer: Nite Ize
Year of Manufacture: 2000
URL: http://www.niteize.com
Listed weight: none listed
Measured weight (AA): 1.4 oz (74 g)
Length (measured): 3-5/16 in (84 mm)
Material: Some kind of transparent rubber/plastic material with plastic coated metal legs
Available sizes: AA and AAA (AA tested)
MSRP: $8.50 (US)

Description and features

The Flashlight Friend is designed to slip over the base end of a Maglite AA or AAA (depending on model) flashlight. The purpose of this device is to allow the user to position the flashlight without having to hold it. It has four legs, two on each side, both at the front and back. These legs are metal with a plastic coating and can be bent to suit different needs. The legs have small plastic pointed ends to allow them to stand without sliding. The ends are approximately twice the width of the wire legs. The legs are approximately 3 in (76 mm) long. There are small pieces of what look like paper on the inside on both sides at the top and bottom. Two have the Nite Ize name on them and two have Flashlight Friend on them. According to the Nite Ize web site, these can be ordered with customized advertising, etc.

My Opinions

I thought this looked like a great idea for all those times I wanted to use my Maglite but needed both hands free to work. Often when using a flashlight for camp tasks as well as household tasks I need both hands free. The usual option of holding the flashlight in my mouth was definitely not the best method.

To use the Flashlight Friend I simply slide it onto the end of my flashlight that holds the batteries. I can then adjust the legs to stand or hold the flashlight where I need it. The legs can be bent and shaped much like a pipe cleaner. I have not done this as I think it could be difficult to get them straight again. When I first got the Flashlight Friend the fit on the flashlight was very tight. Over the years that I have used it the fit has loosened up slightly, although it still works as it should. I'm hoping that it does not become so loose as to slip off of the flashlight too easily. So far that has not happened.

I have used the Flashlight Friend on a number of camping trips; these are some of the ways I have found it can be used. I have used it in my tent at night by either standing it on my pack or hanging it in my tent. I have used it on tables to aim the flashlight for things like meal preparation and eating in the dark. If I bend the back legs forward, close to the flashlight and leave the front legs straight down it will hang from a shirt pocket and point down and away from me so I can see things I am doing. It can be used as a headlamp when wearing a tennis type visor. To do this I put the back two legs between the visor headband and my head and adjust the front legs to stand on the visor. When I am using a scout patrol box I set it on top of the box and aim it down to where I am working. I was using it while preparing food once and needed to adjust the legs to aim it better, I had one clean hand and found it difficult to adjust the legs with one hand. One minor annoyance is that when I pull it out of the pocket in my pack things will occasionally catch on the legs. This is due to the fact that when the legs are folded up the front legs point towards the back and the back legs point towards the front. I could point all of the legs the same direction, but this would take up more space.

The Flashlight Friend has many uses around the home as well. I have used it a number of times when working on my cars. It is especially useful when working under the dash, as it is very difficult to hold a flashlight in my mouth while upside down under the dash.

Field usage

I have used the Flashlight Friend while camping in a tent in conditions throughout the year as well as while camping in a cave. I have used it for tasks around the home and while working on my cars. Adjustment of the legs is not affected by freezing temperatures or temperatures of 90 F (32 C). It has not been affected by light rain.

Summary

I find the Flashlight Friend to be an extremely useful product. I keep mine on my Maglite and only take it off when I want to use the flashlight alone. I do this sometimes when I am walking at night as my flashlight fits my hand more comfortably without it on. For me it is well worth the small price and weight. It does not need to be removed from the flashlight to change the batteries. The Flashlight Friend is an all around great accessory for the Maglite and is as useful around the house as it is on the trail.

Things I like
1. Extremely versatile
2. Durable
3. Affordable.

Things I don't like
1. The fit is not quite as snug as when new.
2. Not easy to adjust with one hand.
3. Legs catch on things in pack.

Reviews > Lighting > Accessories > Nite Ize Flashlight Friend > Owner Review by Steve Brunkow