Fenix Flashlights with Magnetic Clip
A magnetic clip puts the magnet on the side of the light instead of the tail, so it lies flat against a steel surface and aims along it rather than straight out. That suits under-hood work, the inside of a breaker panel or a run along a steel beam. It is a short list today. For more hands-free options, compare lights with a magnetic tailcap and lights with a magnetic base.
The LD12R: a small light with a side magnet
The LD12R is the pick for most people here. It is a compact 600-lumen light with a 186 m beam, and its rotary head switches between a main beam and a side flood, so you can stick it sideways to a steel panel and spread soft light across your work. It runs on the included ARB-L14-800 rechargeable cell or a single AA battery, and charges through a hidden USB-C port. The magnetic body clip also keeps it in a shirt or jacket pocket on the drive home.
When a side magnet beats a tail magnet
A tail magnet points the beam away from the surface it sticks to, which is ideal for lighting a space. A side magnet holds the light parallel to the surface, which is better for grazing light along a panel, under a dash or inside a cabinet. The WF11E, an AA-powered industrial light, offers both a magnetic tail and a magnetic clip. If neither fits your work, a headlamp is often the simplest hands-free answer; see our headlamps.
Fenix LD12R
Dual Light Sources Multipurpose Portable Flashlight
A compact 600-lumen flashlight with dual light sources and a magnetic body clip.
Fenix WF11E
Magnetic Intrinsically Safe Flashlight
A 200-lumen intrinsically safe flashlight with a magnetic tailcap and body clip plus a 185-meter beam.
Frequently asked questions
- Why are there only a few lights with a magnetic clip?
- Most Fenix designs put the magnet in the tailcap or the base rather than the clip. The LD12R and WF11E are the models that use a magnetic body clip. If you just want a light that sticks to steel, the magnetic tailcap and magnetic base pages offer a much wider choice of sizes and outputs.
- Does the LD12R work on regular AA batteries?
- Yes. It ships with an ARB-L14-800 rechargeable 14500 cell and also accepts a single AA, either Ni-MH or alkaline. Being able to drop in an AA makes it a sensible light for a vehicle kit or a cottage drawer where charging is not always convenient. Check the product page for output on each battery type.
- What can I do with a side-mounted magnet that a tail magnet cannot?
- Lay the light flat on a steel surface and the beam runs along it, so you can light the length of a panel, a shelf or an engine component from one end. On the LD12R, switching to the side flood with the rotary head turns it into a small area light while it hangs from the clip.
