Ridgid 18V Hybrid Folding Panel Light Review

Ridgid 18V folding panel light
PTR Review
  • Pro Review 9.0

The Ridgid 18V Folding Panel Light will replace any moderately-sized shop light you'll want to use to illuminate your work area—and it will run off a battery or an extension.

Overall Score 9.0 (out of 10)

Ridgid’s 18V Hybrid Folding Panel Light Keeps You Working When The Sun Calls It A Night

Many contractors and tradesmen work in dark places like attics or crawlspaces. Sometimes, even outdoor construction comes to a halt once the sun sets for the night, regardless of how much work is left. In these cases, you need dependable light that will last until the job is done. That’s what the latest Ridgid 18V folding panel light aims to provide.


To see Clint’s review of the previous Ridgid 18V folding panel light, click “Next Page” below!

Ridgid 18V Hybrid Folding Panel Light: The Big Deal

The Ridgid R8698B is the brand’s brightest light to date. 65 LED chips work in unison to achieve an output of up to 3,500 lumens of clear white light. Ridgid tells us the color temperature is specifically tuned to provide visibility of fine details and accurate colors, unlike many yellow-tinted lights.

There are three fully-adjustable rotation options to achieve the best area lighting for the situation you’re in. The outside panels pivot 270° up and down, 225° in and out (open and close), and the base pivots 115° up and down.

Three brightness settings offer control over the light output. You can expect to get up to 14 hours of runtime on the lowest setting using an 18V 6.0Ah Max Output battery.


This light is also hybrid, so you can plug in an extension cord if you have convenient power access and don’t want to worry about a battery.

Additional Features

  • Carrying handle for easy transportation
  • Keyholes for mounting
  • Compatible with all Ridgid 18V batteries

Ridgid 18V Folding Panel Light Quick Comparison

R8694221B
Previous Model
R8698B
Updated Model
Output2500 Lumens3500 Lumens
Power Source18V Battery or AC18V Battery or AC
Max Runtime w/5Ah Battery14 hrs11 hrs, 40 min*
Panel PivotingSingle Axis (in/out)Dual Axis
Head PivotingSingle AxisSingle Axis
KeyholesYesYes
Tripod ThreadsYesYes
Carry HandleYesYes
*Current model runs 14 hours on a 6.0Ah Max Output battery

Ridgid 18V Hybrid Folding Panel Light Price

The Ridgid 18V Folding Panel Light retails for $139 but is on sale for $99 at the time of writing. Ridgid backs your purchase with a 3-year warranty. You can also register within 90 days for Ridgid’s Lifetime Service Agreement. Like all Ridgid tools, this light is exclusive to The Home Depot.

Specifications

  • Model: R8698B
  • Height: 12.87 in
  • Weight: 4.65 lbs
  • Bulb type: LED
  • Power source: Hybrid
  • Number of bulbs: 65

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Robert

I too recently noticed this panel light and was going to immediately purchase it because of it well laid features but I did not buy it because it is sold separate from its battery, and the charger for the battery is sold separately too. So this claim of $99 is not really true if one wants a cordless light to be taken in an attic or other darken confined area. The total costs are almost triple that advertised. If cordless use is not a priority then this would be a great buy.

Mike

How good is the color remdition?

Phil

Sorry but I scatter read and didn’t catch if the stand comes with the light .

John Warren

Where and when can you purchase it? Not on Ridgid site even.

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