Customer Reviews

Joby Gorillatorch Adjustable and Flexible Tripod Flashlight, Gray

5 star:		(129)
4 star:		(24)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Length:: 1:57 Mins

What I really liked is the way this light could be positioned. The tripod legs bend in any direction. The light can be tilted as needed. The little colored bands are rubberized so when you twist them around something they stay put. The feet are likewise rubberized so they stay put even if placed on a slanted surface. Inside of each foot is a magnet and any one of then is capable of supporting the weight of the entire light.

What I found misleading is the dimmer switch. This is actually a light with two levels of output, all the way on and about half way on. You adjust this by twisting a knob and might be able to catch some slight variations between the two but they are not really that useful even if they were easier to set.

What I didn't like was the beam focus. The center is tiny and really too bright. If you use it to light what your working on it is frequently so bright you have to look away. Outside the tiny center it's usually too dim to be of much good.

I fixed that problem for two cents. (Actually, probably lots less but I'm too lazy to do the arithmetic.) What I did was cut a 3" square of Glad Pressing Seal 3 Pack and put it over the light. It acts as a diffuser and produces an evenly bright, wider angle beam that is (IMHO) perfect.

Finally, if you are considering this light you may also want to check out the Joby Gorillatorch Flare Adjustable and Flexible Tripod Flashlight. It's similar to this one and the video review I've posted there provides a comparison between the two models.

BTW, I feel that honest, effective reviews, accompanied by detailed videos, can take the place of first-hand experiences that are often lacking in online shopping. I've always appreciated the help I've received from other reviewers and try to return the favor as best as I can. I hope you found this review helpful and the video at least entertaining. If there was anything you thought was lacking or unclear leave a comment and I'll do what I can to fix it.

I just received the Gorillatorch and have been testing it. In the short time I have tested it, I have found it to be an excellent idea with a good implementation.

Pros:
* The LED used in the unit is very bright and in conjunction with the dimmer function allows an excellent range of illumination
* The legs consist of multiple ball and socket joints that allow easy positioning with good rigidity.
* Each ball has a rubber-like ring around it (the gray rings in the photos) which provides a good friction grip when wrapped around an object.
* The tripod feet have the same covering as the rings giving it a low slip tripod base.
* The tripod feet contain strong magnets that hold the tripod securely to a metal surface in any orientation (up, down or sideways).
* The Battery/Lamp reside in a single assembly so there is no restriction on rotating the light.

Cons:
* The unit I received has a battery compartment electrical contact issue. The battery compartment cover contains contacts that connect the battery (+) terminals with the unit body. This contact can be affected by tapping on the case, turning the lamp off and back on when it is switched on.
* The dimmer works well, but is non-linear in operation. The dimmer/switch rotates over approx. 220 degrees, but the dimmer operates over the last 90 degrees.
* The light produced is very similar to a flashlight - a bright center with a less bright surrounding light ring. As the primary use for the unit is as a work light a change to create a more uniform lighting area would allow the LED's brightness to be better used.

Overall this is a very good product that with minor gripes, delivers what it promises

This is a great idea that is well implemented - mostly. The standard Gorilla three-legged grips are great, and the magnetic feet have a stronger attraction and holding power than I expected. Where this falls down is the light. It casts a wide, but very uneven beam. It is super bright in the center, but falls off quickly to very little illumination beyond that. As an example; from two feet away, the super bright center is about 2"-3" in diameter. Immediately past that, the output falls by 80-90%. And there is no way to adjust that, something that is common with many flashlights. There is no adjust-ability of the reflector to broaden or tighten the beam. You're stuck with that hot center.

All in all, I'd call it a good attempt marred by lack of one major feature. It's still a potentially great product if that one issue isn't important for you. But the addition of that one adjustment would make it a truly great item.

I have used this for camping, reading, and electrical work. I am amazed by how strong the magnets are and they attach easily to metal. It's not large so you can carry it like a regular flashlight and use it in tight spaces. Also, the bulb is a Cree which is more expensive than a LED. You can dim the light by turning the knob instead of having to click to pre-set light levels. I highly recommend this as a gift if you don't know what to give.

A bendy-legged light should make itself handy. And the Gorillatorch can hold itself in position in some situations. But the product design could be improved.

* The switch has a very light detent so it's easy to accidentally turn the light on and drain the batteries.

* The light focus is too tight for many uses. An adjustable beam would be nice but failing that a wider beam would be more versatile.

* The light and its legs are quite bulky, even when scrunched up.

A good LED headlamp is a much better alternative for the majority of uses this light might serve. I'm a bit of a flashlight gadget nut and would be hard pressed to recommend this light. Perhaps if you often have to open your car's hood and you can frequently use the magnetic feet. Most of the time, I'm having to pull steel tools and hardware from the light so I find the magnets more of an annoyance than a cool feature.

The Gorilla tripod is terrific. You can put it anywhere and aim it where you want in ways I haven't seen with anything else. This is much, much easier than the old "snake light" if you remember that. The magnets in the feet are remarkably strong. The dimmer works fine. If you do much work like under sinks or in attics where a headlight doesn't quite get the job done, this is as good as it gets for a positionable flashlight.

Two things I'd like to see. First, mount the tripod to the light with a 1/4-20 thread so the tripod could still be used with a camera; as it is, the tripod is permanently mounted with the flashlight head. Second, put a focusing mechanism on the light so it can be flood or spot. Gorilla tripods aren't cheap by themselves, so the money in this is presumably in the tripod, not the headlight. I'd pay more for a refined lamp. Don't misunderstand though, the bright light and easy aiming makes it a good value.

FWIW the first one of these I received was DOA, but Amazon replaced it immediately. It happens.

I bought the light to read with. It is exceptionally bright but the light is very focused, with the beam maybe two inches in diameter sfter a three foot throw. So if your plan is to attach it to a headboard and use it to read while your wife sleeps, it does not work unless you want to move your book to follow the beam. Other than that it is a great flashlight.

I liked the idea of it, but two big issues: the light is uneven (brighter center) and the plastic part that connects the head to the tripod broke way too easily. Lasted about a month.

I got this at an Amazon lightning deal for about $20. For $15 to $20, this a decent light with magnetic legs that stick to metal, and from there, the legs can be bent so that the light points in whatever direction you want. With that out of the way, there are a couple of things things that should be mentioned. First, it's much smaller than I expected. Rather than "Gorilla Torch," it should be called something like "Monkey Light." At its tallest, it is 8 inches. Once you spread the legs out, it's down to 6 or 7 inches tall. Second, as has already been pointed out, it is a spot light. It is not for illuminating a wide area. Whatever it is pointed towards, the light will be adequate in the immediate area of the target. The area around the target will not be well-illuminated. There is no way to adjust this. It is thus not a good substitute for a flashlight or lantern. Third, I always have a little trouble finding the control dial. It's not where I would intuitively expect it to be, and also, it's not prominently marked. I usually have to stop for a moment and think about where the dial is. Not a major problem, but I would have done it differently. Also, as you turn the dial from left to right, it goes from the off position immediately to maximum light, then all the way down to minimum light, and then it stops there. To turn the light off, you have to turn the dial in the other direction, all the way to maximum light, and then to the off position. A lot of people may prefer it that way. For me, I'm not yet appreciating the ingenuity. Overall, this device can be real handy when you need a small spotlight, can't hold one in your hand, and there's metal nearby that this can be attached to. I don't, however, think it's worth anything close to the $35 list price.

December 2011 UPDATE: After a year or two, it has yet to come in handy for me. Because it lights up a very small area, it's usefullness is limited.

The lights are bright, the legs bend easily (and then stay put, rather than collapsing) - so all would be fine if the battery compartment would just stay closed. The cap that closes it screws on, barely, but not tightly enough to actually press the battery connections tightly enough so the light doesn't work without a hand pressing the cap closed. Judging from the other reviews here, this isn't a total fluke or rare problem - I just wish the one I bought didn't have that defect!