Everyday Carry

Readers' Choice: Top 3 EDC Flashlights in 2018

Authored by:
Mikey Bautista
Reviewed by:
Bernard Capulong
Founder and Editor-in-Chief
14+ Years Reviewing EDC Products
Readers' Choice: Top 3 EDC Flashlights in 2018

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With the new year right around the corner, there's plenty of new gear in store for us to look forward to. But until then, now's a great time to look back on the gear that served us best through 2018. We polled our community in our exclusive Facebook group and asked what their favorite EDC gear was in the past year. In this quick round-up, we're highlighting your favorite flashlights! We've narrowed it down to the top three answers among the community — read on to see what your favorites were, and stay tuned for more gear to come in our Readers' Choice series.


3. SureFire E2T-MV Tactician

Number three on the list is the new E2T-MV from the masterful mil-spec manufacturers over at SureFire. In addition to the tried-and-true reliability and performance of SureFire lights, the E2T-MV comes with solid features befitting its fit and finish. First is its dual output from 2 x CR123A batteries that give a maximum of 800 lumens between two modes, including momentary-on options. Next is its MaxVision beam that gives a wide, floody beam that's perfect for everyday use. And with an included clip, the E2T-MV is ready to EDC for a lifetime's worth of service.

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2. Fenix PD35 V2

Fenix has been a long-time EDC favorite thanks to the performance and build quality you get for the price. They've taken one of their most popular models, the PD35, and upgraded it to a flashlight fit for 2018. On the inside, the V2 gets a bump in lumens, runtime, and throw distance, with a maximum of 1000 lm, 430 hours, and 25 meters respectively, thanks to a new Cree XP-L HI V3 emitter. It comes with a new metal side switch that doubles as a battery indicator. It maintains a robust IP68 resistance with its anodized aluminum body, with thoughtful features like an included clip and anti-roll design. Finally, a tactical tail switch gives instant activation for the PD35's 5 output levels.

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1. RovyVon Aurora A5

It's rare to see a piece of gear that gets near-universal praise, especially for enthusiasts, but that's what the RovyVon Aurora A5 was this year. With a unique and extremely compelling combination of features, collectibility, and affordability, it's well-deserving of its place as the community (and our) favorite flashlight of 2018. The Aurora A5 bucks the trend of your typical metal-tube flashlight design with its fluorescent polycarbonate shell. It glows green in the dark, but it's also translucent enough for its two side-mounted LEDs to shine through. Its main CREE XP-G3 LED pushes up to 550 lumens on its highest setting. The Aurora A5 also comes with a low-battery indicator and recharges via USB in just 45 minutes. For even more convenience, it comes with a 2-way friction clip for pocket- or ballcap carry, while a lanyard attachment points rounds out your EDC options. Perhaps most impressive is it manages to fit all this technology into an IP65 water resistant body that's only 2.16” long and weighs less than half an ounce at 0.416 oz.

View on Amazon

What was your favorite flashlight in 2018? Leave a comment and let your fellow EDCers know about lights you think should be on their radar! Stay tuned for more Readers' Choice picks as we wrap up this year.

Mikey Bautista

Director of Everyday Carry Operations


About the Author
Mikey Bautista is an everyday carry (EDC) expert who has been working with the EverydayCarry.com team for nearly a decade, starting with an interest in EDC as a hobby and ending up as a writer for the site in 2014. Through the years, he’s led the site in editorial content and writing about products across every category, from knives to bags to flashlights and everything in between, as well as discovering, bringing exposure, and building bridges with many brands in the industry. Today, he is the site's Director of Everyday Carry Operations, leading the editorial team and managing day-to-day operations.

He has lived through many personal and professional lives, spending nearly a decade in the workforce management industry, a minor career in gaming, and has lent a hand with entrepreneurial efforts back home in the Philippines. He has also been an active participant and helped build a number of significant social communities online, both for EDC and his other hobbies.

Mikey has been at the cusp of gaming, technology, and the internet since the ‘90s and continues to lend his experience, expertise, and authority to all his pursuits. When not online, in a game, or watching movies, you'll find him in the gym, speedrunning his next hobby, or talking at length about EDC with anyone willing to listen.

Bernard Capulong

Founder and Editor-in-Chief


About the Reviewer
Bernard Capulong is an everyday carry (EDC) gear expert, entrepreneur, all-around nerd, and the founder and editor-in-chief of EverydayCarry.com—the largest online community for EDC gear enthusiasts. Since founding Everyday Carry in 2009, he’s built over a decade of experience in the industry, reviewing and highlighting brands and products, including pocket knives, flashlights, wallets, watches, bags, pens, and much more.

Bernard is known for bringing everyday carry out of obscurity and into the mainstream, having been published or featured in various publications such as GQ, TIME Magazine, The New York Times, VICE, HYPEBEAST, Outside, and many others. He has also played a part in curating, designing, and developing digital and physical products, resulting in successful crowdfunding projects or limited edition collaboration products with established softgoods brands. He stays on the pulse of the EDC industry by attending trade shows, participating in online interest communities, and actively engaging with fellow gear enthusiasts on social media.

In addition to being the editor-in-chief and main social media personality for EverydayCarry.com, Bernard is an avid gearhead and collector in general. His personal collections span technical bags, fountain pens, digital cameras, retro gaming hardware, personal hi-fi audio gear, and mechanical wristwatches, to name a few. Bernard Capulong is a prominent figure and trusted authority in the everyday carry industry with a career dedicated to helping people discover this hobby and stay prepared with quality gear.

Discussion (8 total)

Tom Patterson ·
My favorite EDC flashlight remains a free promotional light from Duluth Trading Company. I’ve used it for ten years. It’s bright, focusing beam uses three AAA batteries and seems to last forever. I wish it had a pocket clip, but that’s my only complaint. Second choice is a Maglight Mini 2AA light with holster. I traded out the original bulb for an LED upgrade and switch.
Michael Mutant ·
I've got myself a Yeager light (yes, Tactician ;)
Benjamin red ·
As pictured, the Emisar D4 is hard to beat. Over 4,000 lumens and smaller than your pictured examples is phenomenal, at also a fraction of the price. Back in 2014 I'd tell you a Chinese outsourced light with a 4000 lumen claim is just nonsense, but this is a domestic Chinese product, not outsourced and the proud makers of the flashlight did a great job.

My true favorite is not an EDC but I DO EDC it, the Acebeam x80 GT. 32,500 lumens puts the Emisar in its little place. Just small enough to belt carry and super fun to impress the fam.
Lorien Bonfire ·
I agree with @benjamin red, the Emisar D4 is tough to beat. The new D4S is even better, just a bit bigger, but more output, longer runtimes, and secondary leds. I have over 30 flashlights and the emisars are by far the best. My new Fireflies E07 is on the way though, so perhaps that will impress me even more.
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