For the people that do not have time right now to read all of the material on this site, here is a quick and dirty summary of the top 5 things to look for to ensure that you are getting a quality product. Some of you may have specific requirement that would make these tips change but for the general public and for the EDC enthusiast that is not a flashaholic these are some easy guidelines.
Budget: You get what you pay for so unless it is a keychain flashlight or penlight most decent torches will start around $25-$30.
Size: If you are buying a EDC flashlight how big can you comfortably have with you all of the time. Otherwise if you are not keeping it with you all of the time how much space do you have to store it?
Power Source: Do you want disposable or rechargeable batteries? And, do you want a standard size battery (easy to find) or a special battery (more power)?
How Much Light: It takes at least 60-100 lumens to cause temporary blindness.
Durability: I would go with type III hard anodized aircraft grade aluminum with a LED bulb that is rated to at least IPX7 waterproofing.
1. Klarus XT11GT led tactical flashlight
This is our favorite high end tactical flashlight that we have reviewed. The Klarus XT11GT is a compact and lightweight tactical flashlight that feels comfortable in your hands and has an max output of 2000 lumens! It features a unique dual-tail switch and a side switch,which along with the programmable settings, makes this light quite versatile. Klarus has really stepped up their game with this flashlight. Compared to other flashlights in the same price range and lumen range, this is hands-down the best tactical flashlight in our opinion. You won’t find many 2000 Lumen flashlights this compact size or for this price. It is also programmable which means you can change the way the light modes function to match your needs.
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2. FZ BEACON best tactical flashlight beacon
If you are looking for a quality tactical light on a budget, the FlashlightZ BEACON is a great fit! It doesn’t have a lot of bells and whistles. It is just a really tough light built with quality components. It has a tactical tail switch for versatility and packs a whopping 1000 lumens. This flashlight is a great entry level tactical LED flashlight that is sure to impress at it’s low price point. Getting a light with an adjustable zoom head can be tricky, as they can sometimes lose waterproofing with this added feature.
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3. Klarus XT11S best tactical flashlight xt11gt
This was our favorite tactical flashlight until the XT11GT was released. The Klarus XT11S feels indestructible and can light up an entire street! It is also one of the coolest looking new tactical lights on the market. The coolest feature is probably the advanced programmable user modes. You can customize how the light works and how it cycles through modes…which is a feature not on many of the best tactical flashlights at this price point. The only differences between the XT11S and the XT11GT are brightness, the battery that comes with it, and the price.
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4. Fenix PD35TAC best tactical flashlight fenix
The Fenix PD35TAC entered the tactical flashlight market with a BANG! You can’t find many more reliable 1000 lumen tactical flashlights from a brand like you can from Fenix. Fenix is known for superior reliability and great customer service. The PD35TAC has a great feel to it and is a go-to for tactical enthusiasts all over the world. It’s also only 5.5 inches making it a borderline everyday carry light. You will find many law enforcement and veterans that stick with the Fenix PD35TAC as their go to tac light.
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5. Nitecore P12 best tactical flashlight nitecore
With Precision Digital Optics Technology, the Nitecore P12 is a durable & simple high power tactical flashlight. It is small enough to be considered an everyday carry flashlight and packs a big punch with a 1000 lumen output.
We really like how the light has built in memory function so it starts at the brightness level where you last left it. This can be handy when you want instant access to the Turbo or Low modes.