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The 8 Best Flashlights for Everyday Use
When all other lights go out, let one of these LED flashlights illuminate the darkness.
It’s 2024, and most of us technically have a flashlight with us all times with our smartphones, but we believe that it’s important to keep a dedicated flashlight handy at home. It may be tempting to say the flashlight function on your phone is “good enough” in a pinch, but there’s really no substitute for the superior power and range of a modern LED (Light-Emitting Diode) flashlight. They are bright enough to illuminate a dark room when the power goes out, or to help you navigate the great outdoors in the dark.
We've tested a variety of popular models to find the best flashlights to keep around. Whether you're a hiker who's looking to splurge on a high-end flash for daily use, or you're just looking to put a decent one in your car, we've got you covered.
The Best Flashlights
- Best Overall: Maglite ML50L LED Flashlight
- Best Value: Anker Bolder LC 40 LED Flashlight
- Best Tactical Flashlight: Streamlight Polytac USB X LED Flashlight
- Lightest: Ledlenser P5R LED Flashlight
- Brightest: Fenix PD36R LED Flashlight
The Expert (Steven T. Wright): I've covered tech and gaming for almost a decade for a variety of publications, including Polygon, GameSpot, Popular Science, Reviewed, and (of course) Popular Mechanics. My dad's lifelong interest in flashlights got me interested in the tools from an early age, and I've enjoyed comparing them for fun for years now.
The Expert (Bradley Ford): I’ve been developing test protocols, equipment, and fixtures for Popular Mechanics for the last 5 years. When flashlights came up, I researched ANSI’s standards and interviewed manufactures to see how they test their lights. Ultimately, I designed, built, and calibrated the integrating sphere we use for testing flashlights, as well as adopting real world, practical tests to assess how well flashlights actually perform.
What You Need to Know About LED Flashlights
LEDs in flashlights, while more efficient than traditional bulbs, can still generate a fair amount of heat. And with some manufacturers vying to produce the brightest flashlight made, the heat generated can be significant. There are two ways to manage heat that may be employed independently or in conjunction with one another. The first is to physically draw off the heat by mounting the LED to a “heatsink,” a piece of metal, with a lot of surface area, that absorbs heat and allows it to dissipate.
The second way is to regulate the power used to illuminate the LED. Too much heat can damage an LED, and it gets less efficient as it gets hotter. For this reason, many LED flashlights have circuitry to manage power consumption. This circuitry has another benefit too, as it prolongs battery life.
LEDs vs. Bulbs
Traditional light bulbs are inefficient and waste a lot of energy. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, as much as 90 percent of the energy required to illuminate an incandescent light is given off—essentially lost—as heat. The introduction of halogen bulbs proved to be more efficient, although they can still generate a lot of heat. Aside from this, light-bulb filaments in flashlights are notoriously delicate, breaking when jolted or dropped.
LEDs, on the other hand, are 70 to 75 percent more efficient than incandescent lights. The LED itself is a semiconductor that emits light when current passes through it. Without a delicate filament suspended inside, the “emitter” is far more durable than a traditional light bulb. Because they’re more efficient, LEDs are brighter than incandescents using the same amount of power.
Don’t Get Wooed by Lumens—Understand Them
Flashlight brightness is measured in lumens, which is a measurement of “total light, radiating equally in all directions.” Manufacturers were historically optimistic in their published lumen figures, and while many are now reasonably accurate, there are still some dubious claims out there. Also note, manufacturers may list the highest possible lumen output of the LED in their light—although they may not be powering it to its full capability to reduce heat or prolong battery life. None of that really matters all that much though, because a light with a ton of lumens doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the brightest in practice—or the best light for you.
A super bright light may not cast a beam as far as a less bright light. Variables like the reflector shape and lens play a big role in how far the beam is thrown, and how wide it spreads. Also, consider that LEDs are brightest when they are first turned on. As they warm up, they slowly dim, which is usually imperceptible to our eyes. As the LED dims, our eyes adjust to the light and we can see better with less light.
What Do IP Ratings Mean?
IP is short for ingress protection, meaning protection from stuff getting inside the flashlight. Those letters will be followed by two numbers: The first digit relates to protection from solids like dust or grit. The second digit relates to protection from moisture, in this case the concern is usually water. Sometimes there will be an “X” in place of one of those numbers, which means the flashlight hasn’t been tested for protection from solids or liquids, depending on the position of the “X”.
For the first number, protection from solids, the highest number, 6, indicates the light should be impenetrable by dust and sand. The highest value for the second number, representing protection from liquid, is 8—indicating that the flashlight can be submerged in water deeper than 1 meter, for longer than 30 minutes, with no harmful effects.
Values for ingress protection from solids:
X – not protected, or not tested
1 – protected against solid objects over 50mm
2 – protected against solid objects over 12mm
3 – protected against solid objects over 2.5mm
4 – protected against solid objects over 1mm
5 – protected against dust with limited ingress, but no harmful deposits
6 – completely protected against dust
Values for ingress protection from water:
X – not protected, or not tested
1 – protected against vertically falling droplets
2 – protected against direct spray +/- 15 degrees from vertical
3 – protected against direct spray +/- 60 degrees from vertical
4 – protected against splashes from all directions, with limited ingress
5 – protected against low-pressure jets from all directions, with limited ingress
6 – protected against high-pressure jets from all directions, with limited ingress
7 – protected against temporary immersion, up to one meter, for up to 30 minutes
8 – protected against immersion, greater than one meter, for longer periods
A flashlight’s IP rating gives a partial picture of its durability. You’ll also want to take into account things like the materials used—ranging from lightweight but less-than-durable plastic to rubberized enclosures to heavy-duty anodized aluminum—and whether the flashlight floats in water in addition to being waterproof, not to mention the warranty.
How We Test
There are three main components of our flashlight testing: lumens, beam drop-off, and beam pattern. Lumen testing turned out to be a significant project that helped us gain insight to how lumens relate to flashlight performance. Lumens are measured using a device called an integrating sphere. Integrating spheres are hollow, with a white coating on the inside that diffuses light, bouncing it around in the sphere. A light is fixed in one port, pointing into the sphere, which collects all the light, allowing none to escape, so that it can be measured with a sensor in a second port.
Integrating spheres are lab-quality instruments and can be extremely expensive. However, once we understood how they work in theory, we built our own. In doing this, we consulted with product engineers at two companies to vet our ideas, verifying lumens on calibration lights in their sphere to make sure ours would be accurate. Once our sphere was calibrated, we measured each flashlight in our test at set intervals. We took measurements when we first turned the light on, then every 30 seconds up to 3 minutes; at 5 minutes, and then every 5 minutes up to 30 minutes. We used the measurement at 30 seconds as our official lumens figure for each light, because the brightness drops off quickly. After 30 seconds, most LEDs stabilize and dim at a much slower rate.
Beam drop-off is the point where the light is no longer bright enough to positively identify objects. We tested beam drop-off by placing 10 reflective traffic cones, in a line, every 5 meters out to 50 meters. We used a silhouette of a person, painted neutral gray, and moved it between the cones to determine the distance at which we could still identify it. The beam pattern we tested at 10 meters. We measured brightness in the center of the beam, then turned the light 5 degrees right and 5 degrees left and measured brightness at both points. This helped us determine the width of the bright, beam center.
In subsequent updates, we have added a couple of flashlights that haven’t been put through our initial test protocol. We selected the ThruNite LED Flashlight Archer 2A V3 and Acebeam E75 4500 based on thorough research of new flashlights to find the best new options.
That includes product listings, consumer reviews, and test data from enthusiast publications like 1Lumen, and our own hands-on impressions, all of which allow us to verify specs and other technical details that separate the best flashlights from the rest.
Maglite ML50L LED Flashlight
Pros
- Adjustable reflector from spot to flood
- Easy to toggle between functions
Cons
- Relatively heavy
Despite measuring 342 lumens in our integrating sphere, the ML50L performed on par with brighter lights in practical testing. In beam drop-off testing, at a measured distance of 50 meters and using a focused spot pattern, we found our human silhouette was brightly illuminated and easy to identify.
Pushing out beyond that to about 90 meters, we could still ID the silhouette. With the reflector adjusted in a flood pattern, the silhouette was identifiable at 50 meters—with a much wider area illuminated—but not as bright as the spot focus. With the reflector pulled back in floodlight orientation, we noted a dim zone in the center of the beam.
The ML50L has five functions—high, low, eco, strobe, and momentary on—that are arranged in four function sets with three functions each. The general and outdoor function sets each feature high and low functions, with general including eco and outdoor including strobe.
Law enforcement and tactical function sets both feature momentary on, where the light comes on when the switch is pressed and turns off when released. They both include the high setting, while law enforcement also has eco and tactical has strobe. We found setting the desired function set to be relatively easy and will be something most people would do only once. Switching between functions simply required a single, double, or triple click
The ML50L is a good example of why the most lumens don’t always make the best flashlight. The focusing reflector helps this flashlight throw a beam as far as technically brighter lights do, as well as making it a little more versatile.
Key Specs
| Lumens: | 466 claimed, 342 measured |
|---|---|
| Runtime: | 16 hrs, 41 min, 21 sec |
| Battery type: | C, alkaline (x2) |
| Rating: | IPX4 |
| Adjustable focus: | Yes |
| Length: | 8 3⁄16 in. |
| Weight: | 12.7 oz |
Anker Bolder LC 40 LED Flashlight
Anker Bolder LC 40 LED Flashlight
Pros
- Simple, easy-to-use functions
- External charge port for easy charging
Cons
- Can’t replace the battery, which is sealed inside
The Boulder LC 40 turned out to be a surprising value, with good runtime and a consistent 200-lumen output over time. Starting at just over 400 lumens when turned on, it dropped to 200 at about 3 minutes and didn’t stray more than 10 lumens for the remainder of our half-hour-long test.
We found the beam pattern to be slightly narrower and more focused than the Polytac USB X above, which helped it throw nearly as far with fewer lumens. At 50 meters, we could clearly see the outline of our human silhouette, and it was still identifiable out to about 90 meters.
The five light functions—high, medium, low, fast strobe, and slow strobe—are accessible with sequential clicks, about as simple a process as we found during testing. The aluminum body is completely sealed, so the battery can’t be replaced. But a port at the butt end of the light is provided to recharge it.
Key Specs
| Lumens: | 400 claimed, 384 measured |
|---|---|
| Runtime: | 8 hrs, 35 min, 30 sec |
| Battery type: | 18650 Li-ion rechargeable, non-replaceable |
| Rating: | IPX5 |
| Adjustable focus: | No |
| Length: | 5 in. |
| Weight: | 4.4 oz |
Streamlight Polytac USB X LED Flashlight
Streamlight Polytac USB X LED Flashlight
Pros
- Plastic body transmits less heat/cold to the user
- High level of water resistance
Cons
- Awkward program selection
Streamlight’s Polytac USB X was the top performer when it came to straight-up lumens. Starting at 554 lumens after 30 seconds, it dropped to 334 at 15 minutes and stayed relatively steady, ending 30 minutes at 324—100 lumens higher than any other light we tested.
The fixed reflector projects a beam with a tight spot pattern that drops about 50 percent in brightness 5 degrees from the center on the left and right. At 50 meters, we could easily identify the crisp outline of our human silhouette, which was still clear out to about 90 meters.
We found the nylon polymer flashlight body plenty grippy, and it felt less cold to the touch than aluminum in low temperatures. A two-way clip allows the Polytac to slip inside or outside a pocket, oriented lens up or down—our preference was outside, lens down.
There are three preprogrammed function sets we were able to access using Streamlight’s Ten-Tap selector switch. The selection process is a little awkward, but most people will use it only once to set the preferred programs, which include low/medium/high, high/strobe/low, and high only. When we did the runtime test with the light set on high, the Polytac USB X ran for almost 5.5 hours before going dark.
This is a good choice if you’re looking for a tactical flashlight with solid features and performance.
Key Specs
| Lumens: | 600 claimed, 554 measured |
|---|---|
| Runtime: | 5 hrs, 25 min, 40 sec |
| Battery type: | SL-B26 Li-ion rechargeable (included) |
| Rating: | IPX7 |
| Adjustable focus: | No |
| Length: | 5 7⁄16 in. |
| Weight: | 4.9 oz |
Pros
- Adjustable beam focus
- Magnetic charge connection
Cons
- Light starts dropping to low setting after 3 minutes
Ledlenser’s P5R is another great example of why you shouldn’t grade a flashlight solely on the lumen output. With its claimed lumens of 420, we were able to measure 393—not a big discrepancy. In practical testing, we discovered the P5R’s ability to focus the beam from a spot pattern to a flood pattern worked very well. Adjusting it to a tight spot, we were able to clearly identify a flat grey silhouette at 85 meters on a dark, moonless night—that’s as good or better than other lights with higher lumen output.
With three modes to choose from—low, high, and blink—we had no trouble switching between beam settings using the metal button on the end of the flashlight body. Rather than using a rubber-covered charge port, you use the magnetic charger to connect to the rear-mounted button, which serves as the charger contact.
Testing lumens in the integrating sphere, we discovered that brightness dropped about 30 lumens in the first 3 minutes. This kind of initial drop is common with LED lights, but after 3 minutes we noticed the brightness started to drop 1 lumen about every 4 seconds. We observed this until the brightness got down to 110 lumens.
Stopping the test, we clicked the mode/power button and discovered we could get back to high power mode at about 300 lumens. So it appears, if left on, the light will eventually and slowly dim in order to preserve battery. In fact, when we tested runtime, we confirmed this. We couldn’t leave the light set to high for the duration. When we turned it on and left it, the battery died approaching 5 hours, a fair bit longer than the claimed run time of 3 hours on high power.
Key Specs
| Lumens: | 420 claimed, 393 measured |
|---|---|
| Runtime: | 4 hrs, 52 min, 2 sec |
| Battery type: | Li-ion rechargeable (included) |
| Rating: | IPX4 |
| Adjustable focus: | Yes |
| Length: | 4 1⁄2 in. |
| Weight: | 2.6 oz |
Fenix PD36R LED Flashlight
Pros
- Dedicated mode button
- Beam projects very far
Cons
- Bezel can get hot
We measured a max lumen output of 1,536 for Fenix’s PD36R—very close to the advertised 1,600. And in our practical testing, the PD36R performed quite well. We ran to the limits of our test area when examining beam drop off. The beam projected is primarily an effective, focused spot, with a dimmer area surrounding it. We could easily identify our flat grey silhouette at 110 meters, reaching well beyond the reflective cones we had set out.
We found testing runtime to be a bit of a challenge. Like so many other LED flashlights, when set on their highest setting, the light dims if you leave it on for extended periods. There are typically two reasons for this: managing the heat created by the LED and preserving battery life.
Regarding heat, we did experience the PD36R getting hot during use, with a maximum temperature at the bezel measured at 127 degrees. While this wasn’t where we would hold the flashlight, it still got to around 115 degrees near the mode button.
Unlike many other flashlights of this size and style, the PD36R has separate power and mode buttons, with power located in the tail cap and the mode button is just behind the bezel. When using the flashlight for longer periods, we preferred this arrangement, which allowed us to carry it low in our hand, with our thumb over the mode button. This differs from tactical lights with a single button in the tail cap, where we have to hold the light high, with our thumb over the tail and the bezel end near the heel of our hand.
Over the course of our lumen test, we found the PD36R to be fairly stable. At 30 seconds, it measured 1,439 lumens. And at 20 minutes we measured 1,171 lumens, a drop of 18 percent.
Key Specs
| Lumens: | 1,600 claimed, 1,536 measured |
|---|---|
| Runtime: | 10 hrs, 30 min, 31 sec |
| Battery type: | 21700 Li-ion rechargeable (included) |
| Rating: | IPX68 |
| Adjustable focus: | No |
| Length: | 5 1⁄2 in. |
| Weight: | 5.7 oz |
ThruNite LED Flashlight Archer 2A V3
Pros
- Consistent lumen levels
- Lightweight
- Dedicated brightness adjust button
Cons
- Not as consistent at max brightness
One of the flashlights we always keep on-hand at home, the ThruNite Archer 2A V3 is compact, but powerful, and suitable for almost any situation. According to testing from 1lumen, it’s able to maintain consistent lumen output for more than 8 hours on medium brightness. (That’s what I use most of the time.)
On its highest setting, the brightest drops off after about 3 minutes. (As we mentioned, that’s normal for most flashlights.) That’s still decent output, though, and enough for most situations.
Beyond its consistency, the 2A V3 is simply the perfect flashlight to carry around for the everyday tasks that require some extra light. It's small enough to fit in your pocket, and has variable light levels that work well for different tasks, from a quick look under the sink, to taking out the trash after dark.
Technically, the 2A V3 isn't the brightest or longest-lasting flashlight we tried, but it's lightweight, consistent, and relatively cheap, making it a reliable tool to keep around.
Key Specs
| Lumens | 500 (Estimated) |
|---|---|
| Runtime | 34 hr, 14 min (low) |
| Battery type | AA (x2) |
| Rating | IPX8 |
| Adjustable focus | No |
| Length | 5.09 in. |
| Weight | 7.65 oz |
Rayovac DIY3AAA LED Flashlight
Rayovac DIY3AAA LED Flashlight
Pros
- Stays on for a long time
- Uses common AAA alkaline batteries
Cons
- Has only two light modes
This medium-size Rayovac, powered by three alkaline AAA batteries, ran for a hard-to-believe two-plus days in our testing. We measured lumens at 271, 30 seconds after we turned it on—that’s 21 more than the manufacturer claims. Brightness dropped off gradually over our 30-minute test, ending at 165 lumens.
In the second day of the runtime test, the light had dimmed very significantly but still gave off enough light by which to read in the dark, when held inches from a page. The light color is a little more amber than the others tested, which we found more evident in the last half of its runtime.
Testing beam drop-off, we found it bright enough at 50 meters to identify our human silhouette. Moving out to the end of our test area at about 90 meters, we were still able see the silhouette, just not as clearly.
The DIY3AAA has two modes—high and energy saver—which can be toggled between by clicking the power button on the butt end of the light. The housing features rubber coverings on both ends to help protect it from drops and also prevent the otherwise smooth body from slipping out of our hands.
Key Specs
| Lumens: | 250 claimed, 271 measured |
|---|---|
| Runtime: | 48 hrs, 41 min, 53 sec |
| Battery type: | AAA, alkaline (x3, included) |
| Rating: | IP67 |
| Adjustable focus: | No |
| Length: | 5 3⁄8 in. |
| Weight: | 4.6 oz |
Pros
- Very bright
- Convenient size
- Standout runtime
Cons
- Too bulky for everyday carry
The Acebeam E75 is an enthusiast-grade flashlight with enough battery power to stay bright for far longer than your average torch. With an estimated brightness of 4500 lumens and a beam distance of 260 meters, it’s a perfect flashlight for camping and other outdoor activities in remote places that get very dark at night. More importantly, it’s built to work for a long time–up to 26 days on low.
It’s more expensive than some of our other picks and a little too large to keep in your pocket, which makes it a bit of a niche option for campers, homeowners, and other folks who need serious illumination from time to time. That said, it’s a must-have option if you find yourself relying on a flashlight for hours at a time.
Key Specs
| Lumens | 4500 (estimated) |
|---|---|
| Runtime | 26 days (low) |
| Battery type | Rechargeable lithium-ion |
| Rating | IPX8 |
| Adjustable focus | No |
| Length | 6.1 in. |
| Weight | 1.69 oz |
Q+A With Our Experts
How accurate are a manufacturer's stated specs (i.e. lumens, runtime, etc.)?
As our first-hand testing showed, manufacturer estimates for flashlight specs tend to be relatively accurate, especially with regards to brightness. It's important to keep in mind that there are a variety of factors that can influence a flashlight’s moment-to-moment performance, such as its relative battery life and how long it has run in the past few hours.
Keep in mind that, as we mentioned, it is normal for flashlights to only shine at peak brightness for a few minutes before sliding back to the middle of their range, and that your visibility won’t suffer for that.
How many lumens do I really need?
That depends on how you’re using your flashlight. Manufacturer Nitecore suggests a range of 1- to 300 lumens should be enough to light up a room or an intermittently lit outdoor area. Look for 300- to 980 lumens for walking outside in the dark. Mechanics and other workers who need to see precise details in complete darkness might go a little higher– 1,000- to 1,300 lumens.
Hunters or law enforcement might use brighter flashlights than that, but it really depends on the task. Overall, it's important to remember that powerful flashlights can be disruptive to other people and wildlife, so choose your light carefully.
Where should I keep my emergency flashlight?
Flashlight enthusiasts often recommend making a flash part of your “everyday carry,” keeping it on you at all times as you would with your keys or smartphone. Personally, I recommend being proactive and keeping it around whenever or wherever you think there’s a chance you may need some extra light. For example, if you're going on a hiking trip or evening walk, it's a no-brainer.
It’s never a bad idea to stash a flashlight on each floor of your home in case of a power outage or other emergency. That way, you can easily grab it without going up or down stairs in the dark. It's best to keep them in a place that you know you'll remember and is easy to find in the dark, such as a small drawer.
We also strongly recommend keeping a flashlight in your car, as you never know when you might have a mechanical issue during nighttime hours, and you'll want to save your phone battery.
Separately, FEMA and The Department of Homeland Security recommend that you keep an emergency kit with a flashlight and other essentials in a cool, dry place somewhere at home, as well as in your car. In order to keep the kit intact and ready for an emergency, the flashlight in your emergency kit should be a backup, not your primary flashlight.
Steven T. Wright is a freelance writer based in Miami, FL. He has been a full-time writer of various things for around a decade, especially long-form features about tech and digital culture. He enjoys spending time with his wife and cat, hiking, and reading weird fiction. You can follow him on Twitter @MadCathedral.
Brad Ford has spent most of his life using tools to fix, build, or make things. Growing up he worked on a farm, where he learned to weld, repair, and paint equipment. From the farm he went to work at a classic car dealer, repairing and servicing Rolls Royces, Bentleys, and Jaguars. Today, when he's not testing tools or writing for Popular Mechanics, he's busy keeping up with the projects at his old farmhouse in eastern Pennsylvania.
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