Updated on 16 November 2022
This comparison is certified 100% impartial and follows our selection process.
With its easy-to-store design and a long battery life, this waterproof flashlight is undeniably one of our favourite models. It has a convincing performance with a maximum of 1150 lumens, allowing a versatile use. Although we regret the lack of a zoom lens, the ergonomics are perfectly designed, making it comfortable to hold. During our tests, we particularly appreciated the magnetic charging base and the battery charge indicator.
There are different types of flashlights: headlamps, tactical and classic ones.
For an everyday use, choose a pocket model. The larger sizes are intended for professionals.
The range is important because it determines how far the light beam can shine in front of you.
The comfort of the grip depends on the lightness and the adhesion of the handle.
Some flashlights offer different power levels to adapt the brightness to your needs.
The power supply is most often based on the use of batteries or a rechargeable battery.
Olight I3T EOS
Comfortable to hold and practical, this flashlight has a great price-quality ratio for an occasional use, such as a breakdown, a power outage or for short walks.
Small, lightweight, waterproof and well designed, the Olight I3T EOS is one of the best flashlights on the market to handle and one of the easiest to use and store. When we tested it, we found it delivered a convincing performance (180 lumens) for its intended purpose, but in our opinion it is awfully short on battery life. In short, it is a perfect pocket-sized model for an occasional use, but not much more.
WUBEN 1200 lumens L50
In addition to its effective lighting, this flashlight is water resistant (up to 2 m deep) and easy to carry due to its small size.
The Wuben L50 has an LED light that illuminates up to 200m thanks to its 1200lm, ideal for hiking or walking. Its 5 light modes (high at 1200 lumens, medium at 400 lumens, low at 75 lumens, eco at 5 lumens and SOS at 200 lumens) ensure that it will stand out in any situation. In addition, its memory function, which retains the last mode used, and its battery indicator are interesting assets.
Our selection
| Our choice, Best high-end | Best budget | Best mid-range |
|---|---|---|
 | | |
| Olight S2R Baton II | Olight I3T EOS | WUBEN 1200 lumens L50 |
| In addition to its superior performance, we especially liked its comfortable design and ease of use. Its magnetic charging system is also very practical. | Comfortable to hold and practical, this flashlight has a great price-quality ratio for an occasional use, such as a breakdown, a power outage or for short walks. | In addition to its effective lighting, this flashlight is water resistant (up to 2 m deep) and easy to carry due to its small size. |
| £ 17.99 on Amazon | £ 29.99 on Amazon |
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How did we choose?
A flashlight can be useful in any situation, but the first thing to consider is how you want to use it. With so many models to choose from, it can be difficult to find your way around.
This buying guide should therefore help you to see things more clearly:
- Type of lamp: headlamps are mainly used for activities that require both hands to be free, such as running, cycling or caving. Tactical lamps operate with a tactical switch and are useful in civilian or military applications, not only for their power, but also for the strobe mode that allows you to neutralise an assailant. ‘Standard’ lamps are more basic and their use is limited to an on/off switch with some intensity adjustments.
- Size: for an everyday use, choose a pocket-sized model, which is no more than 7 cm long. For outdoor activities, a light output of around 1000 lumens is ideal and this is usually found in lamps of around 12 cm in length. For professionals (hunting, rescue services, etc.), lamps producing more than 1500 lumens and measuring more than 20 cm are the most effective.
- Handling: the handling should be as easy as possible. Ideally, it should be light and easy to use. However, beware: the more powerful the lamp, the more likely it is to be a little heavy. You should therefore look at the design of the handle of the torch, whether it is non-slip, whether it makes it easier to hold etc.
- Power: it is measured in lumens. The higher the value, the more powerful the lamp is, and the more light it sheds around it. Some flashlights offer different power levels to adapt the brightness to your immediate needs and, if necessary, to save some battery life.
- Range: this is more important than it sounds as it determines how far your light beam can reach to illuminate in front of you. It is of course preferable to have a longer range to be able to see as far as possible, unless your sole purpose is to use the lamp for repairs.
- Power supply: some lamps, which are rather rare, also work with a mains supply. Others can be recharged via your car’s cigarette lighter or by dynamo. But generally, they use batteries, preferably rechargeable ones. Beware of alkaline batteries though, as they can leak and damage the lamp.
- Battery life: this simply determines how long you can run it. Models with a longer battery life are usually more expensive. This is a criterion that should not be neglected, especially if you find yourself in an emergency situation.
- Strobe function: most of these devices offer a strobe mode and an additional SOS function. The strobe is useful in many different situations, such as a roadside emergency, when running at night or, most famously, for self-defence by blinding someone. You can also switch to different intensity modes.
- Heat: some lamps heat up more than others. Others are equipped with a system to prevent overheating. Make sure that it does not get so hot that it burns out, and in general, stick to the lower power modes as much as possible to avoid any inconvenience.
- Design: the quality of the components determines the resistance to shocks, scratches and waterproofing. This last characteristic is defined by an IP rating, which is made up of two numbers, one indicating the level of protection against solid particles such as sand and dust (from 0 to 6) and the other communicating the resistance to water (from 0 to 9). Often, an aeronautical aluminium alloy is used with an anodised and anti-abrasive finish.
Honorable mentions
At the moment, there are no products available on the European market that we feel have the necessary qualities to be included in our main selection. We will be sure to provide you with interesting alternatives as soon as we become aware of them.
Translated by Aylin Akturk
