How to Choose the Right LED Flashlight

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Updated: March 18, 2018



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    Set a budget. Many flashlights are available for under $10 or $20, but these are often cheaply built, and will not last as long as one that costs more than $25. Most of the very popular high-end flashlights today are priced around $50.
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    Check the number of LED's. The number of LED's is usually less important than the brightness, but it's often listed. Any flashlight that's worth the money, will feature only one LED. Most cheaper lights that have multiple LED's are not very bright, and often do not offer a strong, focused beam.
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    Choose a battery type that's right for you. The types of flashlights sold at most major retailers are very limited, and are usually geared toward standard disposable batteries. Rechargeable Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) batteries are a better choice. Most retailers sell these. For these types of batteries to work in an LED flashlight, the light must be a AA flashlight. A flashlight made for lithium batteries cannot use standard AA or NiMH batteries. The best lithium battery flashlights are usually only available at online retailers. Disposable lithium batteries are expensive, and don't last long in high-power flashlights. Rechargeable lithium batteries are much cheaper to operate. They are also only available through mail order.
    • Conventional alkaline batteries have a long shelf life but must be replaced. Alkaline batteries are also prone to leaking if left stored for long periods.
    • Lithium-ion batteries can be recharged with a lithium battery charger. Rechargeable lithium batteries have an extremely long shelf-life, and once charged, will hold their charge up to one year without much loss. Disposable lithium batteries, known as CR123's, can be stored up to TEN years with no possibility of leakage or degradation.
    • Even a rechargeable battery may someday need to be replaced. Most rechargeable batteries whether they are lithium or NiMH, can usually be charged up to 500 times before they'll no longer hold a charge.
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    Look at the LED's. With them off, you can look at the consistency of the work that went into mounting them.
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    Turn the light on and look at the shape of the spot it projects. Look for an even, round light, rather than an uneven distribution of light. LED flashlights generally do not have an adjustable focal length, so it's important to choose one that's right to begin with.
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    Choose a housing material. Plastic is lightweight, cheap, and will not stand the test of time; aluminum is likely to be more durable. Most of the popular lights today use aircraft grade aluminum.
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About This Article

23 votes - 74%
Co-authors: 11
Updated: March 18, 2018
Views: 13,457
Categories: LED Lighting | Flashlights

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