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The Best Flashlights to Guide You in the Dark

The Camping List Review Team
Written By The Camping List Review Team
Last updated: Mar 31, 2025, 11:27 AM
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Flashlights

Whether you’re preparing for a blackout next storm season or an expedition into your local woods, a flashlight is an indispensable tool to guide you along your path. If you’ve taken a look at the vast number of options, you might already feel like you’re fumbling around in the dark. Do not worry because we’ve put together this article to help cast light on the best flashlights available today. We’ll go through a ranking of our favorite choices, highlighting the top benefits of each, so you can pick out the perfect choice for your needs. From prepared homeowners to adventurous outdoorsmen, we have options for everyone and every need.

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Our Top Picks

The Best Flashlight of 2025

GearLight 2-Pack S1000 LED Flashlights

Best for Indoor and Outdoor Usage
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This flashlight works perfectly for just about any task you could ask of it. Its zooming capabilities give you ample spreads of light for nighttime treks, but you can hone in the light to a highly-precise beam for maintenance work, reading in the dark, and any other home task. The aluminum exterior resists anything you throw it. This light survives drops and harsh weather alike, guaranteeing you a trusty companion for years to come. Plus, these each come with a carrying holster to ensure you always have a spare pocket to hold them. GearLight covers every detail; the design even ensures that the light won’t roll away if you drop it. For its excellent power and durability, this set easily sits at the top of our list.

Product Pros
  • Bright beam with wide adjustability options
  • Long-lasting battery life
  • Durable, weather-resistant construction for long life
Product Cons
  • Adjustments may alter beam shape

Lighting EVER LED Flashlights

Best Compact Option
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The LEDs on these flashlights come with ample lighting capabilities, visible up to 500 feet. 140 lumens of brightness promise to light up the dark wherever you need it. With one button to turn the light on and off, this flashlight is easy to use, especially when you need a quick source of light in a pinch. A wrist strap comes attached too, making it great to keep especially close on hand if you’re working in the dark. For its superb ease of use and compact size, this device is one of the most convenient options on the market, and our pick for best compact option.

Product Pros
  • Compact size for convenient carrying
  • High-power beam
  • Wrist strap for easy handling
Product Cons
  • Flashlight tends to overheat

LETMY LED Tactical Flashlight

Best Value
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The LETMY LED Tactical Flashlight has a host of powerful features you should expect out of a high-quality flashlight: an ultra-bright beam with adjustable zoom, a durable outer construction to survive weather and drops alike, and extra features like a strobe flash and SOS signal. This model’s superb value sets it apart from others; these flashlights come in 2-packs and 4-packs that offer a superb cost-to-unit ratio. Whether you want to fully stock your family on flashlights or ensure you always have a backup (and maybe even a backup for your backup), these flashlights offer one of the best deals for buying in bulk. But even at their excellent value, they don’t skimp on any of the features you should expect from a quality product. Each device features over 10 hours of active time per battery, and a whopping 50,000 hours of use per lifetime. You’re getting a long-lasting tool at an excellent value with these.

Product Pros
  • Excellent value
  • Includes alternate light modes like stobe
  • Significantly long device lifespan
Product Cons
  • Batteries not included

Energizer LED Flashlight Vision Pro

Best for Home Use
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Whether you’re hard at work on home projects or telling the kids bedtime stories with a little dramatic flair, this flashlight works great for any home task. Its adjustable beam features a variety of LED light modes, including wide spreads for rummaging through attics and precise beams for intricate house work. The pulsing strobe mode works great too; in case of an emergency, the visibility on it is fantastic. The High mode casts a whopping 1300 lumens of brightness to light up dark attics or basements, and you can shine a precise beam on DIY projects with the adjustable beam. All this comes in a durable aluminum case set to stand up to the wear and tear of regular use. The Energizer LED Flashlight Vision Pro is the perfect companion for all of your needs around the house.

Product Pros
  • Ultrabright LED light with multiple settings
  • Low mode great for casual use
  • Shatterproof lenses
Product Cons
  • May overheat at high settings

WdtPro LED Flashlight S3000

Best for Outdoor Use
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The WdtPro LED Flashlight S3000 provides up to 1600 lumens of brightness, perfect for lighting your way on trips through the woods and on other outdoor adventures. The battery lasts up to 6 hours on maximum power and up to 30 on lower settings, ensuring you plenty of time to complete your journey. This tool makes for an excellent companion in the rugged wilderness. The waterproof design easily resists inclement weather as well as drops and falls. It also comes with a wrist strap so you can easily keep it on hand during your journeys into the wilderness. Should an emergency arise, the strobe light makes for a powerful emergence signal with its high visibility. Whether you regularly adventure outdoors or want an emergency tool just in case, this flashlight makes for an excellent choice.

Product Pros
  • High lumens flashlight great for outdoors
  • Easy to handle with wrist strap
  • Durable and waterproof
Product Cons
  • Only three light modes

A Buyer's Guide To Finding the Perfect Flashlight

Here’s a guide to finding the best flasghlight, read more.

Features of Highly-Effective Flashlights

Brightness or Lumens

Flashlights measure their brightness output with lumens. A small flashlight may only have 100 to 200 lumens, while larger models used for outdoor or emergency purposes may have 1000 lumens or more. If you need to navigate in dark areas like cellars or the outdoors, we recommend one of the latter, so try to find a choice with 1000 or more lumens. For reference, a regular 60W light bulb provides around 800 lumens of brightness.

Beam Distance

Beam distance refers to the maximum distance that a flashlight can cast light. If you’re using the flashlight for outdoor activities, a long beam distance is useful. However, for indoor use, a shorter beam distance is more than enough.

Battery Life

Consider the type of battery your flashlight uses, as this will impact its longevity. Some devices use standard AA or AAA batteries, while others use rechargeable batteries. Remember, a flashlight with a higher lumen rating will drain the battery quicker, so be sure to balance brightness with battery life.

Durability

A good flashlight should withstand the rigors of your activities. Look for flashlights with features like water resistance and impact resistance. The IPX rating of a flashlight gives you an idea of its resistance to water and dust – the higher the rating, the better.

Size and Weight

The size and weight of the flashlight are also important, particularly if you need to carry it around. Compact flashlights are easy to carry but may not offer the same brightness or battery life as larger models.

Switch Type

Flashlights can have different types of switches including push buttons, rotating switches, or slide switches. This feature largely depends on personal preference, but it’s worth considering the location of the switch and whether it is easy to operate.

Extra Features

Many flashlights come with extra features like adjustable brightness levels, strobe mode for emergencies, and even USB ports for rechargeable batteries. While these features aren’t necessary, they can add value and versatility to your device.

People Also Asked

Why isn't my flashlight turning on?

If your flashlight isn't turning on, it could be due to several reasons such as dead batteries, a faulty bulb or LED, or a problem with the switch. Try replacing the batteries first and then check the bulb or LED. If problems persist, contact the manufacturer.

How do I replace the bulb in my flashlight?

To replace the bulb, first ensure the flashlight is switched off and has cooled down. Unscrew or open the head of the flashlight, carefully remove the old bulb, and replace it with a new one of the correct type. Check the product manual or consult the manufacturer for additional instructions or bulb specifications.

Why is my flashlight flickering?

Flickering could be caused by loose batteries, a worn-out switch, a faulty bulb or LED, or a poor connection. Check the batteries and the bulb, and if the problem persists, you may need to have the flashlight repaired.

What is the lifespan of a flashlight?

The lifespan of a flashlight will depend on the quality of its construction, its usage, and how well it is maintained. A good flashlight can last for several years, or even decades, with proper care.

Is my flashlight waterproof?

Not all flashlights are waterproof. Check your flashlight's specifications or user manual to see if it is. Waterproof ratings are usually given as an "IPX" number, with higher numbers indicating greater water resistance.

Why is my flashlight getting warm?

Flashlights, particularly high-powered ones, can generate heat as a byproduct of producing light. This is normal, but if your flashlight becomes excessively hot, stop using it and let it cool down. If it continues to overheat, it might be a sign of a fault.

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