Ridgid Cordless LED Stick Light

Illuminating your workspace efficiently and effectively can make a significant difference in the quality and ease of any task. The Ridgid Cordless LED Stick Light, model R8696B, has been a game-changer in my toolbox, bringing a blend of brightness, flexibility, and long-lasting performance that many will find indispensable.

Design and Build

One of the standout features of this LED stick light is its thoughtful design. The head pivots 175 degrees and rotates 265 degrees, which means you can direct the light precisely where you need it. Whether you're working under the hood of your car or need to illuminate a dark corner in your attic, the flexibility of this light's head allows you to position it perfectly without needing to hold it.

The inclusion of a retractable hanging hook adds another layer of convenience. This hook can rotate 360 degrees, allowing you to hang the light from various surfaces. It’s particularly useful when you need both hands free for a task. The light's handle is designed with a comfortable grip, similar to other Ridgid tools, ensuring that it’s easy to hold and maneuver, although you’ll rarely need to thanks to the hook and stable battery base.

Performance

When it comes to brightness, this stick light does not disappoint. It offers two brightness settings: 800 lumens on high and 400 lumens on low. The high setting is impressively bright, making it suitable for tasks that require a lot of light, like working in poorly lit garages or during power outages. The low setting is useful for close-up work where the high setting might be too intense, or when you need to conserve battery life.

Speaking of battery life, this tool is designed to provide a long runtime. On the low setting, you can get up to 15 hours of light, while the high setting offers around 7.5 hours. This is more than sufficient for most tasks and means you won’t constantly be recharging or swapping out batteries. The light is compatible with all Ridgid 18V batteries, which is a huge plus if you already own other Ridgid tools and batteries.

Usability

What I appreciate most about this light is its usability. The trigger switch is easy to operate, allowing you to toggle between the high and low brightness settings effortlessly. You can turn the light off by holding the trigger down for a few seconds, which is a nice touch that adds to the overall user-friendly design.

The stick light is also lightweight, weighing only about 1.5 pounds without the battery. This makes it easy to carry around and position without causing fatigue, even during extended use. Despite its light weight, the light feels sturdy and durable, capable of withstanding the usual bumps and knocks that come with regular use in a workshop or on a job site.

Versatility

One of the most compelling aspects of this LED stick light is its versatility. The wide dispersion of the 24 LEDs provides ample illumination over a broad area, making it ideal for various applications. Whether you’re working on a vehicle, changing out ceiling lights, or dealing with a power outage, this light has you covered.

However, it’s not just the brightness and flexibility that make this tool versatile. The ability to fold the head down for compact storage is a thoughtful feature, ensuring that the light doesn’t take up unnecessary space when not in use. The design also includes attachment points for a belt clip, which can be purchased separately, adding another layer of convenience for those who need to carry the light around frequently.

Minor Quibbles

While there is much to love about the Ridgid Cordless LED Stick Light, it’s not without its minor drawbacks. The clicking sound when rotating the head can be somewhat loud and irritating, especially in confined spaces. Additionally, the light panel lacks a protective cover, which might make it less ideal for rough environments where it could easily get damaged.

Another potential downside is that the light does not come with a belt hook, despite being advertised as belt hook compatible. This requires an additional purchase, which could be seen as an inconvenience. Lastly, the absence of a strobe function means it might not serve well in emergency situations where a flashing light could be beneficial.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Ridgid Cordless LED Stick Light is a robust, versatile, and highly effective tool that deserves a spot in any serious toolkit. Its high brightness, long battery life, and flexible design make it suitable for a wide range of applications, from professional work environments to DIY projects at home. Despite a few minor drawbacks, the overall performance and usability of this stick light are impressive.

I highly recommend the Ridgid Cordless LED Stick Light for anyone in need of reliable, portable illumination. Its combination of features and performance make it a valuable addition to any collection of tools, ensuring that you can work effectively even in the darkest of conditions.