Tactical flashlight

When it comes to flashlights, Streamlight needs no introduction; this brand has been in the business since the 70s and is known for producing high-quality flashlights. One of our favorite Streamlight flashlights for tactical situations and self-defense is the Streamlight 88040 ProTac HL 750-Lumen Professional Tactical Flashlight.  

This flashlight has three light output levels: High, Low, and Strobe modes. 

The High setting produces up to 750 lumens of light with a 270-meter beam, and 18,300-candela peak beam intensity— great if you need maximum illumination. Meanwhile, you’ll get only 35 lumens with the Low setting, but it has a runtime of 18 hours, and we use it when we need to navigate a dark forest, or any place, for hours.

And this flashlight is blindingly bright! 

It’s definitely one of the brightest tactical flashlights from Streamlight. The Strobe mode alone is enough to disorient or temporarily blind an attacker from about 50 yards. 

What’s more…

It uses the Ten-Tap programming feature, which allows you to choose among three programs: High/Strobe/Low, Low/High, or High Only. 

This is such an awesome feature because sometimes we only need one or two settings. When we’re out and about at night, for example, we need all the light output we can get, and we don’t want to switch light modes in combat situations accidentally, so we love that we have the option to set it on High Only.

We find this flashlight very easy to use. It features a multi-function push-button tail switch allowing one-handed operation, which is important if you want to hold a weapon in your other hand. It’s also easy to reprogram for different needs. 

It has a durable construction, as well. It’s made from anodized aircraft-grade aluminum and has a tempered glass lens with an O-ring seal. The knurling on the handle provides a good grip, and there are metal ridges you can use to hit an assailant— a big plus for us. 

We’ve dropped this on accident many times already, once on a concrete floor, and it’s still working flawlessly. The anti-roll head also prevents the flashlight from rolling away when you set it down.

This flashlight comes with a removable pocket clip— another nice touch.

Considering its performance, versatility, incredible ease of use, and reasonable price, we think this flashlight is totally deserving to be our Editor’s Choice. 

Now, here’s the catch… 

This flashlight isn’t rechargeable, so we recommend buying a pack of batteries, especially for emergency situations. Also, it only takes CR123 batteries, which can be pricey, but they do last a long time.

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly tactical light, the ThuZW 2-Pack Tactical Flashlight Porch got you covered.   

This flashlight is versatile— it can generate a flood of light to illuminate a large area or create a small concentrated spotlight so you can observe long-range from 200 meters away, thanks to the awesome zoom-in/out function.

It features five output modes: Low, Medium, High, Strobe, and SOS/Emergency. At the High setting, it’s capable of putting out up to 3000 lumens of light! Because it uses the Upgrade XML T6 LED Chip, this flashlight is way brighter than most tactical flashlights in its price range.

The construction consists of a strong, abrasion-resistant body made from military-grade aluminum alloy and a rubber ring, resulting in a completely waterproof tactical light. The waterproofing will come in handy if you fall into the water or if it rains.

Additionally…

Each pack contains two ThuZW tactical flashlights, two plastic sleeves, two AAA battery holders, and two lanyard/hand straps. The adjustable hand straps ensure easy carrying and that you won’t lose the flashlight, especially in the dark. 

For the excellent quality-to-price ratio, we’re giving it our Best Value award. 

That said… 

It would’ve been better if there were instructions on inserting the batteries and holders for anyone using a flashlight like this for the first time. There’s also no included battery, which is quite a bummer, but we understand the company had to cut costs somehow to deliver a great, affordable tactical flashlight.

Another great option for a zoomable flashlight is the GearLight LED Tactical Zoomable Flashlight (Pack of 2). 

This is such a versatile flashlight. 

It has a zoom feature that allows you to switch from a precise, narrow beam to a wide beam. We use the concentrated light for long-distance viewing, garage work, or house repairs. Meanwhile, the huge beam is very useful when setting camp, and we’d say it’s definitely capable of illuminating an average-sized room or campsite.

The multiple modes on this are great; we especially like the emergency mode, which flashes out SOS in morse code for distress signaling if you find yourself stuck somewhere and need help. 

The design is noteworthy, too… 

This flashlight is made from super durable aluminum material with small cut-outs on the front, preventing it from rolling off flat surfaces. We love the large and brightly colored tactical switch, which is highly visible even in the dark. 

We were also surprised at how rugged this flashlight is— it’s water and weather-resistant and is built to take lots of beating. We did many drop tests with it, on the pavement, on rocky surfaces, and on various floorings. It also got rained on several times, and it survived pretty much everything!

Even better… 

You’re getting two flashlights at a fair price! It also comes with many accessories, such as two AAA battery holders, 18650 battery tubes, holder cases, hand straps, an Operation Guide, and a warranty card. 

Given the top-notch quality of this flashlight, we chose it as our Top Pick. 

Admittedly… 

We wouldn’t say it’s the most lightweight of the flashlights featured here; it’s actually quite bulky, but we think the heft is great and makes it excellent for self-defense and combat purposes.

As big fans of the classic Fenix PD35 TAC light, we were excited about the upgraded version, the Fenix PD35 V3.0 Dual Switches Rechargeable Tactical Flashlight— and we weren’t disappointed!

This model retains the sleek design of the classic version, but it’s made even tougher by using high-strength aluminum with an anti-abrasive finish for extra durability. It can certainly handle severe conditions with its high-level impact resistance (up to 1 meter) and a waterproof rating of IP68. 

The flashlight has six light modes you can choose from: Strobe mode, Eco mode, Low output mode, Mid mode, High mode, and Turbo mode. It can produce up to 1700 lumens In Turbo mode and as low as 5 lumens in Eco mode— all with a simple press of the button. 

Speaking of which… 

It features a dual switch system, including a tactical-style tail switch and a metal side switch for fast and easy operation, which is vital in tactical situations. We can press the tail switch lightly for momentary-on or press it harder to turn it on or off fully. On the other hand, the side switch is for cycling through modes and is very easy to use, as well. 

The entire flashlight is compact and portable, and we’ve had no issues holding it between our fingers. It’s designed for EDC, so you have the option to use the steel metal clip and attach it to your belt, MOLLE systems, or backpack, or use the provided holster or lanyard to hang it around your neck.

Another nice feature not found in the classic version is the low battery indicator that shows the battery status, whether it’s full or needs a recharge. 

Just a heads up! 

This flashlight gets warm after about an hour of use in Turbo mode, so keep that in mind. It’s handy as a hand warmer in the winter, though, so we don’t mind as the heat isn’t excessive anyway.

The UltraFire WF-502B LED Tactical Flashlight is a great all-around option for different needs, as it has multiple modes for various environments.

This flashlight uses ultra-clear lens and the super-bright XP-E V6 LED to fire out up to 1000 lumens of light output. During a hiking trip, one of us got lost, but the good thing is this flashlight can light up objects (or persons) 200 meters away, so it was easy for us to find our buddy right away.  

We really like the design of this flashlight, too— it’s simple, nothing fancy, but it feels good in our hands, not something we’ll accidentally drop, and it has an attack head you can use for striking or breaking glass.  

Furthermore…

We’ve also used this flashlight during many stormy and snowy outdoor trips. We can say it was able to withstand extreme weather conditions, no doubt thanks to the anodized aluminum alloy material that’s also anti-pressure and anti-fall, as well as to the O-ring that helps with waterproofing. It’s rated IPX-65, by the way, if you’re wondering. 

We have to say… 

This flashlight isn’t exactly top-of-the-line, but considering the price and the accessories that come with it, we’d say you’ll still get great value from it. It also outperforms some of our more expensive flashlights, and the battery life is good, too.

Looking for the perfect Father’s Day gift or something to stuff into your sister’s Christmas stocking? Or maybe you want to treat yourself to something nice that can also potentially save your life? We’ve got a great one for you: the TakeFlight LED Tactical Flashlight Pen. 

This isn’t just a regular flashlight in pen form; it’s a multi-tool with an emergency glass breaker tip on one end and a flashlight on the other. If you unscrew the different sections of the pen, you’ll find cool and useful little tools such as a ballpoint pen, a screwdriver, and a bottle opener! 

Pretty awesome, right? 

Since discovering this flashlight pen, we’ve never gone out of the house without it, whether running to a nearby convenience store at night to grab some snacks or exploring a dark cave. It has a pocket clip, and due to its size and lightweight, streamlined body, it’s one of the most concealable tactical flashlights you can get on the market, not to mention very easily accessible for combat situations. 

And we were surprised by the weight of it! It’s lightweight enough for everyday carry but, at the same time, has a solid and sturdy feel to it that you’d be proud to give it to your friends and family.  

On top of that…

This flashlight is manufactured from aircraft-grade, CNC-machined aluminum for maximum strength, so unless you abuse it a lot, it can practically last forever. The strength-to-weight ratio is great, and unlike other tactical pens, the glass breaker tip on this can actually shatter glass, making it invaluable in emergency situations where you need to escape or rescue someone. You can also use it to stab an assailant.  

It’s designed and created by a US Military veteran-owned company, after all, so we didn’t expect less!

This multi-tool, together with the extra battery, included ink refills, and user guide, are neatly packaged in a handsome black box with the company logo— perfect for gifting.  

But probably the biggest downside to this otherwise great product… 

…is that you can’t snap the pen’s cap onto the other end, so you’ll have to either hold it or set it down while using the pen. The good thing, though, is you can use the flashlight and pen at the same time— great if you find yourself needing to write in the dark.

Also, don’t expect off-the-charts brightness from this; it’s basically a pen flashlight, so it’s not comparable to flashlights solely designed for illumination. That said, this is still surprisingly bright, and we imagine this would be great for paramedics or anyone who doesn’t want overwhelmingly bright light.

Olight flashlights are some of our go-to’s for tactical purposes, and the Olight 90 Lumens i3E EOS PMMA TIR Lens AAA Flashlight is no exception. 

Looking at this tiny flashlight (it’s only about the same size as a pinky finger!), you’d probably think you won’t have much use for this. 

Well, we’re telling you right away it’s not something to underestimate. 

This mini flashlight is equipped with a high-performance LED and PMMA TIR lens providing a focused, even light that can reach up to 44 meters. The body is all A6061-T6 aluminum alloy with Type III anodizing, which does a good job preventing scratches even with all the rubbing the flashlight gets from our keys. 

Now… 

It produces 90 lumens, which doesn’t sound much on paper, but let us tell you, it’s surprisingly bright! We’re not exaggerating; it’s shockingly bright, and you can temporarily blind an attacker with it. We’d even go as far as to say it’s somehow brighter than the other flashlights we’ve tried that claim to generate much higher light output.

This flashlight doesn’t have different modes or special features, but you’ll appreciate how simple the interface is when faced with a life-threatening or emergency situation. It doesn’t have a switch or button; you simply have to twist the head to turn it on, which is great because you won’t have to search for a switch. You also won’t need to cycle through modes; once it’s on, you’ll get extremely bright white light right away! 

As we’ve said, you’ll be surprised at how useful this is in a variety of situations. 

One time, we found ourselves at the Cadillac North Ridge Trail with our headlamp dead. This little bad boy helped us navigate our way down in complete darkness, and it’s been a staple on our self-defense and emergency kits since then. It’s also great for finding missing items in small corners of our house and locating car keyholes in dark parking lots.

But as we’ve mentioned… 

If you’re looking for a feature-packed flashlight, this might not be for you. But if you just need a simple, handy, and perfectly functional everyday carry light you can carry anywhere for finding your way in the dark or for self-defense, this is it.

Now, if you want your tactical flashlight to have more features, you can’t go wrong with the Nitecore MT10A Multitask Tactical Flashlight.

Measuring 5 x 4 x 2 inches, this flashlight is one of the smallest and most compact flashlights on our list. However, it sure does pack a serious punch for its size. 

This flashlight uses a CREE XM-L2 U2 LED capable of generating up to 920 lumens in the highest setting. Not bad for a small flashlight, for sure!

It has a tail switch designed for tactical applications, and we like how the flashlight can stand on its own, so we sometimes use it as if it’s a candle, minus the fire hazard. We also really like that there are separate buttons on the side to adjust the brightness level and for switching brightness modes. 

Which brings us to… 

You can choose from five brightness levels: Turbo, high, mid, low, and ultralow. We love the red LED option for preserving night vision and better peripheral vision. There’s also a red blinking mode, strobe, beacon, and SOS modes.  

And the cool thing is… 

This light features an Intelligent memory effect function that remembers the last setting you set the flashlight in! The feature makes using the flashlight hassle-free, especially for beginners. It’s also helpful in emergency situations because you don’t want to waste precious seconds figuring out which buttons to use for your needed setting. 

Another awesome thing about this flashlight is that it displays the battery voltage using flashes of red light, so you’ll know if you need to replace the battery. Also, we dropped the flashlight on the floor of our boat when we were fishing at Lake Tahoe. It rained quite a bit before that, so the floor had some water on it, and the flashlight was submerged a bit, but it’s still working today!  

But the thing is…

The tail switch also needs a bit of a hard press to turn the flashlight on, but it’s a good thing for us as we can rest assured it won’t accidentally turn on when inside our pockets.

Unsurprisingly, another Olight product made it into our list, namely the Olight Warrior Mini2 1750 Lumens Rechargeable Tactical Flashlight. 

This well-made flashlight has unique features that set it apart from other tactical lights, such as the Smart Proximity Sensor, which automatically dims the light when it senses that an object is blocking it, preventing overheating, and the magnetized base for magnetic charging.  

Like the Olight flashlights we’ve tried, this is also very powerful, with 1750 lumens maximum light output, but you can lower it to as low as 1 lumen if you don’t want to disturb your neighbors or other campers at night.

Moreover… 

The easy-access dual switches make it a breeze to operate in any situation. The tail cap switch is designed for quick tactical operations, while the intuitive side switch lets you select among the six modes. With just one press, you can activate the Turbo or Strobe mode, which is nice as we use those two modes the most.

It offers multiple carrying options— each one comes with a two-way pocket clip, a carabiner-style ring, a lanyard, and a detachable lanyard clip. We like how we can attach it to our backpack and belt, and we sometimes even clip it on our hat as a makeshift headlamp when walking our dogs in the nearby woods or mountain biking at sundown. 

Plus… 

The included MC33 Magnetic USB charging cable snaps onto the flashlight tail magnetically for an easy recharging process. It’s also durable; the build quality is great, and did we mention how nice it looks? It’s available in three variants, but we chose the Desert Tan one, which looks more like a copper color and is stunning— definitely matches how good the functionality is. 

Even so…  

The auto adjustment feature might be a con to some, but we personally like it as it helps save battery life. Also, the front heats up quite a bit after an hour of usage at the highest setting; not intolerably hot but just hot enough to burn an attacker when you hit them with this, so we’d say it’s a good thing in combat-type situations.

Lastly, we have the mighty Fenix PD36 TAC 3000 Lumens Tactical Flashlight.

Boasting a maximum light output of 3000 lumens and a 299-yard beam throw, this flashlight is definitely the brightest in our list, together with our Best Value awardee. 

Not only that… 

It features a unique two-button system that’s highly efficient in any condition. The tail cap switch allows one-handed and quiet operation, giving you a major advantage whether hunting or in a tactical situation that requires you to produce as minimal noise as possible. This switch also enables you to easily toggle between Tactical and Duty modes and access the Lockout function. 

With Duty mode, you can cycle through Turbo, High, Med, Low, Eco, and Strobe modes depending on your need at the moment. Meanwhile, you can set the flashlight on Tactical mode, which supports Turbo and Strobe modes, if you need the brightest light you can get. 

And if you’re often in situations where you tend to accidentally activate your flashlight, like exploring narrow spaces, you’ll like the Lockout function, which locks light when not in use to prevent just that.

In addition to that… 

This flashlight was created with high-stake operations, such as search and rescue operations, in mind, so you can be assured not just of its high performance but also its durability and comfortability. It can definitely withstand the toughest of environments, which we discovered when we brought it on a recent desert camping trip to Utah.

It’s lightweight and easy to carry, as well. It has knurlings and grooves for a comfortable grip, and you can use either the holster or steel clip that come with it for hands-free carrying. 

But here’s the kicker… 

This flashlight is pretty pricey. If you have the extra money, though, it’s absolutely worth splurging for— it’s incredibly sturdy, super powerful, and has nice features.