Best Flashlights
Best General Purpose Flashlight
Best Tactical/Law Enforcement Flashlight
Best Rechargeable Flashlight
Best Mechanic Flashlight
Having the right flashlight can be a lifesaver (literally). In fact, it’s smart to grab more than one for multiple situations — keep one in the kitchen drawer at home, add one to your camping gear, or toss one into your vehicle for emergencies. If you want a flashlight with all the bells and whistles, you can spend several hundred dollars on a top-of-the-line model. But if you’re interested in something simple and efficient, there are plenty of affordable options, too.
We evaluated our favorite flashlights based on factors like price, durability, light output, weight, battery type and life, and more.
Your guide to choosing the best flashlight
The best flashlight for you depends on what you’re planning to use it for. If you’re looking for a flashlight to keep around the house in case the power goes out, a general-purpose, middle-of-the-road flashlight will work just fine. If you’re looking for a heavy-duty flashlight to use on camping trips, you might want to go with something more substantial.
Here are some key features to look for when evaluating flashlights.
Light performance
A light’s brightness is measured in lumens. This will tell you how intense the flashlight’s beam is. Have you ever used a light with a dimmer switch? When you adjust the switch, you’re toggling the light’s brightness. Typically, most people don’t need anything higher than 1,000 lumens.
But light output is only part of the brightness equation. The beam distance is the other major component, measuring how far the light can extend before the brightness fades away. Typically, beam distance will increase or decrease based on the brightness setting you have selected. If you’re planning to use the flashlight outdoors, beam distance is important for being able to see ahead.
Most modern flashlights use LED bulbs because they’re the most efficient type of light available. Not only do they last longer than incandescents, but they are also brighter and more resistant to impact.
Beam type
Differently shaped beams are suitable for different activities. General-purpose flashlights typically have a flood beam, meaning it evenly disperses light across a specified width. Spot beams condense the light into a smaller width, which enables the beam to travel a longer, skinnier distance.
Weight and size
Typically, bigger does not necessarily equal brighter. However, bigger flashlights do often have larger batteries, enabling them to run longer in between charges.
Aside from how they affect battery life, the size and weight are ultimately personal preferences. If you need your flashlight to be portable, you might prioritize a lighter model. If you do go with a heavier flashlight, choosing one with a handle can make transportation easier.
Battery
A flashlight is only as good as its power source. When it comes to batteries, you should consider both the type and the run time.
- Disposable batteries are easy to find and replace. Most flashlights take AAA or AA batteries. For their weight, they’re a pretty powerful source of energy.
- Rechargeable batteries are typically lithium-ion. Though they’re more expensive, you won’t have to replace the batteries and can recharge your flashlight using a variety of energy sources. Some flashlights can even be charged using solar panels or hand cranks, which are ideal to have around in case of emergency.
The second consideration about batteries is run time. Most flashlights will advertise a specified run time in hours, which tells you how long the battery will last when fully charged.
Durability
Many activities that require a flashlight are accident-prone. If you’re walking around in the dark, chances are you’ll drop your flashlight or bump into something at some point. You want a flashlight that’s not going to shatter upon impact and leave you in the dark.
Typically, impact resistance is measured by dropping the flashlight onto concrete from specific distances. Flashlights will usually advertise a number of meters from which they can be dropped without breaking.
Water resistance is another important measure of durability, especially if you plan to use the flashlight outdoors. If this is important to you, look for a flashlight that’s protected from both splashes and submersion.
Best General Purpose Flashlight
This flashlight is a jack of all trades, perfect for household use and beyond. The light delivers up to 1,200 lumens at its brightest, which is pretty impressive for a flashlight that’s less than eight inches long. Thanks to ultra-powerful LED bulbs, the flashlight is 20 times brighter than old-school incandescent models.
The ultra-wide beam feature is a nice feature, allowing you to illuminate vast spaces. But the beam width is adjustable, so you can also compress the beam to focus on objects up to 1,000 feet away. The adjustable beam is a huge plus because it eliminates the need for multiple flashlights.
The Gearlight S2000 gets kudos for durability too. It’s made of all-weather aluminum, so you can use it in the rain or snow without worrying about rust. In fact, it can even survive being temporarily submerged in water. In terms of impact resistance, this flashlight can withstand a drop of up to ten feet.
Best Tactical/Law Enforcement Flashlight
This set of two is both durable and lightweight, perfect activities that require agility. The mini size allows the flashlight to fit in most pockets, while the wrist strap adds an element of security. It also features a push-button tail switch, which makes it easier for one-handed operation.
The light features five modes you can toggle between: high, medium, low, strobe, and SOS. You can also rotate the head of the flashlight to adjust the beam width from a wider flood beam to an ultra-concentrated spot beam.
The flashlight doesn’t skimp on durability either. It’s made of high-quality aluminum alloy that’s designed to last through years of daily use. It’s designed to be skid-proof and is water-resistant for multiple outdoor uses and weather conditions. If you’re looking for a small but mighty flashlight, this is a great match. And the fact that you get two is a nice touch for anyone who likes to keep a backup.
Best Rechargeable Flashlight
Sometimes, energy efficiency comes at the expense of performance. That’s not the case with this flashlight set. The LED-powered bulbs are capable of switching between four modes and emitting 1,000 lumens, which is sufficient even for most outdoor uses. You can simply stretch the lamp head to focus the beam or widen it to a floodlight setting.
Aside from the light output, this flashlight comes with several special features that set it apart. First, the fact that it also features a sidelight. Sidelights can help when you’re trying to examine an area from multiple angles. Another unique feature is the magnetic tail. If you’d like to go hands-free, simply place the back end of the flashlight against any iron surface. For stationary jobs like automotive repairs, this is a huge advantage.
Best of all, it comes with a USB cable that you can plug into any USB port and completely charge your flashlight battery in three hours. And when it’s fully charged, the flashlight can provide up to ten hours of light while in low mode.
Best Mechanic Flashlight
If you’re working on a two-hand task, traditional lighting options are either holding the flashlight in your mouth or placing it nearby and relying on indirect light. Neither of these is ideal, which is what this specialized flashlight solves for.
The base is magnetic and features a hook, allowing the light to be affixed to any surface and illuminate your workstation while you remain hands-free. It rotates 270 degrees so you can get direct light in a variety of setups. Once you’ve got the light in the correct position, you can choose from 5 modes: high brightness, medium brightness, front light, red warning, and strobe red.
It’s made of hard rubber that’s sweat-proof and slip-proof. Plus, the head is made of rust-resistant aluminum that disperses heat evenly and prolongs the life of the light. When you’re done, it folds into a compact shape. Charge it up using the included USB cable and any power source, including a laptop, power bank or AC adapter.