Founded in 1924, Husky makes tools that aim to emphasize quality, durability, and design. And, of course, you find them at Home Depot. Today, we’re looking at one of the company’s newer product releases, the Husky 700-Lumen Aluminum Flashlight. Retailing for the relatively low price of $19.97, the new Husky light checks the box for affordability, but does it meet the other aforementioned criteria? Usually, you can expect to get what you pay for, which perhaps doesn’t bode well for most budget items. But, sometimes a cheaper product can surprise you. So, how does this flashlight stack up in the quality, durability, and design departments? Let’s find out.
Husky 700-Lumen Aluminum Flashlight
Build Quality
One of the first things to jump out at you about this product is Husky’s assurance that this flashlight is “unbreakable.” This dual beam LED Flashlight is drop resistant up to 30 ft, and water-resistant up to 1 meter deep. I haven’t tried to break it, but it does feel pretty durable in hand. Rubber overmolding protects the aluminum casing on both ends. It has two O-rings in the battery compartment to protect it from water and dust ingress. You never get a second chance to make a first impression, and so far I like what I see.
Ergonomics
The textured handle doesn’t feel like it will slip from my clutches. There’s some heft that’s inherent in the build, but not enough to make me wish it were lighter. For those of you who are interested, while this isn’t a tactical flashlight, it feels heavy enough to crack a skull in the most desperate of circumstances.
Modes
The Husky 700-Lumen Aluminum Flashlight has three power settings. It has a central beam for a narrow throw and a COB chip ring for a broader throw. A third mode allows you to select both for when you want all 700 lumens.
You switch modes via the rubber button on the back. Cycle through the modes using a repeated half click. When you get the one you want, give it a full click. You can also use full clicks to cycle, but half clicks are easier. The downside is that you can’t return immediately to the same setting once you turn the light off. Like an 8 track tape, you have to cycle all the way through again.
The button recesses slightly into the overmold to protect it. While that’s a good thing, it makes the clicking action a little less natural than what you might find from Coast or LEDLenser.
Throw
The quality of the projected light is pretty solid, especially considering the price. The light is a balanced white, as opposed to having a yellowish tint like some LED lights can have. The edges of the corona are round and clean, and there aren’t really any discernable hotspots to speak of.
The output (as the name gives away) is 700 lumens with a 200-meter maximum throw. Many lights in this size range move to the 1000-lumen range. However, you have to balance the output with runtime and since this runs on 6 AAs, it’s a good balance.
Runtime
Although we didn’t test for accuracy on this claim, Husky claims you’ll get up to 5 hours of runtime on a set of batteries. I’m not in love with the 6 AA batteries that will only last for 4 – 5 hours on the high setting. It seems like I’ll be chewing through some batteries if I’m using this flashlight regularly. I’m interested to know what kind of runtime this light would have delivered on a couple of C batteries instead. Going with typical numbers, 2 C batteries have roughly 23% greater capacity than 6 AA, so it might have been a better way to go.
Value
The Husky 700-Lumen Aluminum Flashlight retails for $19.97 at your local Home Depot or online. It comes with a lifetime warranty and 6 Energizer batteries. That’s a really good price for this tough a flashlight with surprisingly good light quality for the price.
Final Thoughts
The Husky 700-Lumen Aluminum Flashlight presents a solid value. Just under $20, it’s hard to ask more of a flashlight. It’s got some heft and excellent durability, withstanding pretty serious environmental conditions. The bottom line here is that if you’re in the market for a flashlight and you’re not trying to break the bank, it’s going to be pretty tough to beat what Husky is offering.
Husky 700-Lumen Aluminum Flashlight Features
- The rubber coated aluminum casing provides great durability
- 3 light modes provide spot, flood, both spot and flood light
- With high power LED and COB chip for wide range lighting
- 6AA Energizer alkaline batteries included
- Drop test rated at 30ft.
- Waterproof up to 1 meter
- MSRP: $19.97
Husky 700-Lumen Aluminum Flashlight Specs
- Product Number: Husky 16FL1110
- Depth: 3″
- Height: 13″
- Width: 6.5″
- Weight: 1.91 lbs.
- Battery Size: AA
- Number Of Batteries Required: 6
- Bulb Type: LED
- Runtime: Up To 5 Hours
For more information about this Home Depot exclusive, check it out here.
