From Maglites to Rechargeable Flashlights, These Are Our Favorite Flashlights in 2021
From maintaining a light source in an emergency situation to helping you find that lost earring under the couch, flashlights are essential tools to have on hand everywhere from your home to your car to your office. But different flashlights are designed to meet different needs, and there’s a variety of features and usage patterns to take into consideration as you start your search for the right source of light. That’s why we’ve rounded up a collection of the top flashlights to have on hand, no matter what you need a flashlight for or where you’re planning to use it.
Best Overall: GearLight High-Powered LED Flashlight S2000
The incredibly bright GearLight High-Powered LED Flashlight S2000 offers 1200 lumens that can light up your backyard. It has a zoomable feature and five operational modes. Reviewers loved the solid construction, commenting on it having an ideal weight to carry and a nice texture to hold. It made them feel particularly safe when out at night.
Best Value: Coast HP1 190 Lumen Pure Beam Focusing LED Flashlight
Lightweight and pocket-sized, the Coast HP1 190-Lumen Pure Beam Focusing LED Flashlight packs a punch. The bright light transitions between a spot focus or a wide flood. Users commented on the strength of the beam and the smooth slide focus system that lets you change the beam’s modes easily with your thumb.
Best Rechargeable: Maglite RL1019 LED Rechargeable Flashlight
The Maglite RL1019 LED Rechargeable Flashlight offers three modes: full power, low power, and eco mode. The power-saving mode greatly increases the run-time. The Quick Focus system lets you switch between a flood and spot beam easily. You can also choose between three activity functions: outdoor, military, and law enforcement. Users praised the smart charging system, easy mode selection, and brightness and clarity of the LED light.
Best Tactical: Streamlight 88052 ProTac HL USB Rechargeable Flashlight
The durable design of the Streamlight 88052 ProTac HL USB Rechargeable Flashlight makes it waterproof and impact resistant. Incorporating C4 LED technology, the white light is incredibly bright with three levels of intensity and a strobe effect.Users were pleased with the compact, lightweight design and bright light. They also liked the handy clip, which makes it easy to carry around.
Best Mini: Hausbell Mini LED Flashlight
The Hausbell Mini LED Flashlight may be small in size, but it packs the punch of a blinding light in its small dimensions. The durable metal design is weather-, water- and shock-resistant, making it ideal for use during outdoor activities such as camping or climbing. This flashlight is also equipped with three light modes, one of which flashes on and off, which can be helpful in attracting attention if you’re lost or need assistance while you’re outdoors.
Best for Diving: Genwiss Underwater Professional Flashlight
Suitable for an underwater depth of up to 80 meters and lasting for a lifetime of over 50,000 hours, the Genwiss Underwater Professional Flashlight is a must for diving, caving, fishing, and hiking. Users complimented the bright light and sturdy design. When set to low mode and fully charged, you can expect 13 hours of light.
Best Crank-Powered: American Red Cross Clipray Crank-Powered Flashlight
Whether you need emergency light or a quick way to charge your smartphone on the go, the portable American Red Cross Clipray Crank-Powered Flashlight is ideal. Benefit from 10 minutes of light with just a minute’s cranking of the handle. Reviewers commented that it only takes a few seconds to light up and just a minute to sustain the beam. Its ability to charge smartphones in an emergency gave them peace of mind.
Best Lantern: Etekcity LED Camping Lantern Collapsible Flashlight
The compact and lightweight Etekcity LED Camping Lantern Collapsible Flashlight is a great tool for camping. Adjust the level of brightness when you collapse or expand the body and benefit from up to 12 hours of light with full batteries. Users were pleased with the device’s bright light, especially considering its small size. Reviewers commended the brightness and longevity of the light for emergency situations.
Best for Emergencies: Energizer Compact Rechargeable Emergency LED Flashlight
Keep the Energizer Compact Rechargeable Emergency LED Flashlight plugged in so it automatically lights up in the event of a power outage. Reviewers noted that it can be plugged in with the light either directed up or down, it doesn’t heat up when plugged in an outlet, and its compact size means it doesn’t block the next outlet. The prongs are easily retracted when it’s being used as a flashlight, and it can double as a night light too.
Best High Lumen: Solaray Professional Series ZX-2 Bright LED Tactical Flashlight
Whether you need light over a long distance or to focus close-up, the Solaray Professional Series ZX-2 Bright LED Tactical Flashlight has an adjustable zoom. Users loved the compact design and super brightness, making it ideal when walking at night, traveling, playing outdoor sports, or during emergencies.
Advertiser Disclosure: When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.