GloveLite Review – The Flashlight You Can’t Drop

When a lone black glove with a built-in light show arrived at the HomeFixated executive offices, naturally our first thought was that Michael Jackson had been reincarnated and had stepped up his game. And indeed, the GloveLite WOULD have added a little glide to the MJ stride. Alas, though, this particular glove is destined for a more mundane, (and probably more useful), existence.

I’m not a pilot; I don’t even play one on TV. (I have, however, been to the airport several times). The guy who invented the GloveLite IS a pilot, though, and invented this device as an aid to pilots flying at night, in darkened cockpits. Either that, or he was inspired while trying to work on a broken garbage disposal under his sink; it depends on which video you watch. Here’s a brief one where the inventor, Paul N. Smith, is interviewed after winning the award for Best Product Concept at the 2012 National Hardware Show:

In any case, the glove does lend itself to a variety of DIY applications—working around breaker boxes with the power off, changing a tire on a lonely road, working in a cramped, dark cabinet, tracking wild critters in the dark. There are some other applications I came up with that weren’t on the website, but which would still be extremely useful, such as searching for the last bottle of beer around the fire pit, or as a dog-bomb locator, for strategic cleanup when walking our large dogs in the dark.

Fits like a glove…

The glove comes in medium, large, and overglove (to fit—you guessed it—over a glove!) sizes. I received the large size; I have large hands, and the stretchy neoprene fit snugly, but not uncomfortably, over my thumb and index finger. The strap fit well around my wrist, and the little Velcro closure held it lovingly in place. My wife tried it on, too, but she has itty bitty girl hands, and the glove was way too big for her.

The glove features dual 5,000 mcd LEDs (mcd stands for millicandela, the unit of measurement for the brightness of LEDs; if you’re having trouble sleeping, and want something to numb your brain, Google it and settle in…). I fired that sucker up, gathered up my courage, and peered cautiously into the dark, scary recesses under our bed. It illuminated the dust bunnies nicely, and left me yearning for more adventurous uses.

So I pretended there was a cloud in the sky, and our power had gone out (which is normally about all it takes). I used the illumination from the GloveLite to go down the stairs into the darkened basement, and found my way to the breaker box to check it. (Actually, our usual procedure is to look out the window at the neighbor’s house to see if THEIR power is out, and then to rustle up our supply of kerosene lamps and candles and get them lit. This would be much easier to accomplish with the GloveLite than juggling a flashlight). The light put out by the glove made getting down the stairs and through our (moderately cluttered) basement no problem.

Ready for the real world

The GloveLite is waterproof, too, in case you’re required (or inclined) to perform your repairs (or doggie duty) in the rain. Or in case you drop your cell phone in the toilet, down a sewer, or into a swimming pool at night (all three of which have been accomplished by one of my daughters—the Verizon underwater trifecta!). Since the weather gods were uncooperative, and my daughter lives out of town, I used my Simulated Rain Chamber (aka kitchen sink) to test this feature, and despite a steady soaking, there was nary a flicker.

The website states that the glove is machine washable, although they recommend removing it before the spin cycle or hand-washing it, and that it should be air-dried. The batteries should last for at least 8 hours of continuous use, and significantly longer with intermittent use, and can be replaced when needed with two model 2016 batteries. The gloves are available with white LEDs, as well as red or green, which are better for preserving your night vision. Left and right-handed versions are available, and the gloves are very lightweight at 2 ounces. Here’s the official commercial, complete with cool twinkling sound effects:

As someone who has spent a fair amount of time in dark, often uncomfortable places, with a flashlight A) stuck in my mouth B) tucked under my arm or C) propped up against something that it inevitably falls of off as soon as I start working, the idea of a “flashlight you can’t drop” is very appealing. The GloveLite seems to be a well-made product, and would be a useful addition to the toolbox for any electrician, plumber, mechanic, HVAC worker, or for ANY one who has a task to accomplish in the dark, and wants an extra hand free. If you want one, moon-walk your way to Amazon, where you can find the GloveLite for around $20.