9 Best Pocket Flashlights as Defense Tool – Reviews & Buyer’s Guide

Flashlights come in far and wide variety now with state of the art LED technologies and many other distinctive features that make them more efficient.

Remember the days when flashlights used to be huge with limited battery time and carrying them was such a pain?

Thank God that time is over. Now, a good EDC pocket flashlight has to be durable, handy and easily accessible.

Here’s the list of 9 best pocket flashlights that you can choose from:

Best Pocket Flashlight 2021

1. ShadowHawk X800 High Tactical Flashlight

The ShadowHawk X800 is a newly launched military grade EDC LED flashlight which is equally useful for common people, Police and military personnel.

Made of Aircraft-Grade Aluminum and XPE 800 Lumen light bulb, this flashlight has a lot to offer other than just extra brightness and durability.

And that makes it the topper of our list.

The hard-anodized finish makes it water resistant, anti-abrasive and shock proof but that’s just not it.

This flashlight comes with 5 Preset Settings and a lifespan of 100,000 hours with 3 rechargeable AAA batteries.

What makes it unique is its zooming flexibility which goes up to as much as 2000X.

Being very easy to carry around, it is a perfect tool for self-defense and routine use.

2. SureFire EB1 Backup Click Switch Dual-Output LED Flashlight

If you are the kind of person who loves to stay outdoors in a tent then you need a flashlight that is durable and is bright enough.

SureFire EB1 is one of the best EDC flashlights of 2020 that are in the market right now.

With the use of futuristic LED light bulbs, which are digitally regulated and do not contain any fragile parts, it yields 5 times more light than other regular flashlights and has an unlimited lifespan.

This flashlight features 2 output modes and it can last up to 36 hours in its lowest mode.

It is a perfect travel companion for hiking, camping or hunting.

3. Outlite 501B LED 900 Lumen Handheld Flashlight

Outlite 501B is a high-powered tactical flashlight with water-resistant lamp for outdoor activities.

It is a more pocket-friendly option for everyday use with a good amount of lifetime and brightness in a compact size.

This model has 5 different setting levels from high to SOS and has a lifespan of 100,000 hours with 900LM luminosity.

That sounds a bit far-fetched but it does produce a noticeably bright light.

Built of aluminum, this flashlight uses a 18650 rechargeable battery for power restoration.

Having a weight of 4.6 ounces, it is very comfortable to hold and carry.

With all these features, this is probably the best EDC flashlight under $50.

4. UltraFire 7w 300lm Mini Cree LED Flashlight

With a puny weight of 60g, the UltraFire 7w LED flashlight is as light as a feather.

Though it’s very small in size, but is remarkably bright with a luminosity yield of 300 Lumen.

Ultrafire has two modes for lower intensity and flashing light and can be switched to any mode by half-pressing the on/off button.

It even has a zoom feature which is brilliant.

With a 200m light range, it can last from 3 to 10 hours at continuous use.

And it uses normal AA batteries which are pretty easy to find.

If you are looking for a good flashlight without spending too much then this is the one for you.

5. Cliplight 140 Lumens Super Bright Clipstrip LED Flashlight

Cliplight 140 has a number of distinctive features that make it one of our favorite.

This EDC flashlight has been constructed with the aim to offer better light coverage to bigger areas by making use of the strip array LED technology.

Being shockproof and water resistant, it is perfect for all kinds of usages.

It comes with a pivoting & magnetic clip and 3 regular AAA batteries, which can provide brightness for up to 12 hours.

With its unique design, it is very easy to carry around in your pocket where you can instantly access it.

And lastly, it comes with a money-back guarantee, which is a big plus point.

6. Streamlight 66318 MicroStream C4 LED Pen Flashlight

Streamlight 66318 is an ultra-compact flashlight that uses the C4-type LED.

Having high-flux 1/2 Watt LEDs, this model produces super-bright light with the use of just one regular AAA battery and has a lifespan of up to 30,000 hours.

This model does not provide focus adjustment and hence it covers larger areas, which allows for peripheral vision so you can easily spot the surroundings as well.

The use of a polycarbonate lens along with the waterproof construction makes it almost indestructible.

Comes with it a high-quality lanyard, that lets you carry it around your neck anywhere.

And being too light in weight, it doesn’t even feel that you’ve got something there.

7. SOG Dark Energy 247A

SOG 247A as per its name, emphasizes dark energy and features a Cool White Cree R5 LED bulb which makes its brightest tactical flashlight of its kind.

The knurled cap in its design has been constructed with the motive of using it for self-defense.

Built with an aluminum reflector and an optical grade polycarbonate lens, this flashlight is super sturdy.

Providing 4 different lighting features with a simple push on/off button, SOG dark energy yields a max of 247 Lumens and lasts up to 145-minutes on its full brightness.

247A is water resistant for up to 30 minutes at 1-meter depth and weighs 4.1 ounces at a length of 5.1 inches.

And it also comes with a fixed belt clip and a limited lifetime warranty from Amazon.

8. Fenix PD35

Fenix PD35 is considered one of the most trendy and brightest flashlights due to its insane brightness, durability, and compact size.

Providing a brightness of 850 to 950 Lumens, it can easily light up an entire room and can be used as a weapon of self-defense.

With its 6 output levels including the strobe setting, this flashlight provides ample room for power maximization.

This model weighs 4.8 ounces and uses two CR123A batteries.

Fenix PD35 comes with a rear tail cap with a side button for hassle-free mode selection.

This model can resist 2m deep water for up to 30 minutes.

And it comes with a lifetime guarantee from the manufacturer.

9. ThruNite Ti series Mini Keychain Flashlight

ThruNite is the best mini flashlight if you are looking for a more classic option.

With the shape of a regular chapstick, this tiny monster is quite bright for its size.

Like all other flashlights, the running time of ThruNite depends on the output levels which are 4 in total including firefly, low, high and strobe.

This model uses 1 AAA battery for power and its minimum running time is 1 hour with a luminosity of 120 Lm at strobe Level. And at the firefly level, it runs up to 115 hours with a brightness of 0.04 Lm.

Having a weight of 12 grams without a battery, this LED pocket flashlight comes with a keychain ring which makes it much handier.

Buying Guide for Best Pocket Flashlights

With a wide range of flashlights available on the internet, the selection of one that’s specifically tailored to your needs can be a tad bit fussy job.

Ever since the dawn of LED technology in flashlights, their market keeps updating every single day with more and better options to choose from which may leave you confused.

Your requirements for a flashlight being a security guard would be totally different from a person who needs it for indoor use.

Before you plan to buy a pocket flashlight, you need to make sure that your mind is clear on two things; your intended purpose and the requirements that you are seeking in that flashlight.

The following points will help you select the best LED pocket flashlight as per your usage needs.

#1 Intended Purpose

First things first! You need to recognize the usage purpose, to get on the right track, to begin with.

Are you a policeman or a military man who needs a light to fulfill your professional needs? Or are you just a regular house mom who just wants to keep a more conventional flashlight just for routine needs? Need to light up dark lightroom whilst filming your vlog or holding your camera super still?

There can be far too many purposes. Let’s take a look at them.

#2 Budget

Now that you are aware of your main purpose, you have to plan out your price range. The EDC pocket flashlights are available from as low as $5, going all the way up to around $200. So, you need to set yourself a price range within which you have to make a decision.

#3 Categories of the flashlight

Flashlights come in three major categories. Each category varies from the other in terms of purpose, structure and carrying. Those categories are:

#4 Size of the Flashlight

One of the most important factors in EDC pocket flashlights is their size. The majority of us normally look for a heavy-duty flashlight that is smaller in size and easy to carry without much burden.

The absolute best EDC pocket flashlight should be of the size that you can easily carry in your purse, your backpack, your keychain ring or either on your belt or around your neck.

However, the size of a flashlight is greatly dependent on its performance and the type of batteries it uses.

The various major sizes in which the pocket flashlights come in are as follows:

A good flashlight has to survive at all odds and must be reliable. If you are intending to get one for everyday use, then it has to be robust. Now, the question is How will you know if the flashlight you are selecting is durable or not? – Well, the durability of an EDC pocket flashlight depends on several factors. Scroll down to have a peek at them.

#5 Construction material

The tougher the material the sturdier the flashlight! The tactical flashlights are usually made up of anodized aluminum which makes those flashlights quite durable.

Apart from aluminum; plastic & composites, titanium and stainless steel are the other common materials used in their construction.

#6 Shock Resistance

The durability of a flashlight is also highly dependent on its shock resisting ability. The shock resistance ability is one of the ANSI FL1 standards. If you are the kind of person who is very careless about handling stuff then you need a flashlight that can easily resist some impact.

Shock resistance doesn’t just keep the flashlight from cracking; it also increases the lifespan of the flashlight.

#7 Water Resistance

Water resistance ability is yet another standard of ANSI FL1. Some of the flashlights are just splash proof; some can resist water for half an hour and some can be dipped in meter deep water. To find out how water resistant a flashlight is, you will need to check its IPX marking. You can refer to IPX rating guide to get a clearer grip on all the IPX ratings and can choose one likewise, as per your requirements.

#8 Lumens

The luminosity of the flashlight is obviously an essential part, as this is the very reason you want it. If you want a flashlight for tactical usage then you will require one with high Lumens. And if you want one for everyday use, you can go for lesser Lumens as well.

There is a huge variety of flashlights available in the market with a wide range of Lumens. Starting from 1 Lumen they can go up to as much as 900+ Lumens, which is a lot.

So, keep in mind your intended use and remember – the higher the Lumens the brighter the flashlight. So, choose one wisely.

#9 Battery Running Time and Types

How long do you want your flashlight to keep on running on its maximum luminosity? – Some flashlights run for just half an hour at their max and some will provide you hours of brightness. All of that depends on the batteries.

You can choose one of the below-mentioned battery types.

#10 Switch type

EDC pocket flashlights typically come with three main kinds of switches. You can choose one as per your liking and convenience.

Twisty

Most of the compact-sized flashlights come with this type of switch because it doesn’t take any extra space on the body of the flashlight. You may, however, find this type a bit annoying because they may sometimes come without properly screwed head or tail.

Body Switch

This switch is quite popular by demand. Its the same classic style that we’ve been seeing on our flashlights for years. You can switch through numerous output settings very easily by just using your thumb.

Tail Cap

Tail cap switch is by far the most popular among the users. A tail switch is located at the bottom of the flashlight which can be operated with your thumb quite easily. For changing settings, you just need to keep clicking it multiple times.

This type of switch allows for a better grip that can be ideal in self-defense situations.

#11 Brightness Modes

Every manufacturer provides different modes of brightness in their flashlights as per their own viewpoints.

You can choose the brightness modes from one of the following.

Single mode This type offers just a single mode of brightness and is usually found in tactical flashlights.

Two modes Nothing fancy about this type, as it offers just two output levels; High and Low. So, you either get maximum brightness or switch to minimum brightness for battery preservation.

Multiple modes This type can have as much as 10 brightness levels to choose from, according to the situation and circumstances.

that I’d like to know if I were purchasing.

Can Lithium-ion Batteries be Overcharged?

Overcharging your battery can definitely become a reason for concern and you need to be extra vigilant about it. Overcharging may lead to the buildup of metallic lithium on a node, which can lead to a number of issues like accidental short circuiting and bursting of the battery.

Though it may seem like a very tough job, you can prevent your battery from getting overcharged by keeping a close check on it, while it’s being plugged in.

You need to find out the right amount of hours for which you should charge your battery. That way, your battery will perform better and will have a longer lifespan.

But, the confusion is – how to find the right number of hours? For that, you can simply check the text on the battery, which normally mentions the complete details regarding the correct way of charging, including the total required time and charging rate.

All you need to do after that is regulate the settings on your basic charger and you are good to go.

Are LED Flashlights Better than the Incandescent Flashlights?

Ever since LED bulbs have hit the market, they have been constantly ruling the world of flashlights. LED bulbs have a clearly larger market share over the incandescent bulbs because of their front-line technology.

There are a number of competitive advantages to LED flashlights that cannot be found in incandescent flashlights.

LED light bulbs have a significantly longer life as compared to incandescent bulbs. A LED bulb can run up to 50,000 hours continuously whereas incandescent bulb can last for only 6 hours if used continuously.

Power consumption is much lesser in LED lights with greater output. Incandescent lights, on the other hand, require quite high levels of power consumption by providing much lesser output.

And because of consuming less power, batteries of LED lights also enjoy a much-extended life in comparison to the batteries of incandescent lights.

LED bulbs solid construction doesn’t allow them to get damaged so easily but incandescent bulbs are quite easily breakable with even the slightest shock impact.

And lastly, LED lights are way too economical and pocket-friendly because they do not need constant bulb changes or battery changes. So, they turn out to be a better investment in the long run.

How to Store Flashlight Batteries?

Oftentimes it happens that when you need a flashlight, you find it to be dead and not working anymore. That could be really frustrating and it usually happens when you don’t put much consideration into the storage of batteries.

For avoiding such sort of challenges, you can take some precautionary measures beforehand to keep your batteries running for as long as they can.

First of all, never store the batteries in the flashlight itself because it may lead to corrosion. So, always keep the batteries removed if you are not going to use the flashlight anywhere in the near future.

Keep your flashlight in a place where you can easily access it in case of an emergency. And store the flashlight and batteries at the same spot to avoid any wastage of time if you need them quickly.

Following these simple steps, you can keep your batteries as fresh and efficient as you can.

Small EDC Flashlights FAQs

Conclusion

At the end of the day, the selection of the right EDC pocket flashlight solely depends upon your needs. If you have made it this far, it means that you are now well equipped with all the necessary information that is needed for selecting the right flashlight for you.

Here is a great article on how to use these best pocket flashlights for self-defense.

With these cutting-edge best EDC Pocket flashlights, you can have all the brightness that you need at your fingertips in just ago.

So, be focused, look for all the top alternatives that are available in the market, make comparisons and then finally arrive at a decision that is ideal for you.

We wish you good luck in picking the right one!