Best EDC Flashlight
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EDC, or Everyday Carry, Flashlights are something that everyone should have. These flashlights are one of the most useful tools that you should be carrying for convenience and protection. These tactical flashlights are perfect for self-dense as well as seeing in the dark and their compact size makes them perfect for any lifestyle and ability.
There are so many “best” EDC Flashlights available on the market, it can be overwhelming to shop for one without knowing the basics and which one is the best flashlight EDC for your lifestyle and needs. Check out our top ten favorites to discover the best EDC flashlight available online today!
View the Best EDC Flashlight, Below.
- J5Tactical V1-PRO Flashlight
- Streamlight 88033 ProTac 2AA Flashlight
- Fenix PD25 550 Lumens EDC Flashlight
- Olight S1R Baton II 1000 Lumen EDC Flashlight
- Prometheus Lights Beta Flashlight
- Soonfire NS17 Cree LED 1000 Lumen Flashlight
- ThruNite Ti3 EDC Cree XP-L -G2 R5 AAA Flashlight
- COAST G19 Inspection Beam LED Penlight
- ThorFire 500 Lumen Ultra Bright EDC Pocket Light
- SureFire Defender Series LED Flashlights
1. J5Tactical V1-PRO Flashlight
The J5 Tactical V1-Pro Flashlight is thicker than the average everyday carry flashlight which gives it an easy grip and offers a sturdy weight in the palm of your hand. There are three different light modes and even the ability to zoom to use the J5 as a floodlight or a spotlight. This four-inch flashlight is powerful enough to provide ambient lighting for an entire room when the power goes out and the beam can reach up to 600 feet. This is one of the most vital tools for everyday carry you should own and this model is one of our favorites!
Check Price on Amazon ➞2. Streamlight 88033 ProTac 2AA Flashlight
The incredibly functional Streamlight Protac Flashlight is a great choice for the best flashlights for self-defense at 6 inches long and 3.4 ounces. This model of everyday carry flashlights is on the larger size and heavy enough to provide a good wallop if needed for protection. The Streamlight Protac will fit well in your flashlight or glove compartment and features a removable pocket clip and a push-button tail switch that is multi-functional.
Check Price on Amazon ➞3. Fenix PD25 550 Lumens EDC Flashlight
If you’re looking for a powerful flashlight small enough to fit in your pocket, the Fenix PD25 is the best one for you. The tactical pocket flashlight is small at less than four inches and weighs only 1.65 ounces making it perfect for everyday carry! The slip-resistant body design offers an easy grip and the anti-roll head makes it so you never lose your flashlight if you drop it. The Fenix PD25 can also use rechargeable batteries and comes in a bundle that includes the holster, pocket clip, a lanyard. Fenix produces some of our favorite best EDC lights.
Check Price on Amazon ➞
4. Olight S1R Baton II 1000 Lumen EDC Flashlight
This flashlight is the most popular by Olight and features a 1000 lumen burst output and is also USB rechargeable. The bundle offered includes a ton of accessories like the EdisonBright holster, dual-direction pocket clip, and the USB cord for charging, pouch, and a lanyard. The powerful beam is long-reaching at more than 450 feet and you’ll never wonder how much life the Olight has with the three color power level warning system. We recommend this tactical flashlight for search and rescue, hiking, and other activities that need a lot of light.
Check Price on Amazon ➞5. Prometheus Lights Beta Flashlight
This palm-sized everyday carry flashlight by Prometheus is the perfect, lightweight keychain flashlight you’ve been searching for. Our favorite feature is the quick release design that allows users to easily detach their light from their keychain although accidental disengagement is almost impossible. The light quality is superior for a flashlight so small and three light mode settings are available—low (1 lumen), Medium (15 lumens) and High (80 lumens). This pocket torch is perfect for having on the go for everyday carry.
Check Price on Amazon ➞6. Soonfire NS17 Cree LED 1000 Lumen Flashlight
This water and shockproof flashlight is the perfect choice for outdoorsmen. This every day carry flashlight has a long run time for light so powerful offering up to 1,000 lumens with a 232-meter beam distance for over two hours. This long-running ability is due to the temperature control system that can adjust the brightness level for peak performance. One of our favorite features of the Soonfire NS17 is that it can easily charge through USB. The Soonfire NS17 is one of our favorites for compact, high-efficiency tactical lights.
Check Price on Amazon ➞7. ThruNite Ti3 EDC Cree XP-L -G2 R5 AAA Flashlight
This compact yet solid keychain light by ThruNite is one of the most durable mini flashlights on the market and made with a hard-anodized aluminum material that make the flashlight waterproof. The Ti3 ThruNite Cree XP-L flashlight can produce 130 lumens that lasts for thirty minutes. We love this mini flashlight for digging through our purse or glovebox, or indoor use when you need to look under the beds. This flashlight is also very lightweight at less than half an ounce. The ThruNite brand has some of the absolute best pocket torch lights on the market.
Check Price on Amazon ➞8. COAST G19 Inspection Beam LED Penlight
The COAST G19 EDC light is a good, affordable option for penlights. At less than $20 COAST is a durable option that is also made from waterproof aluminum, and can fit easily in your purse, pocket, or glovebox. We love the penlight for use in small, compact areas such as crawl spaces, looking under the couch or seats of the car, or reading in bed at night. The penlight is only 4 inches long and has a thin, pen like design and attached pocket clip. Tap the cap like a pen to turn this flashlight on and off. The manufacturer also provides a lifetime warranty for the G19 Inspection Beam LED flashlight.
Check Price on Amazon ➞9. ThorFire 500 Lumen Ultra Bright EDC Pocket Light
The ThorFire is one of the brightest and most powerful pocket flashlights on the market with 500 lumen capability and 5 modes including a hidden strobe and moonlight. You can use the charger than comes with the ThorFire or a AA battery if you don’t have an electrical source. Although the ThorFire is small at less than 4 inches long and 1.3 ounces, it has a high efficiency lens and comes with spare o-rings and a metal clip for ease of carry. The aluminum construction makes the keychain flashlight water and shatter-resistant which is perfect for any tactical flashlight or LED flashlight.
Check Price on Amazon ➞10. SureFire Defender Series LED Flashlights
The SureFire Defender EDC flashlight is a nearly indestructible flashlight with an LED emitter that produces maximum output and life. There are two different modes—high and low. The lens produces a focused beam that is intense and can be disorienting when shined into the eyes of an attacker. While this EDC light may seem small, it features a crenelated strike bezel with a scalloped tail cap that can deliver a large blow when needed for defense. This best EDC flashlight is also great for personal defense because it is longer, though still under 7 inches, and heavier than the average keychain flashlight.
Check Price on Amazon ➞EDC Flashlights Buyer’s Guide
Everyday Carry Flashlights are one of the best tactical tools that anyone can have. No matter your age, gender, or size, Every day carry flashlights can be a great self-defense weapon as well as a useful tool that comes in handy when you least expect it.
Using Best EDC Flashlights for Self Defense
Imagine being on a dark street when you get a flat tire; coming home in the middle of the night to a power outage; not being able to find the key that fell off your keyring in the bottom of the purse, or having to get down in the crawl space under your home in an emergency. Your cell phone isn’t going to give you much help in these situations and you might not be able to safely get to the flashlight you have hidden up on a shelf somewhere with the other emergency supplies. At best your cell phone can help you see where you are going and illuminate the path in front of you but will do no good in searching. You need a tactical flashlight or LED flashlight.
When you find yourself in these types of situations what you need in an EDC flashlight. These lights are small enough to carry every day without being a burden or in the way. Some are small enough to swing from your keychain while others are the perfect size for your purse or glove box. Larger sizes are often designed to be a useful tool in self-defense.
How to Choose the Right Everyday Carry Light for You
When you are choosing the perfect EDC flashlight for yourself, there are a few things you want to consider as not all of these travel flashlights are the same. Some of the factors to take into consideration include:
- Are you using the flashlight for self-defense?
- How often do you find yourself needing a flashlight?
- Do you often find yourself in the dark for long periods of time?
- Do you want to carry the flashlight on your keychain, belt, pocket, or purse?
- How bright do you need your EDC light to be?
- Do you want a flashlight that is rechargeable?
- Are you often near water and need a waterproof EDC flashlight?
- Will your flashlight be at risk for being dropped frequently?
- Are you looking for an LED or non LED flashlight?
- Do you need a light larger than 7 inches for self defense?
Use your answers to these questions to determine which of the best EDC flashlights is the right one for you. Many of these flashlights will be constructed from aircraft-grade aluminum to ensure they are extremely durable, shock resistant, and shatter-resistant. The most popular everyday carry lights are also waterproof or water-resistant for up to one to two meters in most cases.
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Why Size Matters
Size is one of the most important factors that you considered above. EDC flashlights tend to range between two inches and six inches long. If you are looking for a flashlight to hang from a keychain, MINI EDC flashlights are usually the best choice as they are less than three inches long. A four inch long Small EDC Flashlight is a great choice for small purses or sometimes a keychain light, and the medium sized EDC flashlights are recommended for carrying in your large purse, backpack, or stowing in the glove compartment of your vehicle.
Why Durability Matters
Tactical flashlights also tend to take a lot of damage for people who wear them every day on their body or keychain. You’ll want to make sure that the EDC light that you choose is made from Type III hard anodized aluminum for premium quality and durability. Titanium EDC flashlights are heavier however and could be a great choice for people looking for a self-defense EDC tactical flashlight.
When considering the durability of the flashlight you will also want to check if it is shock resistant and waterproof. If you are using your EDC flashlight frequently you might drop it. The last thing you want is for this tactical tool’s lens to shatter or the flashlight to break. IPX8 is the highest rating of waterproof or water resistance for EDC flashlights and this rating guarantees that tool can be submerged in up to two meters of water for thirty minutes.
Why Lumens Matter
The last thing that is very important to know and understand about an EDC flashlight is the lumens. Lumens refers to the light emitted from the flashlight. Smaller EDC tactical flashlights tend to have lower lumens and be less bright; however, for self-defense purposes at least 120 lumens is recommended to disorient or temporarily blind someone. The most powerful flashlights for everyday carry have up to 1,000 lumens and are great for search and rescue or other times a very bright light is needed. Anywhere from 400 lumens to 600 lumens will be bright enough to serve most purposes, however.
Keep in mind that the more lumens the EDC flashlight can produce the shorter the battery life will be on the highest modes. Some of the brightest flashlights have the shortest battery life and if you are using your flashlight quickly going through batteries multiple times per day can get expensive fast. Make sure to choose a flashlight whose batteries are rechargeable If you believe you could be using your mini flashlight often.
Trusted Brands for Everyday Carry Flashlights
Some of the most trusted brands for EDC flashlights include Fenix, SureFire, and ThruNite. These companies offer many different series of flashlights with varying capabilities, sure to meet anyone’s needs. Many of these flashlights are extremely versatile, offering up to five different modes so that you can focus the light beam in light a laser or cast the light wide like a searchlight.