We spoke with Jacobson and Greg Atwell, the President of BrightGuy, Inc., and researched and tested top models, considering their brightness, battery life, lighting modes, and durability. Our best overall pick is the OLIGHT Warrior X Pro Superior Tactical Thrower thanks to its excellent brightness, throw distance, and waterproof and impact-resistant design. Here are the best tactical flashlights. Another hallmark of this flashlight is its rugged construction. It has a sturdy, easy-to-grip, textured body and a strong bezel. It’s capable of withstanding drops up to 3 meters and has an IPX8 waterproof rating. While Olight doesn’t specify the exact threshold, this rating means the Warrior X Pro can handle dips in water without issues. Rather than relying on replaceable batteries, this flashlight has a built-in rechargeable battery and an upgraded magnetic charging cable that Olight says replenishes the battery two times faster than the standard Olight Warrior X model. This flashlight also has a low-battery indicator to help you stay aware of battery levels. Once the battery life reaches 30 percent or lower, the low-battery indicator vibrates once every five minutes. As the battery power depletes more, the frequency of vibrations increases to let you know you should recharge the device. We appreciate this flashlight’s IPX7 rating, which means it can withstand submersion in up to 1 meter of water for up to 30 minutes. During testing, we dropped it from a two-story staircase and submerged it in 2 feet of water for five minutes. After both instances, the flashlight worked perfectly fine and we didn’t notice any damage. When it’s time to replenish the battery, you can use the provided Micro USB charging cable. However, it’s slow to recharge and requires about eight hours based on our testing. This flashlight has a removable pocket clip and an anti-roll head, so you don’t have to worry about it rolling off a tabletop or away from you when you put it down. It also has an IPX7 rating, meaning it can tolerate submersion in up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes. Its impact resistance is also up to 2 meters. This model only requires two AAA batteries for operation and can run for an hour and 45 minutes on High mode and 13 hours on Low mode. This flashlight offers 350 lumens of brightness, which is significantly lower compared to other options, but still more than adequate for most uses, especially considering this size. You can also choose between one alkaline or one lithium battery for operation. As for lighting options, this model has Low, High, and Strobe modes. On its lowest setting, this flashlight can throw a 53-meter beam and run for up to 14 hours. On High mode, it can throw a 160-meter beam, but the battery life is significantly lower: It can only run for up to one-and-a-half hours. This flashlight has two light modes, High and Low, which range from 1100 to 150 lumens of brightness. You can access either mode with a quick button press. This model can run for 12.5 hours on Low mode, which is a significant amount of time, but other flashlights provide longer low-mode runtimes. And unlike many other tactical flashlights, this model doesn’t offer a strobe option. On the plus side, this flashlight is rechargeable and comes with a custom magnetic charging cable and a vibrating power indicator to let you know when to recharge. It also comes with convenient carrying accessories, including a lanyard and holster. As for the build quality, it has a strong, aluminum alloy body with an anti-abrasive finish and a strong bezel for self-defense purposes. This model also has a 1.5-meter impact resistance and an IPX8 rating, meaning it’s rated for protection in up to 2 meters of water. In addition to the assortment of helpful lighting mode choices, this flashlight comes with a rechargeable in-unit battery and a Micro USB charging cable. The aluminum casing of this flashlight, which includes a robust bezel, is just as powerful as the light beam it produces. With an IP68 rating, this flashlight can withstand 2-meter submersion in water, exposure to elements like sand and dirt, as well as drops up to 3 meters. It’s rechargeable (via the USB-C charging cable), and the flashing indicator lets you know how much battery life is left. You can also take advantage of the backup battery option (two CR123A batteries), memory function, and various accessories, including a holster, lanyard, clip, and extra O-ring. It also has a dual tail switch that allows you to quickly turn the flashlight on, switch between brightness levels, or quickly enter strobe mode. With six brightness levels, you should be able to find a mode on this flashlight that fits your needs. You get the longest beam throw of 1,247 feet on the 3100-lumen Turbo mode and the lowest beam throw of 131 feet on the 30-lumen Eco mode. However, the flashlight’s battery also depletes the quickest in Turbo mode, which can last almost four hours. If you want to get the longest performance from this flashlight, Eco Mode offers an impressive 43.33-hour duration. Some tactical flashlights’ highest modes may be too bright for most uses, so you may want to make sure there are lower modes that better suit your needs. Whichever brightness you choose, Jacobson recommends looking for a model with “a well-focused tight beam that concentrates all the light in a relatively small spot.” You may also want to consider coordinating features like light modes and levels and throw distance (how far the beam reaches, which could be great for emergency signaling).
Durability
A tactical flashlight is typically rugged, but you should still examine IP waterproofing and durability specs to match how and where you’ll use it and which level of protection is appropriate. Some models with IPX8 ratings can withstand submersion in water over 1 meter deep, while some have IP68 protection against exposure to elements such as sand, dust, water, and extreme temperatures. Impact resistance is another important durability factor to consider. Look for a drop rating in meters based on drop testing results. You may also want to look at the materials as indicators of ruggedness. Many tactical flashlights use aluminum and stainless steel and provide protection over charging ports if they use a rechargeable battery.
Battery Life
Battery life varies based on the model and brightness mode, but you can usually expect faster depletion on the highest mode and the longest performance on the lowest mode. Most product descriptions for flashlights list the various runtimes for each lighting mode but don’t be too concerned if the highest mode’s runtime seems significantly lower. Most tactical flashlights’ highest modes likely offer such intense brightness that you will use them only occasionally, so be sure to note the runtime on the other settings as well. As for how much runtime you need, consider your main uses. If you go on long hikes or camping trips or tend to be forgetful about replacing or recharging batteries, you may want to opt for a tactical flashlight with above-average battery life. Some models offer over 40 and even up to 350 hours of battery life on their lowest settings. Other helpful features to look for include low-battery indicators to let you know when you might need to charge up soon or alternate backup battery options in the case of rechargeable models.
Why Trust The Spruce?
This article was written by Sarah Toscano, a staff writer at The Spruce specializing in smart home and tech content. She read through customer reviews and various discussion forums, watched video reviews, and evaluated each product’s specs—such as brightness, durability, and battery life—to make the picks for this article. Atwell adds that a “flashlight with a tail switch works best. The tail switch should have a momentary option meaning a soft press on the button will turn on the light, but once you remove the pressure, the light turns off.” “An everyday carry light can be a tactical light, but more importantly, it is a size that somebody can comfortably have with them all day and every day,” says Atwell. “For most people, an everyday carry flashlight (EDC) will be carried in a pocket or clipped to a belt. Generally, an EDC flashlight will be small and unobtrusive.” To better understand tactical flashlights and their potential uses, Sarah reached out to Greg Atwell, the President of BrightGuy, Inc. and Cliff Jacobson, an outdoor writer and consultant and Distinguished Eagle Scout.
