A grid attack will render everything that runs on electricity useless, including lights. There is a good chance that power might not come back for days or even weeks. So, it is always a good idea to invest in a high-quality flashlight. Here's a look at 10 best flashlights currently available in the market.
10 Flashlights to include in your kit
Cheap flashlights, while readily available, do not share the same features of high-quality flashlights. They often come in standard sizes and have mediocre brightness. Military grade flashlights, on the other hand, are more durable and versatile. Moreover, they are more cost-effective in the long run since they offer more hours of lamp life.
Surefire Stiletto
The Surefire Stiletto is a rechargeable do-all utility flashlight. It has a set of features that would please even the most demanding user.
The build quality of the Stiletto is meant to fit comfortably in your hands. It has a teardrop shape and a flat side that is easy to grip and to draw. The Surefire Stiletto’s form factor makes it easy to place in the back pocket, as you would a pocket knife.
This portable flashlight contains three switches for three different settings -- primary light, tail light, and user-programmed light.
The primary light is a high-beam light that lasts up to five-and-a-half hours when set to five lumens. Otherwise, when set to a very bright 200 lumens, it can stay on for about two hours.
The tail light is the tactical light. It boasts a 650-lumen high-beam light that can cover a wide area at close range. Depending on the program set by the user, the switch for the tactical light can also double as a strobe light.
Surefire G2Z
The Surefire G2Z is specially designed to be used with a handgun. It combines favored features from the Nitrolon series, like the grip ring and the legacy combat lights, with a new 600 lumens light. The grip ring allows the user to easily manipulate the flashlight, especially when using it with a handgun.
The tail switch is also reminiscent of the Nitrolon series. It can be set at momentary only at full power or constant full power. Its run-time is a whopping one-and-a-half hours using two 123A lithium batteries.
This G2Z’s build quality is as reliable as it can get. The materials used for this flashlight include a tough-weatherproof polymer and an anodized alloy bezel. It is almost indestructible and is as sturdy as most surefire flashlights are, if not sturdier.
Surefire Sidekick
Sidekick is an ultraportable but powerful flashlight. It measures less than three inches long but delivers an impressive 300 lumens of light.
Although it is not as powerful as the G2Z and the Stilleto, the Sidekicks’ charm relies on its size. It can be packed in an emergency kit, attached to a key ring, or hung from a zipper pull. It is a great backup flashlight if the primary runs out of juice.
The Sidekick has three settings – 300, 60, and 5 lumens – which can be accessed through the side mounted switch. It is fully rechargeable and can be charged using the standard micro USB.
Surefire Fury DFT
Surefire had another hit with the Fury which made waves when it came out. People rated the Sunfire Fury highly for its exceptionally high output at 1,200 lumens on 123As. It goes up to 1,500 lumens when using a larger 18650 rechargeable battery.
Coast PX1
Coast PX1 is for people who are on a budget but still want a powerful flashlight. It runs on triple-A batteries and can go as bright as 315 lumens for two hours. However, to conserve power, the setting can be adjusted to a "low mode" of 25 lumens. In effect, the flashlight can now be pushed to a whopping 40 hours of battery power.
Although the Coast PX1 is not as bright as Surefires, it is reliable and inexpensive. In addition, it has a longer battery life compared to some Surfires and is generally the best in its price line.
Streamlight PROTAC 1L-1AA
Streamlight went for performance with the PROTAC 1L-1AA, and they struck gold. This high-performance light is compact and very reliable with its flexible switching feature. The option to choose between either single 123A lithium or AA battery is the kind of flexibility a prepper needs.
Streamlight PROTAC 2AA
Streamlight PROTAC 2AA gets the job done. It’s not the brightest with 250 lumens, but you’re not going for power when you use a PROTAC 2AA. Where it shines is in the runtime that it gets from AA batteries. If you want a flashlight that takes the most common battery there is, think of getting a PROTAC 2AA.
Streamlight NANO Light
Good things come in small packages -- and the Streamlight NANO Light embodies this. With an output of 10 lumens, it’s a tiny light for sure, but it’s hard to argue with the form factor. The NANO Light is so small, you can attach it to your key ring.
Fenix LD15R Right Angle
Fenix is a popular choice for flashlight enthusiasts because it performs incredibly well for its price. It runs on rechargeable 16340 batteries but these can be swapped with standard 123A batteries.
The Fenix LD15R has both white and red LED. For maximum brightness, you can crank the intensity to up to 500 lumens. However, it can also be turned down to 150, 30, or 3 lumens to conserve battery.
The LD15R is quite compact and can be clipped onto the back pocket or attached to any gear.
Elzetta Alpha Series Light
The Alpha Series Light is Elzetta’s love letter to people who like to do things their way. This compact and reliable light gives you 415 lumens on a 123A battery, which is great, but the best thing about it is that you can customize the lens to suit your needs. If you’re a connoisseur who knows which lens you need for the occasion, Elzetta’s Alpha Series Light is for you.
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