Finding the best flashlight shouldn't feel like searching in the dark. Whether preparing for emergencies, gearing up for outdoor adventures, or needing reliable illumination for home repairs, today's LED flashlights offer durability, efficiency, and impressive brightness.
In addition to talking to a search and rescue expert, I tested several flashlights, evaluating their build quality, beam patterns, brightness, and practical features. Based on my testing, the ThruNite TC15 Ultra-Bright Flashlight is the best you can buy. It's small enough to fit in your pocket, remains incredibly bright for a long time, and can handle being dropped and submerged in water. For a budget pick, consider the Dorcy Floating Flashlight. It costs under $10, floats, and is easy to use.
Our top picks for flashlights
Best overall: ThruNite TC15 Ultra-Bright Flashlight - See at Amazon
Best budget: Dorcy Floating Flashlight - See at Amazon
Best rechargeable: Anker Bolder LC90 Flashlight - See at Amazon
Best small: Coast HP3R Penlight - See at Amazon
Best EDC: ThruNite Archer 2A Flashlight - See at Amazon
Best overall
If you want a light that starts bright and stays bright for up to two hours, the ThruNite TC15 Ultra-Bright Flashlight is your best bet.
- Very bright
- 5 brightness options plus strobe
- IPX8 waterproof
- Handled a drop from 10 feet
- 223-meter beam distance
- Uses a 18650 battery
- Gets incredibly hot after a while on max
- Power/mode selector button could be better
The ThruNite TC15 Ultra-Bright Flashlight is a durable and powerful little light. At 5 inches long by 1 inch in diameter, it's small enough to fit in your pocket. Its heavy-duty aluminum body is IPX8 waterproof resistant and can handle being submerged in water well. The flashlight also withstood a 10-foot drop without a problem.
In the brightness tests, the TC15 did an extraordinary job. It barely missed out on being the brightest from the start, and it only dimmed slightly over the next hour and a half. It was the brightest by far at the end of the testing period.
There are five brightness levels plus a strobe mode effect. Max brightness should only be used for 10 minutes at most to protect the battery; plus, I found the light gets too hot to hold if it's on Turbo for any longer.
Though it performed well, there were a few downsides: You need an 18650 battery to operate the flashlight, but it comes with one rechargeable battery and a micro USB charge cord. Since the light runs so bright, the battery lasted less than two hours on top mode. You likely won't use that high for long, and the dimmer modes lasted much longer.
The on/off/mode button is also very easy to accidentally turn on. Switching between modes isn't intuitive, either, requiring you to double-click to access different modes. You might need to keep the user manual handy.
Best budget
The Dorcy Floating Flashlight is an affordable option that performs surprisingly well, is waterproof, and can float, too.
- Easy to use
- Floats
- Waterproof
- Built-in carabiner
- Long-lasting battery with consistent brightness
- Only one brightness mode
The Dorcy Floating Flashlight is full of features that make it ideal for outdoor use — boating, camping, hiking — and costs less than $10.
It's the only light in our tests that floats, and it can handle being submerged without malfunctioning. Its hard-plastic body is also quite durable passing the drop test with ease.
There's only one brightness setting, but after 90 minutes on, it was still among the top four brightest flashlights in this guide. The Dorcy Floating Flashlight has a manufacturer-reported beam distance of 67 meters and runs on 3 common AA batteries, which are included. I found the batteries lasted for roughly 40 hours of continuous use.
The on/off button is designed to minimize the chances of it accidentally getting turned on, which is important for your preserving your battery life. But it's easy enough to press even when I wore thick gloves.
It is a bit bulky, at 6.5 inches long and 2.5 inches in diameter, but does have a clip on the end for easy attachment to your belt loop or a rope.
I also put the flashlight on a 15% incline to see if it would roll away — a concern when working in uneven terrain — and the rubber surrounding the lens helped keep the Dorcy light firmly in place.
Best rechargeable
The Anker Bolder LC90 combines an impressive 200-meter beam distance and consistent brightness with convenient USB charging and durable aluminum construction. Its eight-ounce weight and non-submersible water resistance represent reasonable compromises for its powerful performance.
- Outstand beam distance and adjustable focus
- Convenient USB charging
- Durable anodized aluminum construction
- Unintuitive interface
- Limited water resistance
- May be heavy for pocket carry
The Anker Bolder LC90 is the best rechargeable flashlight because it delivers exceptional brightness and versatility in a heavy-duty housing. With a powerful 200-meter beam distance and adjustable focus, this 6-inch aluminum torch outshines most competitors. While the mode-switching interface takes some getting used to, the LC90's robust construction proved its worth in our drop tests.
The Li-ion battery offers reliable power with convenient USB charging, providing four hours of runtime on high and six hours on medium.
Despite being slightly heavier at eight ounces and having IP65 water resistance (suitable for rain but not submersion), the LC90 balances functionality and durability. Three brightness levels plus emergency modes supply versatility for various situations, from power outages to outdoor adventures.
What distinguishes the LC90 is its ability to maintain impressive brightness after the initial output settles. While we observed some dimming within the first 10 minutes, it maintained a strong, consistent beam for the rest of our 90-minute test period, outperforming most flashlights in sustained brightness.
Best small
The Coast HP3R Penlight is compact enough to keep in your pocket for everyday carry and provides adjustable focus light right where you need it.
- Dual power with 2 AAA batteries and rechargeable Li-ion
- Long battery life
- Adjustable beam focus
- Passed our drop test
- Doesn't roll easily
- Only IPX4 water-resistant
- Easy to accidentally turn on
While penlights don't light up a very big area, if you need bright beam directed in one specific place, and need quick-access to that light, the Coast HP3R Penlight does an excellent job.
Coast focuses on LED lights for professionals such as law enforcement, search and rescue teams, and oil rig workers. Jake Keller, the SAR trainer we interviewed for this article, lists Coast as one of a handful of brands he highly recommends. And, the company backs its products with a lifetime warranty against defects in workmanship and materials.
The HP3R Penlight is small enough to pop into your shirt or pants pocket. I liked that it can operate on the included 2 AAA alkaline batteries or included Li-ion rechargeable battery, which charges with an included, standard micro USB charging cord. The alkaline batteries lasted much longer (72+ hours vs. 6 hours on high), but the rechargeable batteries produced a brighter beam.
Neither power source was particularly bright compared to the full-size flashlights, but thanks to the adjustable lens, you can direct the beam right where you want it — and the beam distance is up to 93 meters.
The light is IPX4 water-resistant, so it's protected from splashes of water but can't handle submersion. The aluminum body handled the drop test with no effects on its performance.
The biggest downsides are the penlight is easy to accidentally turn on, and it takes some practice to get the hang of adjusting between its two brightness options. It does remember the last mode you were on, which is nice.
Best EDC
The ThruNite Archer 2A excels as an EDC flashlight. It packs professional features like quad brightness modes and IPX8 waterproofing into a durable 6-inch aluminum body. It delivers impressive runtime from standard AA batteries and proved its resilience in our rigorous drop testing.
- Outstanding waterproofing and durability
- Easy to use, even with gloves on
- Relies on common AA batteries
- Features a clip for easy carry
- Exhibited noticeable brightness fade
Based on my extensive hands-on testing, the ThruNite Archer 2A is the best EDC flashlight (every day carry) because it masterfully balances durability, user-friendly design, and versatility. This pocket-friendly powerhouse measures just 6 inches long and weighs a mere 3.56 ounces with batteries, yet exceeds expectations with its outstanding performance.
The Archer 2A features four brightness modes plus a strobe. Its intuitive controls prevent accidental activation while remaining easily accessible even with gloves.
Its aircraft-grade anodized aluminum construction proved remarkably resilient in my testing, surviving 10-foot drops without missing a beat — the light continued functioning flawlessly. The IPX8 waterproof rating isn't just marketing speak; our submersion test confirmed the Archer 2A's ability to run reliably underwater.
While the initial brightness impressed me, I observed some dimming after 30 minutes on high power. Yet, this trade-off enables impressive runtime specs: six hours on high beam and up to 28 days on low. The convenience of standard AA batteries makes this light especially practical for everyday carry and emergencies.
What truly sets the Archer 2A apart is its combination of professional-grade features in a practical form factor for daily use. It can deliver reliable illumination, whether clipped to a pocket or stashed in a bag.
What to look for in a flashlight
When choosing a flashlight, there are a number of factors Jake Keller, head training advisor for the Multnomah County (Oregon) Sheriff's Office Search & Rescue Team, recommended considering: "In an everyday carry application, I look for something small that easily fits into a pocket. I'd sacrifice an adjustable focus and battery life in favor of something small, bright, and quick to use."
During my tests, I paid special attention to brightness, ease of use, and size, but since different users have diverse needs, I also looked at battery runtime and adjustable focus abilities. For instance, if you're on a hiking trip, you may not have easy access to a charging port and may not want the added weight of extra batteries. This is where a longer battery runtime comes in handy.
How we test flashlights
There are several tests I put each model through to thoroughly review each option. The most important factors to consider are brightness, battery power, light modes, and durability. Here's how I considered each of those factors while testing:
Brightness: I used a light meter and an old mattress box to measure the lumens of each flashlight. I cut two holes in one end of the 42-inch-long box (one hole for the flashlight to shine through and another for the light sensor). I then covered the interior with white paper and measured the lumens of the reflected light with the flashlight set to max brightness and a wide beam. I recorded measurements every 10 minutes for an hour and a half. This showed both the brightness of the reflected light and how that changed over time. For most models, the lumen output decreased by at least 50 percent in the first 10 minutes.
Battery power: After the 90-minute brightness test, I let each battery operate on high until it was out of juice. Though a few still produced a dim light after a few hours some put off a marginally bright light for days. I also looked at whether the flashlight used common batteries (i.e., AA or AAA) that are easy to replace or if it used a popular charging cord in the case of rechargeable batteries.
Light modes: How many brightness options are there? Are there other colors or functions, such as strobe or SOS? Is it easy to switch between the different modes? These are all questions I considered when examining each flashlight.
Durability: You don't want your flashlight to break easily. To test durability, I dropped each flashlight from 10 feet above a flight of hardwood stairs. None of the flashlights broke but the light went out on a few of them, which would make it hard to find if dropped in the dark. I also looked at whether they were waterproof or just water-resistant. If waterproof (IPX8), I submerged the flashlight in water for at least five minutes to see if it continued to function normally.
Additionally, I examined whether the flashlights had adjustable focus, were easy to turn on by accident, and how they were to operate with gloves on.
Flashlight FAQs
Do LED flashlights get hot?
LED flashlights can generate significant heat, especially in high-output modes. While LEDs are more efficient than traditional incandescent bulbs, they still require thermal management. High-performance LED flashlights usually incorporate aluminum heat sinks and thermal protection circuits to avoid overheating.
What is an "EDC flashlight"?
An EDC (everyday carry) flashlight is a reliable, compact light designed for convenient pocket carry and daily use. These lights feature multiple brightness modes, efficient LED emitters, and heavy-duty aluminum construction. The best EDC flashlights combine output, runtime, and size to serve emergencies and routine tasks.
How many lumens do you need in a flashlight?
The right flashlight brightness depends on your needs. 20 to 150 lumens is enough for everyday indoor tasks. Most outdoor activities benefit from 200 to 500 lumens, while tactical or search and rescue applications may need over 1000 lumens. Consider that higher lumens often trade runtime for brightness.
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