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The Best Tactical Flashlights for Security and Survival

The Camping List Review Team
Written By The Camping List Review Team
Last updated: Feb 18, 2025, 07:57 PM
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best tactical flashlight

We’re all familiar with flashlights, right? We can all agree that they’re pretty handy, so what makes a tactical flashlight so special? The answer is in their name — these devices aren’t like ordinary flashlights, as they’re specifically designed for tactical purposes and situations when a normal flashlight just won’t cut it. Tactical flashlights are used by law enforcement, are great for the outdoors, and can even add some versatility to weapons that their standard counterparts simply can’t.

With the wide array of options and features available, it can be exhausting to try to find a tool that caters to your needs. Try not to worry, though, because we’ve put together a list of the leading tactical flashlights of 2025 to make your job easier. We’ve also included a buying guide to answer all your burning questions and help you make a solid purchase, so read to the end to find out more.

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Our Top Picks of Tactical Flashlights

Here Is the Finest Tactical Flashlights of 2025

Swiss Safe Tactical Flashlight

Best Glow In The Dark
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The Swiss Safe Tactical Flashlight is a must-have for any EDC or outdoor camping enthusiast. It boasts a unique emergency flashlight feature, which glows in the dark and is powered by a built-in rechargeable battery, eliminating the need for extra batteries. The solar charge and hand crank dynamo features provide additional power options, offering up to 2 hours of light from a pocket size solar cell and eight minutes of light from just one minute of cranking. 

This flashlight is designed with an ergonomic tactical grip and a mini keychain carabiner for added convenience. It is the perfect size to fit comfortably in your pocket or to clip it onto your belt loop. It is multi-purpose and can be used in emergencies, for first aid kits, survival gear, and of course outdoors and camping. The Swiss Safe Tactical Flashlight is definitely worth your consideration. This best overall flashlight’s various power sources offer reliable convenience and its unique glow-in-the-dark feature adds an extra level of safety for all your outdoor adventures.

Product Pros
  • Built-in rechargeable battery
  • Glows in the dark
  • Super ergonomical
Product Cons
  • Could be bigger

Feyachi Tactical Flashlight

User-Friendly
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If you’re looking for a tactical flashlight that’s great for hunting, then consider the Feyachi FL11-MB. This white LED light boasts 1,200 lumens and its rechargeable batteries can offer you peak performance at 200 meters for up to four hours straight. Mounting this tactical flashlight is a cinch, and its compact, lightweight design helps it remain unobtrusive during use. 

This tactical flashlight features a dual-function pressure switch with two modes (constant-on and momentary-on) and even better is that this switch can easily be controlled with one hand. Paired with a matte-black anodized finish, its aircraft-grade aluminum alloy design gives this device some aesthetic points as well, and it comes with an IP65 water-resistant rating. 

Product Pros
  • White, 1200-lumen LED light
  • Water-resistant, anti-abrasion design
  • Dual-function pressure switch for increased convenience
Product Cons
  • May heat up after a while

OLight Tactical Flashlight

Great Features
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The OLIGHT Odin 2000 gives you everything you would expect from a high-quality tactical flashlight. It can produce a whopping 2,000 lumens of white LED light, and with this power, you can illuminate a distance of up to 300 meters. This tactical flashlight is easy to install on Picatinny rails thanks to its removable sliding rail mount, and it features a mechanical lock for increased security. 

You can also take advantage of this tactical flashlight’s magnetic remote pressure switch to secure it by simply pushing on its ring. It boasts a relatively small, compact design, and it’s powered by a customized battery that can offer up to eight hours of use and faster charging times. The construction of this tactical flashlight is exceptional, and it boasts a stainless steel bezel, an aircraft aluminum body, and a type III anodized finish that comes with an IPX8 waterproof rating.

Product Pros
  • Strong, high-quality construction
  • Impressive brightness and throw distance
  • Easy to mount and secure
Product Cons
  • Customized battery can be difficult to replace

POVAST Tactical Flashlight

Great Value
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Looking for a high-quality light source that offers some bang for your buck? Then check out the POVAST Tactical Flashlight. Featuring an L2 LED bulb, this flashlight produces 1,200 lumens and runs on a single rechargeable battery that can last for up to five hours. A unique thing about this tactical flashlight is that it offers two-way functionality — this means you can use it as either a standard or tactical flashlight, and the former includes five modes, while the tactical flashlight option includes an offset mount that fits on any standard Picatinny rail.

There are two switches in the tail of this tactical flashlight, one of which is a button switch and another of which is a pressure switch. It even includes a side switch that makes it easier to toggle between this tactical flashlight’s modes, and its solid aluminum alloy build boasts an IPX5 waterproof rating.

Product Pros
  • High-quality, long-lasting design
  • Works as a standard or tactical flashlight
  • Side switch for increased user convenience
  • IPX5 waterproof rating
Product Cons
  • Fit could be more secure

Lcyyo Tactical Flashlight

Top Brightness
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Another option to consider is the Lycco Single-mode Tactical Flashlight. This device runs on a single lithium-ion battery and outputs 1,000 lumens from its LED, and it can last up to five hours when fully charged. This tactical flashlight can cover a solid distance of up to 200 meters thanks to its 6.5-degree beam angle, and it features two kinds of switches (a constant-on mode and a remote pressure switch) to allow you to use it however you want.

This tactical flashlight can easily be installed on standard Picatinny rails, and its compact aluminum alloy build offers it strength. An anti-abrasive, hand-anodized finish gives the body of this tactical flashlight a sleek, sophisticated look, and it features adjustable zoom so that you can tinker with your range of illumination.

Product Pros
  • Good battery life
  • Fits standard Picatinny rails
  • Offers adjustable zoom
Product Cons
  • Not very durable

Finding Your Next Tactical Flashlight: A Buyer’s Guide

Tactical flashlights can be a great addition to your home or field kit, but with so many available, it can be difficult to know where to start. Try not to get overwhelmed, though, because this buying guide is designed to help you learn all you need to know about tactical flashlights in 2025.

Tactical Flashlight Features To Consider

Beam brightness

The brightness of your tactical flashlight is something that can’t be overlooked. The intensity of the beam is typically measured in lumens, and this indicates the maximum output of the light at full charge. Anything ranging from 500 to 1,000 lumens is suitable for most tactical flashlight purposes.

Beam distance

Another factor that plays an important role in the quality of a tactical flashlight’s output is its beam distance. Beam distance indicates how far the light will reach before its effects start to fade, and it’s usually given in meters. The brightness setting, however, can affect the beam distance on a flashlight, so keep this in mind while making your choice.

Runtime

The runtime on a tactical flashlight is measured in the time it takes for the device’s output to drop to 10% of its rated output value. This is provided in hours, and battery life is greatly affected by a tactical flashlight’s brightness levels.

Another thing to note is that the brightness and power output of some tactical flashlights may vary or decrease as their battery levels drop, something that’s known as unregulated output. Regulated output is when a tactical flashlight can maintain a constant level of brightness until its battery eventually dies.

Water and impact resistance

A tactical flashlight’s water resistance is measured using the IPX system. These devices typically have either an IPX4, IPX7, or IPX8 rating, with each level providing various degrees of water resistance.

Impact resistance is the distance from which a tactical flashlight can be dropped and continues to function normally, and this is usually provided in meters.

Tactical Flashlight Beam Types

Flood/fixed beams

These beams are great for flooding a wide area, but this typically comes at the cost of distance. Tactical flashlights with flood beams are great for use in large open areas while camping or doing other outdoor activities.

Spot/focused beams

These beams are not as wide as flood beams, and they’re more focused on covering greater lengths. A tactical flashlight with a spotlight beam can help you see things farther away, making them ideal for fast-paced activities.

Adjustable beams

Tactical flashlights with adjustable beams make you the boss, allowing you to manually control the kind of beam you need depending on what the situation calls for.

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What Are the Different Controls on a Tactical Flashlight?

On/off switch

Many tactical flashlights feature a standard on/off button or switch.

Push button

Because of how convenient they are, push buttons are pretty standard for modern tactical flashlights, allowing you to easily turn the light on or off and cycle through its various modes.

Rotating bezel

A rotating bezel is another convenient way to control a tactical flashlight. Apart from turning the device on or off, a bezel can also vary your device’s brightness. It does this without making a sound (unlike a switch or push button), making it perfect for tactical operations.

Remote pressure switch

A remote pressure switch is another covert way to control your tactical flashlight. By mounting these switches on a noiseless pressure pad and in a convenient place, you can activate them with the slightest of pressures and deactivate them upon release. Remote pressure switches on most tactical flashlights offer either momentary-on or mode switch features.

What Are the Different Power Sources in a Tactical Flashlight?

Disposable batteries

Batteries like AA, AAA, or even the slightly more expensive CR123A batteries are fairly common when it comes to tactical flashlights. They can easily be swapped out for new batteries and have a high voltage output relative to their size.

Rechargeable batteries

Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, or other batteries like the 186500s or 20700s, are great substitutes for disposable batteries. They can be recharged using a micro-USB cable when they run out, and they help to reduce waste as well.

Renewable batteries

Renewable batteries are usually powered by a hand crank or a solar panel. They’re not as powerful as other tactical flashlight options, and they’re usually reserved for emergencies.

People Also Asked

What is a good lumen count for a tactical flashlight?

 While there’s no definitive answer when it comes to lumen count, the sweet spot typically lies somewhere between 500 to 1,000 lumens or more. Besides lumen count, beam distance, beam type, and some other factors will affect a tactical flashlight’s output.

What’s the difference between a tactical flashlight and a normal flashlight?

 The difference lies in features and durability. Tactical flashlights are incredibly durable and made from high-grade aircraft aluminum, and they boast an armor coating that’s water- and impact-resistant. You’ll also get a variety of different features and light modes when it comes to tactical flashlights, like strobe effects, an SOS mode, and much more.

Does weight and size matter in a tactical flashlight?

Not really, as these factors won’t have any significant effect on the performance of the tactical flashlight itself. It might be worth considering, though, if you care about how the flashlight feels in your hand or on your weapon.

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