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Tool Review: Mechanix Wear Glove Light

May 4, 2012
Comfortable and good grip, the glove light works well for undercar inspection.

The Glove Light combines the fit, feel and function of The Original Mechanix Wear glove, with an adjustable 8mm LED that gives users 25,000 MCD. This light runs with easily replaceable, AAAA batteries and lasts up to 14 hours. In low light or no light, The Original Glove Light has you covered. Each pair of gloves includes one LED that can be removed and placed on the right or left hand. 

The review

Both Lou Fort, Lead Tech at K.A.R.S. Inc. in Huntingburg, IN and Tom Karagianis, owner of Tarkus Automotive in Milwaukee, WI, tested out the Mechanix Wear Glove Light.

At first Tom was a bit apprehensive of the glove, but found it really helped him complete some undercar inspections with ease. 

Lou also mentioned he initially thought the light was cumbersome to use and wasn't sure what he'd use it for.

But, after getting used to wearing the glove and using the light, both technicians found the glove light easy to use and helpful while completing some repairs.

Both users commented on the the easy adjustability of the glove with Velcro, and Tom mentioned the glove was nice and comfortable, offering a good grip. "The lighting, you can see across the room – nice and bright," says Tom.

Lou used the light to locate a coolant leak and as a general light source, and also found the glove light particularly useful when drilling out glow plugs. "Not having to put down a tool and pick up a light when checking my progress was nice," says Lou. 

He also found the light extrememely helpful when welding.

"I have discovered an application for the glove light where I no longer want to do it without my glove light," says Lou. "Even though I use a flash hood, it was still hard to see the work with the hood down and no hand free to put light on it before the welding began. With the glove light this problem has become history."

"What started out as a 'What were they thinking?' moment has turned into a 'Why didn’t I think of that?' awakening," says Lou. 

Tom found the glove light useful for undercar inspection work.

"When you’re inspecting for oil leaks, doing visual inspections, you’ve already got (the gloves) on and you don’t need to hold a light," says Tom. "So while you’re jiggling the wheels a little bit, checking suspension parts, you can point (the light) at what you’re looking at."

While both reviewers found the glove light useful, both were initially a bit skeptical of the uses of the glove. To improve this, Lou suggested including some practical application photos on the packaging for techs who may be interested when looking at the glove before purchasing. 

About the Author

Erica Schueller | Media Relations Manager | Navistar

Erica Schueller is the Media Relations Manager for Navistar.

Before joining Navistar, Schueller served as Editorial Director of the Endeavor Commercial Vehicle Group. The commercial vehicle group includes the following brands: American Trucker, Bulk Transporter, Fleet Maintenance, FleetOwner, Refrigerated Transporter, and Trailer/Body Builders brands.

An award-winning journalist, Schueller has reported and written about the vehicle maintenance and repair industry her entire career. She has received accolades for her reporting and editing in the commercial and automotive vehicle fields by the Truck Writers of North America (TWNA), the International Automotive Media Competition (IAMC), the Folio: Eddie & Ozzie Awards and the American Society of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE) Azbee Awards.

Schueller has received recognition among her publishing industry peers as a recipient of the 2014 Folio Top Women in Media Rising Stars award, acknowledging her accomplishments of digital content management and assistance with improving the print and digital products in the Vehicle Repair Group. She was also named one Women in Trucking’s 2018 Top Women in Transportation to Watch.

She is an active member of a number of industry groups, including the American Trucking Associations' (ATA) Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC),  the Auto Care Association's Young Auto Care Networking Group, GenNext, and Women in Trucking.

In December 2018, Schueller graduated at the top of her class from the Waukesha County Technical College's 10-week professional truck driving program, earning her Class A commercial driver's license (CDL).  

She has worked in the vehicle repair and maintenance industry since 2008.

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