Whether you are into hiking, camping, backpacking, fishing, or in need of a light in case of emergency, a high-quality LED flashlight can come in handy for a variety of situations. The best LED flashlights are extremely reliable, durable, and come with a number of special features like versatile beam settings that can extend battery life and reach various distances. Many models even include rechargeable batteries that can last for several hours in remote locations while camping or hiking without power. Some LED flashlights can be purchased in value packs, so you can store one flashlight in your vehicle or luggage for trips, and keep another in a drawer in your home in case of emergency.
Whether you are looking for great value, durability, versatility, or reliability, we took a look at the best LED flashlights currently available on the market. Read on to see which product is the best fit for your next trip.
If you’re looking for a high-quality product, the LE LED Camping Lantern Flashlight is one of the most reliable and versatile products on the market. This flashlight’s headlight torch can be used as a high-powered flashlight, but it can also be used as a 360-degree lantern to light up your campsite. It provides up to 500 lumens of brightness and is completely water-resistant, perfect for use in heavy rain, snow, wind, sleet, and other hazardous weather conditions. The LED spotlight has a range of more than 1,000 feet. This flashlight comes with a fully rechargeable battery and contains a USB charging bank for charging your smartphone or electronic devices. In addition to the typical white light, this flashlight contains a red light, which can be used as a warning device in case of emergencies. This flashlight is the ideal choice for a variety of outdoor activities, including camping, climbing, hiking, backpacking, and fishing.
One downside of the LE LED Camping Lantern Flashlight is with its size. This LED flashlight is not as compact or portable as other options. If your goal is to light up your tent and you won’t be carrying this flashlight a long distance to your campsite, then this product is an ideal choice.
The Dorcy LED Floating Flashlight is one of the best budget-friendly options you will find. This LED flashlight is extremely durable, designed to not only survive drops from a high distance, but also float if dropped in water. This camping flashlight comes with a carabiner clip to easily attach to your belt or backpack when camping, hiking, climbing, or fishing. The flashlight is made from a durable, shock-absorbing rubber material that provides a slip-free and comfortable grip. The four LED bulbs provide 55 lumens of brightness for a beam distance of roughly 100 feet. The three included AA batteries provide 8 hours and 45 minutes of power. This flashlight is available in a variety of colors, including purple, yellow, green, blue, and pink. At a weight of just 6.4 ounces, this camping flashlight can easily be packed in your luggage and carried with you on long hiking, backpacking, or fishing trips.
One issue with the Dorcy LED Floating Flashlight is with the durability of the LED bulbs. Some customers have reported that their bulbs began to burn out after a year or two of extensive use. If this happens, you can opt to replace the bulb or to just purchase another flashlight at the excellent price point that it is available.
The Olight Baton Pro LED Flashlight may be priced at a premium, but it is one of the most powerful products on the market. This LED flashlight has a maximum output of 2,000 lumens with cool white high performance LED available. It includes a dual-directional stainless steel pocket clip that can easily attach to your backpack, luggage, belt or pocket for easy access while hiking, camping, climbing, or fishing. The flashlight can be powered via the 3500mAh 18650 rechargeable battery, which can easily be recharged with the included USB charging cable. A special setting allows this flashlight to reduce the power output to prevent any damage from overheating once the internal temperature reaches a programmed threshold. There is a visual display indicator located on the center of the switch to clearly display the battery level when needed. A convenient carrying pouch, lanyard, user manual, and battery case are also included with each product purchase.
One downside of the Olight Baton Pro LED Flashlight is with the battery charger. Some customers have reported problems with their battery charger after just a few months of use. If anything happens with your product, reach out to the company regarding a potential refund or replacement product.
The Anker Bolder LED Flashlight is another high-quality product with a number of special features. This camping flashlight has 900 lumens of brightness that can reach a distance of almost 1,000 feet. The flashlight features five beam settings, including high, medium, low, strobe, and SOS in case of emergencies. A rechargeable 3350mAh battery is included with this camping flashlight. The battery will last up to six hours on the medium beam setting, and it can be recharged in under six hours with the included micro USB cable. This LED flashlight is completely waterproof, and it can be used effectively in temperatures as low as 14 degrees Fahrenheit. It is the ideal flashlight on the market to light up your campsite, and it can also be used for long hiking, fishing, and backpacking trips, and more.
One issue with the Anker Bolder LED Flashlight is overheating. Some customers have reported that their flashlight gets very hot to the touch after a few minutes on the high setting. If you have any issues, reach out to the company regarding a replacement product due to manufacturing issues.
If you’re looking for a value pack at an excellent price point, the GearLight S1000 LED Tactical Flashlight may be the best choice for you. This LED flashlight is available to purchase in a value two-pack. The flashlight can be powered using a rechargeable battery or three AAA batteries. The LED bulbs can easily light up a campsite, tent, or RV, and the flashlight can focus on items up to 1,000 feet away. This flashlight has five useful modes: high, medium, low, strobe, and SOS. It is ideal for camping, hiking, fishing, backpacking, or just walking at night. This flashlight is completely water-resistant for use in heavy rain, snow, sleet, wind, or other hazardous conditions. It can also withstand drops or falls up to 10 feet. This LED flashlight is extremely lightweight and can seamlessly fit into your backpack or luggage for long trips.
One downside of the GearLight S1000 LED Tactical Flashlight is with its durability. Some customers have reported issues with the LED bulbs after a few years of use. Since it is available at an excellent price, it may be worth it to you to replace the bulbs or just purchase another set of flashlights.
If you’re looking for a flashlight that is perfect for travel, the EverBrite LED Flashlight may be the best compact flashlight on the market. This LED flashlight measures just 4-3/4 by 1-1/4 inches. It can easily fit in your pocket or be seamlessly packed inside your backpack or luggage while camping, hiking, backpacking, fishing, and more. Each purchase comes in a six-pack and 18 total AAA batteries to power the six flashlights. The flashlights are available in pink, red, orange, grey, teal, and blue colors. The nine LED bulbs provide a beam range of up to 59 feet. This flashlight will provide up to four continuous hours of light with fresh batteries. This flashlight is also the perfect size to fit in the desk drawer of your home or inside the glove compartment of your vehicle in case of emergency.
One issue with the EverBrite LED Flashlight is with its power output. This flashlight is not quite as powerful as some other options, but for its price point and the amount of flashlights included, you can’t go wrong with this value pack.
The ThruNite Archer 2A V3 Cool White LED Flashlight is another extremely durable product that is perfect for use indoors or while outdoors on hiking, camping, backpacking, fishing trips, and more. This flashlight operates on two AA batteries that provide up to 500 lumens in power. With a compact size of 6.10 by 0.87 inches, and a weight of only 1.70 ounces, this LED flashlight is the perfect option to fit inside your backpack or luggage. It also makes a great choice to store in your home or inside your vehicle in case of emergencies. This product has five separate lighting modes, including firefly, low, medium, high, and strobe light settings. It is one of the most rugged, heavy-duty LED flashlights, constructed from an aerospace-grade aluminum body with a military-grade Type III hard-anodized anti-abrasive finish.
One downside of the ThruNite Archer 2A V3 Cool White LED Flashlight is with its reliability. Since it operates on two AA batteries, this LED flashlight does not have as long of an operating power as some comparable models. You may want to consider purchasing a backup set of AA batteries in case this flashlight loses power on long trips.
With the Coast Polysteel 600R LED Flashlight, you’ll have a reliable light in any type of weather condition. This extremely durable product is also very easy to use and operate. Simply twist the head of the flashlight to switch between spot and flood beams. It features three lighting settings — full light, medium light, and low light — with a power output ranging from 73 to 710 lumens. It is completely waterproof and can operate under water, even after it has been submerged for hours. The rugged polysteel design is completely impact-resistant, capable of withstanding drops from great heights. On the lowest light settings, this LED flashlight can operate up to 40 hours on four AA batteries. The compact flashlight can easily be stored in your backpack or luggage for use on long hiking, backpacking, and fishing trips, and more.
One issue with the Coast Polysteel 600R LED Flashlight is with its reliability. Since it operates on four AA batteries, the operating power is not as long as that of comparable models. Make sure to purchase a spare set of batteries and take them with you when using this flashlight on long trips.
Related: Always be prepared with these 7 EDC flashlights
Why should you trust us
Living in the mountains of Western North Carolina, I have spent plenty of time outdoors on long hiking, camping, biking, backpacking, trekking, or fishing trips. Trust me when I say, owning a high-quality LED flashlight can be extremely useful for reliable lighting during the early morning or evening hours. The best LED flashlights are quite powerful yet lightweight, portable, and can easily be packed in your luggage for long trips. I thoroughly enjoy the outdoors and have written a number of other outdoor lifestyle products and camping equipment articles, including camping towels, hiking water filters, walking sticks, insulated coffee mugs, and more.
The most common types of LED flashlights
There are three main types of LED flashlights. Each type of flashlight offers its own unique set of features and advantages. Depending on your individual preferences, where you will be using your LED flashlight, and the type of activities you will be participating in, you may require a different type of flashlight to best fit your needs. Make sure to familiarize yourself with all of the different types of LED flashlights before making a decision on your final purchase.
EDC
EDC LED flashlights, or everyday carry LED flashlights, are the most budget-friendly and portable type of LED flashlight. This type of LED flashlight is quite rugged, reliable, and it makes a perfect option for daily use around your home. These flashlights are ideal for tight spaces and working on any projects in your home. EDC flashlights also make a great emergency option, so it is a great idea to store one in your home or vehicle in case you need it.
Rechargeable
Rechargeable LED flashlights may be the most popular and most commonly found option on the market today. This type of LED flashlight typically includes a built-in lithium ion battery and a USB cable that can be charged via any outlet, vehicle cigarette lighter, or your personal laptop. Rechargeable LED flashlights are available in a variety of sizes, ranging from compact, portable options to large, lantern-style lights. Make sure to check the lifespan of your flashlight on a full battery charge before heading out on a long trip with no access to a charging port. It may be a good idea to carry a spare battery with you with this type of LED flashlight.
Tactical
Tactical LED flashlights are best associated with law enforcement, military, or other special force groups. This type of LED flashlight is usually the most expensive due to the material that it is made from. Tactical LED flashlights are typically made from a high-quality, military-grade aluminum alloy or heavy-duty stainless steel. Many models are shock-resistant and completely waterproof, designed to withstand drops from a high distance and for use underwater. If you will be using your LED flashlight in inclement weather or in high-risk settings like construction zones, this type of flashlight makes a great option even though it is priced at a premium.
What to look for when buying LED flashlights
For this article, we extensively researched and tested a wide variety of different types and brands of LED flashlights. These included EDC, rechargeable, and tactical flashlights of all sizes and power options. The flashlights were all tested for reliability, durability, portability, and versatility. They were all tested in a number of different conditions, locations, and in a variety of weather conditions.
The results of this thorough research and testing can be found throughout this article. Make sure to familiarize yourself with the different types, brands, and features of each type of LED flashlights before making a final purchase to best fit your lighting needs.
Benefits of LED flashlights
There are several key advantages to purchasing and using an LED flashlight. The most obvious benefit is it provides high-quality lighting in dark settings within your home, while participating on DIY projects, or in case of emergencies like power outages. Most LED flashlights are compact yet still quite durable, designed for use in a variety of different conditions with a number of different light settings. LED flashlights can come in a variety of different sizes, designs and color options, and some are even designed from military grade materials to withstand extremely high drops and for use underwater.
Most LED flashlights are durable, user-friendly, and versatile, able to be used in a variety of weather conditions or emergency situations. LED flashlights make a great option while participating in numerous outdoor activities, including running, hiking, biking, fishing, hunting, camping, or for use around your home in tight spaces.
- One of the main benefits to purchasing an LED flashlight is its battery. All LED flashlights will have a better battery life than a standard flashlight due to the long-lasting LED bulbs. If using your LED flashlight on long overnight trips, you may want to have an extra set of batteries on hand so that you do not run out of power.
- Another obvious benefit of LED flashlights is that they are extremely convenient. LED flashlights provide reliable lighting at times when you need it the most. Whether you are using it for emergencies, for work in tight spaces around your home, or for use outdoors while camping, hiking, or fishing, LED flashlights are a very useful tool.
- LED flashlights are extremely versatile products, featuring several different lighting modes, ranging from low to high beam settings. Some LED flashlights even include special modes like red light, SOS, and strobe light settings, for use in case of an emergency. LED flashlights are also available in a number of different weights and sizes, so it is easy to find one to best fit your needs.
Pricing ranges for LED flashlights
- Under $15: LED flashlights in this price range provide excellent value. They are typically compact, lightweight, and they can easily be carried with you in your backpack or luggage on long trips. Some of these flashlights are available to purchase as value packs, so you can keep one flashlight in your home and another inside your vehicle.
- $15-$30: This is the most common price range for LED flashlights. LED flashlights in this price range are available to purchase as value packs, EDC flashlights, or rechargeable flashlights. If you do purchase a rechargeable option, it may be a good idea to purchase an additional battery if you will be using it on long overnight trips.
- Over $30: LED flashlights in this price range are priced at a premium. Despite their premium price point, these LED flashlights are typically of the tactical variety, made from the highest quality, most durable materials. If you will be using your LED flashlight in inclement weather conditions or underwater, you may want to consider a purchase in this price range.
How we chose our top picks
When reviewing new outdoor products, we much prefer to go the hands-on route, but sometimes a lack of resources may prevent us from trying out the outdoor equipment in person. To make sure we don’t let you down, we take the time to thoroughly research and review other professionals who have hands-on experience with the equipment, combing through extensive reviews on Amazon, professional publications, outdoor enthusiast blogs, and more to bring you the best information available. For this review, we found the information at Gear Junkie, CNET, and Ask Men to be extremely helpful when shopping for the best LED flashlight for emergency use, DIY projects, or your next overnight camping trip.
Related: Get it done in the dark with these 5 tactical flashlights
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