igadgitz Xtra Solar & Crank Torch review
igadgitz Xtra Waterproof Solar and Hand-Crank LED Torch (U4456)
By Tom Calder
The simplest no-power-needed torch here: a solar panel and a crank charge a small built-in battery, and igadgitz says a minute of winding gives 60 to 110 minutes of light and that it is waterproof to 5 m. The catch is brightness. Its top output is 8 lumens, enough to find a fuse box or a path but not to light a room, so treat it as the torch that is always ready rather than the main one.
- Best for
- A torch that never needs batteries or a socket, for the car, the shed or the back of a drawer.
- Skip it if
- You want a torch bright enough to work by
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Researched, not used. We haven't used this product. This review is built from the maker's specifications, owner reports and our own sizing.
What we like
- Charges from its solar panel or the crank: no batteries to buy, and a flat one can be wound or left in the sun
- Long runtime per wind on igadgitz's figures: 60 to 110 minutes of light from a minute of cranking
- Waterproof to 5 m and sold with a 5-year warranty, both igadgitz's claims
Worth knowing
- Very dim: 8 lumens at most, against the 100 to 300 that lights a room
- A small 80mAh battery, so about 4 hours from full on igadgitz's figures, and it can't charge anything else
Out of stock when we checked: our alternatives
Closest in size first, then by our score. None of them was showing out of stock when we last checked.
Best for One dependable rechargeable torch that keeps working through a long power cut.
as of 2 Nov 2026, 13:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Best for A buy-once torch for the kitchen drawer or grab bag that will still work in a decade.
as of 2 Nov 2026, 13:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Best for A bright rechargeable room light for power cuts that can also top up a phone.
as of 2 Nov 2026, 13:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.ⓘ As an Amazon Associate, PreparedBritain earns from qualifying purchases. We may earn a commission when you buy, or a fee when you request a quote, through our links. When two products are close, commission can decide which one we pick. A clearly better product always wins. Amazon prices come from Amazon's own product data and show the date and time they were retrieved. Prices at other retailers are checked by us, less often. Prices and stock can change at any time, so always check the retailer's price before you buy.
Our review
igadgitz's Xtra torch charges its small built-in battery from a solar panel or a hand crank, so it never needs batteries buying or a socket to recharge. That makes it a reliable last-resort light for a car, a shed or a kitchen drawer. The price of that independence is brightness: igadgitz rates it at no more than 8 lumens.
What it is
A compact plastic torch with three LEDs and three settings, low, high and an emergency flash, powered by a built-in 80 mAh nickel-metal hydride battery. You charge it by turning the folding crank or by leaving the solar panel in daylight. igadgitz gives the size as 14.7 by 6.2 by 4.5 cm and the weight as 176 g, and says it is waterproof to 5 m. Its own product title carries a five-year warranty.
There are no other batteries to fit and no USB socket, so there is nothing to lose and nothing to go out of date in a drawer.
What it does well
On igadgitz's figures, one minute of cranking is good for 60 to 110 minutes of light, while an hour of direct sunlight gives 90 to 140 minutes. The ranges reflect the setting you use: low lasts longest. From a full charge, the battery gives up to about four hours.
That combination is what makes it useful in a long power cut. A rechargeable torch eventually goes flat; a battery torch needs spares. This one can be brought back by hand at any hour, and a few minutes of winding before bed covers a night of trips to the bathroom or the fuse box. Waterproofing to 5 m also means it shrugs off rain, a puddle or a dropped bucket.
The limits
Eight lumens is dim. It is enough to read a meter, find a path or check on a child, but lanterns meant to light a room are rated in the hundreds of lumens. The 80 mAh battery is also too small to charge anything else, so it is not a phone charger, and there is no published IP rating behind the 5 m claim.
Solar charging is slower in a British winter than the sunlight figure suggests. Treat the panel as a top-up on a windowsill and the crank as the main way to charge it.
How it compares
On our torches and radios comparison, the Power Plus Shark is the nearest rival: also wound by hand, with a brighter 1 W LED, waterproofing claimed to 10 m and an emergency phone output, but no solar panel. The Duronic Hurricane adds a lantern mode and a 32-lumen listing rating. For a main light in a power cut, a battery or rechargeable lantern from our lantern page is far brighter, and this torch makes the sensible backup alongside it.
Our verdict
The government's Be Ready checklist asks for a torch and spare batteries; this one does away with the batteries. Buy it as the torch that will still work when everything else is flat: in the car door pocket, the under-stairs cupboard or a grab bag. Don't buy it as your only light, because it is too dim to live by for more than a night or two.
A researched review, built from the maker's specs, manual and UK listings; facts checked 2 Nov 2026. Sources: igadgitz: Xtra waterproof solar and hand-crank torch (U4456); GOV.UK Be Ready: emergency checklist.
Who shouldn't buy this
Don't buy it if you want a torch bright enough to work by — a battery or rechargeable torch is many times brighter, so keep this one as the backup.
Key specs
| Type | Solar and hand-crank LED torch (3 LEDs) |
| Brightness | 8 lm |
| Power | Hand crank + solar panel; built-in 80mAh NiMH battery, no other batteries |
This is a Researched review: we haven't used this product. We check every specification against at least two independent sources, re-check the UK price on a schedule where we can track it automatically, and say plainly who it isn't for. Commissions never change a rating.
Questions
How long does the igadgitz Xtra torch run after winding?
igadgitz says one minute of cranking gives 60 to 110 minutes of light, depending on the setting. A full battery gives up to about four hours.
Does the solar panel charge it in winter?
It will, but more slowly. igadgitz's figure of 90 to 140 minutes of light per hour of sunlight assumes direct sun, which is scarce in a UK winter. Use the crank as the main way to charge it.
Can the igadgitz Xtra charge my phone?
No. It has a small 80 mAh battery and no USB output. For phone charging in a power cut, keep a charged power bank.
Is it waterproof?
igadgitz says it is waterproof to 5 m, though it publishes no IP rating. It will cope with rain and being dropped in water.
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