Modern flashlights are applicable for a wide range of scenarios, offering longer battery life, powerful LED luminance, and excellent color rendering. Check out our picks for the best flashlights of 2023.
If you want a powerful, versatile lighting solution, the best flashlights still offer advantages over headlamps in many scenarios.
Flashlights point wherever you want, not just where your head is pointing. Also, due to fewer weight constraints, they tend to have more powerful, longer-lasting batteries and incredible power for modest-sized devices.
And to be honest, I’m a flashlight buff. Yes, I also use headlamps a lot when I’m outdoors. But more often than not, I grab a small flashlight from my truck center console and, if I need two hands for a project, clasp it in my teeth. I just love having the ability to point it wherever I want without having to crane my neck in a specific direction.
So if you love torches, read on for what we’ve determined to be the best flashlights available today. You can learn a lot more about how I tested and chose these flashlights below, but right up top, I’d like to call out that this article focuses on truly excellent flashlights that can perform day in and day out, whether you use a light professionally or simply need one for camping or to store at home for a power outage.
Note: This isn’t a list of “light cannons,” as you’ll rarely need 1 million candlepower. But I did include one monster in case super-powered lighting is your jam!