Flashlight Buyers Guide

Are you looking for the best flashlights under your budget? In today's world, it is not easy for you to buy a flashlight at all. Even shoes and clothes have a variety of choices. A flashlight is very much a handy tool. Thus, if you don't want to invest too much and browse through multiple options, this guide will help you.

Whether you need it for regular use, professional application, or camping, this is the ultimate guide to buy the right flashlights. Furthermore, you will find some tips and extra information that can help you with the informed decision.

This guide aims to be simple for you. Thus, it won't consider the price factor and costs but will give you some tips on reducing the cost. You might learn about many different types of flashlights, as well. No need to be confused about making the right choice. Here's the guide you need:

Reasons to purchase a flashlight

You might think that you have a flashlight in your other devices like a smartphone. However, those flashlights have the primary use for capturing images. They can illuminate the area, but they are not focused. Thus, they slack in the performance and offer less visibility. The phone's flashlight is better for close range but not for distance.

Here are some other reasons to own a flashlight:

For the darkness

Of course, the primary use of the flashlight is to illuminate the darkness. If you take walks in the evening or have to work in a dimly lit area, a flashlight would be convenient.

Great for emergencies

Imagine that you are stuck in the dark of the night, and there's no power. Flashlights always help in case of emergencies, especially if you need focused light.

For better visibility

In dark areas, you have to rely upon flashlights to get better visibility. Similarly, if you're fixing an appliance or your house's circuit board, the room's ambient light might not be enough. For more focused light, you might want to have a flashlight. It makes work easier.

Even miners and several professionals use a flashlight for various purposes.

A self-defense tool

Some places don't allow people to own or keep a weapon. The world is a dangerous place, and you might encounter someone willing to attack you. If you have a flashlight with apt length, you can very well use it as a stick or a weapon to defend yourself.

Many tactical flashlights enable people to do this. That's why cops and other professionals have longer flashlights. With their damage resistance, these flashlights become heavy-duty to survive damage from impact or shock.

Save other power sources.

Similarly, it might save the battery of other tools, especially your smartphones, as you don't have to use their flashlights. If you have an emergency power supply unit, you might not want to waste it on providing light. A proper flashlight can be a versatile tool. Thus, it becomes paramount to consider the factors and get the one that suits you.

Factors to look for when buying flashlights

If you're ready to buy a flashlight, it's about time to get into the factors. As mentioned before, it is not easy to get the flashlights today. There are countless considerations. However, this guide will help you make a quick decision or get flashlights according to your purpose. So here we go:

Type of the flashlight

The type of flashlight you choose might depend on your requirement for the light and its purpose. Here are the three primary types that you can consider:

Regular

A regular flashlight is an excellent choice as an emergency light source. These are usually the most budget-friendly options available for flashlights. It also gets the most innovation regarding the design, size, and other features.

A regular flashlight brings you a variety of choices to fit your requirements. Even bigger lights (lamp lights) can be considered a part of the standard lights. For the sake of guiding you to buy the right one, it is a different category.

Tactical

These are great for professional applications. A tactical flashlight also comes in different sizes but primarily focuses on performance and endurance. They offer remarkable light quality and tend to have waterproofing. Apart from professional use, it is an excellent choice for camping or trekking enthusiasts.

However, as tactical flashlights have the primary role of providing lights, these usually have minimum features. Thus, they get the job of a flashlight done without anything elaborative. If you want a heavy-duty flashlight that you may also use for self-defense, these are pretty good with their impact and water resistance.

Lamp lights

These types of lights are bigger than the conventional flashlights and feel a lot like you're holding a lamp. You will get a lot of light power and higher battery capacity with these. Often, lamp flashlights come with a plethora of controls to set the brightness level.

You can use different switches to select the amount of light you need and how many bulbs should light up. Of course, these are great for any emergency and to light up. You can use a lamp flashlight as a floodlight, as well. The only drawback of these lights is the lack of portability as they are bigger and heavier. These lights certainly consume more space.

Components of the flashlight

If you want to make a quick buying decision, you have to consider the flashlight components. This is a surefire way to get the best flashlights anywhere. Here are the things to take note of:

Bulb

Don't go for the typical bulbs that were prominent in older flashlights. These are costly, produce heat and whatnot. It is better to get LED lights as these are the new uproar. LED lights utilize the least amount of energy to deliver the highest level of light output. Most of these have a more extended life than a conventional flashlight with a bulb.

You won't have to worry about them going bad from extensive use. Most of the flashlights with LED lights have more than one LED bulb. Thus, even if a couple of them go back, others will still work optimally to illuminate the darkness. LEDs are a cost-efficient and eco-friendly method.

Batteries

There are different types of batteries available in the flashlights, and it will impact the longevity and performance of your flashlights. Most of the flashlight users spend most of the batteries. AA batteries and other standard proprietary batteries may work for a fixed time before requiring a replacement.

Similar to the bulb, there has been an introduction of Li-ion batteries in the flashlights. These are reusable batteries, as you can recharge them. While conventional batteries may also offer you a recharging option, these li-ion charges way faster.

Other batteries will stop working with your flashlight all together. However, li-ion slowly drains down. You will know that your flashlight requires recharge if the light starts to dim down.

Rechargeable Flashlights

A rechargeable flashlight is not among the 'type of flashlights' because you can find the recharging option in almost all of those flashlights. It eliminates the need to consistently replace the batteries, although it is always a good idea to keep some spare.

For a rechargeable flashlight, you have to make sure that it has a convenient option for recharging. Some flashlights may say that they have rechargeable batteries but might require you to buy a charger for batteries separately. Thus, you have to check for the port available in a rechargeable flashlight.

Next, you have to check the kind of power output it requires. Modern rechargeable flashlights come with a USB port to make it easier for you to recharge them. It is a universal and most convenient method to recharge your flashlight, as you can use your laptops or power banks to charge them as well.

Lastly, some rechargeable flashlights come with solar chargers that could be an excellent choice for campers and emergency workers. So you can check this feature out as well.

Performance of the flashlights

If you don't want to make a quick buying decision and consider some factors further, then the next list is the performance factor. After all, you're buying flashlights for their ability to produce light and illuminate your path. Here are all the aspects regarding performance for you to consider:

Lumens

If you want a worthy flashlight, you should at least consider 100 lumens, while 300 lumens would get the job done very well. Now lumen is the unit used to determine how bright the light will be. Therefore, you have to consider the brightness factor.

Too bright flashlights without a control or adjustment option would be intense. So if you want to get a flashlight with higher lumens, look for a brightness adjustment. Brighter isn't always better, even for the flashlights. Lumens are not the only consideration for flashlights.

Candela

Candela of the flashlight is the bulb's shiny and reflective surface to amplify the light's brightness and overall density. The better quality of candela you have, the more you will get flooded and spread the light.

If you have more candelas, it means the flashlight will use less power and light to produce more brightness and light for you. It is a good idea to check out if there are proper candelas in your flashlight.

The light factor

Here is a more straightforward approach to help you get the right flashlights if you don't want to get into the entire specification and technical information on candela and lumens. For this, you will consider different factors that might suit your purpose.

Beam length

A beam's length is how far your flashlight's illumination can reach in a straight line. It could be a vital consideration if you want to get a flashlight for camping and hunting sites or check things differently. Of course, the farther the flashlight can go, the more power it would most likely consume.

Flood of the light

Floodlight is when the light from the bulb spreads to illuminate the surrounding. This is an excellent factor to consider if you want a flashlight or lamplight for your house or illuminate the area. It could work equally well for camping sites. However, sometimes you might want to focus the light.

Adjustments

There is an adjustment feature most of the flashlights have nowadays. It allows you to focus the light and decide its length and the flood. Most of the lights have different switches that activate a diverse range of bulbs for better illumination. So to control the flood and beam length, it is one of the best options available.

The longevity of the flashlights

Everyone wants to own a tool that can last for a long time without any problem. Flashlights are not necessarily used frequently. Thus, you might need something that could last for years to come. While flashlights are not costly, there's no point in always investing in a new flashlight.

If it wears out or drains after not using it for an extended period, it might not help you in an emergency. What good is the flashlight if it doesn't work during an emergency? Thus, longevity matters. Here are the factors that affect how long the flashlight will last:

Material

There are many different types of materials available in flashlights, similar to any other tools. However, you can consider the two most prominent materials: plastic and metal. A plastic flashlight is more resistant to external elements and won't degrade with time. There are many durable plastics available as well. However, it will never be as strong as a metal flashlight.

A metal flashlight is highly durable and able to survive rough handling. However, it is an old-time classic that is slowly becoming less available. Most people prefer plastic or similar material. The material of a flashlight also impacts its costs, size, and weight. People find plastic to be more comfortable and secure than metal, overall.

Weatherproofing

The most significant aspect of a flashlight is the weatherproofing quality. Not all flashlights are waterproof, to begin with, and waterproofing is essential for flashlights. Look for flashlights with proper IPX rating that would enable them to have waterproofing. There are different IPX ratings. Lower means less well-versed waterproofing. IPX8 is the higher waterproofing rating that you can get.

Damage from water due to rain, wet hands, or river is the most common cause of flashlights going bad. Mold, rusting, and other things are secondary. Now it comes to other weatherproofing elements. It would be great if the flashlight is dust proof as excessive dust may cloud the lens. A clouded lens won't be able to deliver impeccable light quality as it once did.

Furthermore, you don't necessarily need UV protection. After all, you won't bring out your flashlight in the presence of the natural sunlight. So if any Flashlight claims to provide anti-UV qualities, you can eliminate it. It would help you save more money on the flashlights.

Impact resistance

Apart from water resistance, impact resistance might be something to look for in flashlights. Tactical flashlights are heavy-duty and often have a rubber layer to absorb shock. Many other flashlights in the markets also offer rubber padding or layering for added protection.

Another leading cause of damaging flashlights is physical impact. Thus, if you look for an impact resistance quality in a flashlight, it allows you to handle flashlights a little roughly. The flashlight will sufficiently survive through falls and other possible physical damage.

Ease of use

The flashlights are a tool, and a tool's job is to make things convenient for you. Thus, a flashlight should be easy to use. Here are some factors for you that will enable you to find an easy to use flashlight:

Design of the flashlight

It might sound irrelevant, but the design profoundly impacts how comfortable a flashlight is to use. Some have a very user-friendly design with added grips and anti-slip integration on their plastic bodies. The texture of the flashlight helps in this case.

The design has a lot to do with the functionality of the flashlight, as well. Check where the switches are placed. If there are adjustment knobs or buttons, make sure that they are easy for you to reach. Does the flashlight require both hands or a single hand to operate? These kinds of factors will help you find the right design for the flashlight.

Significantly, you might want to consider where it stores the battery. How easy is it for you to replace the batteries or recharge them? Consider this for added convenience. Some flashlights don't have removable batteries and require you to open them from screws and replace them entirely.

Size factor

The size of the flashlight has a lot to do with ease of use. If your flashlight is longer or bigger, it might require both of your hands. However, it could be a great choice to protect you from dangers as a self-defense weapon. Smaller flashlights are easy to carry for their portability.

There are even keychain flashlights and whatnot that don't require you to carry the flashlight separately. However, the flashlight size might impact the batteries it can use and the number of bulbs. Thus, the performance may vary as well. So, you might want to consider the drawbacks of show size as well.

Cords, harness, or bands

Some flashlights come with a rubber band or cord for you to tie it around your hand and prevent it from slipping through your grip and falling on the ground. It a convenient safety feature to look for, especially if you have a larger or heavier flashlight.

The harness or band could also enable you to hook up the flashlight with your other tools. Have you seen Police officers carry a flashlight on their utility belt? This is how they might do it. You might not want to consistently reach the backpack to pull the lights out while camping or climbing. Thus, you can wear them on the hoops of your pants if the flashlight has a band or a hook.

Features to look for

Here is the least important consideration for you to make when buying a flashlight. These are still convenient and may make up for some of the handiest additions.

Colorful lights

Different colored lights are great to have different types of visibility. It can help you pay attention to a specific kind of light range better. If you're a research expert or an archaeologist, it might be a fun choice. Similarly, if you want colorful lights for fun, this could be an exciting addition to your lamp flashlights.

Blinking

Some flashlights come with a small programming chip that enables you to use them for SOS signaling. It could be a convenient feature to look for if you're going on a tour or camping. Some flashlights have excessive blinking, too, for party-like appeal.

FAQs: Best Flashlights

Q: How to maintain a flashlight?

A: If you don't use the flashlight frequently, it would be a wise choice to pull it out from time to time and check the battery. Some flashlights have a battery indicator. Others might decline in performance. Therefore, you can check it like this. You can also replace batteries from time to time, or recharge it if it's rechargeable. This will ensure that your flashlights last long.

Q: Should I keep spare batteries for flashlights?

A: Keeping spare batteries for a flashlight is a wise choice. If you're camping or indulging in a profession that requires a flashlight, you might want to consider carrying spare batteries. It is also a good idea to keep an extra pair in your house, in case of an emergency.

Even li-ion batteries run out of efficiency after a particular time. Thus, you might want to replace them after around 1,000 charges of the flashlight. However, by then, most of the people end up buying new flashlights.

Q: Should I invest in a solar charger for flashlights?

A: A solar charger could be a handy and cost-effective method to recharge your flashlight and possibly other tools. If you're considering it, then get a solar charger that can help you with additional charging capacity as well. Solar chargers can be costly for flashlights. It all comes down to your requirement. If you're going hunting or camping, it could be a worthy investment.

Conclusion

Now you can choose the flashlights that fit your needs. You might think that you'll never need a flashlight, but emergencies can arise abruptly. It's often during the night time that you might have to complete a particular task.

Thus, a flashlight is handy in many ways. From budget to features, you can choose the right flashlight. Hopefully, the tips and answers to the common questions enable you to make a better decision.