A flashlight is an essential part of an emergency supply kit, according to a spokesperson from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. And when you’re building that kit, it’s recommended to also include extra batteries for the flashlight in airtight plastic bags or easy-to-carry containers.
It can be daunting, however, to figure out which flashlight to buy and what features to prioritize. Technical jargon, such as lumens, might also make the process of purchasing a flashlight bewildering. But fear not: We’re here to cut through the confusion and help you make the best decision. Later in this article, we’ll address some common questions you might have about flashlights, including what lumens are and how many you need for a specific activity.
In a questionnaire for flashlight users, Consumer Reports asked 30 participants what features they found the most essential in a flashlight. Long battery life, high brightness, and durability were some of the attributes they ranked as the most important.
To find the best flashlights, we chose 10 of varying sizes from popular brands and conducted multiple tests with them. Some of our work included measuring their brightness level, noting their battery life, and seeing whether they would still work after being dropped from 1 meter onto linoleum over a concrete floor. We also included an iPhone 14 Pro in our tests to see how a smartphone flashlight would compare to the 10 flashlights we tested in terms of brightness.
And because ease of use is an important part of the consumer experience, Paul Ritchey, DrPH, an ergonomics expert on CR’s Consumer Experience and Usability Research team, examined how comfortable the flashlights were to hold and operate.
People use flashlights for different purposes, and our recommendations are made with that consideration in mind. For example, a consumer looking for a small pen flashlight isn’t going to need the same attributes as a person looking for a light bright enough to illuminate outdoor spaces. Here are the models we like.
