Tested: The Best EDC Flashlights on the Market

Flashlights have long been an important part of the everyday carry pantheon due to their ability to — like any quality piece of EDC gear — provide ample utility and preparedness in a compact, rugged, and easily-carry-able package. With literally hundreds of different EDC torches on the market all ranging in price, size, and performance, it can be difficult even knowing where to start your search when shopping for one. Recognizing the sheer abundance of this space, we’ve opted to help streamline your shopping process by shining a light on what we consider to unquestionably be the best everyday carry flashlights currently on the market. 

Though it’s true that all flashlights serve the same function of offering light, these items can massively vary in terms of utility, performance, and overall user experience. In order to help simplify this process, we’ve broken down nine of the most crucial areas to consider when buying an everyday carry flashlight. 

Body Construction: With the actual flashlight itself being constructed around it, an everyday carry flashlight’s body — or housing — is also of extreme importance. From brass to copper to carbon fiber to aluminum to stainless steel to titanium, contemporary EDC flashlights can be made from a wide variety of materials. In addition to the construction type, you’ll also want to review the construction technique used to make it, and if the material has been further fortified via an anodized or powder-coated finish.

Emitter & Lens: As the elements that actually generate and focus a flashlight’s beam, it’s hard to overstate the importance of a model’s emitter and lens. Additionally, you’ll also want to look into the number of emitters a flashlight has. 

Lumen Output: Lumens are a metric used to offer an objective sense of a flashlight’s brightness and power — as a point of reference, your iPhone’s flashlight is rated at between 40 and 50 lumens. For everyday carry use, we’d generally recommend a lumen output of at least 200 — though we use a different standard when evaluating keychain flashlights. On top of lumen output, it’s also worth reviewing a flashlight’s throw (i.e. the maximum distance a light can effectively reach).

Durability: Because an EDC flashlight is typically carried on a daily basis, there’s a very decent likelihood that these pocketable torches will come into contact with foul weather or experience a few drops and bumps over the course of their lifetime. Fortunately, manufacturers are well aware of these realities and have engineered modern everyday carry flashlights to stand up to these types of abuse. 

Size: One of the biggest areas that regular torches from everyday carry flashlights is the latter’s size. EDC flashlights need to be small and lightweight enough to be practically carried on a daily basis. Advancements in battery and emitter tech have given way to some incredibly compact and potent everyday carry torches. 

Light Modes: Rather than merely boasting an on-and-off switch, the vast majority of EDC flashlights feature a myriad of different light modes and settings. This includes low, medium, and high brightness settings — as well as often super-low and turbo settings — and other features such as strobe or S.O.S. functions. Some lights even offer multiple colors or spectrums (such as UV). 

Activation: While full-size torches and tactical flashlights often come with multiple means of activating the light, everyday carry flashlights tend to be so small that the vast majority of them only feature a single button or switch to activate their light. Nonetheless, we’d recommend looking into this area, as this factor plays a major role in determining an EDC flashlight’s overall user experience, plus a torch’s buttons or switches will also be what the user utilizes to switch between different light modes and settings. 

Additional Features: As the daily-carry flashlight space has evolved over the years, some of the more reputable EDC manufacturers have started bestowing their respective everyday carry torches with a variety of unique and clever features such as magnetic-coupling charging systems, defensive tactical striking bezels), built-in laser pointers, lockout modes, and even digital displays — just to name a few. 

Battery: A flashlight’s battery pack is obviously of importance, as it ultimately determines the amount of burn time any given model can offer. On top of battery life, you’ll also want to look into areas such as a battery’s charging method, whether it’s removable, or if it can be run on store-bought batteries. 

Thanks to the larger EDC space’s continued influx in popularity, we’ve seen an ever-growing number of fantastic, thoroughly pocketable flashlights that have been engineered from the ground up specifically for EDC duties. This has ultimately given way to more available options than ever before, though has also made it more difficult to sort through the endless sea of offerings in order to hone in on the true stand-out models within the space. In a bid to uncover the best flashlights currently available, we began our search by first generating a list of criteria that would be used to judge each torch, including dimensions, durability, overall design, material selection, lumen-count, beam distance, operation, and battery type, size, and life. 

Using the aforementioned criteria and characteristics to guide our search, we then proceeded to generate a shortlist of potential candidates that we suspected may represent some of the best on the market. And as helpful and informative as a product’s description and spec-sheet can be, the reality is that the only way to truly get a comprehensive sense of how an EDC flashlight actually performs is to carry out hands-on testing and trials. So, that’s exactly what we did; getting our hands on each flashlight from our shortlist and proceeding to get hands-on with each torch and extensively test the things. This ultimately afforded as a much better sense of each flashlight’s IRL performance, and overall craftsmanship and build quality, though our field-testing also allowed us to glean other vital information such as each flashlight’s functionality and overall ease of use.

We also performed our own dark-room testing to get a better sense of each model’s actual lumen output and throw — an experience we’ve documented via a photo for each light (collective side-by-side photo above) in our write-ups below. The environment was exactly the same for each flashlight, and we stood about 10 feet from the wall. We also cycled through each different mode to measure every flashlight’s full capabilities (check out our review video for those details). Following our hands-on field-testing phase, we were then able to narrow our initial shortlist down to a final list of models that we found to be the best everyday carry flashlights currently available. 

Prometheus Lights Beta Magnetic

Best Quick-Release Keychain: Based on the same proprietary quick-release design found on the brand’s renowned Beta QRv2 platform, the Prometheus Light Beta Magnetic is a smaller version of the fan-favorite Beta QRv2 that benefits from an auto-on feature that activates the light as soon as it’s disconnected from its QR link. IPX8-rated, this keychain light features a type III-anodized 6061 aluminum body fitted with an optical-grade AR-coated glass lens, a 40-lumen output, and a 10-meter throw.

What it lacks in lumens, this EDC torch makes up for in unparalleled color rendering, overall build quality, ease of use, and convenience — the latter of which comes thanks to its brilliant QR mechanism. What’s more, the Beta Magnetic manages to make the most of its paltry lumen count via a lens that focuses and amplifies its emitter’s output. At just 40 lumens, the Beta Magnetic is also able to deliver impressive run times that outshine most other models on this list several times over. 

NITECORE TK4

Best High-Lumen Pick: Since first coming onto the scene in 2007, NITECORE has become an increasingly popular player in the world of high-performance flashlights with an ever-growing catalog of ever-more-impressive torches and everyday carry gear. And with products like the TK4 it really isn’t hard to see why. Spanning just 3.2” and measuring just 1.15” thick and 1.18” wide, this piece of cutting-edge EDC gear may be the least expensive item on this list, however, it’s also the most powerful —and by a substantial margin — with the highly-pocketable torch packing a whopping 4,000 lumens and an equally-impressive nearly 700’ throw.

What’s more, alongside an IP54-rated HAIII aluminum body, up to 67 hours of burn time, and five brightness levels, the TK4 also features an OLED display that shows battery life, mode status, and a host of other info. Between its rugged body, high-tech OLED display, ultra-compact size, and monstrous lumen output, the NITECORE TK4 really is unlike anything else on the market. Whether carried in your pocket or on a keychain, the TK4 is a fantastic option.

Olight Baton4 Premium Edition

Best Overall EDC Pick: With 1,200 lumens on tap, a 544’ throw, and a tiny 2.48-inch-long body, Olight’s Baton3 already unequivocally represented one of the best best EDC torches in existence, though after several years on the market, the company has returned to the drawing board in order to deliver the even more impressive, new and improved, fourth-generation model. Maintaining the Baton3’s dimensions, the Olight Baton4 manages to build on an already-stellar design that now features 1,300 lumens, a 557’ throw, and increased battery life.

Alongside a new grip pattern, the Baton4 also benefits from a new alloy push-button plus trios of LED indicator lights denoting brightness and battery level. In addition to the flashlight itself, the Baton4 Premium Edition’s wireless charging case has also been redesigned and now boasts a battery level percentage display, the ability to act as a mobile power bank for other devices, and compatibility with a myriad of other compact Olight models including the Baton3 and the Perun Mini 2 LED headlamp. 

Acebeam E70 Mini Ti

Best All-Around Use Pick: The Acebeam E70 Mini Ti is a tactically-inspired EDC flashlight that sports a titanium-construction body that was inspired by custom rifle barrels. Rounding out this model is six brightness modes, a protected stainless steel tactical-style tail switch, a blue-anodized stainless steel pocket clip, and a 3,100-mAh battery offers up to 100 hours of burn time.

Protected beneath this torch’s custom TIR lens is a triple Nichia CRI90 LED emitter setup that puts out a very healthy 1,500 lumens and a 460’ throw. Able to offer some light self-defense capabilities thanks to its striking bezel, this torch can also be dropped from over 3’ and submerged in over 6’ of water without suffering any issues. This flashlight’s high lumen output and immense durability also make it great for a wide variety of other applications and uses. 

ReyLight Ti Dawn Triple

Best Super Rugged Pick: Earning our spot for the best super-rugged pick, the ReyLight Ti Dawn Triple is a boutique-made torch that sports a titanium body with a unique machined frag pattern that affords both grip and some definite style points. On top of its rugged titanium body — and matching titanium hardware and pocket clip — the Ti Dawn Triple also packs a sapphire lens, a glow-in-the-dark gasket, and a custom-made rubber cap molding. It doesn’t end there, however, as this model also boasts both reverse-polarity and battery low-voltage protection.

This laundry list of features collectively make this one of the most hardwearing EDC flashlights on the market, with a G-SHOCK-like impact-absorbing system. Offered in the buyer’s choice of a raw or stonewashed finish, this titanium everyday carry torch also comes outfitted with a dozen slots for housing tritium vials around the head of the light plus two more in the tail — though tritium isn’t included with the flashlight itself. 

SureFire Titan Plus

Best Mini Pick: Measuring less than 4” in length, the SureFire Titan Plus is a solid little EDC light that’s as hardwearing as it is pocketable. Weighing in at exactly 2oz, the Titan Plus boasts a 300-lumen output and a throw of almost 220’. And, while it’s 300 lumens might not make it the most powerful model on our list, the output is undoubtedly more than sufficient for handling the vast majority of EDC torch duties.

More importantly, the use of Surefire’s proprietary faceted reflector and MaxVision beam pattern allow the flashlight to amplify and make the most of its 300 lumens. Activated via a rotating bezel switch, this flashlight — despite its size — manages to deliver a full hour of burn time on its highest setting. IPX7-rated, this torch is also sold with both a removable pocket clip and a stainless steel split keyring. 

Laulima Metal Craft Ion Slim

Best American-Made Pick: Headed up by Laulima Todai, Laulima Metal Craft is a boutique brand that sees its top-shelf torches’ bodies machined in Missouri before the entire thing is assembled and built out in Oregon. Spanning just 4.14”, the company’s Ion Slim Flashlight is a meticulously-made EDC torch that’s produced in small batches, allowing for ultra-high standards for craftsmanship and quality control, while also adding an air of exclusivity — an area no doubt furthered by this flashlight’s price.

Offered in a variety of different finishes, this USA-made EDC item is crafted from a myriad of different body materials such as aluminum, copper, brass, bronze, or titanium, plus is offered in super top-shelf constructions like Timascus. Loosely inspired by custom rifle barrels and muzzle devices, LMC’s Ion Slim torch also boasts a custom “McClicky” tail switch, a triple Nichia emitter setup, an optic lens, and an output of 1,200 to 1,300 lumens. 

FocusWorks F3 Flashlight

Best Color-Finish Pick: Founded in 2011 by a husband and wife team, FocusWorks is a boutique EDC brand that produces a variety of different products including the F3 Flashlight. Measuring 4.09” in length and 0.86” in diameter, this model features an anodized titanium body that houses a Samsung LH351d 5000k emitter and is fitted with a pocket clip composed of solid grade 5 titanium.

Running on a Qlite driver, the FocusWorks F3 is offered in several different matte anodized finishes that simply look fantastic. The flashlight is no slouch on specs either, with the F3 packing a respectable output of just under 900 lumens. Based in British Columbia, FocusWorks also produces additional pieces of premium EDC gear — some of which are offered in matching finishes to the F3 light.  

Tested: The Best Keychain Flashlights To Carry Every Day

Want to check out an even more pocketable array of ultra-compact torches? Then be sure to head over to our guide to the best keychain flashlights for everyday carry for our hands-on testing and reviews of the latest and greatest options on the market.