To say pocket and floodlight together sounds a little bit like a misnomer but the guys over at Maxxeon pulled it off with their new Maxxeon WorkStar 220 Pocket Floodlight. This little flash light is hardly bigger then a pen but features a Cree LED that puts out 120 lumens. With the included pocket clip you can put it in your shirt front pocket and you can almost forget it is there until you need it because it only weighs an ounce. With no hot spots or shadows, the light beam has a 1:1 ratio – meaning that for every foot you are a way from an object, the diameter of the beam grows by one foot. Step 20 feet away and you are lighting up an entire room with this baby.
Maxxeon WorkStar 220 Pocket Floodlight Features
For many guys, there are a few things that you can never have too many of and they include things like pocket knives and flashlights. Now with the Maxxeon WorkStar 220, you can carry both your knife and flashlight in the same pocket. The first thing that caught my eye with this light was the powerful 120 Lumen Cree LED light source. Cree is know as an industry leader with their LED technology, so that alone is a good start. The main body of the light is made of T6 aluminum that has type II anodizing in black. The tail cap, which unscrews to provide access to the batteries also houses the switch. The switch is a click ON / click OFF type that when slightly depressed will also give a momentary ON. The switch is protected from dust and moisture by a rubber cover and all the parts that unscrew on the flashlight are protected with rubber o-rings as well. According to the folks at Maxxeon the switch button has been tested to 100,000 cycles (which we will have to take their word on). If the light should fail in the first year, they will replace it as part of their standard one year warranty.
The reflector is probably one of the most critical aspects of a flashlight since it dictates how the light beam shines out from the light source. In the case of the Maxxeon WorkStar 220 Pocket Floodlight, the reflector is the normal silver reflective color but with a orange peel texture that somehow projects no shadows, hot spots or rings. The beam shines forth in a 1:1 ratio in a flood light style. Shine this into a room and you light up the whole place with an even glow. Power comes from three AAAA (yeah you read that right, quadruple “A” batteries) which are available in more places then you might realize.
Testing and Use
When we got the Maxxeon WorkStar 220 Pocket Floodlight in for review, we figured the best way to test it was to use it as much as possible, replacing our normal methods of illuminating work areas. After carrying it around for a few weeks, I found that I actually used it numerous times to inspect inside of crawlspaces and attics for a little side consulting business I have. What was fun is that I have a few other Cree LED products like the Outback Big Stick Flashlight that rely on big “D” size batters for power. I always keep one on my dresser and the other under the seat in my truck where they are always at the ready. While both of these other flashlights are what I would consider decent brands and have a sturdy construction, they almost can’t compare to this little flashlight. They are distinguishable on several levels – the first being the size. It is so easy to clip the WorkStar 220 in my pocket where is goes unnoticed because it does not weigh anything. The next huge area of comparison is the fact that this little light is really a flood light. I tried to capture some photos of this to give an idea of how much light this puts out. While up in a attic the other day, I snapped this photo of the light illuminating the entire attic space. Notice the complete lack of hot spots or shadows. (I did not use a flash at all)
Just for fun, I rigged up a piece of steel pipe with some Irwin quick grip clamps to suspend the WorkStar 220 and one of my other 2 D 120 lumen Cree LED flashlights. They were suspended about three feet above the floor side by side. I did this to try to give a comparison to the consistent, bright, even light of the WorkStar 220 as compared to its
larger brethren. As you can see, the WorkStar 220 has a nice tapered flood pattern that casts a tremendous amount of light and is perfect for lighting up a large area. The other flashlight presents a much more focused beam, with a hard edge and limited spread.
Conclusion
Not sure what to get your father for Fathers Day? We would hope that after reading this review, the Maxxeon WorkStar 220 Pocket Floodlight would be at the top of your list. Make sure to pick up one for yourself too, because it will quickly become one of your favorite flashlights. We would suspect that HVAC techs, mechanics, electricians, and plumbers would also appreciate this light as well. Given the slim size, light weight, and big beam, we gave this flashlight a Performance rating of 9/10. For our Value rating, we pinned the WorkStar 220 with a 9/10 as well, because it included things like a real Cree LED, glass optics and water resistant features at a great price.
About Maxxeon
Founded in 2003, Maxxeon Inc. is a leader in the design, manufacturing and marketing of portable task lighting for professional automotive and industrial technicians. Their products include a growing range of high performance, cordless LED lighting tools for use in repair and maintenance shops everywhere. Using advanced research and development techniques, combined with state-of-the-art technology transfer methods, Maxxeon Inc. strives to be the undisputed leader in the innovative design, marketing, sales and distribution of portable task lighting. Maxxeon provides excellent customer and distributor support. In addition to their Ottawa headquarters, they a warehouse in Cleveland and Customer Service near Seattle.
