Flashlights are a necessity for anyone. Whether you own or rent a home, drive a car, are a pet owner, enjoy spending time in the wilderness, or commute at night, having a flashlight is an important part of your personal safety.
Power outages can happen at any time and having a reliable and strong flashlight in your home is a must-have, with flashlights offering stronger and further reaching lights than candles.
If you drive a car, having a flashlight in your glove box is part of safe ownership, whether you need to light up the side of the road when your car breaks down or take a better look under the hood if you’re having engine trouble.
Pet owners, specifically those with dogs, know that nighttime and early morning walks are an important part of the day. Being able to illuminate trails and sidewalks to ensure your four-legged friend is safe is a necessary element of being a good pet owner.
Whether you’re looking for a flashlight that is long-lasting and designed for power outages, or something small that you can easily carry in your pocket, we’ve got three great bright ideas for flashlights to add to your collection.
1. Maglite LED 3-Cell D Flashlight
The standard in flashlights, the Maglite LED 3-Cell D Flashlight is designed for professional use by security guards and law enforcement, which means its powerful and reliable enough for home use. Featuring a lifetime warranty, the Maglite LED 3-Cell D Flashlight’s pros include its water resistant and drop resistant finish, its anodized inside and out design which makes it corrosion resistant and durable, and spot to flood beam focusing. The battery runs on D batteries (not included) and lasts an impressive 6 hours and 45 minutes, giving it the longest run time on our list. At 168 lumens, it’s one of the brightest flashlights available. The Maglite LED 3-Cell D Flashlight is also the biggest and heaviest flashlight on our list, measuring 12.34 inches in length and weighing 30 oz., which can be a con if you’re looking for a more compact flashlight. It’s also the most expensive option, but the highest quality.
2. GearLight LED Tactical Flashlight
Graded the same as military tactical lights and able to illuminate objects up to 1000 feet away, the GearLight LED Tactical Flashlight is the new standard in flashlights, offering bulbs that are 10 times brighter than old incandescent lights. Sold in a twin pack, making it easy to keep one flashlight in your home and one in your car, or a flashlight on each level of your house, the GearLight LED Tactical Flashlight features five modes, including High, Medium, Low, Strobe, and SOS. Pros of the flashlight include its durability, with the GearLight able to withstand freezing temperatures, a 10-foot drop, being temporarily submerged under water, or run over with a car. The flashlights are sold with cases for easy storage, but 3 AAA batteries must be purchased separately. Measuring 6.1 inches x 1.57 inches x 1.57 inches, the flashlights are compact enough to fit in your pocket or glove box. One con noted by customers is that the mode button can be sensitive, leading to users accidentally switching between modes. The flashlights are also not as bright as the Maglite LED 3-Cell D Flashlight and don’t reach as far.
3. Outlite A100 Portable Ultra Bright Handheld LED Flashlight
Tiny but tough, the Outlite A100 Portable Ultra Bright Handheld LED Flashlight measures 5.35 inches x 1.33 inches x 1.33 inches and weighs only 5.28 oz, making it the smallest and lightest flashlight on our list, perfect for anyone who wants a flashlight they can keep in their pocket and use while walking the dog or doing odd jobs around the home. Like the GearLight, the Outlite has a five-mode setting and is water resistant, with the option to add an O ring to make it waterproof. The Outlite can also withstand a 10-foot drop, illuminate objects 1000 feet away and last for more than five hours. Additionally, it boasts a no-skid and anti-fall design and it comes with a one-year warranty. Customers report being impressed with the strength of the small flashlight but note that the light tends to dim after it has been on for a while, but turning the flashlight on and off brings it back to full power.