Emergency flashlights

No light? Need weather updates? No power on your devices? This multi-purpose emergency flashlight easily solved all that for us, saving more space in our emergency kit at the same time, making it this review’s Editor’s Choice. 

I mean, who doesn’t love efficiency?

Since we’re looking for flashlights here, you’d be glad to know that this unit’s light is very fine on its own. At 100 Lumens, it’s bright enough to illuminate a whole room. 

Moreover, it has a nice spread, so the light isn’t concentrated, making it a great emergency light. 

On the other hand…

…it doesn’t have lighting modes, but then again, modes don’t matter that much if you’re using it for survival. 

If fully charged, you can use the flashlight for up to 12 hours. But what I noticed was halfway through, the light seemed to dim. After it dimmed one time, the brightness just stayed that way and didn’t dim some more, thank goodness. It stayed that way until the battery ran out. 

In case you’re wondering…

…its radio has AM, FM, and even NOAA stations to give you weather updates in times of disaster. The sound was fine, although it did sound a bit thin and loud. I suppose that means it uses more battery, too, if it’s that loud. 

As for the power bank, I can easily say that it’s much more powerful and useful than the radio. 

I was able to charge my drained phone for one hour and up to 80% of the battery, so that’s not so bad after all. 

Now, can you use all these features at the same time? 

I was wondering, too, so I tried it out, and yes, you can. But the catch is, of course, it would eat up the battery triple time. And it might also possibly damage the unit, as well. 

But that’s not all there is to it. 

Because here’s my favorite feature of all: it’s the 3-way power source. 

Basically, you can charge the unit in 3 ways. First is charging it via the USB cable that comes with the unit, second is you can recharge it with its solar panel located at the top of the unit, and lastly, you can recharge it by hand-cranking. 

By hand cranking it for a minute, I was able to charge my phone with power that’s enough for a 5-minute emergency call. Now, that doesn’t sound a lot now, but in desperate situations, a 5-minute call can definitely save lives. 

In addition to this…

…you can also use the flashlight or radio (not at the same time, of course) for 15 to 20 minutes. 

I’ve also discovered that you can charge your phone while cranking it, although it proved to be almost impossible as the unit was already very hard to hold securely while cranking it without a device connected to it. 

At about 5 inches long, it’s just a little longer than your smartphone, which is still a bit unbelievable if you look at the features it holds. 

Not to mention it’s water-resistant, too, so a bit of a drizzle won’t hurt it (but remember, it’s not waterproof!). 

Non-rechargeable flashlights are the real OGs, and I’m sure most campers and survivalists will agree!

If you’re looking for an economical flashlight that doesn’t need recharging, then this Stalwart 75-WL2005 Multi-tool LED flashlight is your best bet, making it this review’s Best Value emergency flashlight.  

First of all, let me just say how I liked its colors. There are three of them (blue, green, and pink) ; they’re all bright enough to be easily found in the dark. 

Now, let’s get down to business. 

The flashlight has 60 Lumens of light output, which isn’t overwhelmingly bright. It’s enough to illuminate our moderately sized living room, but it’s not that visible from afar anymore unless you put it in a strobe setting. 

But hey, at this price point, and if you’re not planning to use it for everyday use, then this is just sufficient.

On the flip side, it has three lighting modes: high brightness, low brightness, and strobe settings. 

Oh, and by the way, it doesn’t only have one strobe function but a red flashing strobe light, too! 

And it doesn’t end there.

Aside from these awesome light modes, it also comes with other convenient tools. It includes a glass breaker, a seatbelt cutter, a red light ring, a zoom slider, a nut wrench, a precision screwdriver, scissors, a can and bottle opener, and a knife blade. 

Just a reminder:

Don’t expect too much from these tools because they’re not sized like the regular ones. Some of them can feel quite flimsy, such as the scissors. 

But upon testing all of them, they proved to be quite dependable, too and didn’t break after being used. 

This eye candy is also zoomable, so you can condition your light according to your needs. 

There are other emergency flashlights out there that are certainly hard and solid. But this one by GearLight is just built like a tank. 

Its perfect score in durability made this boss of a flashlight our Top Pick for this review. 

Firstly, we got it for a price of just one unit, but we got two flashlights in a pack. Aside from that, it also comes with battery tubes, battery holders, hand straps, holder cases, a warranty card, and a manual. 

Now, that’s another bang for the buck for the day. 

At 6 inches long, it’s just averagely sized. Not impressively small, but it can still fit in my pocket without any problems. 

It’s made from military-grade aluminum, and it proved to be more than rock hard later on. 

It’s claimed to withstand a 10-feet drop, so of course, we had to test it out. 

As expected, it survived the drop, and I even dropped it for the second time, but this time, it was 15 feet high. It emerged one with some scratches, so it’s certainly not scratch-proof. But it was still working as brightly as before. 

As for its light output…

…let me tell you that it’s insanely bright. It’s not only a Top Pick for its durability but for its brightness as well. 

Its output is around 800 to 1000 Lumens, depending on the battery you’re using. Its beam distance was quite impressive as well. 

So if you’re looking for a flashlight to use in bigger places such as a farm, this is the perfect emergency flashlight for you. 

Its beam is narrow, but the good thing is it’s still zoomable. Its operation requires only one hand. To zoom in and out, you just have to extend and retract the upper part of the flashlight. 

Its switch is also partially hidden in a recessed area at the bottom of the unit, and it’s big enough to be easily found. 

In addition to these…

…I also appreciate the thoughtful design, which includes an anti-roll shape and its water-resistant quality.

This thing is so bright that it could give this review’s Top Pick a run for its money. But then, it’s not at all unexpected as it’s made by Streamlight, which gave us one of the best flashlights and tactical flashlight in our collection. 

But this is not it’s only merit. 

We actually picked this up because of its interesting charging kit. 

This Streamlight 74751 comes with its own 120V AC/12V DC charger and a bonus charger holder so you can mount it on a wall or even on your car. 

And that’s not even everything. 

It also has three light modes which are high brightness with 615 Lumens, medium brightness with 320 Lumens, and 160 Lumens for low brightness. It also has a powerful strobe function. 

And that’s not all. 

This Strion LED flashlight is from Streamlight’s series, and it’s the HIgh Lumen variation. This means that it has a concentrated beam but still a wide floodlight, as well. 

And sure enough, we tested it out in the pitch darkness of my backyard, and the balance between the floodlight and the beam was just astounding. 

It’s very bright, even on the lowest settings. But one of the drawbacks to this is it’s not-so-far reach. 

Nevertheless…

…we also love how solid and durable that it came out of the 2-meter drop test and still working like new. 

But despite its durability, it’s considerably lighter, thanks to its aerospace aluminum material. 

And the kicker? It also has a digital display that keeps it from getting overcharged! 

Looking for something that doesn’t have much fluff but gets the job done and gets it done well? Then we’re talking about this Fenix E20 V2 flashlight, which is quickly gaining popularity nowadays.

It’s very simple and minimalist at first glance, but it’s got all the basics that you’ll need in an emergency situation. 

Actually..

…it can also be a good EDC flashlight with its clever and easy-to-maneuver design. 

First off, it uses AA batteries, which are very easy to find wherever you are. I think that’s also one of its advantages. If you’re getting this for an emergency kit, then you’d like how it comes with non-rechargeable batteries. 

In times of disaster, especially natural calamities, you can’t rely on electricity, which can shut down anytime. And this is where this Fenix E20 flashlight shines. You can just stock up on some more extra batteries, and you’re good to go. 

Moreover…

…I also love how it has a pocket clip, which most pocket flashlights don’t have! The clip is sturdy, and it makes the flashlight more of an EDC light. 

But is its performance EDC-worthy?

Well, its light output was impressively and surprisingly bright, even in the lowest setting!

Because of this, it could eat up your battery fast, but it’ll still depend on the battery you’ve used. 

What’s cooler…

…is the balance of its beam. It has a solid and concentrated beam but still with the perfect amount of widespread light on the sides. This makes this flashlight perfect for night walks and illuminating a room during a power outage. 

Its beam’s angle is also as impressive at about 85 degrees, which, I’m telling you, is real wide in person.

Can you imagine how much value one small and slim EDC flashlight could offer?

Well, this one exceeded my expectations, for sure. 

If you’re looking for something that can last for an extended period of time, this ThruNite Archer flashlight uses a CREE XP-L2 LED that, in turn, uses less energy, so your batteries last longer than usual. 

What’s cooler…

…it has not 3 but 5 light settings. 

The lowest light setting is the firefly mode. It’s even weaker than the low-brightness mode. This is subtle enough to use for reading books in bed without disturbing your partner or roommate. 

Firefly mode uses just 0.2 Lumens, but it sure did last for 15 days for us! This mode is the most perfect for emergencies and survival situations where you must extend the life of your tools and gadgets until one gets help. 

The low brightness setting, on the other hand, was already sufficiently bright. It is 17 Lumens, looks just like your average Walmart pocket light, and it’s quite helpful indoors, too. 

On the flip side…

…the medium and high settings were a different story. The medium was already very bright, just enough to light up our house. It’s what you want to use for everyday tasks. 

High brightness is something you won’t often use because it’s seriously bright. But that makes it perfect for night dog walks or walks to the field or farms. 

Its beam is more of a wide beam than a concentrated beam. 

Suffice to say…

…it’s not as balanced as the other flashlights beams. But it wasn’t much of a big deal to me as it’s already very helpfully bright. 

Another thing I like about this is the pocket clip. What can I say? I just like it when tools have clips. That way, I can carry them on my person all the time and be ready for any emergencies coming my way. 

On the other hand, the clip is rather awkwardly placed near the middle of the flashlight, but then, I don’t see a need to conceal it as it’s not a weapon anyway, so it’s still cool. 

In addition to that…

…it also has not one but two switches. The first one is for the light modes, and you won’t have to turn the strobe on just to get to the other modes because you’ll have to hold it first to get to the strobe mode. 

The tail-end switch is for the off/on, so you won’t have to waste your time cycling through all the light modes just to turn it on/off.

Looking for something more powerful and long-lasting? Then you better get a good searchlight. 

This one from Buysight is the best and most portable that we’ve found yet. 

Let’s get straight to business because this thing is powerful. 

It’s advertised as having 6000 Lumens of light in its brightest setting. And upon using it, there’s no doubt that it’s true. I mean…it literally turned nighttime into daytime in the field on the back of our farmhouse.

It has a very bright, concentrated beam and a thin spread of light around it. And it sure spread widely. The reach is far, too, which is more than 100 yards. 

It only has two brightness settings, which makes this even more appealing if you like your gadgets very simple. 

The lower brightness gives off 2500 lumens, which is still so bright that it’s actually comparable to my car’s headlight!

Now, you might be thinking…

…it must use a whole lot of battery life for that. 

Well, that’s just one of the many surprising things about this beefy little guy. Its battery runtime is long. 

Moreover, it also has a power bank where you can charge your iPhone for more than three charges and your S8 for around two rounds of charging. 

And as if that’s not enough, it’s also surprisingly light, given how hefty it looks. That made me think that it could have been scaled down some more because it’s so light. 

But anyway, no problem with its size because it also comes with a shoulder strap. It came in very handy when I needed a powerful flashlight for hiking. It’s bright and big, but I didn’t have to hand carry it at all.

This pair isn’t only beautiful but also packed with interesting features. 

Basically, this Capstone Lighting 4-in-1 Eco-1-Lite isn’t so great for outdoor use as its beam is more limited than the other flashlights on this list. 

But, on the other hand…

…it’s one of the best ones we’ve found for home use. Let me show you why. 

First off, I like how it can be a wall light, a night light, and a power outage light. It comes with a charging base, so you don’t have to buy batteries for it anymore. Just grade it from the base, and you’re good to go. 

Once I tested and confirmed its good quality, I went on to buy some more for the living room, bathroom door, and hallway at home. I just like this handy and convenient design so much. 

It’s also great to give out to your disabled or elderly family members so they can have a light source that they can grab at any time. 

Interestingly…

…it has 10 LEDs on its top light, which you can use as a flashlight, and it also has 6 LEDs on the light panel on its front face. 

This front-pacing light can be used as a work light when you’re working on your desk or in your garage. 

But here’s the kicker. 

Aside from the on/off control, it also has a slider control that sets your light to its automatic function. This function lets the unit light up softly when it’s already dusk or just whenever it gets dark at home!

It’s subtle and soft enough to be used as a night light. But more importantly, when the power suddenly went off one time, I knew right away where to find it because it was gently lit up in the dark. I just had to come and get it to turn it into a flashlight. 

Isn’t it amazing?

For outdoor use, such as camping, hiking, or even in your car, there’s no better portable emergency light than a tactical light. 

If you’re looking for something that’s more focused on durability for more rugged use, then this SureFire G2X tactical flashlight is your best bet. 

Its exterior is a tough Nitrolon that’s crafted to be stable and solid enough to withstand gunshots. Add to that its impact-resistant lens and you’ve got yourself a trooper. 

Of course, we had to perform a drop test. It emerged unharmed and even unscratched after a 10-feet drop. I believe its surface is also scratch-resistant.

In case you’re wondering….

…it’s not waterproof but it can handle a bit of splash because its openings are gasketed. 

As for the light output, it’s 600 Lumens and it certainly showed. That’s what made it great for the outdoors, too. It was able to illuminate up to 100 yards in pitch darkness.

The thing is, it doesn’t have many options for the light modes, but then again, it’s primarily made for rough use with its very bright light. 

Another advantage that I found is that its Nitrolon body is much easier to hold in extreme weather such as extreme cold and extreme hotness. 

Add to that its switch, which is at its tail end. It controls all the functions and is textured, so it’s easy to find even if you’re not looking.

Just like when I received this package and I didn’t know where to start looking and testing, it’s also hard to know where to start now because this emergency light is so jam-packed with lots of useful and interesting features.

First off, it’s gradually becoming a fan favorite nowadays because of its 6 light modes and design that’s perfect for camping and any outdoor activities. 

Now, hold your horses…

…it has several lights, too. The first is the spotlight with its high, low, and flashing modes. 

Then, it also has a light panel at its side so you can just let it stand on the ground and be your camping light. This light also has a high and low mode. 

And for your safety, it also has red and blue floodlights that we’re able to use as a warning light one winter night. You can also use it as an emergency light when you’re stuck on the side of the road with a dead car. 

Here’s the kicker: 

It has a maximum light output of 7000 Lumens with a slightly cool light. That said, it’s also expected that it has a far reach. 

It’s able to reach as far as 800 yards on the field! That’s about 7 to 8 times farther than the regular pocket flashlight. 

But that’s not even the best part yet. 

It also comes with a rotating bracket so you can customize the angle of your light, making it an excellent work light, as well. 

Aside from that, it also has a foldable tripod. When will the surprises end?

We used the little tripod on our camp outside the tent as we slept. In low mode, its battery life could go as long as more than 24 hours, and it also has more than 100,000 hours of lifespan!

Suffice to say, it was still lit up when we woke up the next morning.