There’s a New Best Bang-for-Your-Buck Flashlight—and It’s a Collab With Jeep
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Smartphones may give us an easy access to a light source, but for seeing objects at a distance or brightening a workspace in places like the attic or under the sink, you need the power and range of a LED (light-emitting diode) flashlight. Flashlights are vital for navigating the outdoors at night and absolutely essential during a blackout or emergency , when you don't want to drain your phone's battery.
We've tested a variety of popular models to find the best flashlights, whether you're looking for one to use in the midst of a blackout or simply want to put a decent one in the glove box of your car, just in case.
The Best Flashlights
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Best Overall: Maglite ML150LR LED Flashlight
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Best Tactical: Streamlight Polytac X USB LED Flashlight
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Most Versatile: Olight ArkPro Ultra
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Most Stable Light Output: ThruNite Archer 2A V3 LED Flashlight
How We Tested
Perhaps the most important element of testing flashlights is to ensure they're as bright as manufacturers claim. Brands typically list a lumen count , though they're often inflated. Flashlights tend to dim slightly after you turn them on and your eyes adjust, and how quickly they do so is key. It's not just about the peak brightness, but how long that brightness actually lasts and how bright the light is after it dims.
Trevor Raab
To measure lumen, you need an integrating sphere, which is an expensive piece of equipment. So for testing flashlights, we built our own. We consulted with product engineers at two different companies to go over our plans. We also used their commercial spheres to verify lumens on calibration lights to make sure that our own sphere sensors would be accurate.
After construction and calibration, we measured each flashlight individually at specific time intervals. We recorded our measurements immediately after turning on the light, every 30 seconds for the first 3 minutes, at 5 minutes, and then every 5 minutes for a full half an hour. Our official figure is based on our measurement at 30 seconds because most flashlights drop brightness quickly after that before eventually stabilizing at a dimmer level.
After completing the quantitative portion of our testing process, we used each flashlight in a variety of real-world applications, noting aspects including quality of build, ergonomics, weight, water-resistance, and other key specs.
Measuring lumens of the Olite ArkPro with our integrating sphere.
1) MagLite ML150LR LED Rechargeable Flashlight
Our best overall is an evolution on the classic hefty Maglite you remember in your parents junk drawer that could blind you if you looked directly at it. This model trades in the D batteries for a rechargeable and replaceable battery. Furthermore, the flashlight has an LED bulb that shines just as brightly as the old-school models you remember.
While Maglite lists that the flashlight shines with a brightness of 1,082 lumens, our own testing measured an even higher figure, not dropping below 1,082 lumens for more than three minutes.
Beyond this, I really love how it feels in my hand. It isn't quite as clunky as the giant models of the past, but it still boasts a similar heft that feels solid and durable. The aluminum frame and IPX4 water resistance rating backs that feeling up.
- Rechargeable
- Incredibly bright LED bulb
- Water-resistant body
- The plastic charging mount feels fragile and like it would break if you dropped it when attached to the flashlight
2) Streamlight Polytac X USB LED Flashlight
If raw lumens and longevity are top of your priority list, it's hard to find a better choice than the Streamlight Polytac X USB. The starting point of 554 lumens is already solid, but in testing, the flashlight settles between 334 and 324 lumens, which is a far higher than nearly all other options we tested.
The relatively compact design doesn't detract from the overall performance, as the light beam extends for close to 300 feet. That said, the reflector is not adjustable, so you'll have to look elsewhere for a floodlight.
Beyond this, we liked the nylon polymer body which was grippy and a lot more comfortable to hold in comparison to a fully metal exterior, which can be icy to the touch in cold temperatures.
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 likely only use it sparingly to set the preferred programs, which include low/medium/high, high/strobe/low, and high only. We recommend reading the instructions thoroughly to get this right.
From a fully charged state, the Polytac X ran for almost 5.5 hours during our runtime test before going dark.
- Plastic body transmits less heat/cold to the user
- High level of water resistance
- Awkward program selection
3) Energizer Jeep High Lumen-10000 Flashlight
No, Energizer isn't just for batteries and Jeep isn't just for cars. The collaboration between the two brands has led to an affordable, sturdy flashlight with enough brightness to cut through the darkness during late nights on the trails or on the roadside.
While Jeep's involvement isn't more than some design elements and a logo, this particular option is part of a larger lighting collection the brand did in collaboration with Energizer, featuring headlamps and other flashlights.
During our lumen testing, the flashlight measured a little less than 20 percent below the 1,000 lumens Energizer claims, which isn't uncommon given nearly all flashlights fall a little short of their advertised number. It still offers tremendous light, especially in tandem with the reflector and lens, which do a nice job angling the light out in a steady, powerful beam.
Test Editor Bradley Ford noted: "The unique feature on this light is the Power Indicator screen for which it is named. When the light is turned on, or the mode changed, the screen displays estimated runtime for that mode—then it switches to battery capacity, listed as charge capacity remaining. Really a nice feature, and better than typical three or four battery-level indicators that are more common."
- Tremendous light output
- Power indicator screen built in
- A bit bulky to fit in a pants pocket
4) Olight ArkPro Ultra Flat Flashlight
This ArkPro line of flashlights from Olight caught our eye not just for its slim, pocket-sized design , but also for the volume of additional features it offers. The ArkPro Ultra has four different lighting options: a long-range spotlight, a shallow floodlight, a UV light, and a laser pointer.
Furthermore, you can use those lights in combination with one another. For example, you can turn the laser pointer on and off while shining the flood.
During testing, the long-range spotlight and floodlight ended up being our favorite dual feature. We were able to illuminate small dark rooms easily with the shallow floodlight, while using the long-range spotlight for hallways and large empty spaces. Having both in one body is not a common feature. While we might have initially winced at the price tag, the Olight makes a solid case that it has the value of multiple flashlights.
That said, it's worth noting that our measured lumens fell short of Olight's claimed 1,700 figure. The flashlight is still much brighter than most other options but did degrade over the 30-minute test.
Another promising feature: the physical display lights on the body that indicate battery, brightness, and a lockout mode. That last one prevents kids from accidentally flashing the laser or other lights in their eyes by locking the device from shutting on and off.
The USB-C charging is also a plus. With nearly every smartphone charger already built in the same design, you've likely got dozens of compatible charging cords lying around.
- Multiple lighting modes
- Light-up display on flashlight body
- Battery cannot be replaced
5) ThruNite Archer 2A V3 LED Flashlight
We've tested other flashlights from ThruNite and were impressed by their durable, powerful lighting. That's why we called in the Archer 2A V3 to test.
The flashlight is said to have more than 8 hours of consistent lumen output, higher than many flashlights we tested. Along with brightness, the Archer flashlight is compact and easy to carry around for everyday tasks. Need a quick light to check the back of your shed? Simply reach into your pocket and use the Archer.
The ThruNite won't be top of the list in any one category but thrives on being pretty consistent across all of them. It's bright, long-lasting, and durable, which is just about all you really need.
- Consistent lumen output
- Lightweight
- Dedicated brightness adjust button
- Not as consistent at max brightness
6) ThruNite TC15 V3 Flashlight
This small, tactical flashlight from ThruNite does a number of key things well. The over 2400 lumens at its brightest setting rivals some of the most powerful options we recommend. At the same time the compact body and hip clip make it a great portable option that easily slips in a pocket or center console of your car.
What sets the TC15 apart from other options is the extraordinary runtime. On its Firefly mode (which is admittedly a very low setting), the flashlight can run for up to 30 days before needing to recharge.
The durable aluminum body is capable of handling a steep drop and the IPX8 rating means you can feel confident using it in the rain.
- Up to 30 days of light
- Comes with a strobe light mode
- Light gets hot quickly
Trevor Raab
What to Consider
LEDs vs. Bulbs
Traditional light bulbs, while nostalgic, are inefficient and waste a lot of energy. 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. Halogen bulbs are an improvement on classic incandescent lights, but still generate a ton of heat. Beyond this, the bulbs themselves are also quite delicate. If dropped, they can easily shatter.
In contrast, LEDs are 70 to 75 percent more efficient than incandescent lights. That efficiency doesn't lead to lower brightness either, with LEDs actually shining far stronger than most classic bulbs. The LED itself is a semiconductor that emits light when current passes through it. Furthermore, without a delicate filament inside, LEDs are far more durable.
Managing Heat
While LEDs in flashlights are more efficient than traditional bulbs, they still generate a fair amount of heat. Especially as brands continue to push to create brighter and brighter flashlights, the heat generated grows too. That said, most LED flashlights have circuitry designed to manage power consumption and prevent your light from burning up.
For the most part, as long as you use common sense and don't max out your light for hours on end, your LED flashlight should be fine. Take care of it responsibly and you'll never deal with heat issues.
Don't Get Wooed by Lumens—Understand Them
The actual brightness of your flashlight is measured in lumens . Lumens are essentially measuring the total light created by flashlight, with the higher the figure, the brighter the flashlight should shine.
Even accurate figures reported by a company can often refer to the absolute highest possible lumen output, which is not realistically what you end up using most of the time. Being able to measure them ourselves provides a lot of much needed reassurance.
That said, lumens aren't the end all, be all. A lot of the perceived brightness and clarity of the beam is due to the reflector shape and lens. So, the width and length of the light beam from your flashlight will likely be a better determination of whether it works for you or not.
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 indicates protection from solids like dust or grit. The second digit indicates 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 (if the X is where the first number should be) or liquids (if it's where the second should be).
For the first number, protection from solids, the highest rating, 6, indicates the light should be impenetrable by dust and sand. The highest value for the second number, representing protection from liquid, is 8. The flashlight can be submerged in water deeper than 1 meter for longer than 30 minutes, with no harmful effects.
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.
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