I think you’ll agree with me when i say….
Finding a durable and good survival flashlight is pretty hard nowadays….Because there are too many options available in the market and it seems confusing.
So In this post I’ll review some of the best survival flashlight of 2020. And i’ll cover all the good and bad aspects in detail. So that you can finally decide which one to buy.
Best Survival Flashlight of 2020
In this article...
1. Streamlight 69260 TLR-1 HL
Streamlight 69260 TLR-1 HL is a very durable and versatile survival flashlight. It is one of the flashlights from their TLR-1 HL series with more output. It is made from high-quality aluminum (aircraft grade) which is very lightweight and tough.
The flashlight has a smaller footprint and fits a broad range of weapons out of the box. Also, you get an option to buy a kit for long guns which is very convenient. It features an 800 lumen c4 LED which can produce a very bright light.
It was much brighter than some of the other TLR-1 flashlights with a bigger hotspot. The spill is very nice and overall covers a much wider area for better searching. And the best part is, it does not run very hot compared to other flashlights. However, if you use it for a really long time, it will get pretty hot. Moreover, the light can run for 1.75 hours with cr123 batteries and can light up as far as 245m. But the batteries that come with the light are not rechargeable.
The interface on the light is very simple that many people, including us, really like. It has a rear toggle which can be actuated by either pushing up or down. There are also various toggle patterns that can be used to activate different light modes.
This makes it very simple and easy to use even in sweaty situations. Installation is also fairly easy, you just have to loosen a screw, mount it on a firearm and tighten it up. This way you can install it on a firearm without any hassle. The flashlight is pretty much all-weather and waterproof. You can use it in rain or underwater up to 1m. You also get three color options and light with or without red or green laser.
2. Solaray Pro ZX-1
Solaray Pro ZX-1 is a flashlight from their professional series flashlight kit. It is a super bright and one of the best LED survival flashlights in the market. The flashlight is made up of aircraft-grade aluminum which is lightweight but yet very durable.
It has a fairly average size with ultra-bright light output capabilities. It is claimed to produce 1200 lumens of bright light that can blind anyone. However, we find it to be very bright but not 1200 lumens bright. Apart from this, the light has a cool daylight tint to it.
The hotspot is fairly big and overall it covers a large area. What’s more that it also has multiple light modes to save energy or for any emergency situation. The light has the zoom in capability to increase its visible range and let you see far away objects.
We love this feature, especially during our camping trip. However, with zoom in, the light does not spill at all and light up a small area. The flashlight gets hot but not abnormally hot. It was quite normal and we did not have any problem with the temperatures whatsoever. Moreover, it does not come with any batteries and you have to put it on yourself.
But the good thing is that you can use a AAA battery with it. The interface of the light is very simple with a bottom at the back. You can also change various light modes by pressing this button once, twice or thrice in a row.
This makes it very easy and convenient to use without having to deal with complicated steps. The flashlight only comes in a black color option which should not be an issue for most of the people. Also, it is pretty much waterproof and can be used in any weather.
3. Streamlight ProTac 88040 HL Flashlight
The Streamlight ProTac 88040 HL is a compact but very powerful flashlight. It is one of the brightest flashlights which is offered at a very affordable price. It is constructed from an aero grade aluminum shell that is durable and light at the same time. The flashlight has a compact footprint which is very suitable for law enforcement and other professional uses.
It features a c4 led technology for extreme brightness which can last for a long time. At maximum setting, it can produce 750 lumens that can light up objects as far as 270 meters. But this will produce more heat and the flashlight will run hot.
On a low setting, it provides a reasonable 35 lumens and only reaches up to 60 meters. However, low settings offer an impressive run time of 18 hours. Moreover, the beam offers a super bright hotspot and overall covers a wider area.
Apart from this, the flashlight is powered by a pair of cr123 batteries that are included with the package. However, these batteries are not rechargeable so you have to add a new one after these run out of juice. The interface of the light is pretty simple.
It got one button at the back that does everything for you. By pressing it a few times in different patterns, you can trigger various light modes. The best part about it is that it is programmable to 3 user profiles. And you can change the default setting according to your preference. Also, the flashlight is pretty much waterproof and has a rating of IPX7.
4. Fenix PD35 Tactical Edition
Fenix PD35 Tactical Edition is a great pocket survival flashlight. It is probably one of the most sold tactical flashlights in the market. The body of the flashlight is made up of high-quality aluminum that is very durable. It features an anti-roll design to prevent it from dropping and damaging itself. It also has a hard-anodized finish to protect it against nicks and dings.
Furthermore, it has a belt clip for easy carry and a rubber grip to help in gripping the flashlight. The flashlight is very compact and has a sleek design which really reflects the craftsmanship of the company. Its compact size also makes it very suitable for EDC purposes.
It offers a great performance with a 5 brightness level. At the high setting, it can output as much as 1000 lumen, enough to light up a dark room without any problem. But this takes up a lot of battery and also produces a substantial amount of heat.
Though on lowest settings, it outputs about 8 lumens with an impressively long run time of over 40 hours. However, the usable low output is 60 lumens which gives over 29 hours of run time. The beam produces a bright hotspot and spills very nicely all over the place. Moreover, it uses a 18650 rechargeable Li-ion battery or two 3V CR123A Lithium batteries.
The interface of the flashlight is very straightforward. You got only two buttons to choose between 6 modes and 5 different brightness levels. This makes it very convenient and easy to use for new people. Also, it is IPX8 rated and can be used in any weather.
5. SureFire G2X
Surefire is an old player in this tactical game and they know how to make these things. This flashlight is one of the examples, it is well built with great brightness. It is a budget tactical light that is affordable for most people and doesn’t break their bank.
The light is made out of a nitrolon body and tail cap, which is a glass filled reinforced polymer. It is hard and feels grippy for the most part. However, the head and the bezel are made of actual aluminum. Considering it is not a weapon light and how affordable it is, we do not mind the nitrolon body construction.
This flashlight gives two output levels one is 600 lumen (high beam) for clearer and brighter view. And the other is low beam i.e 15 lumens which can last very long with a good amount of brightness. But the thing to note here is that you only get one light mode.
The textured reflector produces a beam with a well-defined hotspot. The beam can illuminate objects beyond 200 feet in the dark. It also spills quite nicely to provide a very good peripheral for search applications. However, in the high setting, it gets quite hot which really becomes irritating after some time.
Though, we did not find any step down at all which was surprising for us. Moreover, it is very lightweight and small, specially designed for law enforcement people. The flashlight runs on 2 cr123 batteries which can last for quite a long time if you use it wisely.
But the included batteries are not rechargeable so you have to put new ones after these dies. Also, the light is IPX7 rated so you don’t have to worry about waterproofing.
6. SureFire P2X Fury Tactical
Surefire P2x fury is a pocket-sized and high-intensity tactical survival flashlight. It is suitable to be used as a basic flight light or mount to the long gun. The light is very lightweight and made up of the high-strength aluminum body. The body is also anodized to avoid any chances of corrosion.
The flashlight is compact and follows the design elements of the 6PX family of light. But the head is larger in comparison to the 6PX and plays a distinguishing factor. The body of the light has machined finger notches. This combined with matt finish provides a surprisingly good grip on the light. The light features a Cree XML LED with a large textured reflector.
The maximum bright output level of this flashlight is 500 lumen. And you can easily adjust this level according to your needs. Expect around 1.5 hours on max setting and 46 hours on the lowest setting. However, running it at max setting does generate a substantial amount of heat. It has the capability to illuminate distant targets with a well-defined hotspot.
The reflector spills the light smoothly and provides a wide peripheral vision. But the flashlight has only one light mode, which is a bummer for a lot of people. Like the GX2, it runs on 2 cr123 batteries which can last for quite a long time if you use it wisely.
But the included batteries are not rechargeable so you have to put new ones after these dies. Moreover, the tail cap threads can act as switch locks to prevent accidental activation during transportation. Also, a weatherproof O-ring and gasket are also present that makes it pretty much waterproof.
7. Ecogear TK120 Tactical
Ecogear TK120 Tactical is an affordable tactical survival flashlight which includes extra items. But low price does not mean that you are getting a knock off. It’s a high-quality flashlight that can be used in many scenarios such as camping, hunting, law enforcement or military.
The flashlight itself is made up of aircraft aluminum and has a hard-anodized finish. It is durable but has a substantial weight to it. The package comes bundled with a lot of nice stuff, one of them is a storage box. The box is not huge but big enough to pack in all the stuff neatly.
The flashlight is compact and features a CREE XML-T6 LED that can produce 900 lumens of bright light. However, you can also get 1200 lumens of a narrow beam by utilizing its zoom feature. This feature is our favorite because you can light up the exact area you want to enhance from far away. The light has 5 different modes that include high, medium, low, strobe, and SOS.
All these modes can be controlled via a button at the back making it extremely easy to use. The beam that is produced has a very bright hot spot with a nice spill which is very useful in search operations. All this is powered by either 3 AAA batteries or one 18650 rechargeable battery. The good thing is that you get two 18650 rechargeable batteries.
And the charge included with the package. You also get a pre-installed lanyard, a spare lanyard, a spare o-ring. And a solar-rechargeable LED keychain flashlight for free. Lastly, it is not waterproof so you need to add the o-ring to the opening. But this also does not guarantee complete waterproofing.
8. Anker LC130
The Anker LC130 is a chunky but super bright tactical survival flashlight. It is one of the flashlights in their LC series and also the most powerful among others. The flashlight is made of aircraft-grade aluminum and black anodized finish.
The body feels a bit slippery for our taste but the grooves help to grip it firmly. The construction is solid and durable but fairly heavy as well. It is not something unbearable but something that you will notice for sure. Therefore a lanyard is provided to carry it around easily. The flashlight has an average size but its head is big compared to other lights.
This makes it suitable mostly for outdoor/indoor use cases and not for law enforcement, military purposes or EDC. Furthermore, it features 3 Cree LEDs that can produce a total of 1300 lumens of brightness. It has enough output to reach up to 1200ft without any hassle and can glow beyond 2 football fields. The beam that produced is very bright with a good hotspot and wide field of view.
It has a total of 5 different light modes that are high, medium, low, a blinking strobe light, and even the SOS signal in Morse code. And all this can be triggered by a button at the back. The flashlight uses a 26650 battery to power its LEDs.
And the good thing is that you get a rechargeable 26650 battery. And charging cable included with the package. Lastly, the light is IPX7 rated so you don’t have to worry about waterproofing.
9. J5 Tactical V1-PRO
J5 Tactical V1-PRO is a small but powerful flashlight that is very affordable. It is one of the most popular flashlights and has the most amount of reviews with the highest rating on Amazon. The flashlight is made up of aluminum with a black coating on it.
The construction feels durable and right of the box, you can tell it means serious business. Due to its compact design, it fits comfortably in the hand and rugged ridges offer a nice grip. It is also lightweight which makes it a very capable pocket light for EDC purposes.
One we really like about it is that it comes with a sturdy pocket clip. This makes it very easy to carry around without any issue. The flashlight can produce a maximum of 300 lumens. It is not crazy bright but bright enough to light up a small room which is very impressive for such a small light. It features a total of 3 modes that include high, low and strobe.
The presence of these modes is very useful to maintain a minimum battery consumption. All these modes can be controlled by a red color button which is present at the backside. It also features a zoom option to focus all the light on a particular area that you may want to enhance. This feature is especially useful for people who do a lot of outdoor trips in the wild.
The beam that is produced does not have a very sharp hotspot. But it spills really nicely to provide overall a wider field of view. Apart from this, the light uses a single AA battery which was quite surprising for us.
At the same time felt really happy because AA batteries are easily available at a cheap price. Furthermore, the flashlight is IPX4 rated so you have some kind of waterproofing.
10. Anker Super Bright Tactical LC90
Anker Super Bright Tactical LC90 is an affordable tactical survival flashlight by Anker. It is another flashlight from the LC series. It is not as bright as LC130 but bright enough to light a dark room by itself. Like its bigger brother, LC90 is made up of aircraft-grade aluminum with a hard-anodized finish.
But it is not as large and chunky as LC130 which we really like. The body has the same slippery feeling but it is less noticeable due to the less weight. The grooves on the body do their flawlessly and overall provide a good grip. The flashlight is small and suitable for most of the things including law enforcement and military.
However, it is not very small to be used as a pocket flashlight. It uses a Cree LED bulb to produce 900 lumens of super bright light. It is enough output to reach up to 1200ft without any hassle and can glow beyond 2 football fields. And the good part about the light is that its head is zoomable.
This means that you can focus all the light to a particular area you want to enhance. But unlike most zoomable flashlights, the focus point is circular which feels natural. The flashlight has a total of 5 different light modes for different scenarios.
These modes include high, medium, low, strobe and SOS. Out of which medium provides a good balance between brightness and power usage. You can control these modes from the button situated at the back of the light. This makes the interface very easy and simple for even new people.
Moreover, a rechargeable 18650 battery is included in the package with a charging cable. The battery provides a maximum run time of 6 hours at medium mode and takes 6 hours to charge. Lastly, it is waterproof with an IPX5 rating to prevent water damage.
11. Klarus Upgraded XT11GT
Klarus Upgraded XT11GT is a beast of the flashlight and one of the highest output lights on our list. Apparently, XT11GT is an upgraded version of XT11S which is a very popular tactical flashlight. The body of the light is made up of high-quality type 3 anodized aluminum.
The construction is solid with a very premium in-hand feel. All the grooves and contours provide a very firm grip even when wet. The flashlight has a regular size with a removable pocket to carry it around easily. When it comes to light output it outweighs all the other high capacity flashlights.
With its Cree LED it can deliver a blinding 2000 lumens at max setting. And throw a maximum beam of 316 meters. This makes it a good competitor to the big boys in the market. However, it heats quite substantially but it is expected.
The beam has a very well defined hotspot but not with very high intensity. Instead, the spills a lot and covers an overall wider area which we really like. It has a total of 6 different light modes and 3 programmable settings. This makes it very versatile as well as user friendly.
These modes and settings can be accessed via 3 buttons, 2 tail buttons, and one body side button. The way to achieve it is a bit complicated, so you need to read the user manual carefully. Furthermore, the flashlight runs on a 18650 battery with a run time of 50 minutes at a turbo mode.
However, by using the medium mode you can extend the run time up to 12 hours with good brightness. Apart from that, the light comes in a kit bundled with a lot of other things. This includes a USB charging cable, a lanyard, a spare O-ring, a rechargeable 18650 battery, a holster, a car charger, a wall adapter, and a mini USB light. Lastly, it is IPX7 rated and can be used underwater up to 1m or in rain.
12. Helotex 1000 Lumen G4 Tactical Flashlight
The Helotex G4 Tactical Flashlight is a tough and durable flashlight that can withstand any beating. It provides high-performance while staying within the budget range. The flashlight is made up of aircraft-grade aluminum with a black anodized finish.
The finish helps to avoid any chances of corrosion that can damage the light. It is fairly lightweight which makes it very suitable for the EDC tasks. It also has texturing all over its body to grip the light even when the hands are wet. The construction of the light is compact with a belt clip for easy carry. The G4 uses a CREE XM-L2 LED with a very impressive output.
The LED can emit about 1000 lumen at maximum. The beam has the capacity to illuminate distant targets with a well-defined hotspot. And the reflector spills the light smoothly and provides a wide peripheral vision. However, high output will generate more heat and drain the battery very fast. The light has a total of three lighting modes and you can change it according to your needs.
Out of which low light mode can run for over 70 hours! Talking about the run time, the flashlight has dual power capability. This means you can either run it on two CR123 batteries or a single 18650 rechargeable battery. None of these batteries are included with the light so you have to buy it yourself.
Moreover, the interface is very simple and you have only one button to cycle through the modes. This makes it very convenient and clutter-free even for new people. Lastly, it does have o-ring all over the opening but not any specific rating for waterproofing. So you can use it in rain but not underwater as far as we can tell.
13. Outlite A100 Portable 600 Lumens
The Outlite A100 is a high-quality tactical survival flashlight that comes at a budget-friendly price. It is designed to be multifunctional and useful for many different situations. The flashlight is crafted from a high-quality aluminum alloy body that is very tough and durable.
The whole body has a black anodized finish that prevents rusting as well as accidental scratches. Additionally, it has two knurling that provides the necessary grip when the hands are wet. The light has a compact footprint which makes it suitable for EDC, outdoor activities and law enforcement.
It features a CREE XM-L T6 LED bulb that outputs the highest lumen output for a tactical flashlight at the budget range. The LED can output a maximum of 900 lumens with a lifespan of 100,000 hours! It is super bright and lights up far away objects like day time. And this is not all, you can further extend your range by utilizing its zoom feature.
This makes searching for far away things really easy and convenient. The light has a total of 5 different modes which include high, medium, low, strobe and SOS. All these modes can be controlled easily from the button at the back.
This makes it very user friendly even for the new people out there. As far as batteries are concerned, it uses a 18650 rechargeable battery or 3 AAA batteries. Out of which AAA batteries are included with the package.
But these batteries are somewhat so you have to add the new ones after a short time. Lastly, the light is somewhat waterproof so you can use it in rain but not underwater.
Things To Consider Before Buying A Survival Flashlight
These are the things that you should consider before buying a survival flashlight. So what I have discussed below is Light output/Lumen, Material, Battery, Water-resistant, and budget.
Light Output/ Lumen
Simply saying lumen is the measuring unit of light output. The more the number of lumens, the brighter that flashlight will be. For example, if you have two lights one is 1000 and the other is 600 Lumen, then the 1000 lumen will be brighter than the 600 one.
You need to choose lumen according to your needs whether you want an EDC flashlight or a patrol(surveillance, defense) light. And also you need to make sure that the flashlight has different modes for different situations like high, strobe and low beam. Nowadays these mode setting functions are common in lights so you don’t have to worry about them more.
Material
You need to check the material of the flashlight (what is it made of). Because nobody wants a cheap knock off the flashlight. So the most durable and quality material you need to check for is anodized aluminum. It is the most durable, solid and rust-resistant material in the market.
Battery
There are two types of batteries rechargeable and non-rechargeable. Rechargeable batteries have their own benefits as they are more useful for people who frequently use flashlights. And non-rechargeable batteries are for those who don’t use the flashlight for a long period. These two batteries have their own benefits. So you need to choose according to your needs.
Water resistance
This is another factor that makes flashlights more durable and versatile. You need to make sure that the flashlight is water-resistant. So that you can also use it in heavy rain.
Budget
For me, the budget is not that important when it comes to quality. If I’m getting a good quality thing and I have to pay $50- $70 extra, I would go for it. You can check your requirements first and then you can choose a budget to buy. Check out Other survival gears tactical sling backpack, tactical backpack, Bug out Backpack, Survival axe, survival watch, survival multi-tool.
