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Just dip the Hydralight 2-in-1 Flashlight and Lantern into a glass of water and let there be light!

NEWS – How many times have you experienced your first blackout of the stormy season and can’t find a flashlight that works either because the batteries are dead or because it needs batteries and you forgot to buy some? I ask this question because I have more than a dozen flashlights around the house and whenever I do experience a blackout during the winter months, I can never find one. And then, of course, I always seem to have an issue with batteries.

Enter the Hydralight 2-in-1 Flashlight and Lantern!! This flashlight runs on just about any type of water even distilled or saltwater. There are no batteries to buy and it also functions as a lantern. According to the manufacturer, you “Just dip the fuel cell for 10 to 12 sec in water, shake it off, and then you are set to go, with up to 100 continuous hours on a single water dip and has a 25-year shelf life”.

You can purchase this handy gadget over at Amazon for $19.88 or $21.99 depending on if you want the one or two cell model.

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Just dip the Hydralight 2-in-1 Flashlight and Lantern into a glass of water and let there be light! originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 24, 2019 at 8:18 am.

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Tactical Emergency Flashlight Kit Escape Tool review

REVIEW – In my world, the answer to the question “Do I need another flashlight?” is always the same: YES! The MeetIdea Tactical Emergency Flashlight Kit Escape Tool is definitely a welcome addition to my collection. I have flashlights everywhere – in the Jeep, in the truck, in my photography bag, and all over the house.

What is it?

The MeetIdea Tactical Emergency Flashlight Kit Escape Tool is a multi-function 5-in-1 car escape tool includes a car charger, power bank, seatbelt cutter, window breaker, and emergency light.

What’s in the box?

  • Tactical Emergency Flashlight Kit Escape Tool
  • Light Cones
  • USB Cable


Design and features

The Tactical Emergency Flashlight Kit Escape Tool came to me with a bit of reservation on my part. I’ve seen many aluminum flashlights that look great, but once you get them in your hand you realize that they’re just cheap junk. This flashlight was an exception to that.

The box looked really nice and as often is the case, indicated that there was some pride in its packaging as well as its construction. Normally I don’t open a product box until I’m ready to photograph it, to keep fingerprints and dust to a minimum, but this one looked so nice I just had to handle it.

From the moment I picked it up, I was not disappointed.

Being attracted to shiny objects, the first thing I noticed about this item was the serrated attack head. It’s milled from stainless steel, and has well-defined edges, but not too sharp as to damage your pocket while you’re carrying it. The first thing I thought was “I would NOT want to take a hit to the face with this thing!” The attack head also unscrews, making it easy to remove and clean the front lens of the light.

The power switch is accented with a complementary metal ring, making it easier to visually locate, and is positioned in exactly the right spot and has a very nice feel to the click when changing modes. The 300 lumen LED light has four modes: High, Low, Blink, and SOS. To start the SOS mode, simply hold the power button for 3 seconds.


I found the light to be plenty bright enough, in fact for anything close to you the low power mode is plenty. The photos below were shot at the same exposure, with the swingset being about 50 feet from me.


Advertised as “At least 2 hours battery life under bright mode, 200 mins for strobe mode.”, I ran it for over 2.5 hours on bright mode.

The knurled hand grip provides a skidproof gripping surface without being overly aggressive. The narrower hand grip area fits nicely in the hand for use in either direction. The body portion has o-rings to seal it, but I’m not sure just how waterproof the entire light would be considering the USB ports at the back.

At the base of the light is the multi-function portion featuring a 12-volt car charger with 2.4a and 1.0 amp USB charging ports, a seat belt cutter, and a tungsten steel window breaking tip. The charger features a blue ring LED light that helps with locating the ports in the dark, and it’s not overly bright like some chargers. The light can be charged with this portion or via the included USB cord.


Perhaps one of my favorite features is the ability to use the flashlight as a battery bank to charge USB devices, such as a phone. The 2200mAh Li battery will provide a full charge for most phones.

I do wish there was a cap to cover the end of the light when the car charger isn’t installed, but I’m sure I can find a rubber cap at the local hardware store.

What I like

  • Defensive end
  • Multiple charging options
  • Rechargeable Battery
  • 2200 mAh Battery pack capability
  • Overall build quality

What needs to be improved

  • No charging indicator light
  • No battery level indicator lights
  • Cutter end has no positive connection to keep from falling off

Final thoughts

Currently priced at $29.99 makes this tool a great bargain. I’m going to be buying several of them to give as gifts and for my other vehicle.

Price: $29.99
Where to buy: MeetIDEA and Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by MeetIDEA.

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Tactical Emergency Flashlight Kit Escape Tool review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 23, 2018 at 9:00 am.

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Off Grid Tools Survival Companion Pro multitool review

I’m a big fan of gadgets that pack several (or many) uses into a single, small device.  And with survival products being a huge market these days, when I saw the Off Grid Tools Survival Companion Pro multitool, I was immediately interested.  It’s the size of a largish pocket knife, but includes 21 survival-type tools—such as fire-starting rods, a compass and signal mirror, to name but a few—in a durable frame aluminum frame.  Let’s check it out!  Gadget on!

What is it?

The Off Grid Tools Survival Companion Pro is a unique multitool that includes 21 features that outdoor enthusiasts, military, rescue/first responders, preppers or just about anyone might find useful in survival situations.

Hardware specs

  • Product Dimensions & Weight: 4.50 x 1.40 x 0.66 inches ; 0.27 pounds
  • Body: Dark gray die-cast aluminum
  • Fold-out ferrocerium fire starter rod and magnesium tinder rod
  • Carbide blade/axe sharpener
  • Fail-safe whistle, 109dB max volume
  • Liquid-filled compass
  • Thermometer
  • Reflective panel
  • Signal mirror panel
  • Lanyard hole
  • Feature-rich removable stainless steel belt clip, including:
    • Can opener
    • Bottle opener
    • Flat head screwdriver
    • Serrated saw edge
    • 1.5-inch ruler
    • Fire starter scraper
    • Hex wrenches in 1/4″, 5/16″, 3/8″, 7/16″ sizes
  • Designed in the USA, manufactured in China
  • Limited Warranty

What’s in the box?

  • Off Grid Tools Survival Companion Pro

The Survival Companion Pro’s packaging, as shown in the images above and below, gives good visibility to the product contained inside, which is a feature I really appreciate in retail product packaging.

The back of the package also includes a list of the Survival Companion Pro’s many features.

Design and features

I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to state that the Survival Companion Pro is veritably packed with features (21 in total), which I could tell even before I removed it from the package.

Once out of the package, the Survival Companion Pro felt quite solid in my hand, which I took to be an early indicator of high-quality design, build and materials.

The Survival Companion Pro’s main body is made from durable aluminum that should have a low potential for rust or other corrosion, yet is lightweight and strong.  It also has a robust pocket clip.


Although it is not actually a pocket knife, the Survival Companion Pro is actually more like a multitool, with its fold-out magnesium tinder rod and ferrocerium fire-starting rod, both of which are shown above in their fully-deployed positions.  Magnesium is a material that can be scraped to produce fine shavings that can be used as fuel to start a fire in the absence of other tinder-type materials.  Ferrocerium is a metallic alloy material that can be scraped to produce sparks which have enough heat to ignite the fine magnesium shavings.  Once a bit of magnesium shavings have been produced by scraping the rod, the ferrocerium rod can be scraped quickly to produce sparks which have enough heat to ignite the magnesium shavings.  Therefore, using these two fold-out rods, the Survival Companion Pro can be used to create a small fire, which can then be fueled, stoked and tended to create a large fire should the need ever arise.  Also note that the Survival Companion Pro’s belt clip (described in detail below) can be removed and used as a scraper for both the ferrocerium and magnesium rods.

Another feature of the Survival Companion Pro is its “fail-safe, pealess” whistle, depicted above.  Off Grid Tools claims that this whistle has a 109dB max volume.  I did a bit of research and Purdue University reports that 109dB is approximately the volume of a steel mill auto horn at a distance of 1 meter.  That is LOUD, people.  Loud enough to possibly get the attention of a first responder or rescuer some distance away from your position in an emergency.

As mentioned above, although the Survival Companion Pro is not a pocket knife, it does have a carbide blade sharpener, as seen in the image above.  A good knife is a survival essential, but a dull knife will be much less useful, so this sharpener feature could come in very handy.  It could even be used on a small axe in a pinch.

Survival Companion Pro’s belt clip itself also contains several very useful features. The belt clip typically sits securely attached to the back of the Survival Companion Pro’s main body by two brass pins, as seen above.

The belt clip can be removed for use.  I found the easiest way was to start by rotating its right side upward to release it from the right-side pin, then wiggling the clip a bit to free it from the left-side pin.

It only took me a couple of times before I had this maneuver down and it became simple to remove the belt clip for quick operation and then to replace it securely when finished.

The belt clip has a spring-type design that allows it to be used to attach the Survival Companion Pro to not only a belt, but also a pocket, backpack webbing, straps, or many other locations.

As listed in the Hardware specs section above, the belt clip contains, starting from the left in the image above, a  scraper for the ferrocerium and magnesium firestarter rods (described above), flat head screwdriver (can also possibly be used as a Phillips head in a pinch) can opener, bottle opener, serrated saw edge, 1.5-inch ruler, a, and hex wrenches in 1/4″, 5/16″, 3/8″, 7/16″ sizes.  That’s a lot of tools packed into a pocket clip!

Back to the Survival Companion Pro’s main body, another useful feature is a small thermometer, shown in the images above and below.  Note that also show above is the lanyard hole on the left side.  I found this lanyard hole to be the only somewhat frustrating feature because it was challenging to get anything through there.  I tried a small S-carabiner and it wouldn’t fit, and also some 550 paracord, but it didn’t seem to want to be pushed through the hole very easily.

I compared the accuracy of the Survival Companion Pro’s thermometer to the weather app connected to my Garmin Fenix 3 HR watch. Both seemed to be comparable within a few degrees of each other.

Another of the Survival Companion Pro’s move essential survival features is a small, liquid-filled compass, as shown above and below.

Once again, I used my Garmin Fenix 3 HR watch—this time its compass app—to compare to the Survival Companion Pro’s thermometer, and once again, they only seemed to differ by a few degrees.  While this variance could make a difference for accurate navigation in a survival situation, I’m not sure I fully trust my Fenix 3 HR’s compass app’s accuracy.  I may have to do a bit more experimenting and report back here at a later date.

Two more features are packed into the main body of the Survival Companion Pro, as shown in the images above and below.  First, a reflective strip that could be used in low-light situations.

Additionally, below the reflective strip is a mirror-like reflector panel, as shown in the images above and below.  At first, I didn’t realize that this reflector panel had a thin protective film over it (see above).

However, once I removed the film, this panel proved to be quite reflective, mirror finish, a feature that could be used to signal far-away rescuers by reflecting the sun’s rays.

The Survival Companion Pro is roughly the size of a large folding-blade pocket knife, easily fitting into the palm of my hand.  The entire device is stout, sturdy and compact, yet lightweight.

During my evaluation period, I carried the Survival Companion Pro attached to the MOLLE webbing on the exterior of my GORUCK GR1 rucksack, as seen in the images above and below.

The Survival Companion Pro’s spring-type belt clip worked, keeping the tool attached very securely.

What I like

  • Lots of survival tools packed into a small and compact size and shape
  • Durable
  • Inexpensive

What needs to be improved

  • Lanyard hole could be a bit larger
  • Thermometer and compass may not be super accurate, but they do the job

Final thoughts

The Off Grid Tools Survival Companion Pro is packed with useful features in a small size.  You may never need to use this product in a survival situation, but in an emergency, it might come in very handy and could possibly even save your life.  I carried the Survival Companion Pro as part of my EDC during the time that I evaluated it, and I have since made it a part of my ongoing EDC kit.  Although I thankfully never actually needed it in an emergency or survival situation, it gave me the confidence to know that I had its many useful features available for quick access should the need arise.  Plus, with its relatively low price, you could buy one of each of your vehicles, give them out as gifts and so forth without breaking the bank.  If you are into EDC and/or survival tools, have a look at the Off Grid Tools Survival Companion Pro.

Price: $24.99
Where to Buy: Off Grid Tools or Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Off Grid Tools.

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Off Grid Tools Survival Companion Pro multitool review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 10, 2018 at 10:00 am.

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You can catch a fish and start a fire to cook it with this wallet

If you’re looking for a unique wallet, the ParaWallet easily fits that category. It’s a wallet made with over 50 feet of paracord. Chances are if you read this site, you already know what paracord is, but just in case you don’t, it’s a very strong multi-stranded cord that is very popular with survivalists because it can be used in so many different ways.

The ParaWallet holds your cash and credit cards just like a traditional wallet. But if an emergency situation happens, the wallet can be unraveled to use the 50 feet of 550 lb 7 strand paracord. There’s even a ferrocerium fire starter rod, a stainless steel emblem, and tinder (hidden inside tag) so you will be able to start a fire anywhere.

The company even offers to reassemble the wallet if you ever need to use it. All they ask is that you send in the remaining cord and your story.

You can buy a ParaWallet in a wide variety of colors for $65. You can read more about them on Amazon.

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You can catch a fish and start a fire to cook it with this wallet originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 5, 2017 at 8:00 am.

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This paracord bracelet hides a wicked blade

The Para-Claw bracelet from Outdoor Edge may look like a regular paracord bracelet, but the clip that secures the bracelet on your wrist holds a stainless steel 1.5” hawkbill blade. 

To use the blade, just remove the Para-Claw bracelet from your wrist and use the bracelet as the knife handle. Grooves on the top edge of the blade provide a secure grip.

The Para-Claw comes in black or camo paracord styles and is priced at $19.95 – $39.95 depending on the size and style.  You can read more about the Para-Claw at outdooredge.com and order one from Amazon.

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This paracord bracelet hides a wicked blade originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 27, 2017 at 10:15 am.

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