This Tiny, Super-Versatile New EDC Gadget Could Be the Smartest $25 You Spend This Year

Small. Cheap. Handy. Those three five-letter adjectives are some of the most compelling in the EDC world.

No wonder a new product possessing all three of those traits has garnered a prestigious Red Dot Design Award and raised nearly $100,000 on Kickstarter (so far).

ScoutLite

But rather than being a traditional multi-tool as you might expect, California’s based ScoutLite describes SparkO as “the 4-in-1 Versatile Hands-free EDC Flashlight.” 

They are perhaps being a tad modest, as this product boasts seemingly dozens of everyday uses, limited only by your own creativity.

Bright spot

So what is SparkO, exactly?

Roughly the size of a silver dollar and made of aluminum alloy and silicone, it’s a cylindrical illumination solution boasting max lumens of 300lm and 14 hours of battery life, rechargeable via USB-C.

ScoutLite has some experience with this sort of thing, as it is the successor to a similar, pricier product called BlinkO.

ScoutLite

Where SparkO’s versatility really comes into play is with its four lighting modes, IPX5 waterproof grade and multiple mounting options, which open up a world of possibilities.

The lighting modes (cool white, warm white, warm light and red light) each have four intensity levels.

ScoutLite

You can switch modes with a simple double-click and cycle through intensities with single clicks.

Built into its frame is a flexible clip that can hang from just about anything, while an adjustable magnetic stand add-on enables you to place it on a desk or attach it to a phone.

Functions galore

Pardon the puns, but where SparkO really shines is in the promotional video, which really sheds light on some of the many ways it can be used, often hands-free.

For example, you can clip it to your shirt and employ it as a reading light or illuminate a campsite, your own abode or hallways while making night rounds at a hospital.

Attach it to your shorts and it’ll keep you visible when you go for an evening stroll, run or dog walk.

In a pinch, you can even clip it onto the back of your bike jersey and use the red mode to turn it into a safety light. (Sadly, it doesn’t blink, but like I said, in a pinch.)

ScoutLite

Car issues? Attach it under the flipped-up hood and get a good look at the guts of your vehicle. 

Indoors, you can position it next to your laptop for soft, flattering lighting during video calls.

ScoutLite

Attach it to the back of your phone for better food photos at a dimly lit restaurant, or to take evening selfies without a harsh flash.

Those are just a few examples. What’s really cool is that this thing is so small, you can simply slip it into your EDC kit and have it ready for whatever at a moment’s notice. Compelling indeed.

Availability and pricing

The ScoutLite SparkO is available now on Kickstarter for $25 for a single unit and $32 for the unit plus the magnetic stand. Other add-ons are also available. Estimated delivery is October.

ScoutLite

ScoutLite SparkO

• $25 at ScoutLite

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