The right flashlight can make all the difference in times of peril, emergency, or uncertainty. But what separates a good flashlight from a bad one? Things like weight, size, and design are very important, but as you’d expect, brightness is the telltale sign of a good torch. Without sufficient brightness and good battery life, there’s really no point. Here are 6 of the world’s brightest flashlights ever made.
Acebeam X60M
The Acebeam X60M packs a walloping 10,000 lumens, will burn brightly for well over an hour, and can effectively beam light for over a half-mile. Powered by 6 IMR18650 lithium-ion rechargeable batteries, the Acebeam X60M is impact resistant, waterproof, and is comprised of ultra durable aluminum alloy. Oh, and it comes with a three-year warranty!
$395
ThruNite TN36 UT
This flashlight is an excellent value for what it is because not only does it shine at 7,300 lumens, but it’s also exceptionally compact (135.4mm length and 64mm diameter) and lightweight (just shy of 400g without batteries). It also offers rechargeable batteries and has a maximum beam distance of 900 feet. It’ll pack away easily, but packs more than enough punch to do what you’ll expect it to.
$296
Fenix RC40
Six thousand lumens, a built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery, and a maximum beam distance of 2,400 feet, the Fenix RC40 is the real deal. The problem with a lot of high-power LED flashlights is that when they give their max lumen specifications, they do so at an amperage output much higher than what they can actually accommodate. Like, their lights will beam 7,000 lumen at three amps, but the actual flashlight’s amperage output is just shy of one amp. But with Fenix (and all of the selections on this list), when they say 6,000 lumens, they mean 6,000 lumens. Additionally, this flashlight also comes with Fenix’s limited lifetime warranty—which we know and trust to be fair and transparent.
$344
The Torch
Aptly called “The Torch” by the folks at Wicked Lasers, this light puts out a mind-boggling 4100 lumens, and has an expected bulb life of over 20,000 hours. It’s so powerful that it has a low, medium, and high power setting, and can set fire to paper, melt plastic, and even fry an egg. The weakest link is its battery, which will only last around a half hour. The good news is that the lithium-ion battery pack is rechargeable.
$200
Nitecore TM16GT
A new release from the lighting powerhouse Nitecore, the TM16GT offers a punchy 3600 lumens in a very compact, lightweight frame. It offers five separate brightness levels, ranging in scope from the ULTRALOW setting at 5 lumens, to the TURBO setting at 3600 lumens. The full adjustability and compact package of the TM16GT makes it attractive to everyone from campers and backpackers, to auto mechanics and road crew workers.
$249
Nitecore EC4S
We tried not to include two entries from the same brand on this list, but we felt like Nitecore’s EC4S could be the exception to the rule. The award-winning torch puts out a fiery 2150 lumens and uses just two standard rechargeable 18650 batteries to do it. The amount of power you get from this tiny setup is remarkable, and the best part of all is that it’s the only light on this list that can be had for under a hundred bucks.
$99
