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A flashlight is a product that most people own but don’t really think about until they're left in the dark.
If you’re still relying on a cheap flashlight made of plastic that runs off of D batteries, you should know that there are much better options out there. And for those who just use their smartphone’s flashlight, I’m here to tell you that you'll be glad you invested in a proper flashlight and will wish you bought one sooner.
I’ve compared 30 different flashlights across flashlight enthusiast forums, Facebook groups, Reddit, and flashlight blogs to find the best models that flashlight fans and collectors stand by.
The Best Flashlights of 2022
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5
A Rechargeable General-Purpose Light
Sofirn V3 Super Bright Flashlight
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6
The One With Warning Lights
NEXTORCH Rechargeable Multi-Light Source Flashlight
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7
Best Search Light
ThruNite V2 LED Searchlight
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8
Dorcy 55 Lumen Floating Water Resistant LED Flashlight with Carabineer Clip, Purple (41-2508)
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What to Consider
If it’s been a while since you’ve shopped for a flashlight, it may be news to you that most flashlights are equipped with LED bulbs rather than miniature glass incandescent bulbs and a tungsten filament. What does that mean, exactly? Well, because LED bulbs are substantially more energy-efficient, you won’t have to change their batteries as frequently. More importantly, they are super bright. Here are a few key items you should consider when shopping for a LED flashlight:
Light Output
A flashlight’s light output is measured in lumens. It can range from a figure as small as 20 lumens — like what you’d use to read a book — or go as high as 3,500 lumens — which is in line with what and rescue squad would use.
This guide will help you better understand them, but generally speaking, 1–300 lumens will be sufficient for everyday tasks like nightly walks and camping, 300-950 lumens is appropriate for outdoor use, and 1,250–2,500 lumens is sufficient for hunting. It’s also worth mentioning that it takes four times the lumens for something to look “twice as bright.”
Beam Distance
This figure indicates how far the light will shine before the brightness diminishes. This term is also commonly referred to as “throw.” Flood, on the other hand, is the opposite. Rather than being illuminated hundreds of meters away, they illuminate the area around you. Fortunately, you don’t have to decide between the two, as there are plenty of options that have a good throw and a narrow beam with a flood.
IP Rating
IP is short for “ingress protection,” and it is a scale that illustrates how water- and dust-resistant a flashlight is. A rating of IPX4 means the flashlight can be sprayed or splashed, while a rating of IPX8 indicates that the flashlight can be submerged for up to 4 hours and still work afterward. Something with an IPX7 rating can be submerged for 30 minutes at a depth of 1 meter.
Whether you’re in search of a flashlight to keep in your vehicle’s glove compartment, one for your emergency kit, or even your jacket pocket, we’re confident you’ll find your next flashlight in this guide.
Pros
- Solid construction with a magnetic base
- Recharges over USB-C
Cons
- Switch can be hard to find
- Battery moves around slightly and makes noise
The Wurkkos FC11 flashlight produces an impressive amount of balanced light with excellent flood and throw to it. Jon M., a flashlight reviewer and blogger from Lincoln, Neb., said the FC11 “is a high-value combination, good emitter, (with) two solid UI choices, and a complete package deal.”
Despite its affordable price, it offers users a high CRI (light sources with a high CRI can better reveal the original colors of the object), a nice neutral tint that is neither cool blue nor warm yellow, and it packs USB-C charging — a feature that’s typically reserved for more expensive models.
Given its small, under-5-inch size and hard anodized aluminum body, it’s equally portable and durable and comes in a premium-looking semi-gloss black waterproof body. Compared to other options, the Wurkkos stretches your dollar further. It's a quality flashlight you can rely on thanks to a long-lasting battery and its bright but accurate light.
Key Specs
| Lumens | 1300 lumens |
|---|---|
| Battery Type | 3,000 mAh 18650 battery |
| Weight | 3.8 ounces |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
2
Best Budget Flashlight
LUMINTOP TOOL AA 2.0 Flashlight
2
Best Budget Flashlight
LUMINTOP TOOL AA 2.0 Flashlight
Pros
- Impressively long battery life
- Small and extremely portable
- Reversible pocket clip makes it double as a headlamp
Cons
- Six taps are needed to activate the strobe mode
- Can get warm on its highest brightness setting
With a price lower than the cost of a large pizza, this LUMINTOP flashlight is appealing to shoppers on a budget in search of a quality pocketable flashlight with low, medium, high, turbo, and strobe modes.
The tool flashlight offers better aesthetics and a more durable build than other options in its price range. It delivers an impressive output — especially if you opt for a 14500 battery over a AA one. It’s a great EDC light with a 2.5-day runtime for folks who don’t want to spend extra on a model that comes with a lithium battery.
Key Specs
| Lumens | 650 lumens |
|---|---|
| Battery Type | AA or 14500 lithium-ion batteries |
| Weight | 1.4 ounces |
| IP Rating | IP68 |
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Small and Durable
SKILHUNT V3 Pocket Flashlight
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Small and Durable
SKILHUNT V3 Pocket Flashlight
Pros
- Small size makes it ideal for everyday carry
- Convenient magnetic charging
- Has a magnet in its tailcap
Cons
- Side-mounted switch takes some getting used to
The M150 flashlight from SKILHUNT is a slim and sturdy everyday-carry flashlight that’s powered by a single AA battery or lithium-ion rechargeable 14500 battery. It offers users a high output and better-than-average color rendering. It also packs convenient features like a magnetic tail cap so you can temporarily mount it on metal objects to use it hands-free.
In their extensive review of the M150, Zak, a moderator at the Flashlight subreddit, called the flashlight “an ‘every day carry’ favorite,” and sang praises of its efficiency, its useful and comfortable ergonomics, and its easy-to-use magnetic charging cable.
Key Specs
| Lumens | 750 lumens |
|---|---|
| Battery Type | 14500 lithium-ion battery |
| Weight | 1.2 ounces |
| IP Rating | IPX-8 |
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4
Best Thrower
ACEBEAM 2.0 Tactical Flashlight
4
Best Thrower
ACEBEAM 2.0 Tactical Flashlight
Pros
- Tactical ring helps make it easier to hold
- Light can reach an impressive distance of 1,000-plus meters
- Large battery that can run for over a month (on low brightness)
Cons
- Turbo mode only runs for 2 minutes before it dims down
For those looking for a long-range flashlight that’ll come in handy for spotting wild animals you want to avoid, illuminating a forest, or unveiling unlit buoys while you’re on a boat at night, consider the AceBeam L19.
The flashlight has a claimed throw distance of a whopping 1,184 yards, making it one of the farthest-throwing tactical flights on the market. It’s made from aircraft-grade aluminum and sports a matte finish, but still weighs less than a pound.
It’s worth mentioning that the flashlight is a tad front-heavy, but overall, it feels great to hold, thanks to its gripped padding. It comes with a single 5,100 mAh battery that you can recharge with a USB-C cable.
Key Specs
| Lumens | 2,200 lumens |
|---|---|
| Battery Type | 21700 lithium-ion battery |
| Weight | 10 ounces |
| IP Rating | IP68 |
5
A Rechargeable General-Purpose Light
Sofirn V3 Super Bright Flashlight
5
A Rechargeable General-Purpose Light
Sofirn V3 Super Bright Flashlight
Pros
- Impressive 3,500 lumen output
- Has a moonlight mode (1 lumen of brightness)
Cons
- Edges of the flashlight can be sharp in some places
The Sofirn SP33 V3 is a premium-grade flashlight that delivers a long 9-hour battery life, an impressive throw distance (that’ll help you see past the length of an entire football field), and allows you to easily adjust its brightness settings. It’s a great flashlight to take on a camping trip, but it’ll work well for hikes, dog walking, and just keeping around the house for potential blackouts.
The SP33 is bulkier and heavier than most EDC flashlights, if you want a similar flashlight that’s smaller, more affordable, and easier to carry, consider Sofirn’s SC31 Pro flashlight.
Key Specs
| Lumens | 2,000 lumens |
|---|---|
| Battery Type | 18650 lithium-ion battery |
| Weight | 2.1 ounces |
| IP Rating | IPX8 |
6
The One With Warning Lights
NEXTORCH Rechargeable Multi-Light Source Flashlight
6
The One With Warning Lights
NEXTORCH Rechargeable Multi-Light Source Flashlight
Pros
- Adjustable brightness
- 9 hours of battery life (on medium brightness)
- Comes with a lanyard
Cons
- The two pieces that support the flashlight’s head are held together by plastic rather than metal
- It's easy to accidentally trigger the warning lights due to the position of the button
The NEXTORCH has a trick up its sleeve that sets it apart from other flashlights. In between its bezel and head you’ll find a full 360 degrees worth of red and blue strobe lights. If you want, you can cycle between the two or have them flash simultaneously for a more dramatic effect. Having these extra lights will give you some peace of mind since you’ll have a better marker to signal others of your location.
The flashlight recharges over USB-C, it offers 9 hours of battery life on its medium mode and an even more impressive 26 hours on its low mode. It’s backed by a 3-year warranty and is completely waterproof.
Key Specs
| Lumens | 1,300 lumens |
|---|---|
| Battery Type | 18650 lithium-ion battery |
| Weight | 6.2 ounces |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
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7
Best Search Light
ThruNite V2 LED Searchlight
7
Best Search Light
ThruNite V2 LED Searchlight
Pros
- Has a mind-blowing 2-kilometer throw distance
- Knurling is premium and makes the flashlight grippy and comfortable to hold which is nice given its larger-than-average size
- Comes with a shoulder strap
Cons
- Pricey
If you’ve seen the viral screenshot in which an Uber Eats customer shined a flashlight up in the sky so their lost driver could locate them, this flashlight from ThruNite is a lot like that model — but even better. It’s one of the strongest, brightest, and most reasonably priced thrower flashlights you can buy.
It’s also one of the few flashlights that have a 2-kilometer throw distance. Most flashlights this powerful don’t come with batteries, or a charger, or have slow shipping times. This one, on the other hand, comes ready right out of the box and can be on your doorstep in just a couple of days via Amazon.
As cool and impressive as its ultra-long throw distance is, the ThruNite is probably overkill for most users. We recommend this flashlight primarily for hunters and search and rescue squads. The other options in our guide would be a lot more practical for most people looking for a general-use light.
Key Specs
| Lumens | 4,848 lumens |
|---|---|
| Battery Type | 4 x 4000 mAh 21700-sized batteries |
| Weight | 22.9 ounces |
| IP Rating | IPX8 |
8
Dorcy 55 Lumen Floating Water Resistant LED Flashlight with Carabineer Clip, Purple (41-2508)
8
Dorcy 55 Lumen Floating Water Resistant LED Flashlight with Carabineer Clip, Purple (41-2508)
Now 15% Off
Brandon Carte
Senior Electronics Editor
Brandon Carte has been covering technology at BestProducts.com since 2017, where he's been writing about the latest gadgets, appliances, and scouring the internet for the products that make life easier. His reporting has been featured on , Good Housekeeping and USA Today. When he's not researching washing machines or testing robot vacuums, you can find him at concerts, swimming laps, or at the movies. He thinks smartphones are too big, prefers MP3s to Spotify, and misses his iPhone’s headphone jack.
