Triple-play tripod flashlight

  
I'm not sure what's going on in the flashlight industry, but for most of my adult life the common, everyday flashlight remained virtually unchanged. And now it seems as if a brand-new flashlight hits the market every few weeks.

The good news is that in almost every case, these newer, flashier flashlights are much better and brighter than the old clunkers. And that's especially true of the latest flashlight from Stanley.

The 3-in-1 Tripod LED Flashlight is a 10 1/2-inch-long, ruggedly built flashlight that you can use like any other hand-held flashlight, but that's only the beginning.

At the bottom of this cleverly designed flashlight is a small button. Press it and three spring-loaded legs pop out creating a tripod and turning the hand-held flashlight into a freestanding lantern.

Look closely at the head of the flashlight and you'll see three lenses, each of which you can tilt up to 120 degrees, allowing you to shine light precisely where it's needed.

However, the most interesting thing about this flashlight is that it's actually three separate flashlights. Each flashlight can be detached from the tripod and used independently. Pretty cool, right?

The Stanley 3-in-1 Tripod LED Flashlight (model 95-155) is powered by six AA-size batteries, and it's available on-line for about $29.