Milwaukee Rechargeable 250L Penlight with Laser

As a long-time user of Milwaukee tools, I was eager to get my hands on the Rechargeable 250L Penlight with Laser, model 2010R. The idea of combining a penlight with a laser pointer seemed like a perfect addition to my toolkit, especially for tasks that require precision and inspection. However, my experience with this penlight has been a mixed bag.

Design and Build Quality

Upon unboxing, the penlight immediately feels robust. Milwaukee has crafted it from aluminum, giving it a solid yet lightweight feel. The penlight is compact, measuring just 0.67 inches in diameter and 6.25 inches in height, making it easy to carry around in a pocket. The removable metal clip is a nice touch for secure attachment, although I found it a bit flimsy over time.

The penlight is IP54 rated, which means it should resist dust and water splashes. It also boasts a 2-meter drop resistance. However, in real-world use, I found that the durability was somewhat lacking. The paint around the housing started to wear off within a couple of months, and the rubber bite zone, designed for hands-free use, began to chip away rather quickly.

Performance

The penlight offers two light output modes: High (250 lumens for 2 hours) and Low (50 lumens for 8 hours). The high mode is impressively bright and sufficient for most inspection tasks. The low mode is convenient for situations where extended battery life is more critical than brightness. The light output is consistent, and the color temperature is pleasant, making it easy to see details clearly.

The integrated laser pointer is a handy feature, especially for pointing out specific areas during inspections. However, the laser's performance was underwhelming. It’s not as bright as I expected, and in well-lit environments, it’s barely noticeable.

Battery Life and Charging

One of the standout features is the rechargeable battery with micro-USB charging capability. The on-board battery life indicator is a useful addition, showing green for a full charge, yellow for medium, and red for low. Unfortunately, the charging experience was less than ideal. The penlight often displayed the dreaded red/green flashing lights, indicating a charging issue. This problem persisted despite trying multiple charging cables and power sources.

When the penlight did charge correctly, the battery life was decent. However, after a few months of use, the battery performance began to degrade. The penlight would either not hold a charge or would only last for a fraction of the advertised time. This inconsistency made it unreliable for professional use.

Usability

The penlight’s usability is a mixed experience. The rubber bite zone is a thoughtful addition for hands-free use, but it quickly became uncomfortable to hold in my teeth due to wear and tear. The on/off buttons for both the light and the laser are well-placed, but the quality of the buttons themselves is questionable. Over time, the buttons began to stick, making it increasingly difficult to operate the penlight without using a tool to pop them back out.

The overall weight and balance of the penlight are excellent, making it easy to handle and maneuver. However, the penlight’s durability issues overshadow its ergonomic design. The clip broke within a week of use, and the rubber cover for the charging port fell off, exposing the port to dust and debris.

Reliability

Reliability is where this penlight falls short. After a few months of moderate use, the penlight became increasingly unreliable. The red/green flashing issue persisted, and the penlight often failed to charge or hold a charge. This inconsistency is a significant drawback, especially for a tool that is supposed to be a reliable part of a professional toolkit.

Final Thoughts

The Milwaukee Rechargeable 250L Penlight with Laser has a lot of potential. Its compact design, bright light output, and integrated laser pointer make it a versatile tool for inspections and detailed work. However, the penlight’s durability and reliability issues are hard to overlook. The frequent charging problems and the rapid wear and tear make it a less-than-ideal choice for professionals who need a dependable tool.

Would I recommend this penlight? Unfortunately, no. While it has some great features and the Milwaukee brand usually stands for quality, this particular model falls short in too many critical areas. The inconsistent battery performance and the rapid degradation of the penlight’s components make it an unreliable choice. For the price, there are more dependable options available that offer better value and longevity.

In summary, the Milwaukee Rechargeable 250L Penlight with Laser is a tool that promises much but delivers little in terms of long-term reliability. If Milwaukee addresses these issues in future revisions, it could become a valuable addition to any toolkit. For now, I would advise looking at other options.