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9 Best EDC Flashlights of 2023

Introduction

Having a good flashlight can really help out, not only in everyday situations (like walking to your car in the dark), but also out in the wild where there is limited (if any) unnatural light sources.

Check out our listing of the best EDC flashlights for 2023!

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Our picks

Mike’s Top Pick

LuxPower Tactical V1000 LED Flashlight [2 PACK]

This is a small, lightweight, but powerful flashlight with the five different light modes: low, medium, high, strobe, SOS. It also has a  wide area focus option and a focused beam option.

This flashlight has power options of either 1 18650 lithium ion rechargeable battery, or 3 AAA batteries.

This flashlight can be completely submerged in water for a short period of time.

Pros:
        • Battery options:  can run off of one rechargeable lithium ion battery or 3 AAA batteries
• Waterproof: can be completely submerged in water for a short period and shock proof
• Five light modes that allow for varying brightness and power duration and a zoom mode that allows for focused beam

Cons:
        • Not as many zoom modes as other models

Value Pick
WdtPro Waterproof Military Grade Tac Light

This flashlight is a bit bigger and heavier than some of the others listed, but it’s hard to complain for the price, and the fact that you get two for the price of one.

You can use a lithium ion rechargeable battery of 3 AAA’s, and this flashlight have five light modes, and the focus of this light can be adjusted.

It can also be used in heavy rain.

Pros:
• Waterproof against heavy rain
• Five light modes that allow for varying brightness and power duration
• Battery options. Can run off one rechargeable lithium ion battery or 3 AAA batteries

Cons:
• Heavy and larger than other available models

Premium pick

Fenix PD35 TAC 1000 Lumen CREE XP-L LED Tactical Flashlight

This flashlight is very portable, comes with an option to use 1 battery or 2, and has 2 different standard usage modes: indoor or outdoor.

In outdoor mode, this flashlight has 6 different light modes: eco, light, medium, high, turbo, strobe and SOS.

This flashlight can be completely submerged in water up to 6.5 feet for 30 minutes.

Pros:
• Battery options. Can run off of one rechargeable lithium ion battery or 2 CR123A batteries
• Waterproof. Can be completely submerged in deep water for 30 minutes
• Six light modes that allow for varying brightness and power duration and a zoom mode that allows for a focused beam

Cons:
• No zoom modes like other models

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Table of Contents

Introduction

Our Picks

Table of Contents

Comparison Table

Reviews of the Best EDC Flashlights

Additional Information

What is an EDC flashlight?

What’s the difference between an EDC flashlight and a regular flashlight?

Why do you need an EDC flashlight?

What makes a good EDC flashlight?

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Comparison Table

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Reviews of the Best EDC Flashlights

Fenix E12 Flashlight Pocket-Sized bright flashlight 130 Lumens

At only 4” long, with a lightweight aluminum body, this flashlight is very portable. It has three light modes, an LED bulb and runs off of one AA battery.

The three light modes offer flexibility in brightness and duration: low at a duration of 40 hours, medium at a duration of over 6 hours, and high.

With its varying brightness modes, this flashlight is good for anything from searching for your keys, looking for firewood outdoors, or searching for your hiking path. It’s different brightness modes also mean that the flashlight can last for up to 40 hours at low light, which is reassuring for usage in emergency situations.

It’s LED light also assures that this flashlight will last for a long, long time. It’s made from durable aircraft-grade aluminum, and has an IPX rating of 8. It’s waterproof for up to 2 meters at 30 minutes.

Pros:
• Waterproof up to 2 meters for 30 minutes
• Three light modes that allow for varying brightness and power duration

Cons:
• At only 130 lumens, it’s not as bright as some of the other flashlights listed here

What buyers said

“I use flashlights a lot, I have many others, but wanted something small for everyday carry. This one is perfect! I love that it only takes one AA battery, and has three light modes.”

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LuxPower Tactical V300 LED Flashlight [2 PACK]

This flashlight is similar to the Fenix E12: it’s aluminum, lightweight, and has three modes. That’s where the differences start: this flashlight has a low, high, and strobe mode, making it better for emergency signalling.

At 300 lumens, this flashlight reaches a distance of up to 600 meters. It’s both waterproof and shockproof.

It’s lightweight and at only 4.2 inches, it’s very portable. It takes one AA battery.

This flashlight is great for searching for keys, being outdoors, and calling for help in an emergency.

Pros:
• 2 for one
• Waterproof and shockproof
• Three light modes that allow for varying brightness and power duration

Cons:
• Only 300 lumens, it’s not as bright as some of the others listed.

What buyers said

“This is a bit of a cheap-feeling flashlight, it feels a bit flimsy, but that’s made up for by the price and the fact that I got two flashlights instead of one for that price. I use this for taking my dog out on nighttime walks, and it works great for that purpose.”

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Streamlight MicroStream Ultra-compact Aluminum body with AAA alkaline battery

This is another small, lightweight, LED flashlight. It runs off of one AAA battery for up to 2 hours and 15 minutes. The LED bulb has a 30,000 hour duration.

It’s 28 lumens reach up to 52 meters. This flashlight is water resistant to splashes of water and can withstand the impact of a 1 meter drop.

This is the lightest flashlight on our list so far at a weight of only 1.12 ounces, and the smallest at only 3.5”. It also has the lowest lumen count so far, meaning it’s not as bright as the others.

Because of its only 35 lumens, this flashlight works best for searching for keys, or anything else that is at a close distance.

Pros:
• Very small and lightweight
• Waterproof against splashes and shock resistant up to 1 meter

Cons:
• No variation in brightness
• Not very bright, good for searching items at a very close range only

What buyers said

“This is a quality flashlight. It’s really lightweight, easy to carry around everyday, but it’s not bright enough for my everyday needs. It works well for searching for items at close range, but after about two feet, the brightness really decreases”

“I really like this flashlight, it’s super lightweight and small. It works well as an EDC light, and I don’t have to worry about dropping my phone or having to worry about making sure it’s charged when I have this little light in my pocket.”

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Streamlight 88052 ProTac HL USB 850 Lumen Professional Tactical Flashlight with High/Low/Strobe – 850 Lumens

This flashlight is a bit more expensive than the others on the list, but it also has lots of features that the others don’t.

This is another aluminum flashlight, but it’s heavier at 7.2 oz.

It has three modes: low, high, and strobe. It can be programmed for only high mode, and also medium.

Instead of taking AA or AAA batteries like the others on the list, this flashlight takes lithium ion batteries, and is USB rechargeable. The self-adjusting battery cradle feature allows multiple battery sizes and “eliminates battery rattle.”

The LED bulbs in this flashlight last for up to 100,000 hours, and can run for 7.5 hours continuously.

With an IPX rating of 4, this flashlight can withstand splashing water and can be dropped from 1.5 meters without damage.

This flashlight works well in emergency situations, for outdoor or indoor use, and can be used for self-protection purposes for disorientating people with its bright light.

Pros:
• Rechargeable using included USB cord
• Waterproof against splashes and shock resistant up to 1 meter
• Three light modes that allow for varying brightness and power duration

Cons:
• Heavy

What buyers said

“This flashlight is great, the only complaint I have is that I thought the light would be brighter. Other than that, I’m pleased with this light, it’s still quite bright and works for everyday use.”

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WdtPro Waterproof Military Grade Tac Light

This flashlight is bigger at 6.1’ and heavier at 11.4 oz than the others listed, as its made of aluminum and steel. It also has more features.

It has the highest IP rating so far: 65, as it’s designed for use in heavy rain.

It comes at a great price and there are two flashlights per package.

As a power source, this flashlight can take either 3 AAA batteries (included) or 1 18650 lithium ion rechargeable battery.

This flashlight has five modes: low, medium, high, strobe, and SOS. You can adjust the focus of the spotlight on this flashlight for up observation of up to 600 feet. While it may be somewhat heavy for everyday carry, this flashlight can be used in all kinds of everyday situations, indoors and outdoors, and is also suitable for emergency situations and sending out SOS signals.

The LED lights in this flashlight can last for up to 100,000 hours.

Pros:
• Waterproof against heavy rain
• Five light modes that allow for varying brightness and power duration
• Can run off of one rechargeable lithium ion battery or 3 AAA batteries

Cons:
• Heavy and larger than other available models

What buyers said

“I work in security and have given these flashlights to 5 of my security guys. After one year, only one has broken, and one has gotten some dust in it and has become a bit loose. Overall, very happy with the cost and performance of these flashlights. It’s a bit annoying to have to cycle through all of the modes to turn the flashlight off, but other than that they’ve been decent.”

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PeakPlus Super Bright LED Tactical Flashlight Zoomable Adjustable Focus

This flashlight is a good size and weight for an everyday carry flashlight. Unlike the others in its size and weight category, this flashlight has five brightness modes: low, medium, high, strobe, and SOS.

It’s water and skip resistant, and it’s 18650 lithium ion battery is rechargeable with the included charger. It takes about 6 hours to fully charge this flashlight, and there is an option to use 3 AAA batteries instead of one lithium ion battery.

Unlike all the others listed so far, this flashlight is zoomable, so the light can be focused. There are five zoom modes: 1x, 250x, 500x, 1000x and 2000x. Its beam can go up to 500 meters.

The LED bulbs used in this light last for 100,000 hours.

Because of its five different brightness modes and zoom modes, as well as its lighter weight and smaller size, this flashlight can easily work as an everyday carry flashlight and a flashlight for emergency situations and sending SOS signals.

Pros:
• Water resistant and skid proof
• Can run off of a one rechargeable lithium ion battery or 3 AAA batteries
• Five light modes that allow for varying brightness and power duration and zoom modes allow for a focused beam

Cons:
• Not waterproof against heavy rain

What buyers said

“This is a sturdy, durable light, you can tell it’s good quality when you open up the package. I was a bit skeptical of this flashlight at first because of the cheaper price, but it really is a quality flashlight.”

“I love this flashlight, my only complaint is that you need to remove the battery to charge it, you can’t just plug in the flashlight itself.”

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LuxPower Tactical V1000 LED Flashlight [2 PACK]

This is another small, light, but powerful flashlight with the five different modes: low, medium, high, strobe, SOS.

Again, this flashlight has power options of either 1 18650 lithium ion rechargeable battery, or 3 AAA batteries.

Unlike the others, this flashlight can be completely submerged in water for a short period of time. While the PeakPlus has more zoom modes, this one does have a wide area focus option and a focused beam option.

Pros:
• Can run off of one rechargeable lithium ion battery or 3 AAA batteries
• Waterproof, can be completely submerged in water for a short period and shockproof
• Five light modes that allow for varying brightness and power duration and a zoom modes that allows for a focused beam

Cons:
• Not as many zoom modes as other models

What buyers said

“This is a great little flashlight. I’m intending to use it for protection, and it definitely seems bright enough for that. Also seems really sturdy and I love that I can use it in the rain!”

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Fenix PD35 TAC 1000 Lumen CREE XP-L LED Tactical Flashlight

This is the most expensive and impressive flashlight on our list so far.

It’s light, small, and made of aluminum, like many of the others. It can use  1 18650 lithium ion rechargeable battery, or 2 CR123A lithium batteries. What sets it apart is its brightness features.

This flashlight can be toggled from tactical mode to outdoor mode. In tactical mode, it can be used for 1 hour and 10 minutes on turbo mode which use 1000 lumens, or it can be used on low at 60 lumens for almost 30 hours. There is also a strobe mode.

Toggle the flashlight on to outdoor mode, and suddenly you have 6 different light modes, which last from 1 hour to 140 hours on eco mode. Eco mode is one we haven’t seen on this list yet. It uses only 8 lumens and can last for 140 hours. Turbo is another new one, which lasts around 1 hour.

Another feature that sets this flashlight apart is the fact that it can be completely submerged in water up to 6.5 feet for 30 minutes.

All of these features mean this flashlight is great for indoor use, outdoor use, and in emergency situations, or when SOS signals are needed. The only thing this flashlight is lacking is focused beam (or zoom)  modes.

Pros:
• Can run off of one rechargeable lithium ion battery or 2 CR123A batteries
• Waterproof, can be completely submerged in deep water for 30 minutes
• Six light modes that allow for varying brightness and power duration and a zoom mode that allows for a focused beam

Cons:
• No zoom modes like other models

What buyers said

“This flashlight is really bright, it lights up dark woods very easily. It’s a bit confusing toggling from indoor to outdoor mode, but once I got that figured out, I was very happy with this flashlight.”

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J5 Tactical Hyper V Ultra Bright Tactical Flashlight – Black

This flashlight is very portable: it’s small and lightweight, but has many of the features of the slightly heavier and larger flashlights on this list so far.

Though this flashlight doesn’t take rechargeable lithium ion batteries, it does take 3 AAA batteries.

There are three brightness modes: low, high and strobe, as well as wide-to-narrow beam zooming modes. You can use this flashlight to focus on items up to 800 meters away.

This flashlight is also water resistant as it can be submerged in water for a short period of time and can be dropped from up to 9 feet without being damaged by the impact.

This flashlight is good for everyday carry usage, as well as indoors, outdoors, and in emergency situations.

Pros:
• Small and lightweight
• Water resistant, can be submerged for a short period and shockproof: can withstand a 9 foot drop
• Three light modes that allow for varying brightness and power duration and a zoom mode that allows for a focused beam

Cons:
• No battery options: only uses 3 AAA batteries

What buyers said

“This flashlight is light and sturdy, and overall I’m happy with it, but the focused light isn’t as focused as I thought it would be. This is because the zoom lens is a bit loose… when focused in very tightly, there isn’t a circular beam but instead the square beam of the LED light itself which
is a bit strange.”

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AdditionalInformation

What is an EDC flashlight?

EDC stands for Everyday Carry.
An EDC flashlight is great for carrying around with you for everyday use, just like your keys and phone.

What’s the difference between an EDC flashlight and a regular flashlight?

EDC flashlights are more portable than a
flashlight you would keep at home.

Since you’re “carrying” it around “everyday” in your pocket or purse,  it needs to be light and small but just as bright as a regular flashlight.

Why do you need an EDC flashlight?

Let’s address the elephant in the room: Yes, your phone DOES have a flashlight. If you really need a flashlight and your phone is handy and has enough battery, of course you can use it as a flashlight.

However, most often EDC flashlights help us in emergency situations, or at nighttime,
when it’s likely your phone may be losing battery.

EDC flashlights are also great for hiking, camping, and other outdoor adventures, because, like so much other gear we carry, they’re portable.

What makes a good EDC flashlight?

The main details to consider when looking for an EDC flashlight are:

• Brightness: the lumens, bulb type, and beam features of your flashlight will determine how bright it is.
• Material: this influences how lightweight and portable your flashlight will be. It will also influence how durable it is.
• Battery type: the type of battery your flashlight determines how long you can use it without having to worry about changing the battery, and will contribute to cost as well.
• Water and shock resistance: the durability of your flashlight will be determined by whether or not it is water or shock resistant.
• Modes: some flashlights have more than one brightness mode.

Brightness

Let’s focus on brightness because there are lots of different options and lingo when it comes to the brightness of a flashlight.

We’ll examine three different aspects of brightness:

• Lumens
  
• Bulb Type
  
• Beam features

Lumens are the measurement of the total amount of visible light from a light source like a flashlight. The higher the lumen count, the brighter the light source.

Basic flashlights have 10 lumens, and higher-end, more specialized flashlights (like search and rescue flashlights) can have up to 18,000.

• 1-25 Lumens
  • Good for simple, close-range tasks like lighting dimly lit rooms and locating keyholes
  • Used in keychain flashlights, pen lights
• 25-100 Lumens
  • Good for use around the house and outdoors
  • Used in small, lightweight EDC flashlights
• 100-1000 Lumens
  • Good for security and emergency situations, as this amount of lumens can be used as self-defense as they can blind a person who may be threatening you
  • Used in tactical flashlights
• 1000+ Lumens
  • Good for emergency services and search and rescue operations, also for outdoor nightime activities like caving or hiking
  • Used in high-quality, very bright flashlights

Bulb type is an important consideration in battery life, because the type of bulb will determine the energy efficiency of the flashlight.

• Incandescent bulbs
  • Duration: a few months
  • Lumens: Most commonly 15 – 20
  • Emits “warm” light that has a yellow tint
• LED lights
  • Duration: 50,000 hours +
  • Lumens: 1000+
  • Emits white light
• HID lights (High Intensity Discharge)
  • Duration: 10,000 hours +
  • Lumens: up to 30000

A flashlight’s beam type indicates how the light is emitted, that is, how far it reaches in length

• Flood (or fixed)
  • Spotlight-type beam
  • Very wide reach
  • Usage: camping or walking
• Spot (or focused)
  • Focused beam
  • Long reach
  • Usage: finding routes, other fast-paced activity
• Adjustable
  • Can alternate between spotlight and focused
  • Adjusts between wide reach and long reach
  • Usage: camping, walking, finding routes, fast-paced activity, great for a survival kit

Battery Type

The type of battery your EDC flashlight has will determine the length of time you’re able to use the flashlight, the cost to operate the flashlight, as well as how environmentally friendly and sustainable your flashlight will be

There are three different battery types:

• Disposable
  • E.g. AA, AAA, and CR123A batteries, less commonly, D cell batteries
  • Less expensive
  • Usually duration is quite long and light is bright

• Rechargeable
  • E.g. AA rechargeable
  • More expensive
  • Duration is a bit shorter, but batteries can be charged and reused so battery life is longer
• Renewable
  • E.g. solar panel, mechanical (kenetic) powered
  • More expensive
  • Duration is long and batteries don’t rely on electricity to run, so great for emergency situations

Body Material

Most flashlights are either made of plastic, aluminum, or steel.

• Plastic
  • Common
  • Least expensive material
  • Lightweight and durable
• Aluminum alloy
  • Not as common
  • More expensive
  • Lightweight, dissipates heat well, and durable
• Metal
  • Least common
  • More expensive
  • Heavier, very durable

Water And Shock Resistance

If you’re planning to use your flashlight for emergency purposes, it’s important that it be water and shock resistant.

This can be determined by looking at a flashlight’s rating on the IPX system: IP stands for (Ingress Protection). The higher the IPX number, the better protected it is against water, dust, and shock or impact.

• IPX-0
  • No water protection
  • No dust protection
• IPX-1
  • Dripping water protection for 10 minutes
  • Object 50 mm or larger will not enter flashlight
• IPX-2
  • Dripping water protection when flashlight is tilted up to 15 degrees for at least 10 minutes
  • Objects 12.5 mm or larger will not enter flashlight
• IPX-3
  • Spraying water protection for up to 60 degrees from vertical for at least five minutes
  • Objects 2.5 mm or larger will not enter flashlight
• IPX-4
  • Splashing water protection for any angle for at least 5 minutes
  • Objects 1 mm or larger will not enter flashlight
• IPX-5
  • Spraying water protectionfrom a 6.3mm nozzle with flow rate 12.5 liters per minute for at least 3 minutes
  • Dust protection for any object of any size that may interfere with normal operation of flashlight
• IPX-6
  • Spraying water protection from 12.5mm nozzle with flow rate of 100 liters per minute for at least 3 minutes
  • Complete dust protection
• IPX-7
  • Protection from water when submerged up to one meter deep for at least 30 minutes
  • Complete dust protection
• IPX-8
  • Surpassed the IPX-7 rating and is tested at water depths of “x” meters for “x” minutes
  • Complete dust protection

Modes

Most flashlights have only one setting, which is good for normal use, but some models may have more than one setting.  

• Low
  • Used for simple, close range tasks light lighting a path or reading
  • Uses 1-25 lumens
  • Flashlights can run for up to 60 hours in low mode
• Medium mode
  • Used for tasks around the house and outdoors
  • Uses 25-100 lumens
  • Flashlights can run for up to 48 hours in medium mode
• High
  • Used for security and emergency services
  • Uses 100-1000 lumens
  • Flashlights can sometimes run for only one hour in high mode
• Strobe
  • Used to emergency signals
  • Flashlights can sometimes run for only one hour in strobe mode
• Beacon
  • Used for police cars, ambulances, lighthouses
  • Emits a low intensity rotating red or white light
• Moonlight (power saving mode)
  • Used to save power in a flashlight with a normally higher setting
  • Uses less than 1 lumen
  • Emits very little light
  • Flashlights can run for up to 60 hours in moonlight mode

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Are you getting ready to start a new adventure? Mike’sGearReviews will help you with your check list: Do you have a Survival Water Filter? Did you get your hiking pants? How about the fire starter?…and you can also read our Zombie Survival Guide, because… you never know!