A good flashlight is one of the best-value buys in any home — when you pick the right one. Run through these five checks before you add one to your cart.
Check 1: Brightness you'll actually use
Lumens tell you how much light a flashlight puts out. Around the house, a few hundred lumens is plenty; for the yard, the trail or the roadside, more helps. Multiple modes matter more than the top number, because lower settings stretch the battery.
Check 2: Runtime on every mode
Good listings give runtimes for low, medium and high. A light that lasts all evening on medium is worth more during a power cut than one that's blinding for a few minutes.
Check 3: Easy charging
Check 4: Built to be dropped
An aluminum body shrugs off knocks. If it'll live in the car or go camping, look for a water-resistance rating of IPX4 or higher.
Check 5: Extras worth paying for
- Adjustable zoom to switch between flood and spot.
- SOS / strobe mode for emergencies.
- Clip or lanyard for hands-free carrying.
Today's tip: buy two — one for the kitchen drawer and one for the glovebox. That's where the surprises usually happen.
Charge according to the manufacturer's instructions and never point a bright beam at anyone's eyes.
