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When you are going on a hike, a hiking flashlight should always be one of your top priorities to bring. Most of you would say that the hike will only happen during the day and before dawn, you are already on your way home. However, a lot of things can happen on a hiking trip.
There are situations beyond your control that might delay you when you are going back and if you don’t have a flashlight with you, you will have a hard time going home.
We listed down some of the best hiking flashlights that you can buy in the market right now. We also created a short buying guide to help you choose the best one.
Top 5 Best Hiking Flashlight
1. OLIGHT S1 Baton 500 Lumen Compact EDC LED Flashlight
The OLIGHT S1 Baton Compact EDC LED Flashlight is one of the smallest and lightest flashlights that you can bring with you during a hike. One of the most common features hikers look for in a flashlight is portability and weight.
They always look for flashlights that won’t add weight to what they already have and it should be very small so they can keep it in their pockets. The OLIGHT S1 Baton Compact EDC LED Flashlight is about 2.4 inches long and it has a diameter of 0.83 inches with a weight of one ounce.
Don’t be tricked by its small size because this hiking flashlight is capable of producing a strong 500-lumen light beam. This is the highest setting of this hiking flashlight and it is also the reason why many hikers are using it.
The only downside is that you cannot focus the beam. It is not a big problem since the lens is set up to offer great balance while still providing light up to 360 feet. This flashlight is powered by a single battery that can provide 1.5 hours of light in high mode and about 6 hours on mid-level.
If you want to look for a good hiking flashlight, OLIGHT S1 Baton Compact EDC LED Flashlight is the one that you are looking for.
Pros:
- Sturdy build
- Compact
- Strong light
- Lightweight
Con:
- Can’t focus the beam
2. Wowtac A1S LED Flashlight
If you always drop your stuff when you are hiking, you need a sturdy flashlight that can withstand these problems. The Wowtac A1S LED Flashlight is one of the best options on this list. This amazing flashlight has a rugged construction, which means that it is capable of withstanding hard falls. If you are always hiking, this is a good choice for you.
This is also known as IPX-7 rated and it was drop-tested to 1.5 meters so common bumps and heavy rains will not be able to destroy or stop it from functioning. By pressing on the button located the back, you can turn it on and off and the side buttons are used for its lighting modes.
The Wowtac A1S LED Flashlight is also a good choice because of its memory unction. If you switch it on, you will realize that it is still in the mode that you selected when you turn it off. It also has a compact design that would allow you to put it in your pocket with ease. If you are looking for a hiking flashlight that is very small, this is a good option.
One of the things that you will love about this is the clip and it can also be used as an anti-roll equipment so your torch will not roll when you leave it anywhere. Since it can provide a maximum of 550 lumens of light, it can provide plenty of lighting during a hike. It may not be as powerful as the other flashlights, but it is good enough for hiking.
Pros:
- Very compact
- Durable
- Affordable price
- Anti-roll clip
Con:
- Selector button is a bit hard to press
3. PeakPlus Rechargeable Tactical Flashlight LFX1000
When you are hiking, bringing a flashlight is a must, but bringing something too big and heavy won’t be a good idea. Hikers always pay attention to the things that they bring and they don’t carry any extra stuff that would only add to the current weight. This is the reason why PeakPlus Tactical Flashlight LFX1000 is an amazing choice.
The PeakPlus Tactical Flashlight LFX1000 is very compact and it is lightweight. It may not be as strong as the other flashlights on the market with 400-lumen brightness, but it is good enough to light up your way during the night. It is also a good choice when you are camping out or you plan to hike for several days.
It has a 3350mAh rechargeable battery and it can help power up the flashlight up to 20 hours if you are only using the medium beam. If you are going to stay for a long time during your hike, you can try to buy a spare battery so you can replace it. You can also go for low settings if you don’t need lighting.
It features the Cree LED bulbs that can last for 5,000 hours so you don’t need to worry about replacing the bulbs anytime soon. It is extremely durable with its aluminum body and it has shock-resistance as well so it won’t be damaged even if it accidentally falls.
The PeakPlus Tactical Flashlight LFX1000 is water-resistant and you can use it for almost any kind of condition. Even if it is raining hard, you can still use it. This flashlight has an easy-grip handle so it won’t slip even if it is training hard. This will make sure that you can hold the flashlight tightly.
Pros:
- Water-resistant
- Shock-proof
- 5,000 LED bulb life
- Easy-grip
Con:
- Low brightness
4. Rechargeable Flashlight BYB F20 LED Tactical Flashlights
The BYB F20 LED Tactical Flashlights is one of the best options on this list and it is also one of the brightest hiking flashlights that you can buy right now. Most hikers love to have flashlights that are very bright since they are often used during emergency situations. A lot of things can happen during a hiking trip so having an extra item to help you during emergencies will be a good choice.
The BYB F20 LED Tactical Flashlights are very bright with its Cree LED. It has an 800-lumen brightness and it provides amazing performance to light up your way during a hike. It comes with a 3,000mAh battery that you can recharge and it can last up to 69 hours if you are using it on ultra-low mode.
One of the reasons why the BYB F20 LED Tactical Flashlights is very popular is the different lighting modes that it can offer. It comes with five beam modes: strobe, ultra-low, low, medium, and high. You can also charge it within 4 hours using the USB cable provided in the package.
This is a very lightweight and compact flashlight so it won’t take too much of the space in your bag. You can even put it in your pocket so you can access it anytime you need it. There is a clip in the flashlight so you can easily carry it or attach it on your belt, strap or clothing.
This flashlight is very reliable and durable because it is water-resistant. It can withstand even heavy rains. The housing is also made from a military-grade aluminum alloy so it can endure corrosion, abrasion, and scratches. If you are looking for a good hiking flashlight, this is the best option for you.
Pros:
- Very durable
- Compact and lightweight
- 800-lumen brightness
- Made from military-grade aluminum
Con:
- Battery life is a bit lacking
5. Anker Rechargeable Bolder LC90 LED Flashlight
If you want to look for a mid-range flashlight that is capable of providing the basic features that you need, the Anker Bolder LC90 LED Flashlight is your best option. It is a popular hiking flashlight because it provides a wide range of features that would make it easier for you to go around the campsite or hiking area even if it is already dark.
This flashlight is using the Cree LED, which is known as high-quality lighting, to provide a brightness of up to 900 lumens. This is definitely better compared with the other models on this list in terms of brightness and it is a popular choice for those who need a bright flashlight.
The Anker Bolder LC90 LED Flashlight features a metal construction so it is very solid and it won’t be damaged easily even if it falls accidentally. The only issue is that this flashlight is only IP65 rated so even if you can use it in the rain, you cannot let it drop in the water as it would not function afterward.
This hiking flashlight features a single button that would enable you to select one of the lighting modes that it provides. The 5 lighting modes are emergency SOS, strobe, High beam, medium beam, and low beam.
It also comes with a rechargeable battery that would provide 6 hours using a medium beam and 2 hours when you are using the brightest setting.
Pros:
- Super bright
- Solid construction
- Water-resistant
- 5 lighting modes
Cons:
- A bit heavy
- Poor battery life
Buyer’s Guide
If you are looking for a hiking flashlight, there are a few things that you need to consider to make sure that you are not wasting your money. You have to remember that choosing the right flashlight can help save your life in case of an emergency. Here are some of the most important things that you need to consider when looking for a hiking flashlight.
1. Battery Life
When you are looking for a hiking flashlight, the first thing that you have to check is its battery life. Even if the flashlight is very bright and it has a wide range of features, if it won’t be able to sustain its light for a long time, then there is no point in bringing it in hiking.
There are times when hiking trips would take days or even weeks so you need a flashlight that can last for a long time without charging.
2. Durability
If you need hiking flashlight, durability should also be considered because accidents can happen while you are hiking. A sturdy flashlight should be made from solid metal and it should have shock resistance. You have to remember that even if the housing is sturdy, there is a chance that the insides of the flashlight would be damaged.
The best thing to do is to look for a flashlight with shock resistance and water resistance. You need a flashlight that you can use even if it is raining very hard. You don’t really need something that would last underwater unless your hiking trip would involve water activities.
3. Size and Weight
These two are very important when looking for a flashlight because you need a flashlight that is very light in weight and it should be small enough to fit in your pocket. Well, you can always get a bigger flashlight if you want, but it would take a lot of space in your bag.
Most hiking flashlights are very small and they can fit your pocket, but buying something that is a little bigger is also a good choice since they usually have better battery life.
4. Brightness
When it comes to brightness, you need something that is at least 400 lumens or above. Anything below won’t be a good idea because you need the flashlight to serve as a beacon in case of emergencies. If you got lost and you need your team to find you, the flashlight can be used as a signal to tell them your location.
Conclusion
Among the brands and models that we’ve checked, the best one is the BYB F20 LED Tactical Flashlights. This flashlight provides a lot of amazing features and it is very bright with 800-lumen brightness. Although there is a brighter alternative on the list, this flashlight is very small, lightweight and very reliable when it comes to battery life.
