There are flashlights for daily carry that you can easily store in your pockets, and provide you with more than enough light for your daily tasks. And then there are times when you want to see how many eye-searing lumens you can bring to bear in a package that pushes the limits of something you can EDC. Lighting up a football field or two, illuminating a mountain range in the distance, or simply impressing the heck out of your friends: these challenges demand the highest output that current flashlight technology can muster. In this guide, we run down our recommendations for some of the best and brightest flashlights you can buy today.
Our Top Picks
The Brightest Flashlight: IMALENT MS18W [Buy]
The Most Premium Brightest Flashlight: Fenix LR80R [Buy]
The Best Budget Brightest Flashlight: Emisar D18 [Buy]
The Furthest Throwing Flashlight: Weltool W4Pro LEP [Buy]
The Most Compact Brightest Flashlight: Nitecore TM20K [Buy]
IMALENT MS18W | Fenix LR80R | Emisar D18 | Weltool W4Pro LEP | Nitecore TM20K |
 |  |  |  |  |
| $$$$ | $$$$ | $$ | $$$$ | $$$$ |
| Maximum Output: 100,000 lumens | Maximum Output: 18,000 lumens | Maximum Output: 14,000 lumens | Maximum Output: 568 lumens | Maximum Output: 20,000 lumens |
| Emitter: 18 x Cree XHP70 | Emitter: 6 x Luminus SST70 | Emitter: 18 x SST-20 | Emitter: LEP | Emitter: 19 x Cree XP-L2 |
| Key Features: The brightest flashlight in the world | Key Features: Intelligent downshifting sensor | Key Features: Affordable enthusiast functionality | Key Features: High-efficiency drive circuit | Key Features: Easy one-handed operation |
| Buy Now | Buy Now | Buy Now | Buy Now |
The Brightest Flashlights
The best flashlight for you could mean different things. Whether you’re looking for a flashlight to add to your EDC or are only interested in a headlamp for your next camping adventure, this list will go through some of the best options you can choose from. Most of these LED flashlights have a high lumen output that is many times brighter than your smartphone, so tossing one of these into your emergency bag is a good idea, especially if you need (or want) to create gigantic walls of light to illuminate an area.
IMALENT MS18W Flashlight
Purchase
AceBeam X75 Flashlight
Purchase
Fenix LR80R Flashlight
Purchase
Emisar D18 Flashlight
Purchase
ThruNite TN50 Flashlight
Purchase
Nitecore TM20K Flashlight
Purchase
Olight X9R Marauder Flashlight
Purchase
IMALENT MR90 Flashlight
Purchase
Manker MK38 Satellite Flashlight
Purchase
Weltool W4Pro LEP Flashlight
Purchase
Lumintop BLF GT4 Flashlight
Purchase
Olight Marauder 2 Flashlight
PurchaseHow to Choose the Brightest Flashlight
When choosing the brightest flashlight, you should know a few things first. Whether you’re cross-shopping a few lights to add to your kit or just want to be familiar with what’s available, these common terms will help you understand what makes one flashlight better than another.
Lumens
A lumen is a unit of measurement that describes brightness. Saying that a flashlight is bright doesn’t really help to describe how bright it is. Lumens provide context and a frame of reference so you can get a general idea of the amount of output a flashlight has. For reference, the LED flashlight on the back of a modern smartphone has an output of roughly 50 lumens.
Rechargeable, battery-powered, or both?
Whether you should get a rechargeable flashlight or battery-powered light depends on what you will use it for. If you plan on adding the light to your daily kit, then a rechargeable light might be worth looking into since you can easily plug it into a charger to power it up again. Plus, if you use it often, you will run through plenty of batteries. On the other hand, if you’re getting a flashlight for a particular use case or tossing it in an emergency pack, battery-powered might be the way to go since you can swap them out relatively quickly. This means you can have a functioning light again in a matter of seconds instead of waiting for a light to recharge.
Size
Size matters with everything in EDC, but that’s especially true when it comes to bright flashlights. While plenty of powerful flashlights also come in a small size, you’ll typically find that larger lights have the brightest output. This is because manufacturers can fit more LEDs on it or have more space to cram batteries into. These may not be the best flashlights for everyday carry, but they’re the best at what they do.
You might actually need a tactical flashlight
When it comes to picking an EDC flashlight most people will be fine with a tough light that is lightweight, easy to use, rechargeable, and somewhat water-resistant. Most, but not all people. If you’re putting your flashlight through extreme use and prefer tougher build quality, then it might be worth looking more into tactical flashlights that can withstand greater stress. That said, some options on this list should cover your bases if your main concern is peak brightness.
Brightest Flashlight FAQ
What is the brightest flashlight on the market?
The brightest flashlight you can get is the Imalent MS18 (or MS18W) which has a crazy 100,000-lumen output. If you need to go as bright as possible then this is the one for you.
What is a flashlight’s lumens?
A flashlight’s lumens are just a measurement of the amount of light that a source emits over a period of time. It’s a unit of measurement that helps people compare flashlights.
What are the best features of the brightest flashlight?
The best feature of the brightest flashlight would be its lumen output. The second would probably be how large the flashlight is and whether or not it’s waterproof. It depends on your use case.
What is the brightest rechargeable flashlight?
The AceBeam X75 is the brightest rechargeable flashlight you can get, thanks to 8 CREE LEDs pumping out 80,000-lumens of brightness. It keeps its charging port hidden inside its tailcap for even more protection against the elements.
How we picked
Decades of experience and deep connections in the everyday carry industry give us a unique viewpoint on the market to inform our product recommendations. We have the depth of information for thousands of products that have come before and an extensive eye on the market to see what’s new and trending for each piece of gear. The result is a buying guide that we feel is informative and useful for EDCers of every trade, industry, and budget.
What is Everyday Carry?
Everyday Carry is both the concept of what people carry in their pockets and the process of picking out gear that thoughtfully considers what one wants or needs in their daily lives. It encompasses everything from style to preparedness to utility, meaning an entire industry full of valuable tools and essentials to choose from.
Why you should trust us
Our team has decades of combined experience in all aspects of everyday men’s essentials, from wallets to pens to bags and everything in between, and we know where to find great gear ideas that you may not come across at your local stores or when shopping online. Our expertise with the industry and familiarity in design, materials, and usability help you make more informed choices when it comes to picking up your next piece of gear.
