Once again, we have scoured the internet to find the highest rated flashlights. The lights we feature here received the most praise from the forums and review sites we assessed. These sites included: CPF Reviews, Backpacking Light, Light Reviews, Candle Power Forums and LED Museum.
The most notable technical developments in the flashlight world were next-generation LEDs such as the Cree XR-E and the Seoul Zpower P4 LED. The best flashlights incorporate these bright, high-quality LEDs, and combine them with regulatory circuits to insure a consistent, long-lasting light.
Only interested in flashlights that use AA or AAA batteries? See the keyring-sized Fenix LD01 or the Streamlight. See also our guide to the best rechargeable batteries.
Here are our picks for 2009’s outstanding flashlights:
Fenix TK10 and TK11 LED Flashlights
Pros: Very bright, durable, quality components, waterproof, inexpensive.
Cons: Uses specialized batteries (not AA or AAA)
Price: $73
Once again, a Fenix light heads up our list of top rated flashlights. The Fenix TK10 impressed reviewers with its build quality and light quality. The TK10 uses of two Cree 7090 XR-E Premium Q5 LEDs, producing very bright beam of light (225 lumens in turbo mode). Most reviewers say that Fenix now rivals Surefire in terms of build quality, and because Fenix lights use Cree LEDs, their flashlights are brighter and more affordable than Surefire lights.
The Fenix Tk10 is part of the Tactical range of flashlights from Fenix Light. The Fenix TK10 is actually an enhanced version of Fenix T1 Tactical. The TK10 uses two CR123 batteries and operates on two digitally regulated light level (you can get rechargeable CR123A batteries). You switch between light levels by turning the flashlight’s head: turbo mode is 225 lumens, and general mode is 60 lumens.
What is a RCR123? It’s a rechargeable lithium-ion battery equivalent to the size of a CR123 battery with a 3.0V working voltage.
Fenix TK10 Flashlight
The body of the TK10 is built of aircraft-grade aluminum alloy, and it has a very solid construction. The flashlight is coated inside out with olive color type III hard coat anodizing that not only provides excellent surface look and feel finish but also protects body against bruises scratches.
Amazon reviewers gave it 4.5 stars (out of 5).
It’s available from Amazon for $73.
Fenix has just released the Fenix TK11, which is very similar tot he TK10, but it can be used with rechargeable 18650 batteries! Adrian Alan at the Fenix Store says:
With a rechargeable 18650, my TK11 ran strong at or near its full output (225 lumens) for what I’ guessing is a total run time of over 2 hours, and according to Fenix it will give out 12 hours of 60 lumen output for hours after that. The 225 lumens can be a little bright bouncing off the walls inside a building, but you can crank it down to 60 instantly by twisting the bezek.
One important difference between the TK10 and the more recent TK11 is the reflector: the TK10 uses a textured reflector, the TK11 a smooth one. The beam from a textured reflector is more even, with a more gradual transition between the hot spot (the center of the beam) and the spill (the periphery of the beam), whereas the smooth reflector provides a more concentrated beam, and therefore a better throw (range).
What’s a 18650? It’s a rechargeable lithium-ion battery with a 3.7V working voltage. Currently available in protected and unprotected versions. The number 18650 actually refers to the size of the battery which is 18mm wide and 65mm long.
You can find rechargeable 18650 batteries and the chargers at Amazon.
If you plan to use the TK11 with CR123 non-rechargeable cells, then buy the TK10 instead. The TK11 will accept CR123s but it is designed to accommodate the wider rechargeable 18650, meaning that the CR123s will rattle inside the battery tube. A single 18650 rechargeable cell in the TK11 will give you a better battery life than 2 CR123s or 2 rechargeable RCR123s in the TK10.
The Fenix TK11 is available from Amazon for $75.
Home Page: Fenix Light
Fenix LD01 LED Flashlight
Pros: Very bright, uses single AAA battery, rugged, waterproof, affordable.
Cons: Finish has some minor scratches.
Price: $41
Reviewers are virtually unanimous in recommending the Fenix LD01 as the best keychain-sized flashlight. The only flashlight that can challenge it in this category is the AAA Arc GS LED.
The Fenix LD01 flashlight runs on a single AAA-sized battery, yet it can produce 80 lumens of light on its highest setting. It uses a Cree Q5 LED as its light source, and the lens is made of toughened, anti-reflective glass (as with all Fenix lights). It has three output modes: 10 lumens, 27 lumens, and 80 lumens.
The Fenix LD01 is also “IPX-8 water proof” which means it is suitable for continuous submersion.
The Fenix LD01 is available from Amazon for $41.
Home Page: Fenix Light
Nitecore Extreme Flashlight
Pros: Very bright, uses single CR123 battery, excellent runtime
Cons: Somewhat expensive.
Price: $92
The NiteCore Extreme is flashlight design for Law Enforcement and for self-defense. Reviewers say the output and runtime of the flashlight are top-notch (see this extensive review for details). The NiteCore Extreme runs on a single CR123 battery, and they body is built of military-grade aluminum alloy. It has two light operating levels both of which are are configurable through light programming and are memorized.
The NiteCore Extreme uses Cree 7090 XR-E Premium Q5 binned WC tint LED. The reflector is built from solid aluminum with a Light Orange Peel reflector finish. It uses digitally regulated electronic drive circuit along with micro controller based programming unit. Brightness levels are controlled by turning the head.
The Nitecore Exteme flashlight is available from Amazon.
Home Page: Nitecore
Streamlight 4AA LED Flashlight
Pros: Inexpensive, extremely rugged, good beam shape.
Cons: Best for household or car use
Price: $24
Reviews say the Streamlight ProPolymer 4AA Flashlight is the best flashlight for general household use. There are lighter and brighter flashlights out there, they can’t beat the Streamlight’s price at $24. The flashlight uses 7 leds that produce a flood beam with a hotspot in the middle. Reviewers at Amazon give this flashlight 4 or 5 stars, and rave about its ability to fill a room with light.
Home Page: Streamlight 4AA Product Page
Surefire G2 Flashlight
The Surefire G2 is a the flashlight that other high-end flashlights are compared to. Overall, its an excellent flashlight, but it suffers from lack of updating, and thus it lags behind in terms of brightness. But if you want a flashlight with history of dependability and durability, this is it.
The G2 is made by Surefire as a (relatively) low cost alternative to their other personal lighting products. It has all the features of the standard 6P, but is made of a special plastic called “Nitrolon”, a very tough plastic compound exclusive to Surefire. The body tube has a waffle pattern molded into it for grip. Inside the body tube is a metal sleeve for conducting electricity and completing the circuit when in use. The bezel has ridges around its base, again for grip, and also to serve as an anti-roll device.
It’s available from Amazon for $65.
Read more! Related stories:
- World’s Brightest Single LED Flashlight: Neofab Legion II
- The Tri-L: A Portable LED Work Light
- Review: The Best Flashlights (2008 Update)
- Icelight: LED Desk Lamp
- Dynamo 3-LED Flashlight
{ 40 comments… read them below or add one }
Does anybody know where these torches and rechargeables can be bought in the UK (online)?
Love your site, but you seem to aim your reviews at the very wealthy. $73 for a flashlight is not “inexpensive”. That would be ~$10. Unfortunately, green tech remains beyond the budgets of most of us. It would be nice if your reviews reflected that.
target has one for 13 dollars named the river rock. i coudn’t find it online, but i’ve seen it in most of their stores, in fact i just went yesterday and saw it, and it’s an awesome flashlight. it uses one AA and has a beautiful focused beam of led light.
For about $10 you can get a MiniMag (An excellent light for most people!) that will give a brightness of 6-8 for about half an hour. In a professional flashlight you’re going to pay $50-$300 and get ten times the light for ten times the time.
Flashlight Price Light Duration
Minimag $10 7.5 41 minutes
Fenix tk11 $73 60.0 10 hours
You can also pay $150 for the performance of a tk11, and that’s what is meant by “Low price”.
Cheryl…perhaps a $10 light is inexpensive to you, but mind the fact that a $10 light won’t shoot a beam worth it’s cost. I mean, you can use it to read a label on a fuse box just fine, but if you were searching for something in the woods, or rummaging through your shed at night to find something, that light won’t help at all. $73 isn’t cheap, but in the line of lights that put out 225 lumens, it’s a very reasonable price. Look at bicycle specific lights and then you will notice a ridiculous price jump.
Dear Cheryl,
Thanks for taking a stand against Global Nerdism.
Global Nerds believe a $73 flashlight is “inexpensive.”
After all, when GNs need a light that can (fill in exceptional Global Nerd Situation 1.0 here) $73 is “inexpensive.”
The rest of us believe as you do – less than $10 for a flashlight can be termed “inexpensive.”
Fear not Cheryl. In a blindingly short time, $73 Flashlight model 1 will be selling for $9.99, having been obsoleted by $73 Flashlight model 2 which can (fill in exceptional Global Nerd Situation revision 2.0 here.)
Global Nerds: Lather, Rinse, Repeat.
Jeff: It’s not it’s.
The Rest Of Us: Stand firm for T.R.O.U !
Where is this fabled $10 flashlight? I’ve bought some cheap flashlights in the past. They all eventually broke due to shoddy components. One $20 light by Princeton Tec did last, but the flashlights listed here are much brighter and longer lasting. It comes down to quality.
Surefire E2DLED or nothing.
/end
if that is the only choice, nothing.
These ledtorches are expensive and give only a decent amount of lumen.
What happen to the SSC P7 that give about 900 lumen of light?
(at half the price)
What about these solar flashlights from SunNight Solar. They are 39$ and that sends one light to a developing country. I bought one two years ago and it works great for dog walks. Stays charged pretty well sitting near a window with mostly indirect sunlight.
http://www.bogolight.com/
YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR…..this has always and will continue to be a fact. If you pay 10.00 for a flashlight, you will receive 10.00 worth of quality. It’s like buying a hyundai and thinking it will handle like a BMW = no dice. The Nitecore D10 for 60.00 is the best for the dollar value….the best part? it’s a single “AA” battery light that is a momentary and clicky….it’s the best light I’ve seen on the flashlight market for years. Look at uniquetitanium’s site…
Good reviews. Thanks. Inexpensive is such a relative term. You can’t please everyone I guess. Have you ever noticed how mad people get when you say something they can’t afford is inexpensive? There are flashlight collectors on the candlepower forums that pay over 500 dollars per flashlight. So to them I guess $73 dollars would be inexpensive. My good friend and next door neighbor who is a policeman just bought the Fenix TK10. When your life may depend on it, you don’t want a $10 flashlight! If you just want to walk your dog then go ahead and buy one. Instead of complaining here about what you can’t afford, why not go through all of the hard work of making your own website and review all flashlights that cost less then ten dollars. Then someone who can’t afford a ten dollar flashlight will come and say that to them a one dollar flashlight is inexpensive and complain about your choice of words.
Cost is relative. I’m disappointed none of the Maglites made it into your list.
I have a Maglite, 4 cell (D cells) flashlight purchased in 1969 for $12. The current price is +/- $30. I recently had some cheap batteries leak in it. I contacted the company via their website and asked about replacement parts. They are sending me the necessary components, AND the tools to install them — free of charge!
If you can afford a $30 flashlight that’s going to last 40 years, and a company to stand behind it, I have to recommend Maglite.
A possible solution to that “$10 flashlight”.
A solar powered flashlight (actually any light source) that will stay chaged for 3 years in your dresser drawer, and is waterproof to 80 feet.
Check out the hype at http://www.hybridlight.com
I’m surprised there hasn’t been mention of those shake flashlights that don’t use any batteries. Hard to beat them for efficiency. I know a lot of them are just toys, but I did a lot of research on the subject and can recommend a good one: the Nightstar 3 from Applied Innovative Technologies (http://www.appliedinnotech.com/products/shake-flashlights/nightstar3.php?tab=Ideal%20For). I own one of these, and have been pleasantly surprised.
IMO, these Chinese flashlights are so expensive! Even more expensive then the world’s leading brand, Surefire
Anyway, I’ll stick to my Maglite D (under $20) from Wal-mart., it’s USA owned.
Maglite insists on continuing to manufacture in the USofA as well, preferring a reduced margin to firing an excellent staff. See the post below expressing how steadfastly Maglite stands behind their product. Mine Maglite torches are decades old and equipped with LED replacements.
Jason, I did some quick research after getting my Maglite repaired. According to two tests, the RayOVac alkaline batteries out-lasted the Duracell. Shock to ME. They got 22 hours out of the RayOVac and 15 out of the Duracell. Most others were under 11 hours. Hang onto that Maglite! (See my post earlier about the company)
James, until I came across the solar hybrid, I was ready for the “shake” light. Everyone should take care they aren’t getting a “toy”, as you pointed out. A friend of mine got one, and the fist person he showed it to shook it like a can of Cool Whip, and broke it!
If you use a flashlight everyday and are aware of what you need it to do (and why the $10 flashlight will never do it) then $70 is inexpensive – if you use a flashlight to convince the kids that there are no monsters in the closet then its not. As already mentioned, it is all relative.
It’s true…it’s all realative, but I think there’s a little gray area between the two examples cited. I worked for 20 years at a job where I carried a flashlight constantly. I didn’t use it every day, but when I needed, I needed it to work! I carried a rechargable, $120 Streamlight for 2 years, until the switch broke. Then I went back to my 4-cell, $20 Maglite, which was already 30 years old at the time. It’s true price is relative. What I’ve been saying is that price does not always equal quality.
Kind of hard to fit a four D cell light in your pocket. Not to light for backpacking. Besides I own a two C cell Maglight that I much prefer over their D cell ones. You can wrap your hand around it and you can actually stick it in your back pocket handle down. But for every day carry I own a Gerber/Infinity single cell AAA with twist cap switch. It has served me for years. I am a electrical contractor and you can put it in your mouth and hardly know it is there, Besides who needs to put a flashlight underwater forever like the claim of the Fenix one. Nice light. Two options general one and premium one. Both expensive like thirty and fifty range. They are great lights and I plan on owning one some day. And I am with the person that said Nothing for Surefire or nothing. Over rated, over priced. The Fenix version of the small surefire has tabs on each side of the tailcap switch. Less likely to turn it on and less likely to abrade it over the years. Better light for less than half the price of the overrated surfire ones.
Daniel
Hi. Maybe you can compare these flashlights too:
Neofab Legion II; Jetbeam M1X; Fenix TK40. They might be the best flashlights in 2009.
Legion II has the best real torch lumens output, and TK40 can be driven with AA cells.
Fenix L2d or Fenix Ld20 enough said
Spending $79 on a light is not much if your life depends on it. These are tactical lights made for law enforcement and military.
Streamlight Microstream: $11, one AAA battery, metal, waterproof
Eagletac P100 A2: $42, two AA batteries, metal, waterproof,
EagleTac P100A2 (Turbo Mode) – 5150 lux @ 1 meter
EagleTac P100A2 (General Mode) – 1730 lux @ 1 meter
Fenix E20 – 2530 lux @ 1 meter
I love this web sit. I can get allot of GREAT things.
Thanks for the Info.
I like this new flashlight that also makes the perfect work light –
LED Flashlight
as for quality and price, remember………you may not always get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get.
I second that!
Hmm, forgetting about the Zweibrüder Led Lensers I suppose..
If you are looking for a very small light that produces a LOT of light (I have one and it is amazing) you should check out this new pen light
To those complaining about the price, the article probably should have specified that this is a professional quality light. Flashlights have too many categories to say that this one is the “best”. Anyway, you get this light sometimes at a site called Flashlights4all.com for a slight discount. Normally it tough to find these things on sale.
I think it’s difficult to rate LED flashlights, because they have such different purposes. One needs to think about his requirements, and then find a suitable product, or best compromise. In other words, “best” for your purposes might not be “best” for my purposes. I would not have rated this websites’ flashlight choices above a B rating because of their limited utility and technology. The mechanical aspects of these lights is an A rating, but the optics, efficiency, usefulness leave a lot to be desired. Some manufacturers are not well represented here.
Coast makes some very affordable flashlights, with “good” focusing optics. The power regulation in Coast high performance flashlights needs significant improvement, perhaps using a modern boost-buck switching power supply like Linear Technology’s LTC3780 current regulator for LED’s. Most flashlight manufacturers need to employ more modern electronic technology in their flashlights. While Coast does use microprocessors in some of their high end flashlights, like the P14, there seems to be some room for improvement. For instance, externally rechargeable batteries are not always guaranteed to deliver the same performance as the rechargeables in the manufacturer’s OEM flashlights. Good electronic LED drivers will overcome that limitation.
Optics seem to be another area where much improvement is needed. Focusing optics allow the user to deliver just the right amount of light for the task at hand. I don’t see any manufacturer anywhere using multicoated optics for improved light transmission, even though $25 binoculars at Wal-Mart come with that feature. Every non-coated lens surface wastes 10% of the light output. That’s 20% wasted light due to reflection with the flat lenses so widely employed in flashlights – even $300 ones. LED reflectors are more inefficient than TIR lenses. No TIR lens is multicoated (e.g., L2, POL, Fraen, Carclo, Ledil, etc.). Focusing optics combined with a good LED brightness regulator will provide a wider usage range. The best LED flashlights seem to be lagging significantly behind LED bicycle light technology, so manufacturers in certain business sectors are taking advantage of available technology.
Get any new Fenix light at http://www.fenixtactical.com – best prices, batteries, chargers, leather holsters available.
We ship worldwide same day! All products are in stock!
This an unusual combination – a bright (LED) FLEX LIGHT, but configured with a flex neck for industrial inspections…
Hi everyone! I have spent many hours on the web trying to find our which led flashlight really does the job. Sadly I have invested several hundred dollars finding out which ones now stay in a box. I suppose I want what everyone else does, that being the brightest,clearest light, and the longest run time from common easy to find batteries, and also packable (somewhat small) with a variable use. So here is the fruits of my finds for those of you who care:
My best overall pick is one I found from a place called superbrightleds.com. It puts out a very clear center circle with a very nice bright halo, and is soft, clear, balanced, a perfect size, really lights things up, and projects out several hundred feet, and this is all from one AA battery. This company sells lots of leds for auto and home use, and only couple of flashlights, but the stats on this one are fantastic. It will also take a 3.7 volt rechargeable lith. ion battery and will put out 205 lumens with the 3.7 volt battery, or it will us a standard AA alkaline and put out 130 absolutely perfect lumens. It will also let you cut back the lumens by a variable means down to a still very bright low level that is quite good, and is suppose to last 50 – 80 hours from one battery from this setting. It is model number ITL-15 and cost $39.00 plus $5.00 shipping. After I ordered one and proved that it was really that good with a tempered glass lens, alum. reflector rough on the bottom third and smooth on the last 2/3 to give both a clear even light, and also a very long projection. It has a very nice cree led. I ordered two more and found that the same $5.00 shipping got me two lights on the second order.
The second best if you want a spotlight that goes out the furthest is a Dorcy rechargeable 220 lumen with a cree. For packable a Coast LED Lenser tt7438 with an adjustable prism shoots a beam out there, and also softens up for up close. It is suppose to put out 105 lumens, and it is promised that you will still be getting light at 120 hours. I do know that it is in the pack of bright perhaps only a little less than the best, but so much more versitile, and long run time, and comes with a nice carry case at $45.00 from Lowe’s. It uses 3 AAA’s. I also have a couple of other LED Lensers that are very good, and the latest minimag light, and a River Rock with a Cree led that uses 2 “c” cells and claims 60 hours of light with 21 being at the rated 130 lumens. It comes from Target, but has the soft reflector, and is nice but does not shoot a clear beam out there. The Rayovac 3 “c” cell sportsman is a very nice torch, but big and heavy, but comes with a Cree LED, and claims 100 hours run time, but I doubt it. Still it is a very nice light at between the $25.00 I paid, and the $35.00 some are asking. Dorcy makes a few others that are ok for a cheap price, but they all have plastic lenses, and the batteries go from 2 -12 hours or so. I told you about the best one first, and the next few are very good. I hope this helps someone out. I think the first one I was sharing is a rare find, and you should go to the web site and check it out. I have purchased three now, and they are all consistant, and do exactly as advertised.
The Fenix LD01 does not impress me. The Gerber Infinity Ultra (formerly know as the Arc) runs on ONE AA and can easily last 80 hours! Try THAT with a fenix! Sure, the Gerber is less powerful (but still bright), bet seriously…who is looking for “throw” with a miniture light?? With micro lights for working, durability and run time are king (of which the Gerber/Arc AA SPANK the Fenix LD01). Oh…and the Gerber IU is $15. The Gerber/Arc is the CLEAR winner of the micro lights.
Here is a super-bright flashlight, but not in the normal light wavelength. I have used this new UV flashlight for leak detection for a few days now and it is by far the most powerful LED ultraviolet penlight that I have ever seen – it outperforms a $120 UV light I bought a few years ago, and is about one-tenth the size. Cool purple annodized aluminum body.
I have to appoligize. That little surefire Titan is not $229.99 It is actually listed on their site for $239.99. If you buy that light I have some land in Hollywood for fifty bucks an acre for you.
My mistake.
Daniel