Black & Decker Waterproof LED Spotlight

Why I reached for this spotlight

Nights on the water and late campsite pack-downs are where gear either pays for itself or gets retired. I’ve been carrying a waterproof handheld for years, and I recently spent time with Black & Decker’s waterproof spotlight. In short, it’s a straightforward, field-serviceable light that prioritizes reliability and water safety over fancy charging ports and sky-high output numbers. If you work around water or weather, that approach makes a lot of sense.

Build and design

The spotlight feels purpose-built: a rugged housing, sealed seams, and a stout, pistol-grip handle that’s easy to hang onto with wet hands or gloves. At 2.3 pounds and roughly 8 by 7.5 by 3.5 inches, it’s compact enough for a boat’s side pocket or a truck door bin without feeling toy-like. The battery compartment locks down with a positive, gasketed door; close it properly and the unit is submersible to six feet and will float face-up if dropped.

That float orientation isn’t a gimmick. During a dusk gear shuffle, I knocked it overboard. It popped up lens-side up, beam visible, and I snagged it immediately. It’s the kind of detail that matters when you’re juggling lines or moving in rain.

The light ships with a waterproof case. It’s not just packaging—you can actually use it. I keep spare AAs and a small cloth in there, and the case has handled spray, ride-along dirt, and being tossed in and out of a compartment without complaint.

Power: six AAs instead of a built-in battery

This is an AA-powered tool: six cells drive a 5W LED rated around 500 lumens. In a world of built-in lithium packs and USB ports, that design choice cuts both ways.

Pros:
- Instant refuel in the field with fresh batteries.
- Easy to standardize across kits—plenty of radios, headlamps, and GPS units still ride on AAs.
- No worries about an internal pack aging out or failing.

Cons:
- You need to manage battery inventory.
- High mode will chew through alkalines faster than a rechargeable spotlight would sip from a big lithium pack.
- No USB-C convenience for top-offs between tasks.

I ran the light on low with 2000–2500 mAh NiMH cells and routinely got an evening of use across multiple sessions, approaching the advertised “up to 10 hours” across cumulative runtime. On high, expect a few hours depending on cell quality. If you operate in cold conditions, lithium AAs are noticeably better; alkalines can sag when temperatures drop.

A practical note: don’t put the light away long-term with alkalines installed. Any device you depend on deserves leak-resistant cells or, better yet, low self-discharge NiMH reusables.

Brightness and beam quality

At roughly 500 lumens, this isn’t a stadium blaster, and it doesn’t need to be. The beam is a classic spotlight profile: a defined hotspot with usable spill. It picks up reflective markers and buoys cleanly and gives you enough reach to scan a shoreline, a launch ramp, or a field without flaring everything in your near field.

The LED leans toward a cool white tint. That’s typical for this category and helps with perceived throw and contrast on reflective surfaces. The spill is adequate for general navigation and campsite tasks, and the hotspot stays tight enough that you can point, identify, and move on.

There are multiple output levels. The high setting is what you want for long throws and quick sweeps; the lower setting is very usable for chores, saving batteries while keeping eyes adjusted. The switching is simple—trigger for on/off and a straightforward way to select output—so you’re not cycling through strobe or gimmicks.

Waterproofing that’s more than marketing

Submersible to six feet is a meaningful spec, especially paired with the face-up float. I ran a few dunk tests and used it in steady rain. No fogging under the lens, no switch weirdness, no battery door seepage. The O-ring on the battery compartment needs to be clean and free of grit, as with any sealed tool; wipe it before you close it and you’re good.

The waterproof case adds a second layer of protection if you store it in wet compartments or throw it in a truck bed during a storm. It’s also a good place to keep spare cells dry—small detail, big difference at 10 p.m. in a squall.

Ergonomics and usability

The pistol grip is balanced and comfortable for extended use. I’ve used it in gloves and with cold hands; the trigger offers positive engagement without feeling twitchy. The body shape makes it easy to set down on a flat surface without the beam wandering off, and the lens face resists rolling around.

I wish a simple wrist lanyard came in the box. There’s room in the case to stash your own, and adding one is worth it around docks and on pitching decks.

Durability in real use

I didn’t baby this light. It rode in the boat, rattled around in a gear box, took a couple of knee-high drops onto treated wood, and shrugged off dirt and spray. The lens didn’t scratch during normal use, and the housing never felt creaky or prone to flex. For a tool that invites wet, cold, and clumsy conditions, it inspires confidence.

Where it shines

• Boating, paddling, and dock work: the float and submersibility make this an easy pick.
• Storm prep and roadside kits: it’s rugged, simple, and not dependent on a proprietary charger.
• Campsites and cabins: AA flexibility and a practical low mode stretch runtime across a long weekend.

What I’d change

• Add a lanyard in the box and a more obvious tie-off point on the handle.
• Offer a version with USB-C charging and an internal pack for users who prefer charging over battery swaps.
• Publish more detailed runtime curves at both levels to help users plan battery needs.

Value and warranty

You’re paying for waterproofing you can trust, a rugged housing, and a case that’s actually useful. The one-year limited warranty is standard for this tier. Given the materials and the lack of a built-in battery to age out, I’d expect a long service life if you keep the seals clean and don’t store it with leaky cells.

Practical tips for getting the most out of it

• Run low-self-discharge NiMH AAs for day-to-day use; stash lithium AAs for emergencies and cold.
• Keep a small microfiber cloth in the case to wipe the O-ring and lens before sealing up.
• Mark battery sets and rotate them together so runtime is predictable.
• Test floatation with your chosen batteries before relying on it in the field; it floated for me with both alkalines and NiMH.

Recommendation

I recommend this spotlight for anyone who needs a dependable, water-ready handheld with field-swappable power. The combination of true submersibility, face-up float, a comfortable grip, and a useful high/low beam makes it a smart addition to boats, emergency kits, and outdoor rigs. If you want the convenience of USB charging or expect all-night runtime on high, you’ll be happier with a larger, lithium-powered model. But if reliability around water and the simplicity of AA power top your list, this one ticks the right boxes and does it without fuss.