This content was originally published on OldHouseOnline.com and has been republished here as part of a merger between our two businesses. All copy is presented here as it originally appeared there.
Flashlights serve many purposes, and they are an essential piece of equipment in any household. If you are in the market to get one of the top-rated flashlights , this guide is for you. A flashlight provides quick illumination, and you should regard it as a necessary tool for everybody. Much brighter than simple reflector lights, flashlights are generally helpful for multiple scenarios. Whether you are trying to get work done in the garage, fix a particular spot in the house, navigate a power outage, search for a lost item, or explore the outdoors under the full moon, a flashlight can always come in handy.
A flashlight is very versatile, providing you with the night vision you need. You’ll want to purchase one that will help you perform tasks seamlessly. This guide will help you find the best flashlight, and we have also provided you with a buying guide to help make the perfect purchase decision.
Highest-Rated Flashlights
GearLight Flashlight
– Best Overall
This flashlight is perfect for people who love exploring the outdoors. It is designed to light up vast areas or focus on distant targets. It is also built with a wide-to-narrow beam zoom that allows you to control the lighting focus. Its bright light and hardy design boost it up to the top spot on our list as the best flashlight overall.
Key Features
The GearLight flashlight is 10x brighter than regular bulb lights, and it is designed to light up objects to 1,000 feet away. It utilizes three new batteries of the AAA variety, and it comes with five lighting modes. In addition, the flashlight has a great waterproof rating and is built to function under the harshest weather conditions. The package includes two GearLight flashlights, two AAA battery holders, two battery tubes, two lanyards, two holsters, and one user manual. With two lights and excellent light output, your illumination will increase two times over.
Pros
- It is very bright
- The package contains 2 of everything
- It is compact and easy to operate
Cons
- The runtime could be longer
Vont Flashlight
– Runner Up
This LED flashlight is built for people who need a product that can withstand harsh use. The flashlight is designed to stay solid regardless of external conditions. It is also perfect for mountain climbing, hiking, and other outdoor activities.
Key Features
The Vont Flashlight is built for both strength and durability. The LED lights have a life span of 20,000 hours, and the aluminum body is built to withstand all kinds of conditions. It is designed with five tactical light settings, and it has a fully adjustable beam width. It utilizes three AAA batteries, and you get two of these fantastic flashlights when you make a purchase.
Pros
- It is built with a robust and rugged exterior
- The flashlight is lightweight and easy to carry
- It is made with a no-slip grip design
Cons
- It doesn’t come with the required AAA batteries
PeakPlus Flashlight
– Honorable Mention
This LED flashlight is designed for people who want a comfortable product. The flashlight comes with multiple accessories, including a carry case that allows you to move the product around quickly. This rechargable flashlight is also designed to fit in your pocket, and you can access it anytime.
Key Features
The PeakPlus flashlight is considered the perfect gift for friends who love exploring the outdoors. It contains a LED flashlight, one rechargeable battery, one battery charger, one carry case, one AAA battery holder, and a user manual. The flashlight requires three new batteries of the AAA variety. The light output is 10x brighter than regular incandescent light. In addition, it is designed with five lighting modes and a zoom function.
Pros
- The package is uniquely designed for easy transportation
- This flashlight is waterproof and abrasion-resistant
- It is ideally suited as a gift
Cons
- It doesn’t utilize a micro-USB cable
Coast Rechargeable Flashlight
– Most Convenient
The Coast Rechargeable Flashlight will fulfill all your flashlight needs, whether you’re looking through your basement or trying to fix a household issue. The slide-focusing lens provides two beams in one light to produce maximum brightness for you. This powerful light can produce over 2100 lumens and reach an incredible distance of 220 meters. It’s battery-powered, with an included lithium-ion battery so it can work for months on end, not to mention it’s rechargeable to quickly juice it up before a storm or power outage.
It’s super compact, measuring almost 6 inches, which means it can fit into small spaces and isn’t too heavy for younger kids to use. The LED light is environmentally friendly and can last longer than most lights, making this a truly durable, reliable flashlight for your family.
Pros
- 2-in-1 beam
- Can be powered in different ways
- Super compact
Cons
- No function to remember last brightness mode
Anker Flashlight
– Most Reliable
This flashlight is perfect for people looking for an affordable, high-quality product. It is designed to light up distant targets, and it lasts up to 6 hours. It is also strong enough to withstand harsh treatment, which makes it perfect for the outdoors.
Key Features
The Anker flashlight is designed to illuminate whenever you put it on fully. It is designed with a 900-lumen (max) Cree LED light that covers over 200 meters, and it comes with five tactical brightness settings. This Anker model lasts up to six hours, and it is a rechargeable flashlight with a micro-USB cable. In addition, the product is water-resistant, and it comes with a wrist strap for easy carrying.
Pros
- It is designed with super bright LED lights
- It has a fast recharge time
- It is sturdy and durable
Cons
- It doesn’t come with a 1A adapter
WUBEN Flashlight
– Also Consider
This flashlight is built for people who like to charge their equipment comfortably. It is designed with a USB port, and it comes with a micro-USB cable so you can charge the flashlight on the go. Thanks to the charging port, you never have to worry about it going off during any emergency.
Key Features
The WUBEN flashlight is built with a high-efficiency OSRAM P9 LED that gives out 1200 lumens and covers up to 200 meters. The flashlight has five light output modes, and it comes with a rechargeable 2600mAh 18650 Li-ion battery. The flashlight is also compatible with CR123A batteries, and it is recharged with a micro-USB cable. The body of this equipment is made from aluminum which makes it strong and durable.
Pros
- It is compact and easy to carry
- This flashlight has a great waterproof rating
- It is very bright
Cons
- It doesn’t have a zoom feature
Eveready Flashlight
– Best for Emergencies
This flashlight is perfect for people who want equipment ready to go in case of a blackout or an emergency. The product is designed with a long runtime, and it is the perfect flashlight to have during an emergency. Beside its beam width and far beam distance, it is easy to handle and operate.
Key Features
The Eveready Flashlight comes with a robust package that contains two flashlights and four AA batteries. It is designed with an extended runtime of 30 hours, and the efficient LED light shines 5x brighter than regular LED lights. It is also very easy to hold thanks to the ribbed, non-slip grip around the flashlight. Essentially, this product is a basic flashlight for emergency purposes.
Pros
- The flashlight has a long runtime
- It is easy to handle and operate
- It is perfect for emergencies
Cons
- The flashlight could be brighter
BINWO Flashlight
– Best Focus
This flashlight is designed for people looking for a flashlight that can work perfectly outdoors. It is built to survive harsh weather conditions, and it is made with a waterproof exterior. In addition, this flashlight is sturdy and is designed for durability.
Key Features
The BINWO flashlight comes with an S2000 high lumen flashlight LED bulb designed to illuminate up to 200 meters. This light output is powered by a CREE XML T6 LED chip which allows for multiple adjustments. The flashlight has five tactical settings, and it comes with a super bright zoomable focus. The body of this product is made with a high-quality aluminum alloy which makes it perfectly built for adverse conditions.
Pros
- This flashlight is easy to control
- It is built to withstand harsh conditions
- The flashlight provides for a wide range of illumination
Cons
- It doesn’t come with batteries
Buying Guide to the Top Flashlights
Flashlights happen to be one of the few pieces of household equipment that comes in handy for various tasks. Their general purpose is to shine light into dimly lit areas during hands on tasks. Therefore, it is important that you have at least one flashlight, and you should be ready to access it within a moment’s notice. If you are planning to buy a flashlight, this guide has provided you with some of the top products on the market. However, you would need more information to make the right purchase decision and get the most effective flashlight for your home.
What Are the Different Types of Flashlights?
LED flashlights
LED flashlights are regarded as the best and the most popular kind of flashlights available today. They are made with LED light bulbs which are designed for strength and durability. LED flashlights are great for camping trips and outdoor exploration. LED flashlights also cost less than other types of flashlights.
Incandescent bulb flashlights
Incandescent flashlights are known for being affordable. The incandescent flashlight is made with strong, rugged exteriors, and you can take it with you when exploring the outdoors. Incandescent flashlights are mostly manufactured with white lights, but they sometimes come in multiple colors. The major disadvantage of incandescent bulbs is that they cannot be trusted to stay durable over time.
Solar-powered flashlights
If you are looking to get a flashlight that is both effective and environmentally friendly, you should get a solar-powered flashlight. This type of flashlight is produced with a solar panel (or solar panel charger), and the product functions effectively when properly charged. Solar-powered flashlights are also very cost-effective and can improve energy efficiency. However, they give off less brightness than other flashlights, and they have low runtime.
Headlamp flashlights
As the name suggests, headlamp flashlights are worn on the head. This type of flashlight is mostly utilized by outdoor explorers who love to tour the wilds of nature at night. However, they are also perfect for the handyman who has to get work done with both hands.
Tactical flashlights
Military men and law enforcement agents use tactical flashlights. They are very bright, and they produce more lumens than other types of flashlights. Firefighters, rescue officers, and other public safety officials often use a tactical flashlight. This variety is also commonly used by those who need to communicate using Morse code through beams of light. If you need a simple flashlight for everyday household tasks, it may not be prudent to consider tactical flashlights.
Did you know that you can utilize a flashlight for self defense in an emergency? Take a look at this video from The Modern Defender to see how:
What Are the Factors To Consider Before Buying Flashlights?
Brightness
The brightness of the flashlight you’re buying is specified in lumens. This factor is the most important feature in any flashlight because the higher the lumens, the greater the flashlight’s reach. Therefore, it would be best if you always bought a flashlight with higher lumen output.
Battery type
The three main battery types include disposable batteries, renewable batteries, and rechargeable batteries. Flashlights with disposable batteries should be used when you are outdoors with no place to charge your equipment. Rechargeable battery flashlights, often coming with a USB port, are best for household use. Renewable battery flashlights are best for emergency kits.
Runtime
Runtime indicates how long a flashlight can last before it starts to reduce in brightness and eventually dies. Runtime depends on several factors, and the most important one is the battery. Flashlights with stronger batteries would often have a longer runtime than those with weaker batteries.
Size
Size matters when it comes to flashlights. Larger flashlights often mean that larger batteries which would allow for a longer runtime. However, if you are looking for something that can fit into your hand, then a high-quality portable flashlight will do the trick. You would be happy to know that the runtime difference between larger flashlights and smaller ones is not great.
Bulb type
When you want to purchase any flashlight, you should note the bulb used in manufacturing the product. The best kind of light bulb is the LED light bulb. This type of light bulb is durable, and it is energy-efficient. You could also opt for flashlights with incandescent bulbs, but you should expect a lesser runtime.
What Are the Benefits of Rechargeable Flashlights?
Battery
Flashlights that utilize rechargeable lithium batteries give out more lumens than the ones that use regular alkaline batteries. This is because the batteries are designed for high-drain devices like phones, and you can be sure your flashlight will be much brighter once it is fully charged.
It saves cost
Even though flashlights that are rechargeable are more expensive, they can help you save money over time. When you use flashlights that utilize alkaline batteries, you would have to change those batteries periodically, and you can be sure that the cost will eventually add up.
Environmentally friendly
Batteries are chemical substances, and their waste harms the planet. However, when you use rechargeable models, you are doing humanity a favor.
How Much Does a Flashlight Cost?
The price of a flashlight can depend on several factors ranging from brand to lumen output, bulb type, and body structure. However, most flashlights are priced between $10 and $200. The more sophisticated the flashlight, the more expensive it will be.
Flashlights should be regarded as a necessity in a household because of the importance of their function. Bringing light output into your environment at a moment’s notice gives you a certain confidence, and you should make sure you get the greatest flashlight you can afford. We have outlined some of the top products on the market, and we are convinced some of them will be well-suited to your needs.
People Also Asked
Q: How long does a LED flashlight last?
A: LED bulbs are some of the most efficient bulbs available today, and that is why you find them in most flashlights. They can last up to 100,000 hours of usage time before you finally have to replace them.
Q: What type of battery is best for flashlights?
A: The best battery for flashlights is the 18650 rechargeable Li-ion battery. This battery gives off strong power, and it is a popular battery source for rechargeable flashlights.
Q: What is the average runtime of a flashlight?
A: If you switch on your flashlight in a low-lumen mode, it should last 20 to 50 hours. If it is in a high-lumen mode, it can last 2 to 8 hours. Of course, all of these are subject to the make and brand of the flashlight in question.
