The newest addition to my light collection, the Rogue 2 is a statement maker. The green color says it all. 

220 lumens for under $30? You bet.

I recently read online that Nebo Tools released a 220 lumen flashlight for under $30. At this price-point I was intrigued but cautious since most 200+ lumen flashlights are well out of my price range. The light output specs from Nebo’s website were fairly impressive, especially given its low price. The Redline has five operating modes – three brightness settings as well as emergency strobe and SOS modes. Its lumen output is 220 lumens at full power, with stepped reductions down to 110 lumens at 50% power and 22 lumens at 10%. The Redline operates at full power when in SOS and strobe modes.

In SOS mode, the Redline can be hand held or placed on its bezel for stationary use, such as on a roadside or auto’s rooftop. The Redline’s emergency strobe mode can be used for safety lighting, or defensive functions. Nebo mentions that a light beam “above 50 lumens within a 10 yard distance may cause temporary blindness when viewed directly.”

For starters, the Redline specs out at 4-1/2″L x 1-1/2″D and 6.85 ounces. The body is well-machined from anodized aircraft-grade aluminum that Nebo says is weather-proof. The main body features smooth knurling and a machined pattern for secure gripping. The body fits well in my extra large hands, but I found the grips to be somewhat slippery especially in cooler weather with dry hands.

The front bezel is tipped with an “aggressive self-defense face” and can be rotated to adjust the focus of the light beam. The bezel twists smoothly when transitioning from a wide beam to a to tighter spot. The single LED is recessed and well protected from abuse and accidental damage. Nebo doesn’t state the wattage or type of bulb, but upon closer exam it closely resembles a CREE LED. The removable rear cap features a luminescent weather-proof button and a magnetic base for hands-free lighting.

Nebo claims the spot setting can focus on something up to 450 feet away, while its wide flood light setting can illuminate everything within 60 feet. My test, although highly unscientific, involved a stop sign 400 feet from my position and pine trees 40-50 feet away across the street. I was able to light up the stop sign completely. At the corner of my street is a foreclosed home, so I took aim and lit up the windows and porch. The beam was clear and bright with a 2 foot spot at the target. In its wide beam flood light mode the Redline lit up the front yard effectively, and illuminated the tall pines as well. Thus, their claims are substantiated.

The Nebo Redline is well-made and projects a tremendous amount of light. For only $30 MSRP, the NEBO Redline is great bargain. After careful searching I purchased one on eBay for $27 shipped, and the flashlight came with 3 AAA Duracell batteries included.