I've used both red and green lasers outdoors quite a bit, especially when aligning outdoor structures or checking wall straightness. Honestly, green lasers do seem easier to spot in bright daylight. Red ones can fade out pretty quickly if it's sunny, forcing you to squint or shade the area. Green lasers aren't perfect either, but they're noticeably brighter and clearer. If accuracy outdoors matters to you, I'd definitely lean toward green—just make sure you have spare batteries handy, because they drain faster.
Have you noticed any difference in battery life between brands? I'm thinking of grabbing a green laser for my deck project, but I don't wanna be swapping batteries every hour...
"Have you noticed any difference in battery life between brands? I'm thinking of grabbing a green laser for my deck project, but I don't wanna be swapping batteries every hour..."
Totally get the battery anxiety—nothing worse than being mid-project and having your tools die on you. From my experience, brand definitely matters, but more than that, it's about the type of batteries they use. I've found lithium-ion batteries to be way more reliable than the older NiCad ones. I picked up a green laser level last summer for redoing my patio and was pleasantly surprised how long it lasted... easily got through a full day's work without needing a swap.
Have you checked if the laser you're eyeing has rechargeable packs or just regular batteries? Rechargeables can save you a ton of hassle and downtime. Either way, don't stress too much—once you get going with the laser, you'll wonder how you ever managed without one. Your deck project's gonna turn out great, I'm sure of it.
I haven't noticed huge differences between brands, but battery type definitely matters. I grabbed a cheaper green laser for framing some walls in my basement, and it chewed through AA batteries like candy... super annoying. Switched to one with rechargeable lithium-ion packs, and it's been night and day. Easily lasts through a full afternoon of work without stressing about battery swaps. Honestly, rechargeable is the way to go—saves money and sanity in the long run.
