Survivalwiz.com

Your guide to outdoor Equipment

the Best outdoor flashlight

The flashlight is one of the essential tools for any camper, backpacker, or hunter. Your flashlight is what guides you through rough terrain at night or illuminates your tent to make it feel more like home. To make it less challenging to find the perfect flashlight for the outdoors, We have done the testing for you and listed them in this article.

Support Survivalwiz! we may earn a smal comission from affiliate links read more.

Important specs to consider.

Before we jump into our list, we must quickly discuss what specs to consider when looking for a flashlight for outdoor applications like hiking, camping, or hunting.

Depending on the planned application, the specs to consider can vary. But in general, the two most important spec is the flashlight’s brightness and durability, which can determine whether you should use the flashlight for outdoor activities.

One of the most important factors to consider when buying a flashlight for the outdoors is the total output and whether the light can illuminate your path through terrain or countrysides at night. A good rule of thumb is to look for a flashlight with at least 600 lumens to light up larger outdoor areas at night.

The flashlight’s durability is also an important spec to consider; if you plan to go camping or backpacking, your flashlight must be able to endure the elements and accidental drops without dying. Therefore, you should always look for a flashlight with an IPX rating of at least 4.

If you are looking for a flashlight for backpacking, hiking, or camping, the flashlight’s weight is significant to consider. Luckily, most modern flashlights don’t weigh more than 2-6 oz and won’t bust your bank.

If you are looking for a more professional flashlight for hunting, search and rescue, or self-defense, it might be a good idea to look for a tactical-flashlights. Tactical lights are lightweight, pocket-sized, and have an output of 600-1500+ lumens, which is ideal for those applications.

If you are looking for more information regarding tactical flashlights or how to choose a flashlight, feel free to read our Flashlight-Buyers guide.

How we reviewed the flashlights

To give you the best and most accurate flashlight reviews, we have four criteria on which we rate the flashlights on brightness, design, run time, and value for money.

Brightness: How well the flashlight handles in the real world: is it bright enough to illuminate larger areas at night? What kind of beam does it use? Is it an adjustable beam?

Design: The flashlight’s size, weight, and durability: Is it lightweight and easy to carry on your person? Is it sturdy and easy to grip? Does it have an acceptable impact and water resistance rating?

Run time: The overall run time of the flashlight on different modes: what kind of battery does it require? Is the flashlight rechargeable, or does it use single-use batteries? Does it get hot over more extended uses?

Value for money: is the flashlight worth buying? How many features does it have? is there an extended warranty?

For easy comparison, check out our flashlight comparison charts.

The best outdoor flashlight:

The Thrunite TC15 v3

Our Review:

Versatile and lightweight design

The first thing I noticed when I tested the TC15 V3 was its lightweight and how good it fits in my hand compared to similar models. It is easy to hold even with wet hands or when wearing gloves. It is also incredibly light but still feels sturdy and durable.

The TC15 V3 is versatile and has seven modes, including a strobe and SOS, ranging from 1 -2403 lumens, which means you can use this flashlight for almost any application imaginable, indoors or outdoors.

Using the Turbo Mode shortcuts can be tricky, especially when wearing gloves, as you often accidentally end up in the wrong mode.

The Battery and accessories

The flashlight comes with a 3100 mAh 18650 battery which is recharged via USB-C and can fully recharge in 2 hours which is impressive and valuable if you are in a hurry.

The TC15 V3 has a run time of 1.5 hours on the Turbo 2403 lumens mode, and it doesn’t suffer from overheating when used for extended periods.

When you buy the TC15 V3, the package includes two spare o-rings, a lanyard, a pocket clip, and a holster ideal for EDC or hiking.

I like the placement of the pocket clip on the back of the light, but I wish they made it reversible for better EDC options.

Final thoughts

In my opinion, the TC15 V3 has everything you could need in a flashlight. It has a slim but durable design and is versatile with seven modes, perfect for backpacking, camping, or any other outdoor application.

Run time on different modes

Mode	Runtime	Beamdistance
Turbo – 2403 Lumens	<1.5 Hours	731 ft
High – 1154 Lumens	<2 Hours	N/A
Med – 330 Lumens	<4 Hours	N/A
Low – 34 Lumens	<20 Hours	N/A
Moon – 1 Lumens	>60 hours	N/A

Pros and cons

2403 lumens ideal for outdoor applications.
Extremely versatile with 5 modes.
It has a strobe and SOS feature.
A lightweight and high-quality design.
IPX8 Waterproof and 1.5m impact resistance
Rechargeable outdoor flashligt with a quick recharging time.
A reasonable price for a great flashlight
It dosent have a tail switch.
Switching modes can be a bit tricky when wearing gloves.

our ratings:

Brightness

 5/5

The TC15 V3 has an output of 12.420 candelas (2407 lumens ) in the Turbo mode, which is more than enough to illuminate your path and guide you safely when walking or hiking at night, but also for hunting and other tactical uses.

Design

 4.5/5

The flashlight’s overall design is ingenious and easy to operate. I only miss one feature: the tail switch, which makes it much easier to find and activate the light in high-stress situations

Run time :

 4.5/5

The light’s overall run time of 1.5 hours on the brightest mode isn’t impressive, but it’s enough for walking longer distances outside at night, self-defense, or EDC applications.

Value for money:

 4.4/5

When you buy the TC15 V3, you get a tremendous multipurpose flashlight, fit for the outdoors, EDC, and tactical applications; for just 59$, that’s good value for money.

specs:

Output (Lumens)

Beam distance (feet)

Weight (Oz)

Lenght (inches)

Product details:

Brand	Thrunite
Color	Black
Power source	Battery Powered
Batteries required	1*18650
Light Source	LED
Material	Aluminum
Size	Pocket size
Accesories included	1 Pocketclip, Holster, two spare o-rings, USB C charging cable,
Modes	7
Waterproof Rating Impact resistance	IPX8 1.5 m

A Camping flashlight:

The Fenix HM61R

specs:

Output (Lumens)

Beam distance (feet)

Weight (Oz)

Lenght (inches)

Pros and cons

1.200 lumens on the brightest mode!
It has a nice flood beam perfect for iluminating larger areas.
Can be used both as a headlamp or flashlight.
It's versatile with 8 different modes.
It has a lightweight, small and high-quality design.
Waterproof and can withstand a drop from 1.5 m.
A reasonable price for a great flashlight headlight combo.
Difficult to turn on when wearing gloves.

our ratings:

Brightness

 5/5

The HM61R has an output of 5287 candelas (1200 lumens) on turbo mode, which is ideal for hiking, or walking around camp at night, but also has four other modes ranging from 5 to 400 lumens ideal for cooking, reading a book, or setting up a camp at night.

Design

 4/5

It has a genius design, and is comfortable to use both as a headlamp or flashlight. when using it as a flashlight it will easyly fit in your pocket and has a magnetic tail base ideal for camping, fixing your car at night or other outdoor applications.

A major flaw is the power buttom, which can be difficult to turn on sometimes especially when wearing gloves.

Run time :

 4.5/5

The light has over 2 hours of run time on the brightest mode and 12 hours on the 150 lumens Medium mode, which isn’t impressive.

But the 18650 battery can be replaced, which means you can bring spare batteries if you are going on an extended camping or backpacking trip.

Value for money:

 4/5

The HM61R comes with a white light output with five modes and red light output with three modes, making it incredibly versatile and capable of handling most tasks. It is also IPX68 rated and rechargeable; what more do you need?

A lightweight flashlight for hiking:

The Nitecore TIP 700

specs:

Output (Lumens)

Beam distance (feet)

Weight (Oz)

Lenght (inches)

Pros and cons

Small sized and super lightweight flashlight.
Four modes ranging from 1 to 700 lumens.
Instant acces to Turbo and Low + mode memory.
Rugged design build to handle the elements.
Gets hot when used for longer periods of time.
Only has a advertised run time of 15 minutes on Tubo mode.

our ratings:

Brightness

 4.5/5

The pocket light has an impressive 700 lumens output, which is ideal for hiking, camping, or EDC applications.

Design

 4.5/5

The TIP 700 is easy to operate and made to endure the elements with an IP54 and 1-meter impact resistance.

The only complaint I have is the demo mode, which only illuminates for 30 seconds before shutting off and is way too easy to turn on accidentally

Run time :

 3.5/5

In my opinion, 15 minutes run time on the brightest mode isn’t ideal for long hiking or camping trips, and you can’t replace the battery, which means you need to recharge it when it depletes, which can be difficult if you are stuck on a hillside with no electricity available.

Value for money:

 4.3/5

If you are looking for a rugged build, lightweight, easy-to-operate keychain flashlight for hiking, camping, or EDC, the TIP 700 is the best option.

However, the price tag of $32 could be cheaper compared to the features it offers.

A

The Anker LC90

specs:

Output (Lumens)

Beam distance (feet)

Weight (Oz)

Lenght (inches)

Pros and cons

Super bright flashlight with a 900 lumens output.
Five light modes including strobe and SOS
IP65 rating and 1 m impact resistance.
It has a adjustable beam, which allows you change from flood to spot beam easily.
IPX5 water-proof and can withstand a drop from 1.5 m.
Comes at a budget friendly price.
Rechargeable flashlight and has a advertised 6 hour run time.
Difficult to find any severe cons.

our ratings:

Brightness

 5/5

The flashlight comes with five modes, a 900 lumens output on the Turbo mode capable of illuminating 660 ft, ideal for hiking, late-night walks, or camping.

Design

 5/5

The LC90 has an ingenious design; it’s easy to grip and fits comfortably in most pockets. It’s made of durable aluminum built to withstand the elements. It is difficult to find any shortages or significant flaws.

Run time :

 4/5

It has an advertised run time of 6 hours on the medium mode, which is ideal for 2-3 days of backpacking or camping.

However, the actual run time may vary depending on the application.

Value for money:

 5/5

It has a good value for money with a price tag of only $30 and a warranty of 18 months.

A Flashlight For Dog Walking

The YUCHIYA LIGHT

Pros and cons

A cheap accesory to make dog walking more enjoyable.
It's easy to use and can be attached to the leash for hands free carrying.
It is small and light.
It has 4.5 star rating from 3.443 buyers on Amazon.
The flashlight isent waterproof .
Its made from cheap materials and malfunctions often.

A short review:

The YUCHIYA Light is a handy accessory for dog owners; it’s a bag dispenser with a built-in flashlight, which can be attached directly to the dog leach, to make walking the dog at night much more enjoyable. It comes in 5 different colors.

The flashlight isn’t a high-quality product, and you shouldn’t expect a flashlight you can use for many years.

But, if you are looking for a cheap option to make dog walking at night safer and more enjoyable, the YUCHIYA Light is a good choice.

Flashlight Comparison Charts

Flashlight	$	Output (lm)	Beam Distance(ft.)	Weight (oz.)	Length
Thrunite TC15 V3	60	2407	731	4	4.8
Fenix HM61R	109	1200	475	13.5	5.3
Nitecore Tip 700	32	700	294	0.9	2.3
Anker LC90	30	900	656	6.2	6.2
YUCHIYA	8	N/A	N/A	3.1	4.3

Patrick. Bayless

The founder and main writer on Survivalwiz.

the Best outdoor flashlight

Important specs to consider.

How we reviewed the flashlights

Table of Contents

Other posts:

The best outdoor flashlight:

The Thrunite TC15 v3

Versatile and lightweight design

The Battery and accessories

Final thoughts

Run time on different modes

our ratings:

specs:

Product details:

A Camping flashlight:

The Fenix HM61R

specs:

our ratings:

A lightweight flashlight for hiking:

The Nitecore TIP 700

specs:

our ratings:

A

The Anker LC90

specs:

our ratings:

A Flashlight For Dog Walking

The YUCHIYA LIGHT

A short review:

Flashlight Comparison Charts

Patrick. Bayless

other posts on flashlights: