One quick search for tactical flashlights will reveal hundreds of different options. It’s a saturated market, making finding the best tactical flashlight a daunting task. It’s easy to not know where to go and to end up with something either too expensive or not good enough.

The best way to solve this problem would be to read hundreds of reviews and to compare each flashlight, eliminate the garbage and make a fantastic choice. But that would take hours and hours and hours. Who has that kind of time? Most don’t, but we do!

We’ve taken the time to look at the hundreds of flashlights on the market and have found the best tactical flashlight: the DAX Industries Tactical Flashlight. It’s a powerful, durable and long-lasting flashlight that’s loaded with accessories and that comes with a modest price tag.

If you want the best tactical flashlight so that you can protect yourself and those around you, get the DAX Industries Tactical Flashlight now.

To see why we we have chosen this flashlight, read on for the full review.

Why You Should Trust Us

We at Cicero Magazine know the dangers present in the world around us, and we value the importance of preparation. Additionally, we are outdoors fanatics, having spent countless hours hiking, camping, hunting, you name it. We only recommend products we would use ourselves.

But this isn’t the only reason you should trust us. We know how valuable your time and money are, so we took it upon ourselves to review hundreds of different tactical flashlights. Over the course of hundreds of hours, we have read countless reviews, examined infinite specifications and personally tried out over ten different flashlights.

From this process we were able to find the best tactical flashlight. We know you will not be disappointed.

What is a Tactical Flashlight and What is it Good For

It’s no secret the world is not as safe as it used to be. The danger seems to be growing every day and so is the need to be prepared and to protect yourself.

Perhaps one of the most important tools you need for self-defense and survival is a flashlight. Many people may think first of weapons, such as guns or knives, and while these are important, they will do nothing for you if you are blinded by darkness.

A tactical flashlight will solve this problem. They are small, powerful flashlights you can carry around with you or attach to a weapon.

Despite their size, though, they can be BRIGHT. Most come with a zoom option so that you can either illuminate an entire area, such as a room or a campsite, or focus in on a small spot. This feature is great if you find yourself face-to-face with an intruder. You can shine the light in their eyes, blinding them for a few seconds, which will be just enough time to give you the upper hand.

But a tactical flashlight isn’t only for self-defense. If you are someone who likes to spend a lot of time outdoors, whether hiking, camping, fishing, or hunting, this tool can really come in handy.

Tactical flashlights are incredibly versatile tools that should be in everyone’s arsenal.

How We Conducted our Review: Finding the Best Tactical Flashlight

To find the best tactical flashlight, we systematically reviewed hundreds of different options on the market. We listened to the opinions of others to weed out those with a bad reputation, and we even tested many ourselves.

From this study, we we’re able to determine which flashlights are worth it and which are a waste. To perform this analysis, we reviewed each product based on the following criteria:

Size

Tactical flashlights can range from just an inch or two long to a little more than half a foot. These larger ones tend to not be as practical since they can be a pain to carry around in your bag or on your belt. The smallest ones can be clipped easily to a keychain, but they don’t always offer the same power or battery life.

Weight

In general, lighter is better. You want it to feel strong, but you don’t want to be lugging around something much more than a half a pound. More than that and it becomes a needless weight.

Type of Battery

Regarding batteries, there are three different options: 1) standard AA or triple AAA batteries that need to be thrown out and replaced when they die; 2) rechargeable AA or AAA/lithium ion batteries; 3) permanent lithium ion batteries that cannot be removed but need to be recharged.

Rechargeable batteries are great because you don’t need to keep buying replacements. But if you are going to be away from a power source for a while, make sure you have a few extra sets on hand so that you don’t get caught without a functional flashlight. Some will come with converter kits so that you can use regular batteries instead of rechargeable ones, in case of an emergency.

Battery life

This will depend a lot on the flashlight. High-powered flashlights will eat up battery quickly, sometimes in just a few hours, whereas lower-powered options can last for days. The best way to go is to find a flashlight that has different settings. These are great because you can get extra illumination when needed, but you can also save battery when you just need a little light.

Brightness (lumens)

The flow of light is measured by lumens: the more lumens, the brighter the light. To give you a frame of reference, though, think about the light bulbs you use in your house. A flow rating of 450 lumens is equivalent to a 40 W light bulb, while 1600 lumens will give off the light of a 100 W bulb and 2600 lumens is equivalent to 150 W.

Yet the light given off by a tactical flashlight is much more concentrated than a typical light bulb. This means it will appear even brighter. Tactical flashlights can range anywhere from 400 lumens to several thousand. The sweet spot is right around 1000. Anything higher and the flashlight will become really expensive, and anything lower might keep you from getting the most out of your light. Of course, remember that the brighter it is, the more battery it will use and the more expensive it will be.

Zoom and Light Settings

The best tactical flashlights will offer multiple settings for the light. They will let you zoom in and out so that you can illuminate both large and small areas. Also, many lights will offer different settings, such as low, high, strobe and so on. These are great for saving battery and also for adjusting the light to what you need in the moment. Strobe lights are great if you are trying to get someone’s attention.

Range

The distance the light travels is another factor to consider. Some of the more powerful lights can illuminate things up to and beyond 1000 ft. This is a good range to have as it allows you to scan the nearby area thoroughly for any potential danger.

Bulb Type

There are two main types of light bulbs out there: standard and LED. For our purposes, though, there is only one: LED. LED stands for light emitting diode, and it is rapidly becoming the standard in the industry. Well-built LEDs can last for up to 50,000 hours, and they use far less energy. Also, they are far less susceptible to damage. Dropping your flashlight or shaking it will not damage an LED bulb.

Material and Water Resistance

Flashlights can be made from a variety of different materials, but the most common will be plastic, stainless steel, composite and aluminum. Plastic will be the lightest, and stainless steel is usually (though not always) the strongest. But composite can be every bit as good. It is becoming a more popular material because it is often both lightweight and durable, offering the best of both worlds.

One thing to consider when looking at the material is if the flashlight is water resistant/waterproof. Some can be submerged for up to 30 minutes or more, and this is a great perk. Not having to worry about your light going out in the rain will make you a lot safer.

Accessories

Some flashlights are simply a light and not much else. But others come loaded with all sorts of features. Accessories you can find on a tactical flashlight include:

• Belt clip
• Keychain ring
• Weapons attachment
• Storage case
• Battery converter

Price

Of course, we can’t forget about price. All these different features means there is a wide range of prices, from just a few dollars to over $1,000. We don’t recommend spending less than $15 or more than $50. Anything below this range tends to be less-than-advertised. Battery life is weak, the bulb isn’t what it says it is, and so on. On the other end, anything over $50 is usually overkill. This doesn’t mean these products aren’t great, but they just don’t offer that combination of value to money. Our recommendations fall into this range, but as with anything, you can certainly spend more if you want.

Testing Results

After going through the numerous options on the market, we compiled a list of the 30 top-selling tactical flashlights on Amazon.com. Using the criteria we have mentioned, the search for the best tactical flashlight began. We eliminated some right of the bat because they just didn’t meet our standards.

Elimination Round 1

We threw out anything lower than 600 lumens. While these will be a bit brighter than your normal household flashlight, they just don’t offer the type of power you expect out of a tactical flashlight, making them simply not worth it. Some examples of these are the UltraFire 7w 300lm Mini Cree Led Flashlight, the J5 Tactical V1-PRO and the LED Tactical Flashlight by Shining Buddy.

The low price tags and seemingly good reviews of these lower-power lights might make them look like attractive options. But they simply don’t make the cut. You will end up being disappointed, and you may end up replacing it down the line with something else, ultimately costing you more money.

Elimination Round 2

We also eliminated some based purely on their size. A good tactical flashlight should be less than half a pound so that it isn’t a pain to carry it around. Some of the products on the market, such as the Gold Armour LED tactical flashlight, weigh over one pound. That is simply too much for this type of product.

Elimination Round 3

Lastly, we eliminated some (quite a few, actually) because of price. Sometimes we have a tendency to think that the more we pay for something the better it will be. Well, this is not one of those times. Once you get over the $60 threshold, you’re not really getting much more value for the money you are spending.

If you like a certain brand, that might be another story, but we consider these high price tags to be overkill. There are a lot of these overpriced flashlights on the market, but a few of the more popular are the EdisonBright Fenix PD35, the Orcatorch Tactical Police Flashlight and the EASTSHINE T25 CREE XP-L.

The Best Tactical Flashlight

After completing this process, we narrowed the list down to seven flashlights. We then tested these ourselves to determine which is the best tactical flashlight on the market. Here are the results:

93/100—DAX Industries Tactical Flashlight (Best Tactical Flashlight)

The DAX Industries Tactical Flashlight is the best tactical flashlight available because it offers the best combination of features and price. Here’s a detailed look at why we love this flashlight and think you should buy it.

Pros

The first thing that makes this flashlight standout is that it boasts a whopping 1200 lumens, casting a light beam up to 1,000 feet. This is plenty bright for virtually any scenario. In fact, when testing it, we were able to turn off light sensitive devices, such as night lights and even street lamps, so you can bet it will do the job when you need it.

Also, the CREE LED light is rated to last up to 100,000 hours, meaning you will virtually never need to replace the bulb.

We also liked this flashlight because of its five different settings. You can switch between low, medium, high, strobe and SOS, making it extremely versatile.

You can get up to six hours of life out of the batteries on higher settings, and it will last for much, much longer on low setting.

This flashlight is also water resistant, and since it is made of durable aluminum, you can be sure it will last. If you aren’t totally convinced, consider that this product comes with a manufacturer’s lifetime warranty.

Lastly, this light comes with a whole host of extra accessories, such as a wrist straps, a AAA battery converter and a storage box. And at $29.99 on Amazon, this flashlight offers fantastic value for money.

Cons

This flashlight does have a few drawbacks, but they are rather small compared to what it offers. For example, it only uses lithium ion batteries. This could be tough if you are in remote areas, but the long battery life and the battery converter make up for this shortcoming enough for this flashlight to maintain its ranking.

Also, this light comes with no belt clip or weapons attachment. You can buy a holster separately or find a clip on your own, but it does not come included.

Overall

If you are looking for a powerful, durable flashlight that will outperform most other flashlights on the market for a price that won’t empty your wallet, buy the DAX Industries Tactical Flashlight.

78/100—HICTEC Tactical Flashlight (Best Tactical Flashlight: Most Powerful)

If you absolutely need to have the most powerful flashlight, there are options out there, but the difference will be felt in the price tag. One of the most powerful flashlights you’ll find is the HICTEC Tactical Flashlight.

Pros

This flashlight is BRIGHT. At 1600 lumens, it is one of the brightest you will find on the market.

It is made out of  aircraft quality aluminum, making it one of the most durable options out there, and it is also waterproof to IPX-8 standards, meaning it can be submerged up to two meters.

It has six different modes: firefly, low, medium, high, strobe, hidden strobe. Each one will use a different amount of power. On low setting, you can expect the batter to last about 8 hours.

Much like the other options on the market, it comes with rechargeable lithium ion batteries so that you don’t need to be constantly buying replacements.

Cons

It’s hard to get past the price tag on this one. While it offers some interesting features, and is a bit brighter than most of the top options on the market, it isn’t so much better as to justify its near $60 price.

Also, despite giving off an intensity of 1600 lumens, the range is not significantly improved over other options. It is brighter, but it still will not reach much beyond 1,000 feet.

The materials used are a nice touch, but could definitely be seen as overkill. Other options offer comparable quality for a lot less money.

Overall

If you are interested in power and durability and price doesn’t really matter, then buy the HICTEC Tactical Flashlight. It’s a great flashlight and you certainly won’t be disappointed.

68/100—Vertex Tactical SPECTER Tactical Flashlight (Best Tactical Flashlight: Budget)

If you are looking for a more budget option and aren’t as worried about special features, the Vertex Tactical SPECTER Tactical Flashlight is a great option.

Pros

With a 600 lumen intensity, this flashlight is certainly brighter than a traditional household flashlight. It also has a zoom feature to allow you to concentrate the light on a specific area, making it seem even brighter.

It comes with a belt/pocket clip so that you can carry it around easily and weighs a mere 3.9 ounces. Clipped to your belt you will hardly even notice you have it with you.

Despite its lower bulb intensity, you can still switch between different power settings. It has a normal mode, as well as strobe and SOS.

Lastly, at $9.99, it is a great option that won’t break the bank. You could even consider getting multiple so that you could have one in your bag, house and car.

Cons

As far as tactical flashlights go, this one is pretty weak. As we said earlier, it is brighter than most household flashlights, but if you’re out in the woods or needing to blind an attacker, this might not be the best option.

It also isn’t waterproof, so if you are out in the rain, this could become a problem. And lastly, it only uses AAA batteries, meaning you cannot recharge and will always have to have replacements on you.

There is no way to change the power. If you don’t want to use the strobe or SOS mode, you are stuck with the flashlights only power setting. This isn’t great if you need an extra burst of light or would like to conserve the battery.

Overall

If you are looking for an above average flashlight to take camping or to put in your car, then consider buying the Vertex Tactical SPECTER Tactical Flashlight. Just know you will be sacrificing a few features offered by some of the more advanced options.

Wrapping Up

The amount of tactical flashlights available on the market is enough to make anyone’s head spin. But worry no more. Our countless hours of research and rigorous testing methodology have helped us eliminate the waste and find the best.

By comparing the many different options on the market, we can confidently say the DAX Industries Tactical Flashlight is far and away the best tactical flashlight available. It’s 1200 lm light, 6+ hour battery life, quality build and useful accessories make it a high-performing flashlight, and at just under $30, it offers tremendous value .

To get a flashlight that won’t let you down, whether you’re in danger or just out on the trail, and that won’t cost you a fortune, buy the the DAX Industries Tactical Flashlight now.