13 Best Flashlights [Tested and Reviewed]

The ThruNite Archer 2A V3 is a battery-operated flashlight with a brightness of 500 lumens. One of its neat features is that it can remember the last used lighting mode before turning off, allowing you to turn it back on at the same brightness level. When we tested its brightness, we found the brightness in the center measured 367 lux, which is suitable for everyday use.

It illuminated an area of approximately 83 square feet, providing enough light to cover a dining table during a power outage or illuminate the inside of a tent when camping. Battery life is fairly good, lasting for 21 hours and 54 minutes during testing. While this may not be enough for a power outage of several days, it is sufficient for a flashlight to keep in the home or to use during camping trips.

The flashlight has a simple design that lets you turn it on and off with just the press of a button. While it doesn’t have adjustable focus, it does have a handy button that lets you choose from four levels of brightness. Though slightly longer than some other models, it fits comfortably in your palm and is lightweight, making it easy to carry.

Function-wise, it has an impressive IPX8 waterproof rating, so it’s safe to use around water, like in the kitchen or bathroom. It also includes a beacon mode and intermittent mode, so not only is it a great option for work around the home, but for outdoor activities like hiking and mountain climbing as well.

Streamlight's Stylus Pro is a flashlight that can illuminate up to 100 lumens. One standout feature is its battery indicator, which starts to blink when it's time to replace the battery.

In our brightness test, the central illuminance recorded was 114 lux, which is more than enough to light up your immediate surroundings. The area it can illuminate is around 66 square feet, making it sufficient enough for dining during a power outage or spending time inside a tent while camping.

The battery life is impressive, lasting for 152 hours and 12 minutes from the start of our test. It can be used for over six days straight, making it not only ideal for extended power outages but also convenient for work use by minimizing battery replacements.

Switching it on and off is a breeze with a single press. However, the inability to adjust the beam range or brightness level is a significant downside. It can be cumbersome to use in situations where you need varying levels of light. Additionally, although not part of our formal testing, the button is quite stiff, requiring a bit of force to press.

The flashlight is incredibly slim and lightweight, making it super easy to carry around. You can slip it into a bag or your pocket comfortably. With a dust and water resistance rating of IPX4, it's not ideal for sandy or dusty environments but can withstand light rain or splashes. It also comes with a beacon mode, handy for sending out SOS signals in emergencies.

Rayovac's DIY3AAA-BE is a flashlight that can shine up to 300 lumens. It has a sturdy design with materials that excel in shatter resistance and shock absorption, and it is capable of withstanding a fall from up to 30 feet.

The flashlight's illuminance from the center measured in at 1601 lux in our brightness test. It can illuminate an area of around 66 square feet, enough for dining during a blackout or making your tent cozy while camping.

The battery life is solid, clocking in at 103 hours and three minutes. It can last for over four days, so it’s reliable during extensive power outages and reducing the frequency of battery changes if you're using it for work.

While you can't adjust the beam range, you can change the light intensity in two steps. However, to turn it off, you have to cycle through high, low, and off settings, which can be a bit tedious.

It's slightly larger than the palm of your hand and a bit heavy for extended use, affecting its portability score. It also lacks features like strobing or blinking, making it less versatile for outdoor use. However, with a water and dust resistance rating of IP67, it is highly durable in wet or dusty conditions.

The Coast Polysteel 600 R is a flashlight that can illuminate up to a staggering 740 lumens. One of its key features is that it comes with a battery, so you can use it right out of the box.

In terms of brightness, it recorded an incredibly bright central illuminance of 3500 lux. It can illuminate an area of about 209 square feet, making it more than sufficient for lighting up a dining table during a power outage or even an entire small room like a bedroom or study.

The battery lasted for 84 hours and 52 minutes in our tests, so you can use it for over three days straight. This makes it ideal for major power outages and most outdoor activities like hiking or camping without the need for spare batteries.

A single press of the button turns it on or off, saving you the hassle of multiple clicks. It also offers a wide range of beam and brightness adjustments, including three levels of brightness, allowing you to tailor the light to your needs and conserve battery life. However, a notable downside was the part that needs to be twisted for beam adjustment was very stiff.

Due to its large size and weight, it's not the most portable option. You'll likely need to carry it in a bag rather than a pocket. Its dust and water resistance rating is IP54, making it fairly resilient against splashes of water and dust. It also features a beacon mode, useful for sending SOS signals in emergencies.

This LE flashlight is a battery-operated model with an output of 140 lumens and a beam that reaches up to 492 feet. The brightness is a modest 69 lux at the center. It’s able to illuminate an area of about 44 square feet, which is a bit low compared to other models. However, it does provide enough light for indoor use, such as lighting up a basement or in case of a power outage.

Its standout feature is the battery life. During testing, the flashlight remained lit for 98 hours and 15 minutes, enough for continuous use of over four days. This makes it suitable for both outdoor activities and disaster situations. Although there is no brightness control, the focus can be easily adjusted by sliding the flashlight's head. Additionally, it can be turned on and off with a single button press, making it user-friendly.

The flashlight is small enough to fit in your palm, and its lightweight design allows for easy portability without adding bulk to your pocket. In terms of functionality, it has an IP44 dust and water resistance rating, protecting it somewhat from damage due to rain, water droplets, sand, or dust. It doesn't have a beacon or strobe mode, but its impressive battery life makes it an excellent choice for those who need a flashlight for indoor use or to use for extended periods.

The GearLight TAC LED is a battery-operated flashlight that puts out 1,040 lumens. Made from military-grade aluminum, it's designed to withstand falls from up to 10 feet. The center of the beam measured 225 lux in tests, and it illuminated an area of 117 square feet. That’s enough light for a power outage or work tasks.

This flashlight had the longest lighting time of all the products we tested, lasting 103 hours and 5 minutes. With over four days of continuous use, it's suitable for extended power outages and daily use at work without frequent battery replacements. The brightness can’t be adjusted, but the flashlight's focus is easily adjustable by moving the head back and forth. It's also easy to turn on and off with a single button.

On the downside, its size and weight make it somewhat uncomfortable to carry in a pocket. It might be slightly inconvenient for frequent on-the-go use. It also lacks a flashing beacon mode, intermittent mode, and waterproof features, making it less suitable for activities like mountain climbing.

NEBO's Torchy is a rechargeable flashlight with a brightness of up to 2000 lumens. Designed with auto mechanics in mind, it features a magnet and clip for hands-free operation.

The central spot's illuminance was 518 lux, providing enough brightness for tasks like reading or paperwork. It can illuminate an area of about 109 square feet, sufficient for lighting up a dining table during a blackout or even the underside of a car.

On the downside, the battery life was disappointing, as it only lasted four hours and 16 minutes in our test. If you need it for extended periods, you'll want to keep the brightness level low. On the plus side, its compact and lightweight design makes it easy to carry around. It's a good fit for outdoor activities like camping or hiking.

While you can't adjust the beam range, the flashlight offers three brightness levels, giving you more control compared to other models. However, turning it off requires cycling through the settings, which can be a bit tedious.

The Torchy’s water and dust resistance rating is IPX6, so it's fairly resilient against rain and splashes. It also comes with a beacon mode, useful for sending SOS signals. The inclusion of a magnet, strap, and clip makes it particularly useful for car repairs and maintenance.

Energizer's Vision HD is a flashlight with an output of 1300 lumens. It's made from aircraft-grade materials for high durability.

In our brightness tests, it recorded an impressive 2550 lux at its center spot. It can light up an area of about 519 square feet, enough to illuminate an entire living room during a power outage.

The battery life is also impressive, lasting for 84 hours and 52 minutes in our tests, meaning it can be used for over three days continuously. This makes it a reliable choice for extensive power outages and outdoor activities like camping or hiking, without needing to worry about spare batteries.

While it doesn't offer beam adjustment, a button press allows you to adjust the brightness in two levels. This is handy for tailoring the brightness to different situations or conserving battery life. However, turning it off requires multiple button presses, which can be a bit tedious.

Its large size and weight make it less than ideal for carrying around. It won't fit in a pocket, so you'll likely need to carry it in a bag. Its dust and water resistance rating is IPX4, making it suitable for use around water but not in dusty environments. It also features a beacon, useful for sending SOS signals in emergencies.

The Anker Bolder T1423 is a rechargeable flashlight with a 400-lumen output. According to the manufacturer, it’s functional in sub-freezing temperatures as low as 14 degrees Fahrenheit. During testing, the brightness measured 283 lux at the center, and it illuminated an area of 124 square feet. This performance makes it capable of adequately lighting a dining table during a power outage.

However, at six hours and 24 minutes, the usage time is pretty short. While adjusting the brightness to fit the situation can extend the battery life, this flashlight may not be ideal for power outages or extended daily use. The focus is not adjustable, but the flashlight has three different brightness levels and can be turned on and off hassle-free with a single button.

It's a bit on the larger side, but its lightweight design makes it comfortable to carry in your pocket. Functionally, it has an IPX5 water resistance rating, making it suitable for use in wet locations or outdoors. Although it lacks an intermittent mode, it does include a beacon mode, which can be useful in emergencies.

The Coast G450 has brightness listed at 1,630 lumens. It comes with six AAA batteries, so it’s ready to use right out of the box. In our brightness testing, the center of the beam measured an impressive 3,050 lux. It also illuminated an area of 287 square feet, enough to light up a large bedroom, so it’s not only suitable for daily use but also for illuminating larger spaces.

It lasts a lengthy 94 hours and 40 minutes, so it can be used in various situations without having to worry about the battery running out. The beam’s focus can be adjusted by twisting the head, and brightness is controlled by pressing a button. Turning it on and off is also done with a single button press, so it’s a breeze to operate.

On the downside, the size and weight of the flashlight could be considerable drawbacks. It's too large to fit in a pocket and bulky enough to be cumbersome when carried in a bag, so portability is not great. The dust protection and water resistance rating is IP54, so it can withstand some splashes, rain, and dirt. While it doesn't have a beacon function, it does feature an intermittent flashing mode, which can be useful for sending an SOS signal in an emergency.

Hoxida's Tactical Flashlight is a rechargeable flashlight that can shine up to 2000 lumens. It comes in a set of two, making it ideal for those who want to keep multiple flashlights handy.

The flashlight recorded a bright 1024 lux at its center in our brightness tests. It can illuminate an area of about 166 square feet, sufficient for lighting up a dining table during a blackout or making your tent cozy while camping.

However, the battery life was disappointing, lasting only two hours and 30 minutes. If you need long-lasting illumination, you'll have to manage the brightness settings carefully. It's slightly larger than the palm of your hand but lightweight, making it easy to carry around. It's a good fit for outdoor activities like camping or hiking.

The flashlight offers adjustments for both beam range and brightness, giving you more control compared to other models. Turning it off, however, requires cycling through the settings, which can be time-consuming.

Its water and dust resistance rating is IPX6, so it's fairly resilient against water. It comes with a beacon setting as well, useful for sending SOS signals.