Whether you're stargazing, on an evening hike or just taking your dog for a walk, you have to admit that, as humans, our eyes aren't equipped for late-night activities. That's where flashlights come in, and our experts have selected the best to suit all purposes and pockets.
If you're a keen skywatcher, you've got the best reason in the world to go wandering off into the dark — light pollution. Some of the best smart telescopes can lessen the effect of skyglow, but the foolproof option is to simply take your equipment to a less populated area. With no streetlights, you'll get an even brighter view of the moon's Mare Imbrium mountains this Jan 29.
The quick list
Powerful but portable with it, this rugged and waterproof flashlight is easy to use and won't break the bank. For added convenience, it charges via USB-C.
This is a hefty flashlight that will make you feel confident when walking around in the dark, but the fact it requires batteries makes it rather limiting.
The C17 isn't cheap, but we've called it the "flashlight of your dreams". Its beam is super powerful, and it has multiple settings to choose between.
This mid-range flashlight comes from a seriously reputable brand. It's not the brightest on this list, but its various options make it a great choice.
If you've got the budget for it, this seriously bright flashlight ticks all the boxes. It's packed with features and thanks to its six bulbs, it's incredibly bright.
This flashlight may come at a cost, but it boasts some seriously impressive specs and it has a red light feature, making it ideal for night time use without harming eye sight.
Best flashlights we recommend 2026
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Best flashlight overall
✅ You want a rugged, durable flashlight: This flashlight is water, dust, drop and crushproof.
✅ You want an easy-to use model: This flashlight boasts one-button operation, it's that simple.
❌ You want something with lower low-light: At 30 lumens, this is very bright which might not be ideal for some activities and settings, such as reading.
❌ You want a tactical flashlight: It's powerful but it's not what you would call multipurpose.
🔎 Fenix E35R: If you're after well-made, durable and rugged flashlight, you can't go wrong with the Fenix E35R. It's tough, bright and portable enough to fit in your pocket. ★★★★½
This is one of the hardest-wearing flashlights we've had our hands on; in our review of the Fenix E35R we said that "For those seeking a high-quality, dependable light, it offers great value for money," and that still stands.
We love how sleek it is and, while some may want a greater degree of control, its single button makes it a breeze to use. Despite having a solid build, it's portable and pocketable with it. And as an added bonus, it charges using USB-C so you can recharge it with your phone cable.
It can feel a little hot in turbo mode, but it performs exceptionally well, with a bright and far-reaching beam. It survived many drops and knocks during the time we tested it and, factoring in its price and performance, it's hard to go wrong with the Fenix E35R.
Best budget flashlight
✅ You want something substantial: Lightweight this is not, but the heft of the MagLite certainly helps you feel safe outdoors.
✅ You're on a budget: The MagLite can be picked up fairly cheaply, making it a good budget-friendly option.
❌ You need rechargeable batteries: This flashlight takes traditional batteries, so you'll need to carry those around with you too.
🔎 MagLite LED 3-Cell: This behemoth of a flashlight certainly makes you feel secure, but it's not as bright as you'd imagine it to be — and the fact it isn't rechargeable is less than ideal. ★★
The MagLite LED 3-Cell flashlight is a monstrous-looking device. It gave us vibes of police truncheons from the 80s and certainly looks like something those in authority would be outfitted with. Weighing in at nearly a kilo, it’s also not the lightest flashlight in the world, though it won’t make your arm ache either.
The beam from this MagLite isn’t extremely powerful but it will still light your way and can provide a wide enough view to allow you to see everything in front of you and either side of your path. If you’re trekking through some potentially hazardous terrain, this torch will keep you safe, and that added size and weight gives a little more confidence on even the darkest forest trails.
The biggest downside is the fact that you need batteries to make this flashlight run. While they’ll last, you need to buy a quality brand or rechargeable batteries to make it worthwhile. The flashlight will eat up cheap batteries and leave you in the dark, which is horrible if you need to get back or still have a way to go on your path. If you’re only going to use this for short walks or will always carry a spare set of batteries though, it’s a great alternative that won’t break the bank.
Best premium flashlight
✅ You want versatility: There are multiple light modes here, making the Nitecore C17 a great option if you need flexibility.
✅ You want a long-lasting battery: The 18650 Li-ion battery lasts for up to 130 hours.
❌ You're on a budget: This isn't a cheap option, so if you're wanting something budget-friendly, this isn't it.
🔎 Nitecore C17: A seriously powerful flashlight with a multitude of options. However, it's so bright that it does get a little too hot in your hands. ★★★
The Nightcore C17 is the flashlight of your dreams, providing you’ve got the money to buy it. While it’s not cheap, this flashlight is worth what you pay in reliability, build quality, and options. There are three light modes, each one increasing in brightness, and they’re easy to switch between thanks to the button combination on the base of the unit. It feels good to hold, barely sticking out of your palm, when held in a tight grip, but the bulb is slightly larger and provides a bit more oomph because of it. However, that added power comes at a cost.
Using this flashlight on any setting will soon have your hand feeling like it’s holding a burning ember, one that you could use to start tonight’s campfire. It never gets hot enough that you need to turn it off and let it cool down, but it was certainly enough to give us cause for concern while testing. When you’re on a dark path and you want to know what’s breaking twigs around you as you make your way to the top of the hill though, this is a flashlight that will reveal all.
Nothing can hide from the beam, and it can be focused to provide added clarity since it’s mostly used for hunting. The flashlight has built-in memory and will remember which setting you turned it off on, meaning you can quickly shut it down if you encounter a fellow stargazer before turning it back on to guide you both to your destination with ease.
Most versatile flashlight
✅ You want a trustworthy brand: Fenix is a reputable brand, having worked with rescue services to create rescue equipment.
✅ You want something lightweight: It weighs 89g, making it one of the lightest flashlights on this list.
❌ You need sturdiness: The build quality here isn't the best.
❌ You're looking for a powerful beam: At 1,000 lumens, it's one of the weaker flashlights on this list.
🔎 Fenix PD35-TAC: It's small, comes from a reputable brand and, despite not having the brightest beam, it's strong enough to see in just about any situation. ★★★½
Fenix is an incredibly reliable brand that works with rescue services on some of the flashlights they use in mountainous areas where there is no light to speak of except what you bring with you.
However, the PD35-TAC isn’t necessarily the most powerful device the brand has made. At 1000 lumens, it’s among the weaker entries on this list, but still provides a level of customization in light modes that makes it worth considering. It’s small and lightweight, so you can throw it in a bag without even noticing it’s there. You can use any of its beams to show you the way through dark paths with ease, but you won’t be able to see as far and wide as you would with some of the other flashlights on this list.
This device appears to be another option from the compact tactical range that many manufacturers produce, but it doesn’t look like the best in that line. A flashlight like the Thrunite BSS V4 is built to break through glass, but this one would likely smash in your hand, even though it’s made of metal. For a little more cash, you could feel more reassurance from something else, but if you don’t need that then this is a good option for a lower budget.
Best for pro-level night lighting
✅ You want extra functionality: You can use this flashlight to charge your mobile phone amongst other things.
✅ You want a super bright light: There are six bulbs here, so the Fenix LR80R will illuminate just about anything.
❌ You're on a budget: Costing around $450, this isn't a flashlight to buy on a whim or if you're watching your bank balance.
🔎 Fenix LR80R: The most expensive flashlight on this list is, unsurprisingly, the best that money can buy. It packs in tons of bells and whistles, making it the ultimate outdoor tool. ★★★★★
The final entry on this list is one of the most expensive flashlights on the market. However, if you’re nervous about the dark and want something that will ensure your environment is well-lit, or want something with all the bells and whistles regardless of price, the Fenix LR80R is it.
With six bulbs, you can basically turn night to day before your eyes, but that comes at a cost. This isn’t the biggest flashlight out there, but it’s certainly not small, and you’ll need to hold it at all times instead of packing it away. What sets it apart in more ways from other flashlights is its safety features.
The flashlight will dim when it gets too close to a surface to avoid overheating, can charge your devices through a secondary USB port, and has a locked mode that prevents any children from accidentally getting a face full of near pure sunlight. This flashlight is no joke, which is why rescue services use it, but it’s a safe bet if you can stomach the price and want the best value for money from an incredibly powerful device.
Buying a flashlight is an investment in your safety and often enjoyment when it comes to stargazing. It’s important to pick something that suits your needs in the field and your lifestyle. Consider whether you want to buy batteries or use a rechargeable device, and think about how much light you really need before picking up the most powerful flashlight on the list.
Best for redlight
✅ You want redlight: Redlight is super helpful for nighttime use as it doesn't affect anyone's eyesight and it means your eyes won't take as long to readjust to the dark after use.
✅ You want power: On top of the redlight feature, this flashlight can produce up to 1500 Lumens, which competes with the more powerful models in this guide.
❌ You're on a budget: This flashlight will set you back well over $100 (at the time of writing) and there are other, very capable, flashlights on the market that offer redlight.
The Fenix TK26R: If you've got the cash to splash and you want a serious bit of kit that offers great redlight (as well as a powerful white light, strobe and green light features) then this will serve you well in all situations. If you're on a budget though, you can find decent redlight options for a far smaller price.
The Fenix TK26R is a serious bit of kit for those who want a flashlight that will serve them well in any situation. It has four output settings of white light: 10, 150, 350 and 1500 lumens. At maximum output, the beam will cover 350 meters, which is great in an emergency.
It also has a strobe, 200-lumen green light and a 150-lumen redlight feature, which is excellent for stargazing and astrophotography. The reason is, when using redlight, your eyes won't have to readjust to the dark after use. It also doesn't harm eyesight in the same way white light does and at 150 lumens, it's enough to illuminate your path around you and anything ahead of you.
A dual tailcap is used for switching effortlessly between modes and power output. It's waterproof up to seven feet and it's ruggedly built. The battery is rechargeable with a USB-C input and with a range of 10-1500 lumens; it's ideal for any situation from reading to taking the bins out, to hunting, wildlife spotting and stargazing.
Best Flashlights FAQs
What is the best flashlight?
It depends on what you want out of a flashlight. Above, we've rated the Fenix E35R as the best overall as it gives you plenty of power, it's portable and rugged, with good battery life. But, if you're looking for a red light feature, we've gone with the Fenix TK26R Flashlight, which is portable and lightweight, more affordable, boasts plenty of power and offers a good short-range red light feature.
Are flashlights better than headlamps?
Again, it depends on what you're looking for in a light source. Headlamps don't often offer as much power as the best flashlights, but you don't need to carry them in your hand, giving you more freedom to do what you need to do. Flashlights may offer more visibility but they are handheld, which needs to be taken into account.
Do I need a flashlight for stargazing?
In short, no. You don't 100% need a flashlight, but we would highly recommend having a light source to hand if you're outside in dark conditions as being outside in the dark can bring dangers with it.
What is the next major night sky event?
The next major event in the night sky is Jan 27, when the moon shines near the Pleiades cluster, the latter comprised of Messier 45, Subaru, and the Seven Sisters. The best time to view this event is at twilight, through binoculars or a telescope.
When is the next eclipse?
The next solar eclipse is February 17, which, viewed from Antarctica, will make the sun appear as a ring of fire. It can be viewed from other locations as a partial eclipse, but will not be visible in the northern hemisphere. There's also a lunar eclipse, or 'blood moon' on March 3rd, a truly stunning sight that cries out to be captured on camera.
Why is red light such an important feature?
Red light is a great feature for light sources when used in the dark. It provides clear visibility but doesn't affect a human's ability to adjust to seeing in the dark after looking at red light, as opposed to white light. Humans typically take around 20 minutes to adjust to seeing in the dark after exposure to white light.
How we test
While we haven't officially reviewed all of the flashlights in this guide, we do have expert staff and freelancers who are experienced in stargazing and know what's required of a flashlight. We wouldn't recommend anything that we wouldn't use ourselves, so you can be confident that every flashlight in this guide comes recommended by our experts.
January 21: We've updated this guide's introduction and FAQ with information about the month's night sky events and removed and replaced a discontinued flashlight.
