Flashlights have come a long way since they first arrived more than a century ago. Crucial in times of power outages, and priceless during late-night security checks, flashlights are not just brighter, they are more dependable than ever and even more compact and lightweight.
With the array of flashlights available on the market, it’s easy to get overwhelmed once searching for the right flashlight for your needs. To answer some of the questions you’ll come across, our buying guide below will share everything there is to know about today’s flashlights.
What are the key features I should consider when buying a flashlight?
Before you try to choose the best flashlight that works for you, you need to understand the choices you have. Below, we have examined some of those things that would come up when you need to choose a flashlight.
Regulated Output
Flashlights that have a regulated power supply maintain a steady, near-peak brightness level through a major percentage of the batteries' life cycle. Close to the end, however, the light output drops off abruptly and significantly. Unregulated flashlights would usually start bright then progressively grow dimmer as they drain power from the batteries.
Modes
A single setting is usually good enough for general purpose use but certain flashlight models offer 2 or more modes like low, medium, high, and boost. You may not require the extra modes but it’s a great option to be able to throw an extra-strong beam on demand. With these multi-mode flashlights, the brighter the mode, the shorter the runtime. Other models may also offer special modes like a strobe feature or more complex user-programmable modes though these might require some extra effort to set up on the light.
Controls
Some users might have a preferred choice amongst all the types of lighting mode switches available. Some of these controls make it a lot easier to handle these flashlights. For example, some flashlights come with a safety lock feature that prevents the light from being accidentally turned on and wasting power unnecessarily. Some flashlights also feature a silent insta-beam function (depressing the switch slightly activates the light until either a full click leaves it on or releasing the switch turns it off). This is a desirable feature in law enforcement operations.
Materials and Shape
Flashlight housings are usually either plastic or aluminum alloy. Some flashlights feature stainless steel head constructions for extra impact resistance. These materials all have their merits over one another depending on how they are used as the same material can be applied in different ways. For example; not all aluminum bodies are the same—thinner styles are lighter, thicker ones are tougher.
Flashlights are most commonly shaped cylindrically, but as these tend to roll around when laid on a surface, some models are designed to resist rolling. In addition to this, the surface of the body may have a knurled pattern to provide more grip and reduce slipping.
Accessories
Some flashlights might come included with add-ons or they might be sold separately. This is another thing to check for before buying yours. A few examples of add-ons that may be included are lanyard, belt clip or holster, lens filters, and diffusers.
Close-up or long-range
Generally, flashlights with larger heads (wider and deeper reflectors) will project a beam further and are best for distance illumination. Flashlights with textured reflectors give a smoother beam but will not shine as far as flashlights with smooth reflectors.
Size and Weight
The choice of the size of your flashlight is personal and subjective. Larger and heavier units are not necessarily brighter but are more likely to feature extended run times due to a greater battery capacity.
Flashlight Performance Standards
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) working alongside the flashlight industry, developed performance standards and symbols to effectively communicate a flashlight's features and benefits. Compliance with these standards is voluntary as the manufacturers do their own testing, but most of the major brands you’ll come across now include these performance data.
Light Output (Measured in lumens)
This is a measure of the intensity of the light that the flashlight produces, on the highest brightness setting powered by new batteries. It may also be featured for multiple light settings and is a great comparison tool, but does not tell the whole story about brightness. There are a lot of factors that influence the effectiveness of light in different applications (Beam intensity, distance, and type). The measure of a flashlight’s output can range from as little as 20 lumens (great for reading a book) to a whopping 3500 lumens.
Beam Distance (Measured in meters)
This is a measure of how far the light will shine before the brightness diminishes to the equivalent of the light from a full moon.
Run Time (Measured in hours)
this is how long it takes the flashlight output to drop to 10% of the rated output on new batteries, rounded to the nearest quarter-hour.
Impact Resistance (Measured in meters)
Flashlights are tested by dropping them onto concrete six times from a regulated distance. This test is done to primarily ensure that the flashlight remains functional after occasional accidental drops.
Water Resistance (Rated using the IPX system)
if you need to use your light in rain or specifically in bodies of water then this feature becomes a paramount function to look out for.
What are the types of LED Flashlight batteries?
A flashlight is useless without a source of power, so it’s very crucial that you spend time making sure the battery for your flashlight fits your needs. This will save you a lot of frustration down the road. Here’s a quick look at the main flashlight power options you’ll find:
Disposable
these kinds of flashlights require you to replace the batteries once the light beam is low. Their upside is you might get a higher voltage output for a smaller size and weight, making possible a brighter flashlight in a smaller, lighter package.
Rechargeable
flashlights that use built-in lithium-ion batteries can be recharged through a USB connection from a computer, AC or DC outlet, or solar panel. They compensate for their higher upfront cost by their low ongoing running cost – you would have no need for disposable batteries.
Renewable
These flashlights come with a built-in battery energized by a hand crank or solar panel. They are ideal for emergency kits.
Tip
Do not use lithium or lithium-ion batteries with any flashlight unless recommended by the manufacturer. You risk damaging the light by mismatching it with lithium batteries.
FAQs
Q: What is an LED?
A: A light-emitting diode (LED) is a semiconductor device that emits light when an electric current is passed through it.
Q: Which flashlight is best for me?
A: The right choice of flashlight depends a lot on the intended usage. Typically, there is no single flashlight that works well in all situations so you need to consider your application and ask yourself which of your options best suits this need.
Q: What are flashlights made of?
A: Aluminum is very frequently the material of choice for flashlights because it provides a durable shell that is also lightweight but there are other common options like copper, titanium, and polycarbonate (PC) materials.