TekPicks

Its time to update our flashlite recommendation. Over the last few years the Inova T4 has emerged as our go to unit for several reasons. First, is durability. The housing is aircraft aluminum the has been hard annondized. We have beat the heck out of it around the shop and in on the job site and they still look new. Next is size. The T4 is impressively small but still comfortable to handle. Finally, we love the LED bulb that can pump out up to 175 lumens for 2 hrs before killing your battery.

The kit comes with a Lith-Ion battery, charging cardle and both AC and DC plugs.

Link:Inova T4-WB 175 Lumen Rechargeable LED Flashlight with Knurled Hard Coat Anodized Aluminum Housing, Black

I am on the search for a new pair of winter work gloves. My needs are simple and obvious. Warm, waterproof and durable. This pair from the Youngstown Glove Company, seems to have filled all of my requirements and then some. Features include Kevlar construction for ANSI/SEA 105-2005 level 3 cut resistance on the palm, micro-fleece lining plus a water and windproof membrane that is still breathable. On top of all that, the palm is covered with Clarino Non-Slip surface that can maintain its gripping force even when wet.

Sounds perfect right? My only concern is the price point. At $50 these would among the most expensive gloves I have ever bought. But if they are as durable and useful as the manufacturer purports I would have no problem throwing down the loot. I would love to hear a few testimonial, so if you own a pair give us your rundown in the comments.

We have been long fans of the Rubbermaid ActionPackers for their exceptional durability. But they have always lacked in one area of utility, movement, i.e. the lack of wheels. We pack our AP’s full, so it would be great to have a little help moving them, especially if we are stuck out at job site alone.

And so we have begun the conversion to Plano units. While we have not had years to stress test yet, these boxes have found a place in our hearts with their heavy duty construction, reasonable price and best of all, wheels! Our favorite model the XXL, also sports three locks, tie down hooks and FAA approval for all airlines. We did find a couple areas for improvement though…a domed lid would add a ton of extra storage and metal hinges and locks would solidify any durability concerns.

Link: Plano Molding 1819 XXL Wheeled Storage Box

Having a good flashlight is critical in our business. MagLights and StreamLights have been our favorites for both durability and quality of illumination. We prefer rechargeable models but long recharge times still keep us packing at least one disposable battery unit as backup. Enter the UC3.400.

Constructed of a durable and lightweight polymer, the UC3.400 is impact, abrasion, and water resistant; using 3 LED’s rated for 50,000 hours to produce up to 270 lumens with a run time of about 2 hours (30 minutes at peak). While those specs are well and good, at this price point ($170) I would expect nothing less. So what sets this light apart from the crowd? How about a 90 second recharge time? To Full. Yeah, that would do it.

Link: Light for Life Flashlight, UC3.400, Full Size, Black

I typically avoid cell phone cases. I find them to be either overbuilt for the average user (like the Otterbox) or cheaply constructed pieces of plastic that offer no really protection against the accidental drop. So I just go naked. But I am always on the look out for that one perfect case. The CandyShell is as close to perfection as I have found. Speck took its form fitting hard shell and lined it with a great soft rubber material for excellent shock absorption. The result is a surprisingly heavy duty case that is still nice and slim for easy pocketing. The CandyShell is available in a variety of colors. all with a classy glossy finish.

Link: Speck Products CandyShell Case for iPhone

As previously noted, my eyes are extremely sensitive to light, both visible and UV, so I am always on the look out for a good pair of sunglasses. The Randolph Engineering Aviators, look to be a strong contender for my next pair. Designed for the US Military and NASA, they can take a beating. While I will never see combat or walk on the moon, I tend to pretty tough on my glasses between my usually clumsiness and the everyday wear and tear they get out in the field. For years, I have been tempted to pick up a pair of Oakley X-Metals for their purported durability, but the price point is a bit ridiculous at $400 or more. Not so with RE. Pricing starts at just $99 with the polarized setting you back a very reasonable $140 plus you can customize frame size, lens color and material along with frame color and temple style. Sound about perfect to me.

Link: Randolph Engineering Aviators

Source: Uncrate

On a typical fire scene, jeans are our standard “uniform”. In the winter, no problem, heck we usually add coveralls to keep warm. But in the summer, they can turn a guy into a hot, sweaty, uncomfortable mess pretty quick. So while searching for an alternative, I came across the Operator Tactical Pants by L.A. Police Gear. They look like a winner for several reasons.

They are cheap, just $20 a pair. They come in 5 different colors, including khaki for say around the office and both black and olive which are good colors for hiding all the dirt from a scene. I also like the fact they are loaded with pockets. With 10 in total, we should be able to easily carry everything from our pocket knife, wallet and flashlight to multiple cell phones. My only question is durability. At $20 bucks I don’t need them to last for years, but I don’t want them to fall apart after the first wash either. Anyone out there with a pair? Let us know in the comments.

Link: L.A. Police Gear Tactical Pants

The Warn Pullzall is a very cool tool I came across this morning that will be very handy to have around the shop. So what it is? A 1,000 pound portable pulling/winch system. Warn offers two models, AC or DC. The DC model includes a 24v rechargeable NiMH battery pack with rapid charger. In the shop we have a huge rack of storage shelves stretching 50 feet across and 30 feet high. While we don’t storage super heavy stuff on the top shelves, the Pullzall mounted to a track on a ceiling joist could be a really cool way to lift bigger boxes that are a pain to hump up a ladder ourselves.

Beyond that, I am thinking it could be a huge help on a scene if we need to move furniture, appliances or even debris out of our way or into our trucks for transport. Considering the pretty reasonable price, getting an AC version for the shop and the DC version for the vehicles is a realistic option.

Amazon: Warn Industries 685000 PullzAll 110 AC Corded Electric Pulling Tool

Corporate: Warn Industries

We are big fans of the relatively new lines of 12v “micro” power tools out there by both Bosch and Milwaukee. Not only are they incredibly versatile and powerful considering their small size but the choice of tools is also expanding darn near every day. One of the latest entries into the genre is the Milwaukee M12 Power Port.

Its a dead simple (and cheap) solution to a pesky problem, the dead cellphone battery. The Power Port can charge 2 devices simultaneously via with a DC car charger or a USB cable. Plus a single Milwaukee 12v battery can power up to 5 small devices like cellphones, iPods, etc on a single charge.

Link: Milwaukee M12 12-Volt Power Port

One of our favorite unsung heroes around the shop is our clipboard collection.  They are great for helping us keep our various project papers neat and organized, plus we always have one with us in the trucks when we head out to a scene for better note taking.  Without them, we probably would not be able to read our own handwriting.  Despite their utility, we have never found ourselves sitting around thinking on how to improve this venerable tool.  Good thing there are companies like OXO out there.

With a one swipe of their design pen, they added a simple but very nice improvement to our friend: a concave edge on at the bottom making balancing it on our bellies much easier.  As an added bonus, the board is also coated with a non-slip surface to help better secure all those papers.  Pretty nifty if you ask us.  Available at Staples.