Verilux Solar Flashlight: a review

I am one of those guys that think you can never have enough flashlights. My wife has even joked about it. When Christmas comes around I am very likely to give a flashlight as a gift as anything. When I was offered the opportunity to review a solar flashlight, I was thrilled.

If you had rather watch the video review you can below.

 

Design 

 

 

The verilux solar flashlight is a little weird looking, but I understand the design. The design is so the solar panel can be large enough to charge the battery pack. The design feels a little strange to your hand at first. The on/off mechanism is a button not a switch. So far it has given me no trouble, but it has been my experience that buttons fail more often than switches. The light is water and impact resistant.

Batteries

The batteries are metal nickel hydride NiMH. These are the far better than NiCd and are comparable to lithium ion  rechargeable batteries. I do whish they were regular AA batteries and not a battery pack, but the pack is easy to install and Verilux does offer a replacement battery pack, the information about which was included in the box, but after checking Verilux does not have these replacement battery packs listed on their site. The battery pack appears to just be 3 AA batteries that have been made into a pack. You might be able to use batteries for many of the rechargeable phones that have a similar pack, but I have not tried that so I cannot be sure.

Function

It provides a good quality light. Not blue not yellow a good full spectrum light. The first charge takes 10 hours of true sunlight, not ambient light. After the first charge 8 hours of sunlight will give you a little more than 4 hours of shine time. This thing WILL NOT go all night. The Readylight has a little glow in the dark ring right above the led area which is kinda nice for locating the flashlight in the dark.

For the quality of light

For how long the light lasts

Durability

The flashlight is fairly lightweight, but feels rugged. It is water resistant, not water proof and it can take a few drops and bumps. The carabiner style clip is a nice addition. It does clip well onto a belt loop, backpack, or gear bag. However, after a little use the clip seems to not be as secure, it is still functioning properly, but I wish the hinge were a little more formidable.

Price and Conclusion

The Verilux Readylight solar rechargable flashlight is a little pricey compared to many that you will find on Amazon, but it is the best of the ones I have tried so far. Most of the lower priced solar rechargeable flashlights either do not put out a lot of light or they just fail to function well. If I were going to score this flashlight just on my expectations it would have scored a little lower, but when I take into consideration the ones I have tried in the past I must give it at least a half acorn bump. A lot of the solar powered units on the market are garbage, this one is not.

I keep this light with me in the truck. It is the first one I grab unless I need both of my hands. If you want a decent solar rechargeable flashlight without breaking the bank, this one may be a good option for you. BUT, there is a chance at winning one for free below. Good luck.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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ReLeaf Leaf Scoops a review

When I first saw this product I wondered "Why didn't I think of that?" It is a good idea, especially for small land owners, suburbanites, and folks with micro plots. It is simple and it works, for the most part. Don't worry we are going to cover it all.

Usability

The ReLeaf leaf scoops are pretty self explanatory. They are basically handles extensions. By using the scoops the volume you can handle each load is increased quite a bit. Just use them like you would your hands to gather up materials like leaves, pine straw, wheat straw, or mulch.

Light Work

On dry and even damp leaves the ReLeaf leaf scoops do a fine job. Pine straw is also a go. For light work these things are really good.

Comfort

Here is where I have a problem. My right wrist is a little deformed. One of my bones stick out further than normal. The scoops are comfortable on my left hand on my right it is fine until I have a load in the scoop. I talked about the discomfort in the video but I didn't know what was causing the pain till later. The pain is caused by my wrist , not the design. 

I have wrapped the right scoops wrist strap with padding and vet wrap. That has helped a lot to reduce the discomfort.

 

Medium Work

As soon as you move into heavier weight materials like mulch or even some compost, you begging to get to the outer limits of the scoops design. If you watch the video you will notice that while trying to mix composted manure and mulch the scoops buckled a good bit. They were still able to do what I wanted to get done, but you could almost hear them groan from the strain.

If you would like to see my video of the  ReLeaf scoops in action you can do so below.

Final Thoughts

 This is a really good idea and for the smaller land owner the ReLeaf Leaf Scoops may be just what you need. They are not intended for heavy materials and are perfect for what they are designed for. I use them, I really do. If I hadn't gotten them for free to review, I would still buy them. They do have their limitations, but all in all they are a go.

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Sportstek Xplorer 10 in 1 Survival Shovel: a review

There are so many companies out there trying to talk you into spending money on their products. Some of these products are great, some not so much , and everything in between. Form time to time I find a product I like, when I do I share it with you. If you have been following along for any amount of time you already know I am going to be honest. I received this product specifically to review. There are several good points and some bad ones as well we will cover them all. Ready?

Overall Design of the Xplorer 10 in 1 Survival Shovel

When I received my Xplorer 10 in 1 survival shovel my children were just as excited as I was. It is a cool looking design and it has a very durable feel to it. The shovel is a good bit heavier than I expected, but not too heavy. It feels just right for me.

I like the way the tool is designed and I like the way that it folds.

Durability

So far the only thing I have broken is the flint in the handle. Flint is fragile anyway and I have been really rough on the shovel so I am not going to take points away from the overall performance.

The Xplorer shovel is a two piece design. It is easily folded and helps with carry space a little. This shovel is simple to configure and can be set at different angles.

The edges of the shovel and the teeth of the saw are still in good condition and show no sign of wear. So far the durability score is a solid 5 acorns.

Primary Function

Xplorer as a Shovel

The primary function of this tool is as a shovel. As a shovel it functions well. The edges are in good condition. The tools arrived sharp with no burrs or rough edges. This is a small tool and really has no area to place your foot to help push the blade in the soil. I compare it to the old three piece GI shovel that I have had for years.

I have no complaints with the performance of the Xplorer shovel in mellow or slightly compacted soil. When dealing with compacted soil the Xplorer out performs my old gi shovel by a long shot because of its ability to be used as a pickax or a hoe. This allows for the loosening of the soil before removal.

Xplorer as an Ax or Machete

As a hacking tool the Xplorer functions really well. I have put it to the test pretty vigorously. I would put its hacking ability up against my Gladius by Cold Steel any day. The weight of the tool gives you a little extra leverage and the padded handle reduces shock. I gave it a 4 1/2 simple because a little more length or a little more weight would make a big difference in the hacking area, but that also might make it more difficult to carry. 

Xplorer as a Saw

The saw does work. I expected it to work better than it does when I first examined the tool. But after trying it I realized the teeth of the tool are really not deep enough and are not at the best angle for the saw to function very efficiently. Having said that, I would much rather use the saw on this tool than to try and use the little wire saws that you can pick up at the local department stores. I am tough on this area, if something is supposed to be a saw I want it to work and work well.

Secondary Functions and Accecories of Xplorer 10 in 1 Shovel

The Sheath 

I honestly think the sheath was an afterthought. The sheath does cover the blade and keeps it from being damaged or damaging anything while it is being carried, but that is all it does. There is no way to strap the tool onto a belt or backpack. Unless you put it in your pack you will have to get creative on how you will carry the thing.

Emergency Auto Hammer

It will function well as an emergency auto hammer. Just place the blade in the hoe position and smash away. I did not try this, I couldn't get anyone who was willing to let me smash a car window, but trust me it will work.

As a Hammer

I really hate that I didn't get this on the video, but with the equipment I have some shots and angles are a challenge. I recorded it 3 times and I didn't like a single one of them. It does work. Am I going to throw away my Estwing and use this full time? Heck no! But if you are in a situation where you need a hammer and don't have one, the Xplorer 10 in 1 is a lot better than trying to find a rock.

Wire Cutters

Once again, it does work. In a pinch if you have nothing else they would be great. If you have a good multi tool they would be better.

Flint and Waterproof Storage

As I stated above, I have broken the flint. I have been incredibly rough on this tool. I am sure that if I were just using this tool as most everyone would the flint would still be intact.

The waterproof storage in the handle is a big plus. You could store matches (especially if you are like me and break the flint), tinder, I can even see a survival fishing kit made to fit in the handle.  You could also stash a little cash in the handle. Even with the flint breakage I give it a 4.

Final Thoughts

I am sure there are other uses for this handy tool, but I have covered all of the basics. The warranty is incredible for this type of item. The company offers a full 1 year money back guarantee. That means they really believe in this product. Even with the issues I have listed above this tool has earned a place in my automobile readiness kit. I think it is worth the price. Over all score. 4 acorns and I am not being generous. If you are interested in this tool you can purchase it 

Survival Shovel | SporstsTek Xplorer 10in1 Folding Shovel | FREE Sheath/Sleeve Cover | Multi-function Capabilities | For Camping, Gardening, Hiking, Auto Emergency, Military, Self-Defense & More | High-Carbon Steel

If you would like to watch the video review you can do so below.

I received this product free to review, no other compensation was accepted.

Together we can...

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Kobalt Multi Tool a product review

I have decided that I am going to start doing some product reviews. First, I promise to always be honest in my evaluation of anything. If a company gives me a product, I will tell you up front. Even when a company gives me a product to review, it will in no way change the end result. If a product is great I will tell you, if it stinks I will tell you that as well. I am fairly rough on stuff to begin with, but if I am testing something I will really be tough on the product.

Categories

The categories that I will rate will vary from product to product, but will always include price, function, durability, and warranty. There may be other criteria or even sub categories of those listed above. I am going to do my best to provide an in depth review of any and all products. Where and when I can, I will provide video documentation of at least part of the tests so you can see the use of the products.

Grading System

As strange as this sounds I like being a little different. When I decided that I was going to start product reviews I thought about the star system that many companies use. You know what I mean. Amazon for example will give a book 4 starts, eBay uses stars, everybody uses stars. I just couldn't bring myself to do that so here is the grading system and what a review may look like:

Price               

 Durability      

Function         

Overall Score 

The same basic system, but with a touch of who we are. Five being the best and one being the worst. Everyone will still be able to understand what I am saying, but with a rural flair. Sound good? On to the review.

If you have read much of my writing at all you know that I am a big fan of a multi tool. I also know that not everyone can afford to spend $50+ dollars on a tool that they may only use occasionally.

I use a multi tool almost daily. I use it in several ways, mostly at work. I do not necessarily use the tool for its intended design. There are a couple of things that are must haves. If a multi tool doesn't have these I will not buy it, even if everything else is there.

First must have is a can opener. I have seen several that skipped this and I just ask- Why? Because I use it fairly often. Most of the time I pack my lunch for work, but even when I don't, I have food available. It may be a can of soup or canned ham or chicken and crackers. I must have a way to open these cans.

Second must have is a saw blade. I have a folding saw in my backpack, but there are times I only want a small blade and don't want to get out the larger saw. A knife blade is pretty much standard in all multi tools, so I don't even include it on my list, though I must admit I do not think I would buy a tool that did not have a knife blade.

Warranty

For me a warranty is very important. I don't have money to waste on something that doesn't work. When I was looking at purchasing a multi tool, price and warranty were very important. There are several companies that say they have a Lifetime warranty or Limited Lifetime warranty. As I was reading several of the warranties, many of them stated that they warrantied the materials or workmanship of the tool, others had stipulations that made me nervous "improper usage is not warrantied". Improper usage? Of a multi tool? I am not going to use it as a target, but I am going to use it all the time. Kobalt has a hassle free warranty. They mean it, I have put it to the test, it really is hassle free. If you break the tool, take it to a Lowe's, go to customer service and get another. They process the transaction and that is it. Truly hassle free. Warranty score?

Price

This tool has a price point of less than $20.00 which makes it really affordable for really everyone. During certain times of the year multi packs are offered that make the price even more desirable. I talked with one of the guys in the tool department at Lowe's and he told me he can look at the tool and tell me when I bought it. Apparently the style of the tool changes in each of the specialty packs. The one that I first bought was I believe around Father's Day. 

You can tell from the photo that it has seen some use.

Price score?

Workmanship and Quality

If you buy one of the tools by itself the sheath is fairly rigid and works well, if you buy one of the sets that has a sheath that fits the tool and say a knife the quality of the sheath goes down. The belt band stretches, so within a short period of time it will no longer sit neatly on your belt loop. In fact my original sheath's belt loop tore so I had to carry the tool in my pocket. The new sheath I have taken the knife and clipped it on my pocket and have started carrying a small flashlight in it instead. 

The Phillip's head bit is pitiful. I haven't found a screw head that it fits well into. I think it is sized somewhere between and #1 and a #2 bit size. You can unscrew a few things with it as long as the screw isn't too tight, you can put a screw in as long as you are using an existing hole or you are working with very soft wood, if not, you are out of luck.

I work a lot with Phillip's head screws so what did I do? I used the smallest blade bit. I was able to get the screw out, but I bent the blade. In fact I have bent a couple of the slot screwdriver blades. 

The knife blade could be a lot sharper from the package, but is sharp enough to do basic things. You can get a decent edge on the blade using a drag type sharpener (  I keep one like this in my backpack. Smith's CCKS 2-Step Knife Sharpener), but the edge doesn't last very long. In order to get a good edge I had to use a whet stone fairly severely (Smith's TRI-6 Arkansas TRI-HONE Sharpening Stones System).

The can opener, which is one of my must haves, works fairly well but not great. The saw blade works fine. A saw blade is difficult to find in a tool of this price point.
Workmanship and Quality score

Durability

As I have already stated above, I have had issues with all of the screwdriver bits, after a period of heavy usage the pliers tend to become loose to the point that they will no longer cut even semi fine wires, they just crimp them. I have even had one of the screws holding the whole thing together come out and of course be lost.

The set pictured above had blade locks, the new set does not. The blade locks of the set above wound up bending and becoming unusable, that might be why they got rid of them. I do not like having a tool that does not have blade locks, I think I am going to add that to my must haves list. They do the job, most any job, but when you get done you may have to turn them in for a new set.

Durability score

Overall Score

I really want to be fair here. I use this tool a lot. I am sure I use it more than most and as I said above it really comes with a hassle free lifetime warranty. If you need a tool that you are going to use occasionally or you are close to a Lowe's and can exchange when they break this is a good tool. Really good for the price, but if you want something that you do not have to worry about breaking in the first place, you might want to save your money a bit longer and get one of the higher end tools. Even then you might want to keep a couple of these around. They do make a good, not too expensive addition to a backpack.

Overall Score

There you have it. That is my review on the Kobalt multi tool. If you would like to purchase one of these for yourself you can do so HERE (not an affiliate link). If you are promoting a product and would like The Rural Economist to do a review please feel free to contact us at theruraleconomist@gmail.com. 

I wish you Rural Dreams and Homestead Wishes

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Affiliate Link Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. I may receive compensation for links, endorsements, testimonials, or recommendations for any products mentioned on this blog. Any time you use one of our links for Amazon, if you purchase something The Rural Economist receives a small commission and it doesn't cost you any more. Even if you do not purchase the items I list. In this way you will help support us trying to teach people about self reliance and homesteading. Thanks for your consideration.