Lowe’s has launched a new Kobalt Flat Tactical LED flashlight that they say was designed for professional and personal use.
The Kobalt Flat Tactical light has a boxy shape and features a built-in rechargeable battery.
It delivers up to 1750 lumens of max brightness in Turbo mode, and has “CREE LED technology.”
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Lowe’s says that the Kobalt tactical flashlight is compact and “easy to carry and store.”
The housing is built from “aircraft aluminum.” It’s water resistant with an IPX4 rating, and “1-meter (3.3 ft) impact resistant.”
They also advertise:
this flashlight provides intense brightness suitable for a variety of tasks, from security and tactical operations to everyday use.
There are 4 brightness modes, with runtime of up to 5 hours on low.
- Low: 150 lumens
- Medium: 500 lumens
- High: 1000 lumens
- Turbo: 1750 lumens
The built-in battery recharges via USB-C.
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Lowe’s only shows one angle of the flashlight, but the description says there’s a pocket clip.
Price: $34.98
Discussion
Here’s where things get confusing.
The Kobalt “tactical” flashlight is advertised as having a flood/spot beam.
Usually when a flashlight has dual emitters like this, they can be independently toggled, where the flood light is on when you need a close-work area light, and the spotlight is turned on for distance.
Digging into the user manual, that is what you get here, although the same doesn’t look to be true for the also-new Kobalt EDC flashlight.
From the user manual, there are separate on/off and mode selection buttons.
Low: floodlight
Medium: spotlight
High: flood & spot
It’s unusual that Lowe’s doesn’t mention any of this in the product description.
Not only that, what’s described in the online user manual is contradicted by this Kobalt product image, which shows simulated beam intensities from low to high and turbo simply going from dim to bright.
If the different modes correspond to different emitters being activated, then it’s not just about intensity, but beam angle.
Here’s what the pocket clip looks like, at least in the form of user manual artwork.
We’ve talked about this kind of slim/flat rechargeable LED flashlight before – Slim Rechargeable Flashlights – Hot or Not?. I’ve tested a couple, and still haven’t made up my mind.
If you get past the “tactical” claims and how this light can be used for “security and tactical operations,” it looks like this Kobalt could be a lower cost alternative to Streamlight Wedge and Olight Arkfeld lights.
Is this a “yay” or “no way” for you?
MM
I prefer this style of light for EDC compared to the Kobalt “EDC Flashlight” mentioned a few days ago. The slim shape is much more pocket-friendly. But that product image showing the light in a person’s hand captioned “compact size” makes it look enormous. I can’t help but wonder if that photo, and the other one with the beam angle inconsistency issue Stuart mentioned, are the result of sloppy photoshopping by the marketing department? I can’t imagine the light actually is that big compared to an adult’s hand.
Jared
I hope you’re right. I also thought that light looked ridiculously large for an “EDC” flashlight.
Robert
Stuart, I found out when I went to see in person the
https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/kobalt-edc-flashlight-lowes-2024/%3C/a%3E%3Cbr /> flashlight you featured on 25 Sept, that the Lowes around me lock up the flashlights. There was a lot of models of Kobalt flashlights in the cage.
I’m not THAT interested to hunt down a Lowe’s employee to open the cage and baby sit me. Same for today’s “Tactical” Kobalt.
And I kind of don’t believe it can take the abuse of a real tactical.
Farkleberry
It’s challenging to get past the absurd marketing claims of this and the “EDC” light.
I’m wondering what tactics this excels at with its sorry water resistance and slick flat metal case with the tiniest of overmold?
If anyone but Andre the Giant is carrying the “EDC” light, would you need a reinforced belt and how many comments will you field along the lines of “Is that a cucumber in your pocket or…”
I’m sure Kobalt is counting on some consumers to recognize the form factor or these lights and equate them with the aforementioned competitors. While the shape and light output/runtimes may be similar, both lights seem like they’re twice the size of their high quality/performance counterparts.
All this marketing that suggests unrealistic uses is partly counterproductive. I know many 4×4 purchases are aspirational, but things the Hummer H2 are not sure winners. I doubt many people will believe these lights work for “tactical” or EDC for very long, probably not long enough for repeat purchases.
Diagrams are often “worth a thousand words”, but when it’s created by a photoshop intern who’s never actually handled the product, those words are jibberish.
If Kobalt told me they’re great inexpensive lights to stash in a drawer, I’d still know there are better options out there. If the price is right, products don’t have to be compared to the state of the art, though. If this product came out 10 years ago, or 100 would be it adequate, amazing? It’s not a high bar to think what would blow a cave man’s mind.
What’s a good marketability metric?
Is it useful for a common, but not necessarily exciting or predominant scenario, and is it good relative value?
Brad
I’m running the Arkfeld Pro (Paw addition) at the moment and have been surprised how much I like it. I use the laser way more than I thought I would … as a cat toy but the light and pocket clip is solid. The $20 difference between the Pro and Ultra is non-existent and not worth it.
I’d be interested in the Kobalt if it was the same exact dimensions but it’s not it’s almost an inch longer and it’s wider with that chunky plastic side grip plus a bit heavier. The Lowes spec page only shows it at 1k lumen not the 1750 torch mode but it’s Lowes.
JJ
At what price point would this be a good alternative to an Arkfeld as an extra flashlight? Say for a car glove box, tool bag, or drawer. Retail at $34.99? 15% off? 25%?
Stuart
For infrequent use, I’d get something like this:
https://www.amazon.com/Rayovac-Virtually-Indestructible-Black-Flashlight/dp/B0716D98GQ/?tag=toolguyd-20
and equip it with:
https://www.amazon.com/Energizer-Ultimate-Lithium-Battery-Package/dp/B00EAKP8S0/?tag=toolguyd-20
or
https://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-BK-4MCCA8BA-Pre-Charged-Rechargeable-Batteries/dp/B00JHKSMIG/?tag=toolguyd-20 if you want rechargeables.
The Rayovac is more waterproof, more impact resistant, and has longer max runtime. It’s less pocketable, which is where slim/flat flashlights are supposed to – forgive the wording – shine.
Or one of these with Lithium cells – https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/best-emergency-flashlight-streamlight-dualie/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Brad
That Streamlight Dualie is the bees-knees, I’ve got three of them in various kitchen and garage drawers. Thanks Stuart for that recommendation!
As far as the Arkfeld comparison the Kobolt would never be a good EDC choice it’s bigger and bulkier while being less versatile . I’ve been running the Arkfeld Pro in my pocket for a few months and really like it. I doubt I’d have the same opinion of the Koboalt but I’ll probably get it to try.
There’s a ton of better drawer/emergency lights out there than the Kobolt or Arkfeld.
I have a “Pelican 3310PL Emergency LED Flashlight” in the Jeep it glows in the dark with a fantastic grip for $38. 3AAA’s will run it at 378 lumen for 4-5 hours.
The aforementioned Streamlight 68750 Dualie runs $30 it’s max is 140 lumens but it’s side mount light and great clip is outstanding.
Jared
For the specs and price? It’s not terrible.
The UI seems ok too. It’s nice to be able to access a specific mode without cycling through the options or having a flashlight remember a setting – but that’s always a trade off between having too many dials and buttons or how complicated the mode-switching procedure becomes. For $35, this is a reasonable compromise.
I like that even “mediocre” inexpensive hardware-store flashlights are capable of throwing 1000 lumens these days.
eddiesky
Not terrible either. But its 5 1/2″ long so that hand-image is not scaled correct. And compared to Olight, way cheaper.
To be tactical, it needs to be all black, and the clip needs to be reverse to put on brim of hat. Also, I wish some had a space for the cord. Atleast its USB-C which I am seeing more of and much better than the micro-USB.
928'er
Might be a nice complement to my tactical fidget spinner…
CMF
Neither “yay” or “no way”, it falls in the middle, like “OK”.
If I saw it in person and was able to try it, I would lean more one way or another.
s
i think this is setting up for the christmas season.
it’s not great. i specifically prefer my arkfeld pro for the laser and uv capabilities that happens to also be a decent flashlight.
but i find the overall size of the arkfeld to be too large for my preference. due to it’s size, it needs to be clipped onto the corner of a pocket. it’s far too large to be left inside a pocket–inside a pocket has far too much chance of a “running with scissors” moment. but i also keep other things in my pocket that i need to reach past the light. and the arkfeld blocks that access.
at $35, i think this is an add-on item for christmas. buy a gift card, and toss in this light as well.
but i wouldn’t pay $35 for it myself…
Fredsen
I don’t think anyone should ever buy a flashlight from a tool manufacturer when there are so many excellent brands of flashlight makers who specialize in it out there that sell better product at the same or better prices…. Olight Zebralight Fenix Rovyvon the list goes on
Michael Bailey
I love my coast light the slayer pro