These lights are compact, lightweight, and portable than traditional handheld lights. These flashlights are easy to hold in your hands. They are available in different sizes, designs, and features, in which choosing the right among various options will be a bit tricky and difficult task. We suggest you consider the following factors before investing in the EDC flashlights.
Lumens: The brightness of the flashlight is measured in lumens, and the higher lumens produced by the lens will provide brighter light. The brightness range will be 10 – 1000 lumens, in which a flashlight with 300 – 1000 lumens is the perfect option to do your daily activities at night-time or emergency. So, choose them as per your requirement. Runtime: Irrespective of the battery type, its runtime is essential to consider. The battery life of an EDC flashlight will start at a minimum of 1 hour and can go up to 24 hours on continuous usage. So, pick the model that offers longer runtime to meet your daily requirements. Beam Distance: It is the maximum distance your flashlight beam can reach, and it differs for different models. Based on the use, you have to choose the flashlights with reflectors offering concentrated illumination or with a high area of effect. It is measured in meters, and it ranges from 10 – 1000 meters.
Knowing all about the product will help you to pick the right option. We are here with a list of some top-notch EDC flashlights along with a detailed “Buying Guide”. Read on to know how to choose the best one, as per your requirement.
Best EDC Flashlights
8 Best EDC Flashlights Reviews
1. Streamlight EDC Flashlight
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The Microstream lineup from Streamlight is one of the best everyday carry EDC flashlights that you can own. It comes with high and low beam options and you can clip it to clothing and carry it around wherever you go. The ultra-compact Streamlight 66608 Microstream Flashlight features a tail cap switch, momentary or constant on operation, high and low beams, a combination pocket/hat clip for convenience, and amazing brightness and run time for a light of its size and price. The 350mAh battery comes with a safety circuit to ensure you do not break the flashlight by overcharging it. Speaking of charging, this flashlight is USB rechargeable and comes with a 5″ USB cord. While the company rating for battery life is set at 4 hours but you can expect about 3.5 hours of continuous usage considering how operating conditions can affect battery life. The aluminum housing with Type II Military Spec anodizing helps make the light extremely durable and abrasion resistant. You can use it for professional needs, personal security or daily consumer use. What We Liked:
Abrasion Resistant Design High-quality construction Rechargeable battery Suitable for professional use
What We Didn’t Like:
Average battery life Slow charging process
2. Gearlight EDC Flashlight
The GearLight LED Tactical Flashlight is suited for professionals who need a high-distance flashlight for work. You can light up an entire room with these flashlights that take advantage of three AAA batteries for maximum power. This flashlight comes with five adjustable settings including SOS and Strobe functionality for communication or emergencies. You can also adjust the thickness of the beam depending on what you need to use the flashlight for. When it comes to build quality, the flashlights are virtually indestructible. GearLight designed the flashlights in a way to prevent water damage and fall damage from affecting the internals. The military grade build quality makes the flashlights the perfect travel companions if you want to take them along on your next hike. These flashlight can be powered using either 3 AAA batteries or 1 18650 Li-Ion Battery. Batteries are not included in the package. The kit contains two flashlights and carrying cases that you can use to store the flashlights. They are extremely portable and you can use them for both outdoor and indoor usage. What We Liked:
Rugged build quality 1000ft beam Adjustable lighting Strobe and SOS functionality Waterproof casing
What We Didn’t Like:
Too heavy for home usage Average battery life
3. Binwo EDC Flashlights
BINWO is one of the most reliable flashlight manufacturers in the world. The BINWO XML T6 LED Flashlights come with 2000 lumens of brightness and it is one of the brightest pocket flashlights that you can get your hands on. The LED bulbs used in the product are rated to last 50000 hours of usage which is very impressive. The lighting systems are adjustable and you can use it as a floodlight as well as a concentrated beam when working on smaller surfaces. With a range of up to 200 meters, the super bright flashlight is practical for both professional and personal use. With 5 working light modes, you can switch between different brightness settings as well as strobing and SOS modes. You can cycle across all lighting modes. The best thing about the flashlight is the IPX5 rating which allows you to battle all weather conditions. It can be powered using 3 AAA Batteries or 1 18650 Battery. The kit contains two flashlights, two hand straps and 2 AAA battery holders. Sadly, batteries are not included. The lightweight design and super durable construction make the flashlight a great option for campers, professionals and anyone who needs a daily use flashlight. With 5 hours of battery life, we strongly recommend this product. What We Liked:
200m beam length Adjustable lighting options Strobe and SOS features Waterproof and dustproof design
What We Didn’t Like:
No batteries included No adapter included
4. Maglite EDC Flashlight
If you want a full-sized flashlight, then the Maglite 3-Cell D flashlight is the best you can get. It is by no means a simple portable flashlight that you can carry around everywhere. It is designed specifically for people who want a heavy-duty flashlight for professional reasons or for camping. It is an advanced lighting instrument with a unique knurled design that can be used for fishing, hunting, camping and more. The LED lights are designed to offer over 50,000 hours of lifetime usage. The LED in this flashlight has 168 lumens and a beam length of 412 meters. When it comes to battery life, we were not disappointed with Maglite staying true to their claims of offering 6 hours 45 minutes of battery life. With lifetime warranty offered with the product, you can rest assured that all any manufacturing issues that you face will be taken care of. The product is designed with advanced technology and industry-standard build quality in place. IPX4 rating is in place to ensure you can use the flashlight outdoors without any issues. While it might not be a portable flashlight, anyone looking for a heavy-duty flashlight should go for it. What We Liked:
Durable design Almost 7 hours of continuous usage High beam range Adjustable lighting options
What We Didn’t:
Bulky Design No carrying case Not suitable for recharging
5. OLight EDC Flashlight
Next on our list is OLight’s EDC flashlight. OLight is one of the most prominent brands out there that manufactures a wide range of lighting products including weaponlights, flashlights, lamps, lanterns, headlamps, and bike lights. OLight’s EDC flashlight is powered by one of the most readily available AAA batteries that delivers an output of up to 180 lumens. It has a TIR optic lens that produces a balanced and soft beam for comfortable use. It has a simple on/off tail switch for convenient operation. Plus, you can adjust the output light between 5 and 180 lumens. It has a light intensity of 900 CD and can illuminate up to 60 metres. The flashlight is made of a full aluminum body with a double helix knurling design for a unique style. It is sturdy and can survive a few accidental drops. It features a solid grip so that you can hold it conveniently in your hand. With IPX8-rated water resistant design, the flashlight is perfect to be used in heavy rain and storms. Although it features a sturdy construction, the flashlight is lightweight along with a slender form factor convenient carrying. There is a dual direction pocket clip to carry it in your pocket or attach it to a hat or strap. What We Liked:
Soft and balanced beam TIR optic lens Dual direction pocket clip IPX8-rated water resistant design
What We Didn’t Like
Very basic – Lacks any advanced functions Very bright
6. Coast EDC Pen Flashlight
The Coast G20 Inspection Beam Flashlight is for professionals who need a precise light source for different tasks. The inspection beam flashlight can be used to illuminate your workspace and can brighten up hard to reach spaces with dim lighting. Its compact design flashlight is not meant for everyone and has limited use cases. If you are looking for something that can be used for camping or daily activities, you should opt for a bigger flashlight instead. But if you work with intricate objects or have lighting requirements for your workspace, this is definitely one of the best products to go for. The LED flashlight is as big as a pen and you can carry it around in your pockets wherever you go. It comes with a clip that allows you to attach it to clothing and carry it around wherever you go. Water resistance and shockproof elements are built-in to ensure it can handle some rough use and bad weather. It is very easy to use and can be activated with the click of a button. With over 2 hours and 30 minutes of battery life, it is definitely an impressive product. The aluminum construction makes the product feel very premium and is definitely a must-have if you want a pocket flashlight without the bulk at all times. It runs on 2 AAA batteries and the batteries re included. What We Liked:
Great for professional use Ultra-compact design Long battery life Waterproof build quality
What We Didn’t Like:
Very thin beam
7. Wuben EDC Flashlight
If you are looking for a flashlight that is super bright and portable, you should check out the WUBEN 1200 Lumen Portable Flashlight. The most convenient feature of this product is its USB charging capabilities which allows you to plug in most phone chargers to power up your flashlight. An 18650 Li-Ion battery with 2600mAh capacity is included in the kit. The flashlight has five lighting modes and it also has built-in memory to remember your last used lighting mode. You can also adjust the brightness of your flashlight to adjust to your needs. The Eco mode is the highlight feature of the product, allowing you to get up to 143 hours of continuous usage at a low brightness setting. The smart design of the Lumen flashlight is driven by the aircraft-grade alloy materials. The product is also IP68 certified which means you will not have to worry about water or dust creeping into your flashlight. With 5 years of warranty on offer, you have access to free repairs for any kind of manufacturing defects. Overall, it is a fantastic product that caters to all types of users and is an easy pick if you want control over brightness settings and a rugged design. What We Liked:
Rugged Design Up to 143 hours of battery life Eco mode Adjustable brightness settings Very high lumen range
What We Didn’t Like:
Slow charging time Average beam distance
8. Anker EDC Flashlight
If you are looking for a super bright flashlight that you can carry around and use at long distances, the Anker Bolder LC90 is the best to get. It has a fully zoomable lens that you can adjust to adjust the beam of the flashlight. There are five adaptable settings to choose from. The high-quality LED lights have a lifespan of 5000 hours of usage. The flashlight comes with a massive 3350mAh rechargeable battery that can be topped up by any phone charger that you carry with you or just plug-it into a computer. There are multiple light settings to choose from and even at the highest brightness setting you can get 6 hours of battery life which is stellar. The battery has drain protection in place to ensure you do not have to worry about low battery life when not using your flashlight for months. The IPX5 certification means that you do not have to worry about water of dust damage. The anti-slip design is great and you can carry the flashlight around without worrying about dropping it. It also comes with a wrist strap for added protection from drops. What We Liked:
Anti-slip design Great battery life Waterproof and dustproof 5000 hours lifespan Adjustable beam
What We Didn’t Like:
No charger included (only cable) Slow charging time
Buying Guide for EDC Flashlight:
Let’s get into the details of what factors to check while shopping for the EDC flashlights.
1. Lumen Strength:
The light brightness (the amount of light produced by the lens) is measured in lumens. Generally, the higher lumens count will produce brighter light. You need a light with multiple lighting options.
The flashlight with a low light output of 5 – 10 lumens, which is enough to do simple daily tasks like finding keys from the car seat or unlocking the front door at night. The flashlight with a medium-light output of 35 – 100 lumens, which is perfect for lighting up a small outdoor setting or garden. An EDC flashlight with a high light output of 100+ lumens is used by the officials like police, firemen, and security guards.
Typically, picking a light that can produce 800 – 1000 (or more) lumens is an ideal option that helps even when disaster strikes that you won’t regret having a high-quality light source. Remember that using light with higher output levels for 5 minutes will easily drain the batteries. Yet your hand feels the heat long before it happens.
2. Size:
While considering the size of the EDC flashlight, you should choose the model which offers compact, portability, and ease of access. Most people like to hang on the keychain or fit inside the pocket. Always, go with a flashlight whose size fits comfortably in the hand, yet not the bulky one which overcomes the purpose of using an EDC. Usually, the size of the flashlight will affect its light output. For instance, larger size flashlights use larger batteries to deliver higher light output. Most EDC flashlights are available at below 5 inches, yet the majority are below 4 inches. These survival flashlights are categorized into 4 different types.
Micro: <2 inches Mini: <3 inches Small: <4 inches Medium: <4 – 6 inches.
However, it depends on the personal decision, yet remember that the smaller the flashlight, the more portable it should be but results in less illumination.
3. Material:
Most EDC flashlights are made of the most popular material called aluminum, yet some of these lights are made with stainless steel, copper, titanium, brass, and other materials. Here, you have to consider three main factors – heat conductivity, weight, and price. While copper or brass is great heatsinks, which are heavy (twice as aluminum light), and will tarnish quickly.
4. Power Source:
Batteries (replaceable or rechargeable) are the only power source of EDC flashlights. The replaceable batteries (AA or AAA batteries) are cheap, easy to find, access, and replace, yet unable to recharge this battery. While EDC flashlights that are powered by rechargeable batteries will make their usage simple and effective. Most of these batteries are easily recharged with a USB cable either at home or work. Since you won’t require any external charger, this battery keeps the daily gear to the lowest. However, chemical-based batteries are known for their longevity, while AA (CR123) or AAA (18650-sized) batteries are known for their availability and convenience of use.
5. Bulb Type:
EDC Flashlight uses either a modern LED bulb or a traditional incandescent bulb to produce effective lighting. LED lights are the best and strongest lighting source option in terms of efficiency and output that provides long-lasting lighting to make use of the light all day long than incandescent bulbs.
6. Additional Features:
Here are some add-on features that allow you to use the EDC flashlight with ease. Have a look at them and check for your required features.
Adjustable Beam – An adjustable light beam offers extra lighting versatility. It let you use the flashlight for a different purpose. For instance, widen the beam for seeing your surroundings or illuminate a campsite, while narrow the beam for reading the book. Strobe – It is an essential emergency feature used to give a signal for help, especially when you are lost in the dark on a hiking track or broken down of a car on the road at night. Brightness Modes – There are various levels of brightness modes like low, medium, high, strobe, or additional turbo features available in EDC flashlights. Most basic models offer 2 settings (high and low modes), while advanced lights come with 3 or 5 settings. Attachment Features – An EDC flashlight should offer attachment options like the reversible pocket clip, lanyard, keychain, or a carabiner clip that help to keep the flashlight close/near for quick access in emergencies. Control Functions – Tactical style controls like a tail switch or button, sliding switch, or a twisting head will let you control or access the flashlight easily. Among them, the press button functions or tail switch of the light is easy to use. While a twisting head takes a bit more time to set the desired mode through settings.
7. Environmental Resistance:
Check the resistance of EDC flashlights to environmental factors before making their purchase. For this, see the IP rating of the product, which provides a quick evaluation of environmental resistance, particularly on water and dust. For instance, an EDC flashlight with IP 67 rating will offer water resistance for up to 30 minutes at a meter depth, and also give protection against dust ingress. Keep in mind that the higher the number, the better protection it offers.
8. Durability:
It is a must to choose an EDC flashlight that is designed with a durable body, impact resistance, and effectively resisting external elements. They can easily withstand daily pounding and last for a long time than the snazzy lookalikes.
9. Build Quality & Performance:
Mostly, people invest in EDC flashlights to assist in their daily tasks. So, it is a must to check the build quality of these lights before making its purchase. A pair of a tough outer shell with great internal build quality will form the best flashlights like a high-quality durable plastic or anodized aluminum are two popular choices. These lights are capable to repel moisture, dust, or sand and let you use them daily. However, the battery life of the flashlight will fall under its performance. So, you have to look for a flashlight that offers around 8 hours of usage. LED lights are power-efficient bulbs that can easily run for an extended time.
10. Deployment Method:
An easy and quick to deploy is the best EDC flashlight you have to use. For this, initially check whether a tactical light has a tail cap switch or not, or as a minimum for high output mode. Secondly, inspect how the light is stored while not using it. Most of these lights come with either one or two pocket clip designs – a fixed (one-way clip), and a removable, reversible clip. Choose the one that suits your requirement.
11. Flashlight Interface:
Compared to traditional lights, EDC flashlights are lightweight, compact, and portable that offers an easy-to-use interface (easy to access, operate or use even in dark). However, the best feature of these lights will be the interface for low-light situations. The quick way to tactile and felt by hands are buttons, which are easy to turn on the lights even if they are out.
12. Price:
You have to spend a bit extra money to pick a quality EDC flashlight. The price range of these flashlights will be from $20 – $100 (or above), in which models with the price below $50 are not worthy and excellent options. while models within $50 – $100 are durable, reliable, and well-engineered. Those whose price range is above $100 will offer high lumen outputs and various unique features. So, choose them as per your requirement and budget range.
Types of EDC Flashlights:
These everyday carry flashlights are lightweight, compact, and portable, yet vary in size ranges. Here are some of the different types of EDC flashlights. Pocket flashlights are a type of EDC light that comes with clips, which let you clip and carry the light easily and conveniently onto your jacket or pocket. Most of these pocket flashlights offer high outputs to ensure that user won’t lose power to the size. With the advancement of LED technology and flashlight technology, we can easily see brighter lighting of flashlights at a smaller size. Penlights are another type of this EDC flashlight, which are quite popular for professionals like doctors and engineers. Its slim design will let you slip it easily in and out of the pocket. These penlights are great beginner EDC lights that offer beam to read and up-close work that makes it easy to operate and carry conveniently. Keychain lights are considered the smallest/tiny EDC flashlights. You can easily slip this LED flashlight onto a keychain and carry it everywhere conveniently, just as a key. Also, these popular EDC flashlights are small that don’t bulk up with keyring. They suit perfectly for everyone, irrespective of either they own (or) looking to get an everyday carry (EDC) flashlight. A lanyard or holster is used to keep the flashlight always with you. At certain times, we won’t want EDC flashlights in your pocket, then holsters and lanyards will allow you to place the light comfortably on wherever you want. It has a magnetic tail cap that provides a hands-free light source, which is the best feature for car mechanics, as it sticks on the car and lets them work effectively. Tactical Light is a common defensive EDC flashlight that creates a blinding light for the user to escape from the threat. Apart from remarkable lumen output, they have bezels with protrusions to offer extra bite in the worst scenarios. They are made with aluminum and thereby provide a perfect balance between their lightweight and strength.
Conclusion:
At the end of the day, your choice in EDC flashlights should be driven by how you want to use yours. Depending on the applications you need a flashlight for, you can make the right choice. If you need one for assistance with daily tasks, you should not require a heavy-duty flashlight. But if you require one for professional usage or happen to go camping a lot, a high-end flashlight is a must. Extra features like strobe lights or LED displays should also be considered when opting for EDC flashlights. We recommend checking out our list of flashlights to find the right EDC flashlight for yourself. Comment * Name * Email * Website
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