According to Greg Atwell, President of BrightGuy, Inc., flashlight brightness is one of the top considerations but so is how long the flashlight can operate. “When it comes to the brightness of a flashlight, I also like to consider runtime,” says Atwell. “Assuming two flashlights use the same battery type, a brighter flashlight will have a shorter runtime. A flashlight with an output of 500-1000 lumens will offer a nice combination of brightness and runtime.” We researched dozens of flashlights, evaluating brightness, durability, battery life, and weight. Our best overall pick, the Anker Rechargeable Bolder LC40 Flashlight, has a long battery life, is lightweight yet durable, and has a water and dust-resistant design. Here are the best flashlights. The Anker Rechargeable Bolder LC40 Flashlight earns our top spot because of its well-rounded portable power. It packs impressive battery life and 400-lumen lighting power into a compact, sturdy package. Our tester loved the flashlight’s comfortable grip and memory mode that automatically turns it to its last-used lighting mode. While this flashlight takes six hours to charge fully, it lasts up to 20 hours on medium mode. Unfortunately, you’ll have to provide your own 5-volt adapter required for charging. The rechargeable battery is also not replaceable, but it does have a 50,000-hour lifespan. Luckily, the battery isn’t the only thing built to last. The aluminum case is strong enough to withstand drops, is water- and dust-resistant, and can tolerate cold temperatures as low as 14 degrees. The flashlight has High, Medium, Low, Strobe, and SOS light modes. A single button press is enough to turn the flashlight on and switch the modes, but you need to hold the button down to turn it off. Beyond those five settings, the flashlight doesn’t have many extra features, which is ideal if you’re looking for a simple flashlight with straightforward and easy-to-use controls. Price at time of publish: $30 Power Source: Rechargeable battery | Light Type: LED | Brightness: 400 lumens | Dimensions: 5.04 x 1.3 x 1.3 inches | Weight: 4.3 ounces The flashlight has five different light modes: High, Medium, Low, Strobe, and SOS. The Strobe mode will flash the light faster, while the SOS mode will flash at a slower pace. While the lumen output is lower than other models, you also can zoom in and focus your light, which will produce a narrow spotlight that can stretch out up to 656 feet (200 meters). You can also zoom out and widely spread your light over a greater surface area. The S1000 is your model if you’re looking for a durable, budget-friendly, and feature-packed flashlight for your next outdoor adventure. However, it would be wise to keep a spare set of batteries for longer excursions since users note that the battery can deplete quickly. Power Source: Three AAA batteries or one 18650 battery | Light Type: LED | Brightness: Not listed | Dimensions: 5.35 x 1.33 x 1.33 inches | Weight: 5.3 ounces When fully charged, it has a battery life of six hours. When it’s time to recharge, you have to unscrew the tail cap to access the USB port. While this may seem like a hassle, it’s necessary to keep the flashlight water-resistant. Even with an aluminum body, it weighs in at over 1 pound. If you’re looking for a flashlight for leisurely night walks or retrieving something from basement storage, you may want to opt for something lighter. Price at time of publish: $60 Power Source: Rechargeable battery | Light Type: LED | Brightness: 1300 lumens | Dimensions: 7.09 x 2.36 x 2.36 | Weight: 1.05 pounds Choosing between lighting modes is easy, thanks to the responsive tactical tail switch, and so is staying aware of the battery life. A flashing indicator illuminates rapidly to let you know when the internal rechargeable battery needs a jolt. Another plus is that the provided charging cable is magnetic and offers easy placement at the base of the device. While all of this functionality and ruggedness comes at a more premium cost and heavier overall weight than alternatives, this could be a high-performing flashlight to keep in your emergency bag. Price at time of publish: $120 It’s effective and efficient, too. It requires only one AAA battery and has two different brightness modes, with the lowest brightness at 5 lumens and the highest brightness jumping up to 180 lumens. On High mode, the battery lasts only 21 minutes. However, the battery will last for 16 hours while operating on Low mode. Fortunately, for everyday use, the low mode should be sufficient. While other flashlights offer additional lighting modes and longer battery life, it’s hard to beat the portability of the Olight I3T. Price at time of publish: $20 Power Source: One AAA battery | Light Type: LED | Brightness: 180 lumens | Dimensions: 3.5 x 0.59 x 0.59 inches | Weight: 1.4 ounces Monitoring your flashlight is a breeze, thanks to the brightness level and battery life gauges on the rotary knob. You can expect up to 15 days of use before needing to recharge this flashlight via the included USB magnetic cable. You may find this flashlight’s brightness and additional functions to be more than you need. However, the Seeker 3 Pro is ideal if you want a user-friendly, rugged model with a lot of built-in features. Price at time of publish: $140 Power Source: Rechargeable battery | Light Type: LED | Brightness: 4200 lumens | Dimensions: 5.2 x 1.38 x 1.1 inches | Weight: 7.06 ounces In addition to the light, durable build, the aircraft-grade aluminum body has a knurled finish so it won’t slip from your grip, and the built-in overheat protection prevents it from getting hot to the touch. It’s a mini flashlight, however, so it will not provide you with the same lighting power as a full-sized option. Also, keep in mind that the light defaults to the lowest brightness setting upon turning it on. However, its compact size, lightweight design, and adjustable pocket clip make it easy to take with you anywhere. Price at time of publish: $31 Power Source: One AA battery | Light Type: LED | Brightness: 160 lumens | Dimensions: 3.06 x 0.75 x 0.69 inches | Weight: 1.8 ounces The uniform beam doesn’t flicker and won’t distort colors. You can rotate the head 90 degrees to be horizontal or vertical. The light runs on two CR2032 button batteries and gives up to 4 hours of working time. Unfortunately, the on/off button, located on the clip, can be difficult to find at first. It’s also very small, and it won’t produce the level of bright light you may desire for heavier-duty, rugged outdoor tasks. Power Source: Battery | Light Type: LED | Brightness: 30 lumens | Dimensions: 2 x 2,2 x 0.36 inches | Weight: 1.13 ounces One of the most common measures of light output is brightness in lumens. The more lumens, the brighter the beam. A compact flashlight with 100 lumens or less will get the job done for a flashlight to illuminate items nearby. But if you want a powerful flashlight to light up your path at night or illuminate a large area, look for 500 to 1000 lumens or more. How far that light reaches is referred to as beam distance. “When a buyer is looking for a flashlight, they should consider how it will be used. As an example, if the use is to walk your dog, it might be better to have a flashlight with a broader beam for wide illumination of your path,” explains Atwell. “Generally, a flashlight that offers a long beam range will offer less peripheral light. The flashlight needs to concentrate more of the beam onto a small point to get a long beam range. When the light beam is focused, it offers less peripheral light.”
Battery Life
Battery life is important to consider for reliable use. If you opt for a flashlight that operates on batteries, you won’t have to worry about recharging the model. However, you will need to replace the batteries at some point. Models with a rechargeable internal battery may require recharging after a couple of hours or less, especially on brighter, more battery-heavy modes. Some rechargeable units offer extended battery life on the lowest light settings or the option to use another backup battery option to ensure the flashlight always has sufficient power.
Weight
If you’re looking for a flashlight that you’ll frequently carry with you while backpacking, hiking, or camping, you may want to look for a powerful yet lightweight everyday carry model that weighs a few ounces. Many are pocket-sized and feature clips for easier carrying. If you’re looking for the most durable and long-lasting flashlight, heftier tactical flashlights could be the better option. These models can weigh a pound or more but come with heavy-duty metal housing and longer-lasting batteries.
Why Trust The Spruce?
This piece was written by Sarah Toscano, a commerce writer specializing in smart home and home tech content for The Spruce. She scoured scores of customer reviews and discussion forums, watched dozens of video demonstrations, and meticulously analyzed each product’s specs to properly contribute to this article. Yoona Wagener, The Spruce’s smart home and technology commerce editor, offered additional reporting. She also consulted with Cliff Jacobson, an outdoor writer, consultant, and Distinguished Eagle Scout, and Greg Atwell, the President of BrightGuy, Inc., who offered insights into important buying considerations such as flashlight brightness, beam distance, and runtime.
