The Best Flashlights to Illuminate Your Path

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.

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.”

Whether you’re experiencing a power outage, venturing out on a camping trip, or looking to fix a leaky pipe under your kitchen sink, a flashlight is an essential tool to have on hand.

Best Overall

Anker Rechargeable Bolder LC40 Flashlight

5

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Anker Bolder LC40 Flashlight Review

What We Like

• Quality brightness

• Five different lighting modes

• Sturdy and lightweight design

• Long-lasting rechargeable battery 

• Can auto-turn on to last-used brightness

What We Don’t Like

• Required adapter not included

• Not a ton of features

• Non-replaceable battery

• No battery level indicator

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 Spruce / Pam Wattenbarger

What Our Testers Say

“Recommended for indoor use, emergency use, camping, and hiking, this flashlight is durable and capable. I dropped it onto my concrete garage floor, on a gravel and dirt hiking path, and onto my kitchen floor (from heights over the recommended 1.5 meters), and it survived without a dent or ding. It even survived a few rounds of my cat batting it across the floor.”—Pam Wattenbarger, Product Tester

Best Budget

Outlite S1000 Portable Handheld LED Flashlight

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What We Like

• Five light modes

• Rugged, water-resistant design

• Compact and easy to manage

What We Don’t Like

• Battery can drain quickly

• Exact lumen output unspecified

The Outlite S1000 Portable Handheld LED Flashlight offers bright light and flexible control over its intensity and flow. It’s compact and lightweight but robust enough to handle the rugged outdoors, thanks to its aluminum alloy casing, water-resistant design, and ability to withstand 10-foot drops.

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

Best Value

Anker Bolder LC130 LED Flashlight

4.2

 Anker

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Anker LC130 Ultra Bright Tactical Flashlight Review

What We Like

• Impressive brightness

• Durable and heavyweight for rugged tasks

• Five different light modes

• Up to a 1,200-foot range

• Rechargeable

What We Don’t Like

• Charging port not easily accessible

• Could be too heavy for everyday tasks

The Anker LC130 offers a powerful 1300 lumens for hunting or home security situations and high, medium, low, strobe, and SOS mode. Its 1,200-foot range is powerful enough to light up two football fields. Our tester appreciated the flashlight’s easy controls and setup, as well as its durable feel. The rugged, waterproof flashlight can withstand drops from at least 1 meter and will work even after submersion in water for 30 minutes.

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

 The Spruce / Brie Dyas

What Our Testers Say

“[T]he LC130 is a very durable flashlight. It can be safely dropped from heights up to a meter. We dropped it from a much loftier height (a two-story staircase!), and the flashlight didn’t show any signs of damage.”—Brie Dyas, Product Tester

Best Tactical

OLIGHT Warrior X Pro Superior Tactical Thrower

4.8

Amazon

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What We Like

• Extremely durable

• Battery level indicator

• Impressive maximum brightness

What We Don’t Like

• Pricier than alternatives

• Heavier than other options

• Shorter battery life on High mode

If you’re interested in a tough tactical flashlight for outdoor or other uses, the OLIGHT Warrior X Pro Superior Tactical Thrower combines ruggedness with several impressive features. This IPX8 waterproof and drop-proof (up to 3 meters) device features a durable aluminum alloy construction with details like a knurling pattern to provide slip-free grip. It offers a maximum brightness of 2100 lumens on high, though the runtime is capped at two minutes on this mode. Low mode lasts longer at around eight hours and produces 300 lumens.

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

Get a Good Look With the Best Tactical Flashlights

Best Everyday Carry

Olight I3T EOS 180 Flashlight

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What We Like

• Great brightness on high mode

• Slim and lightweight

• Secure grip and pocket clip for easy carrying

• Operates on only 1 AAA battery

What We Don’t Like

• Only two light modes

• Short battery life when using the high mode

The Olight I3T EOS 180 is a compact and portable flashlight ideal for everyday carrying. Its 3.5-inch long and 1.4-ounce build is light and slim, and the rotating, dual-direction pocket clip makes toting this flashlight easy. The double helix body knurling also offers solid grip control.

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

Best Features

OLIGHT Seeker 3 Pro Bright Flashlight

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What We Like

• Easy knob controls

• Brightness and battery life indicators

• Sensor prevents overheating

• Smart locking/unlocking feature

What We Don’t Like

• Can be too bright for certain uses

• Pricey

The Olight Seeker 3 Pro Flashlight packs powerful brightness into a durable, rechargeable, and feature-packed design. This flashlight is drop- and waterproof and produces a light beam that extends up to 250 feet outward. The brightness is easily adjustable via the handy rotary knob, which allows you to switch between the five different brightness modes, with 5 lumens being the lowest brightness option and a whopping 4200 lumens being the highest. It also relies on sensors to automatically lower the light’s brightness if the lens becomes blocked or the flashlight begins to overheat and locks on its own after 30 seconds.

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

Here Are the Best Rechargeable Flashlights, so You Never Run Out of Power

Best Compact

Fenix E12 V2.0 AA Flashlight

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What We Like

• Easy controls

• Three different brightness levels

• Requires only one AA battery

• IP68 durability rating

What We Don’t Like

• Turns on to lowest brightness setting

• Not as powerful as larger models

If you enjoy outdoor activities and want a compact, rugged flashlight to carry, you might want to consider the Fenix E12 V2.0 flashlight. Like most of the selections from Fenix, this model is IP68 rated, which means it’s dustproof and able to handle submersion in up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes. This ultra-light flashlight takes a single AA battery and produces 160 lumens on high, 30 lumens on medium, and 5 lumens on low mode. 

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

Best Wearable

Thorfire Cap Hat Light

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What We Like

• Clip for hands-free usage

• Rotatable light head

• Versatility

What We Don’t Like

• Location of power button

• May not be bright enough for certain tasks

At just a little over an ounce and a couple of inches long, you’ll barely notice that you have this Thorfire Cap Hat Light clipped to your cap, jacket, or waistband. The five 30-lumen LED lights brightly illuminate your immediate area, making it ideal for campers, fishers, or runners who want to light their path without disturbing their surroundings, and it won’t fully blind you should you look right at it. 

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