Last Updated on May 3, 2023 by Lisa Vargas
As a prepper, I’m sure you think of new things all of the time to add to your bug out bag, your emergency kits, and your overall plan. Flashlights will play a vital role in your prepper gear and trust me, not all flashlights are created equal.
There are cheap ones, expensive ones, LED flashlights, flashlights with incandescent bulbs, shake flashlights, and High Intensity Discharge (HID) bulbs. Today we are going to take a look at all of those and analyze various aspects of choosing the best survival flashlight.
On top of that, you should get more than one flashlight so that you can have one for your bug out bag, your emergency car kit, your get home bag, and in your every day carry (EDC).
So before you go out and buy what you think is the best survival flashlight, let’s look at some of the features you will want to know ahead of time.
Best Survival Kit Flashlights| If you're In A Hurry
If you’re in a hurry and don’t have time to read the article and just want some recommendations on the best survival flashlights take a look at our top picks below:
Streamlight 88031 ProTac 2L 350 Lumen Professional Flashlight with High/Low/Strob
- Compact and lightweight
- Very bright light
- Can charge with USB charger
SureFire G2X Series LED Flashlights with Tough Nitrolon Body
- Virtually indestructible
- 600 Lumens of maximum light
- Precision micro-texture reflector
Fenix PD35 TAC 1000 Lumen CREE XP-L LED Tactical Flashlight
- Uses two 3V CR123A Lithium batteries
- 50,000 hours of lifetime
- Made of durable aircraft-grade aluminum
- Waterproof to IPX-8 standard
NITECORE P12 2015 Version 1000 Lumens Precise Tactical Flashlight
- Boasts a peak beam intensity of 13,500cd and 232 meters throw distance
- Perfect for EDC kit
- Side switch interface provides one-handed operation and easy access to all functions
Features To Look For In A Survival Flashlight
Below you will discuss the features you should take into account when looking for a good survival flashlight to put in your bug out bag, keep in your home, and in your car. There are several factors, and only you can determine what factors are most important to you.
Power Sources For Emergency Flashlights
This is usually a top consideration when buying a reliable survival flashlight. I personally think that power outages or grid-down scenarios are a very practicable thing to prepare for.
In a case where you are without electricity for a few days or God forbid a few weeks even, having a flashlight that works through these difficult times is paramount.
Rechargeable or Primary Batteries
When it comes to using rechargeable or primary batteries, it really is going to depend on what you prefer. You can try different types of batteries to see which ones you think work better. If you are going to go with a primary battery, use the lithium batteries. They will last longer than alkaline batteries, even though alkaline batteries are easier to find.
Lithium batteries can last up to five years without losing any of the charge, but you’ll have to throw them away when they are done, of course.
If you want to use rechargeable batteries, you will notice that they also come in two varieties. You can buy the lithium-based (Li-Ion) or the nickel-based (Ni-MH). Again, the lithium-ion batteries have a longer shelf-life.
However, the nickel-based batteries are getting more popular because they can work with the batteries that are similarly shaped to the alkaline primary batteries.
It will be easier to find flashlights that will take the nickel-based types of batteries, which makes it a little harder for the lithium rechargeable batteries to be used.
Hand Cranked Survival Flashlights
If you want to make 100% sure you will have light in a power outage, you could opt in to try a hand cranked survival flashlight. These flashlights are powered by pure brute-force of a hand crank.
It can seem a bit impractical at first because you have to crank these flashlights for about one minute to get about 10 minutes of light out of them, but it beats the heck out of not having any light at all right?
I would encourage you to get one of these as an absolute, last-minute back up if you accidentally run out of batteries. You might also notice that many of the best emergency radios on the market that are hand-cranked have flashlights on them as well.
Bulb Types
There are two common bulb types that are used int the flashlights that are best for survival – LED bulbs and incandescent bulbs. Let’s look at them below.
LED Flashlights
In the beginning, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) were used for computers and electronics because they had such long life and they didn’t use as much power as other types of lighting. Because of this, companies finally figured out how important they could be to other items as an alternative to long-life lightbulbs.
LEDs today last very long compared to incandescent bulbs and are a lot more durable as well. Energy efficiency is always a big topic, and is another reason the LEDs are extremely popular now.
You will still find incandescent light bulbs used in flashlights, but I’m sure as time goes on, the LED light bulbs will dominate the marketplace. When you talk about finding survival flashlights on a budget, you will always get them with incandescent light bulbs.
Survival flashlights with LED bulbs are always more expensive and for good reason. But even today, LED costs are being reduced, as with any technology over time. You can read more about the subject, including lumens and brightness in our previous article titled Buyers Guide: The 5 Best LED Lanterns For Power Outages.
Incandescent Bulbs
Incandescent light bulbs have been around since the 1800’s and are one of the most successful bulb types on the market. Essentially these bulbs are tungsten filament in a gas-filled glass shell that radiates light when an electrical current passes through it.
These bulbs are very cheap to produce and mostly produce more heat than light. Have you ever touched an incandescent bulb right after you turn on the light? Ouch!
This is what causes these bulbs to fall on the lower-end of the quality range of flashlights because manufacturers can keep costs down without sacrificing lumen ratings.
Survival Flashlight Brightness
For a survival flashlight its recommended that you find a flashlight between 50-150 lumens. Don’t get sold on buying a more expensive flashlight with more lumens. The more lumens you have, the shorter the battery life.
You can, of course, find flashlights with much higher lumens, it will all depend on how long you feel it needs to last without having to recharge the batteries or replace the batteries you have.
How Many Lumens Do You Need?
According to Lumens.com, lumens are “a unit of luminous flux in the International System of Units, that is equal to the amount of light given out through a solid angle by a source of one candela intensity radiating equally in all directions.” Lumens are important because they are a direct measurement of the brightness thatis emitted from the object.
Flashlight Material
You will notice that flashlights come in several different materials. There is really no better or worse type of housing material, it really will depend on the situation you plan on buying the flashlight for.
Rubber Flashlights
If you are looking for a highly-durable, waterproof survival flashlight, rubber is the way to go. These flashlights are extremely durable and can house some very bright LED bulbs. The only disadvantage is that they could be a little heavier than the other types.
Aluminum Flashlights
Aluminum flashlights are a great option for survival flashlights. They will be a little more expensive than the plastic ones but they will be considerably more durable and will last longer. Because of their material, they make for a better weapon as well.
Plastic Flashlights
If you want an affordable and less costly option, many of the flashlights you find in the stores today will be made out of plastic. They are lightweight, which is their biggest advantage. They won’t make for the best survival flashlight because they aren’t as durable and can break under pressure. If you drop them, they can easily crack and then you are out of luck.
Flashlight Size
Flashlights come in a variety of different sizes. Let’s look at some of the reasons for the variety.
Large Flashlights
Buying a large flashlight is paramount if you find you and your family without electricity in your home and are trying to light up a large area. When I think of a large flashlight I think of those plastic ones with the handle you can carry. They are good for using outside and inside.
These large flashlights usually come with a top handle so that you can easily carry it around with you as you move along. These large flashlights will be bulky and won’t make for a good flashlight if you’re on the move, but if you’re stationary they work well.
Medium Flashlights
Medium sized flashlights will work well when you are travelling. You can put one of these in your car emergency kit or possibly even a bug out bag, depending on how much room you have.
These won’t be used as a stationary light because they won’t cover as much area as a large flashlight will. The trick is to get a few different sizes for every scenario to be safe.
Small Flashlights
Small flashlights are great to have for your bug out bag and your EDC kit. I have several of these and you can get them pretty much anywhere. These flashlights can easily fit in the palm of your hand and you will even find some of them that can fit on a key chain.
Additional Survival Flashlight Features
When choosing the top survival flashlight, there are other features that you might be looking for that we didn’t mention above. Let’s look at some of the other popular features that others have looked at.
Flashlights That Can Send A Signal
If you ever find yourself lost or stranded, having a survival flashlight that can send a distress signal can save your life. There are several flashlights that have the capability of sending SOS signals.
It’s a handy feature to have on a survival flashlight. You can also buy a flashlight that changes colors. It’s pretty cool to have a flashlight that can shoot a red beam because red typically means danger!
Weatherproof Survival Flashlights
Flashlights can be waterproof also, which can come in very handy if you are caught in the rain or if you accidentally drop your bag in a stream. As you are searching for the perfect survival flashlight look to see if the flashlight has an IPX water-proof rating.
Have you ever wondered if law enforcement officers carry special types of flashlights that can be used as weapons? Well, they sort of do. They are referred to as tactical flashlights. But the question is, what makes a flashlight a tactical flashlight that can be used as a weapon?
Many tactical flashlights are designed to be mounted to a weapon for low-light shooting. They’re typically smaller than traditional flashlights, emit much more light, and are made of weapon-grade aluminum for maximum durability.
One of the best uses of a tactical flashlight is to use it to blind the aggressor. Many of these tactical flashlights will have bright flashing strobe lights to blind and stop the threat from following your movement.
Wrap Up
I hope this article has helped give you some clarity about what to look for in the best survival flashlights. Just remember that you are going to need more than one so don’t be afraid to buy a few and figure out which one yo like the best!