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I was never a Boy Scout, but I have always embraced their motto, “Be Prepared.” When I leave home, I’m never without my daily carry kit that includes, among other things, wireless earbuds, a small battery pack, extra glasses — and a flashlight. In fact, I’ve been searching for what I consider to be the perfect flashlight for a long time, and as a result, I now have more than anyone would ever need. but $25 Whoopin G5 It could be the latter, thanks to a compact design that combines smart functions with plenty of easy-to-adjust lighting.
I purchased the G5 as a replacement for Nitecore TINI 2 Keychain Flashlight I used to get pregnant. The Nitecore’s is surprisingly bright given its small size, but the lock-on option that prevents the light from being accidentally turned on is not at all foolproof. In fact, the TINI 2 would regularly turn itself on while hopping inside my bag, draining its battery without me even realizing it. You can’t effectively “prepare” with a dead flashlight.
The G5 also includes a locking mechanism, but in the form of a sliding switch on one side that can be used as a cover for the flashlight’s USB-C charging port. After a few months of holding it, the G5 hasn’t turned on on its own, and at this point I don’t expect it to. It’s not quite as small as my old Nitecore, but it’s a little longer than a Zippo lighter, and still fits in a pocket.
What I like most about the G5 is that it’s very good at just being a flashlight. Instead of cycling through brightness presets, the flashlight has a wheel to quickly dial in exactly the amount of light you need, from just 2 lumens to up to 400. I find that the lowest setting has more than enough brightness to locate something dropped in a dark car, or to look for something rolling under the couch, and keeping it dim boosts the flashlight’s battery life to up to 65 hours.
The G5 isn’t limited to just white light. It has a second LED whose color can be adjusted by rotating the brightness dial that rotates across the spectrum. Using a combination of double taps and long presses of the power button, the G5 can also flash single colors or multi-color patterns which, in some situations, can be a useful way to indicate that you’re experiencing an emergency.
Other functions I appreciate include a clip that can be repositioned on the front, side, or back of the G5, and its LEDs are located on a head that can be rotated 180 degrees. The lamp base also has a built-in magnet so you can mount the G5 and use it hands-free. In short, it feels like Wuben has put a lot of thought into the G5’s design to maximize its functionality.
I’m not going to pretend that everyone will be happy to find a flashlight in their stockings on Christmas morning, but I bet there are one or two people on your shopping list who would appreciate a very useful addition to their everyday carry kits.