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5 Best Tactical Flashlights

After 12 hours of research evaluating 150 products, we picked Streamlight 88060 Pro Tac HL 4 as our top choice.

The best tactical flashlight is more than just your everyday light beam—it is designed for “tactical” use by the military or law enforcements.

What does that mean?

Some can be mounted to a weapon for use when shooting in low-light environments, while others are designed to exclusively be used as a handheld.

When you're talking about a tactical flashlight or a military grade flashlight, unique characteristics are being considered.

They tend to be smaller than regular flashlights, and are more durable—often made of weapons-grade or aircraft-grade aluminum. They also tend to emit more light and have more light settings than regular flashlights. Many are even designed for use in self-defense.

So we also included the brightest tactical flashlight on our list, which has both characteristics.

Sounds very handy!

Tactical flashlights are incredibly versatile, durable, and reliable—it’s what makes them so handy in tactical situations.

Below, we’ve compiled a list of the very best tactical flashlights for your use no matter where you are or what you do.

Best Cheap Tactical Flashlight

Hausbell 7W Ultra Bright Mini LED Flashlight

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82 User Score

3.81 Editor Score

56 Bought

Why People Love it

The perfect cheap EDC tactical flashlight
Two flashlights for a very low price
Easy to carry, compact, versatile

82 User Score

3.81 Editor Score

56 Bought

ProsCons

Super low price tag, 300 lumen output, 3 settings, water-resistant, durable shell, easy to carry, compact, adjustable beam focus, runs on AA batteries as well as special lithium rechargeable batteries, fits in the palm of your hand, and includes built-in carrying clip.

Not the brightest, batteries not included, and quality control is a bit iffy.

Details

Design: At just 3.7 inches long and weighing 2.24 ounces, this flashlight is incredibly compact and easy to carry. It literally fits in the palm of your hand, with a rear-set switch that is easy to trigger with either your right or left hand. The really interesting feature of this flashlight is its adjustable beam focus, which allows you to widen or narrow the beam as desired. A wider beam will be shorter but cover a broader area, while the narrower beam will be longer and have pinpoint focus. Thanks to the built-in pocket clip, you’ll find it’s easy to carry this wherever you go—the perfect EDC flashlight to always have on hand.

Performance: This flashlight can only generate around 300 lumens of light, but it will be bright enough to take with you hiking, camping, or cycling at night. The three modes—bright, dim, and SOS—will help you select your desired brightness, and you’ll find that the battery life is surprisingly good for such a tiny flashlight. Sadly, batteries aren’t included.

Price: At $9 for a 2-pack, you’ll find these make great “throwaway” EDC flashlights. You’ll always have a flashlight handy when you need it, but without breaking the bank.

Learn more:Hausbell 7W Ultra Bright Mini LED Flashlight »

Best Compact Military Grade Flashlight

J5 Tactical V1-Pro Flashlight

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86 User Score

3.81 Editor Score

49 Bought

Why People Love it

Fits in the palm of your hand
Super bright LED with focus and wide angle adjustability
Well made

86 User Score

3.81 Editor Score

49 Bought

ProsCons

Whether you’re looking for a super bright flashlight that’s small and easy to carry or a military-grade tactical flashlight, this one will do the trick. It fits in the palm of your hand, comes with a pocket clip, and is one of the handiest tactical flashlights you'll find.

Some customers have had problems with the flashlight malfunctioning soon after purchase. Also, be sure to check with the manufacturer for warranty information.

Details

Design: At 3.7 inches long and weighing just 3 ounces, the J2 is the best flashlight for military, security, and police use. But beyond that, this flashlight works really well for just about anyone who needs an easy to carry flashlight with a strong beam. The heavy-duty design makes it resistant to damage, water, dust, and impact, and you'll find it's compact enough to carry on any trip.

Performance: The best thing about this tactical flashlight is its portability. Typically, when you want a well-built flashlight with a variety of features (high, low, and strobes), as well as a strong light beam, you’re looking at some heft. Not so with this flashlight. It's lightweight and wonderfully compact, yet still has a beautifully powerful light--300 lumens, producing a beam up to 600-feet long. Expect a VERY long battery life and excellent durability with this bad boy.

Price: For a mid-range tactical flashlight, the price for this is amazing at $12. It's inexpensive, highly compact, and guaranteed to last you for years to come.

Learn more:J5 Tactical V1-Pro Flashlight »

Longest Lasting Tactical Flashlight

Olight S30R III Rechargeable Flashlight

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81 User Score

4.11 Editor Score

50 Bought

Why People Love it

A battery that will outlast all the rest
Compact, lightweight, and super easy to carry
Recharging the battery has never been simpler and quicker

81 User Score

4.11 Editor Score

50 Bought

ProsCons

Longest battery life around, very bright, compact, lightweight, waterproof, built-in attachment clip, charges easily via charging dock, magnetic tailcap included, fully USB-rechargeable battery, and comes with a holster.

Switch design is a bit iffy, and this flashlight requires very specific and hard-to-replace battery.

Details

Design: At 4.49 inches long and weighing just 4 ounces, this is a short, lightweight little flashlight that will be super easy to carry anywhere you go. Not only does it come with a built-in carry clip for your belt or pocket, but the manufacturer has also thrown in a belt holster to make carrying it easier. Plus, the magnetic tail cap allows you to stick it to any metallic surface—hands-free guaranteed!

The tightly sealed design of the body makes it fully waterproof, and you’ll find the hard aluminum is resistant to damage and drops. Though not the most hardcore on our list, it’s definitely a tactical flashlight built to last.

Performance: The light output on this little flashlight is up to 1050 lumens, so you get surprising brightness from its Cree XM-L2 LED despite its small size. The real bonus on this bad boy is battery life. Not only does it last for several days (on the lower setting), but you’ll find that the USB charging dock makes it easy to keep your battery topped up without having to remove batteries or unscrew the lid.

On the downside, the 18650 battery used in this flashlight is custom-made, so you won’t be able to replace it with any regular battery. You’ll have to buy replacements from the manufacturer.

Price: At $81, this is definitely on the pricier side of the spectrum, but absolutely worth it for the long-lasting battery life and the simple, reliable design!

Learn more:Olight S30R III Rechargeable Flashlight »

Most Durable Military Flashlight

Fenix Flashlights FX-PD35TAC Flashlight

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88 User Score

4.47 Editor Score

55 Bought

Why People Love it

The flashlight that just won’t quit or break!
Excellent performance, maximum durability
Versatile and reliable

88 User Score

4.47 Editor Score

55 Bought

ProsCons

Won’t break for anything, 6 light output modes, lightweight, compact, decent brightness and beam length, reliable, 50,000-hour LED bulbs, aircraft-grade aluminum body, good battery life, five year warranty, and built-in carrying clip.

Batteries and charger not included.

Details

Design: At 6 inches long and weighing just 3.1 ounces (without the batteries), this is a lightweight little flashlight that you can carry around anywhere. The built-in carrying clip allows you to clip it onto your belt or a pocket so you can move around hands-free, yet always have a flashlight when you need it.

The body is made with aircraft-grade aluminum and has a Premium Type III hard-anodized anti-abrasive finish, which makes it highly durable to wear and damage, as well as water-resistant and dustproof. The anti-roll design will keep the flashlight securely in place as you set it down. All in all, one heck of a well-designed flashlight!

Performance: Though it’s small, it’s got a lot of power! On its highest setting, the beam is 1000 lumens and can project up to 656 feet. There are two operating modes—outdoor and tactical—and settings that include strobe, eco (conserving battery), low, mid, high, and turbo. You get around 140 hours on eco mode and 70 minutes on turbo, meaning the battery life on this bad boy is above average.

On the downside, batteries aren’t included, so you’ll have to buy them and the charger separately. However, the extra expense is totally worth the reliability, durability, and user-friendliness of this flashlight.

Price: At just over $60, this is slightly on the pricier side but definitely worth every penny given how long-lasting and damage-resistant it is. Plus, it comes with a 5-year warranty!

Learn more:Fenix Flashlights FX-PD35TAC Flashlight »

Best Tactical Flashlight Overall

Streamlight 88060 Pro Tac HL 4

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94 User Score

4.77 Editor Score

86 Bought

Why People Love it

Super bright, excellent beam power
Durable and resistant to wear and damage
Added weight and size make it a useful weapon

94 User Score

4.77 Editor Score

86 Bought

ProsCons

Brightest tactical flashlight on the market, solid design, ambidextrous, water and dustproof, C4 LED technology, 2200 lumen output, 1100 foot beam, good weight and size, limited lifetime warranty, anti-roll top, and compatible with multiple battery types.

Burns through batteries quickly, and this flashlight is heavier than average.

Details

Design: At 9 inches long and weighing just over a pound, this is a flashlight to use if you want a light source that can serve as a weapon. Thanks to its aircraft-grade machined aluminum body, this thing can take a beating and never show the damage. The tight-sealed case makes it not only resistant to dust and dirt, but even water (up to 3 feet for 30 minutes).

The shell has an anti-roll top that will keep it securely in place if you set it down, and it’s designed for both right and left-handed use. The on/off switch is in an easy-to-reach location, making it highly convenient to use, even if the lanyard is looped around your wrist.

Performance: This is where the Streamlight shines! Not only does it produce a 2,200 lumen light, but the beam is 1,100 feet long—more than bright enough for use outdoors and in large indoor spaces, and the brightest on the market. The C4 LED technology produces that beautifully bright beam, though some users find the beam can “wash out” nearby objects.

The settings include low, medium, high, and strobe, with a special “momentary on” feature that allows you to turn on the light for just a second. Battery life is average at best—43 hours on the lowest setting, and 90 minutes on the highest. Though it can use both 3-volt lithium CR123A batteries or 18650 Li-Ion batteries, be warned that it will burn through them quickly.

Price: At nearly $100, this is the priciest of the flashlights on our list, but absolutely worth the cost if you want something super bright and reliable. It comes with a limited lifetime warranty, so you know you’ll always get high quality for your money.

Learn more:Streamlight 88060 Pro Tac HL 4 »

By: Andrew Peloquin

Fitness has come hard for Andy; he's had to work for it. But, his trials have led him to becoming a martial artist, a NFPT-certified fitness trainer, and a man passionate about exercise and healthy living. That’s why he’s our resident fitness expert.

His favorite food is lettuce-leaf steak tacos – though he’ll admit to a love of hot wings if you leverage the right pressure.

We know him as the guy who understands British humor and wishes everyone was as passionate about life as he is. His previous forays into the worlds of international business and education have left him wildly optimistic. And, if that wasn’t enough, he's also a best-selling, award-winning author of fantasy novels! Can you say renaissance?

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