7 Brightest Flashlights of 2021

Flashlights also now come in various styles, size, and types and so in your hunt for the best brightest flashlight, you will have more than enough options.

When it comes to choosing the brightest flashlight, you will first need to understand what defines them or the standards used to measure the brightest.

Also, you will need to understand other important flashlight features like the bulb and battery type and material.

In this guide, we provide this vital information and also provide top 10 brightest flashlights review.

Knowing that you want to get the best brightest flashlight is one thing and understanding what this actually means is another. It is a fact that the brightest flashlight is one that produces the most light but things are not always that straightforward.

Most flashlights will be rated using the ANSI FL1 standards and this is one of the best ways to determine just how bright any flashlight will be before you buy it.

Under these standards, there are three ways of measuring the intensity of the light from the flashlight which are Light Output, Beam Distance, and Peak Beam.

1. Light Output: Measured in lumens and it is also what is often referred to as the lumen method of brightness calculation. And it is based on fundamentals lighting analysis.

2. Beam Distance: Measured in meters and it is a measure of how far the light from the flashlight will shine before diminishing to a point equivalent to full moon on a clear sky night.

3. Peak Beam Intensity: a candela measurement or the measurement of energy and it can indicate the brightest point of the beam. And it entails measuring the luminous intensity at the center of the flashlight beam.

When it comes to defining the brightness, most people will only consider the overall light output or lumens and the higher the lumens the brighter the flashlight will be for them.

While this might be an accurate definition of flashlight brightness to some extent, it is still important to consider the other two points. And this is because the flashlights with more lumens do not illuminate the greatest distance but this is an indication that they have a wide range.

• Lumens: 1,000
• Beam Distance: 1,000 feet
• Dimensions: 1.57 x 6.1 x 1.57 inches
• Weight: 5.12 oz

Gearlight S1000 is an ultra-bright LED tactical flashlight that will be great for all your outdoor excursions whether you are camping, hunting or hiking.

The flashlight comes in a pack of two and with two bonus cases to ensure you get the best value for money. And besides from being super bright, the flashlight will also produce a beam distance of up to 1000 feet.

Each of these compact flashlights can use either 3 AAA batteries or one 18650 rechargeable battery and hence giving you more power options.

Also, you get to choose from 5 useful modes to make it possible to customize the lighting to suit your particular needs and adjustable focus for varying the beam.

This flashlight is also almost indestructible thanks to the tough military grade aluminum body, and it can withstand up to 10-foot falls and temporary submersion in water.

This flashlight does not seem completely waterproof but it should still withstand light drizzles and moisture.

• Lumens: 1,000 lumens
• Beam Distance: 1,000 feet
• Dimensions: 1.97 x 5.91 x 1.97 inches
• Weight: 0.63 lb

The heavy and solid construction of this flashlight is one of the first factors that will draw your attention. And the toughness is thanks to the all-weather aluminum body that is also effective in keeping water out. But, this is also the cheapest brightest flashlight on our list.

Like most similar flashlights it can use either 3 AAA batteries or a single 18650 rechargeable battery which makes it very convenient. And it will produce up to 1,000 lumens which makes it one of the best brightest flashlights.

This fantastic flashlight has a low battery consumption design that gives it many hours of continuous use and it is also zoomable and with a beam, distance if 1,000 feet.

There are also 5 different modes to pick from and this makes the flashlight quite versatile as you will have a suitable light for various applications.

And if you also factor in the attack head that will be very useful for self-defense or breaking glasses and tactical tail switch that allows for one-handed operation, you will have the perfect flashlight.

This flashlight will not come with the batteries but for an inexpensive model you should not expect to get batteries.

• Lumens: 250 lumens
• Beam Distance: 115 meters
• Dimensions: 0.79 x 5.91 x 0.79 inches
• Weight: 3.4 ounces

The compact and powerful Streamlight 88033 flashlight allows you to choose from three different light programs which are high, strobe and low. But, the durable and easy to handle design is what many users will love most.

And despite this only being a 250-lumen flashlight the C4 LED makes it super bright. It also includes other features like anti-roll face cap to keep it in place when you place it somewhere, a tactical tail switch that allows for one-handed operation and a removable pocket clip.

This flashlight has an IPX7 waterproof rating which means that it can withstand temporary submerging and at a total weight of just 3.4 ounces it is one of the lightest on our list.

The Streamlight 88033 is the priciest item on our brightest flashlights review but its light output and sturdy overall construction makes it worth the extra cost.

• Lumens: 1,000 lumens
• Beam Distance: 600 feet
• Dimensions: 1.6 x 5.3 x 1.1 inches
• Weight: 11.2 ounces

With this PeakPlus LED brightest flashlight you get everything that you need to use it straight from the box as it comes as a complete kit with the 18650 rechargeable battery and charger and a case.

The heavy-duty aluminum alloy body means that this is not only one of the brightest flashlights on our list but also one of the toughest.

This flashlight also features 5 light modes that will let you choose the amount of light you want depending on where you are using it. And it is zoomable with an adjustable focus that lets you choose between close and long-range beam.

You can use this super bright flashlight for everything from tactical situations to hiking, camping, and other outdoor activities.

A flash function would have been a nice addition to this flashlight but it is still not a deal breaker.

• Beam Distance: 20 - 30 feet
• Dimensions: 3.11 x 7.99 x 1.38 inches
• Weight: 0.57 lb

UVBeast super bright flashlight is one of the unique products on our list as it comes in a different design from the others.

Instead of one or a couple LEDs, it uses 100 small ones which makes it a high power light and one of the brightest flashlights out there. And they will also deliver a unique flood effect.

It is ideal for both domestic and commercial use and uses 6 AAA batteries that give it a battery life of up to 12 hours which is quite impressive.

This fantastic light has a beam distance of between 20 and 30 feet and will also have a flood effect. And it is also a highly durable flashlight thanks to the heavy-duty aircraft grade aluminum material.

The only shortcoming with this flashlight is that it uses lots of batteries but if you are looking for super bright lighting this is a small price to pay.

• Lumens: 1,600 lumens
• Beam Distance: 1,000 feet
• Dimensions: 7.9 x 4.7 x 2.6 inches
• Weight: 1.05 lbs

If you are on the market for the best budget brightest flashlight here is another excellent option for you.

And despite its affordable price tag it still generates up to an impressive 1,600 lumens thanks to the high-power LED that will last up to 100,000 hours.

The flashlight comes as a complete kit that includes the 18650 rechargeable battery, charger, holster and 1 AAA battery holder.

Like most other top-notch flashlights, it has 5 adjustable light settings and a zoomable feature that lets you focus the light on specific objects.

While this light feels a little bulky this is mostly due to the heavy-duty material and the superior overall quality.

• Lumens: 12,000 lumens
• Beam Distance: 500 meters
• Dimensions: 5.2 x 2.3 x 2 inches
• Weight: 12.5 ounces

Few other flashlights out there can match the 12,000-lumen output that the GiareBem XML T6 can produce.

This super bright flashlight is also quite sturdy and durable thanks to the aircraft-grade aluminum alloy which makes it almost indestructible

It has five different light modes which are high, low and strobes and it is easy to switch between the modes just by long pressing the switch.

The flashlight runs on three rechargeable 18650 batteries and it is a versatile light that will be ideal for self-defense, hiking, camping, traveling and a variety of other outdoor activities.

Although there is no print material on the package indicating how to use this light or even the batteries to use, this is still easy to figure out, and you can get the information on the manufacturer website.

When shopping for the best brightest flashlights, here are the most important points to consider.

1. Brightness

Brightness is the first and most important factor to consider when shopping for these flashlights as it is the main reasons why you are buying one in the first place.

And when it comes to the brightness, you will need to watch out for the maximum number of lumens that the flashlight can produce. Flashlights with more lumens tend to be the brightest.

While the right number of lumens for you depends on how you intend to use the flashlight if you are looking for something that produces the brightest light you should go for those with between 300 and 1000 lumens.

That said, there are also some super bright flashlight that deliver way more light than this like the 12,000-lumen GiareBeam CREE XML T6 Brightest Flashlight .

2. Beam Distance

If you are planning on buying the brightest flashlight the chances are that you will want to use it outdoor, and hence the beam distance matters a lot.

The beam distance measure how far away the flashlight can light up an object usefully before is light diminishes. And the longer the distances the better the flashlight will be for outdoor activities like hiking, camping, and hunting.

But, if you intend to use the flashlight indoors or around the house long beam distance might not be very useful.

3. Peak Beam Intensity

Lumens are what many people are more familiar with but they are not the only light measurement that you need to consider when shopping for a flashlight.

The peak beam intensity is the brightness at the center of the beam and it is also a factor in determining how far a light throws.

Since the peak beam intensity tells how intense the light it at the brightest part of the beam the higher the number (in candela) the brighter the flashlight will be for you.

4. Type of Bulb

The bulb type also matters when shopping for the best brightest flashlights as it affects various aspects including the brightness and efficiency. Here are the most common flashlight bulb options.

• LED: LED bulbs are now the most common and also the most popular options as they are capable of producing great amounts of light without getting hot and they also have a very long lifespan.
• Incandescent: These are the classic type of flashlight bulbs as they have been around for many years. They are a glass and filament light bulb which makes them more prone to breakage and also do not produce a lot of light.
• Halogen: Filament bulbs that are filled with pressurized gases and they burn brighter without generating a lot of heat. Some are even brighter than LEDs but still do not last as long as the latter.
• HID: Not as common as the other types and are also quite bulky and expensive. These bulbs are the kind that passes electricity through an ionized gas to produce a very bright light.

5. Features

Besides the technical aspect of the flashlight such as brightness and beam distances, there are also a few other features that you need to take into account when shopping.

Material

Although the amount of light that the flashlight can produce is your main concern you also need to think about the material and its overall construction.

Anodized aluminum is a tough and durable material but it also tends to make the flashlights a little pricier. Polymer, on the other hand, is cheap but not as durable as aluminum and so it is often used on basic flashlights.

Heavy-duty aircraft grade aluminum like what is used to make UVBeast UVBe-100 is also a fantastic material choice.

Impact Resistance

The higher the impact resistance the more durable the flashlight will be as it means it can withstand occasional drops or bump into things.

A good flashlight should have an impact resistance rating of at least 1 to 2 meters but those that can withstand up to 3-meter impacts are much better.

Water Resistance

Since you will probably be using your flashlights outdoors it is always important to check the water resistance to ensure that the can withstand the elements or bad weather.

IPX4 flashlights are the most water-resistant which means you can use them in any weather while the IPX7 ones like Streamlight 88033 are waterproof and so you can even submerge them in water.