We Tested Amazon’s Magnetic Pickup Tool Flashlight Combo: Gimmick or Great?

We’ve all seen the magnetic pickup tool flashlight combos hanging around the checkout counter at the local tool store. The combination of features sounds good on paper, but many of us write them off as gimmicks, praying on folks none-the-wiser. Still, every time we run in to grab some zip ties, cleaning supplies, or specialty tools, they stare into our souls as we wait in line. We know we shouldn’t conceded, but their seductive gaze draws us in like the ol’ l’appel du vide.

The fact is that eventually, you’re going to give in and see what these things are all about. which is exactly why I jumped on the opportunity to test one out when I was approached about the RAK Magnetic Pickup Tool. I’ve been playing around with it in the shop, and I have to admit, it’s pretty sweet as far as an impulse buy goes.

The Bottom Line

Rak Magnetic Pickup Tool

See It

Getting After It

At first glance, the RAK Magnetic Pickup Tool looks like an ordinary LED flashlight. The trick up its sleeve is the fact that it has an extendable head with a built-in magnet that allows it to function as a magnetic pickup tool. It offers up to 22 inches of reach, and a flexible portion in the extensions makes it possible to orient the head into any position of your liking. Testing the RAK Magnetic Pickup Tool basically consisted of seeing what it can pick up and from where, using it as a flashlight, and just keeping it nearby while plugging away at things in the shop. 

Having an LED light on the head of a magnetic pickup tool is proving to be really nice feature. It just makes it a lot easier to see what you’re doing, and more easily navigate tight spaces. It does come at the cost of head size, though. The flashlight adds a lot of bulk to the head that can be problematic. Don’t get me wrong, it does work fairly well as a magnetic pickup tool. It’s strong enough to grab most things you’ll drop in weird places, including some ratchets. The large head will just keep it from sneaking through some areas. I can see it being used as an extendable flashlight that helps you navigate more compact pickup tools through poorly lit spaces.

The flashlight on an extendable, flexible head is the real strong suit of this tool. While regular flashlights are always useful, this has the ability to reach down into awkward spots and cast light on things that are often obstructed. Even with only one lighting mode, this gives the light a whole functional dynamic that many flashlights lack. The magnetic base complements this aspect very well. 

The Verdict: Don’t Pay Full Price 

Overall, the RAK Magnetic Pickup Tool is a solid win as an impulse buy or stocking stuffer. It will prove useful in any shop. Quality is about what you’d expect for any flashlight in this price range. It’s also too big to keep in your pants pocket for EDC. Still, it’ll earn its keep hanging alongside the rest of your magnetic pickup tools with an added dynamic that gives it a broader range of use cases than the rest. 

It’s a pretty cool concept, but RAK is far from the only brand to offer it. These can be found anywhere tools are sold under more names than there are in a phone book. This is most certainly as good of a representation as any. That brings me to the primary concern here, pricing. Rak has a full retail on this thing for $26.99, with a current sale price of $18.99. While that’s about average, there are some examples of similar models listing for a fraction of the cost. Still, it’s hard to knock it too hard because it really will come in handy enough to justify the sub-$20 price tag.

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