**If you are in a hurry I recommend the GearLight LED Tactical Flashlight S1000 as the best camping flashlight for its durability and high quality materials**
Not any old flashlight is going to make it in the outdoors when it gets dropped on a rock or water gets splashed all over it. You need to know what material its been made of and if it has gone through waterproof testing to see if it’s going to perform well in the wilderness. Learn which flashlight is going to handle the rigors of the outdoors while still giving you the brightness you need in the best camping flashlight reviews below.
What Makes A Great Camping Flashlight
There are a lot of brands when you’re looking for a camping flashlight but there aren’t a lot of different types of flashlights. When you’re shopping around you will notice that a whole lot of your choices look the exact same. And that’s because they are.
Different brands will often sell the same model of flashlight so when it comes to choosing the right option it really comes down to customer service. Who is willing to acknowledge their model’s shortcomings and handle it through an excellent customer service experience.
All products belows have already been selected with these considerations in mind so you don’t have to waste time looking through hours of reviews and manufacturer guarantees.
Brightness
Lumens are how we measure brightness in camping flashlights and it has become the standard for measuring brightness in all light bulbs and fixtures. The higher the number, the brighter a flashlight will be and options in this list will range from 600-1500 lumens.
Brightness will affect how far your light beam reaches into the woods but will also affect how long your battery runs for. This is a reason why almost all modern camping flashlights have multiple light settings. High, medium, low, strobe, and SOS are going to be the standards for all choices on this list.
Battery
Besides the light emanating from your flashlight the battery is going to be one of the most important parts of dealing with your light source. You can either choose for a regular battery or rechargeable battery. Only one option on this list has a battery fully built-in.
All others either use AA, AAA, or rechargeable batteries. If you are going to be using your flashlight consistently I highly recommend going with a rechargeable option. Not only is it better for the environment but it will be much more cost efficient in the future.
Some of your choices will come with a USB cord for easy charging and there’s even one option that comes with its own charger and rechargeable batteries.
Portability
All of your choices below are going to be light enough for you to carry anywhere you want. The main difference is going to be the small features that are included that can improve your experience.
Wrist bands can be attached to the tail cap and allow you to carry your camping flashlight without needing to worry about. Other options include a side clip you can easily attach to your pocket or backpack strap.
You also want to consider how large your flashlight is and how bright it can actually get. The smaller in size (more portable) a flashlight is then the smaller the amount of light that is going to be emitted.
Durability
Most of the options on this list are made from sturdy, aluminium alloys that will handle scratches and scruffs you happen to get when you go to the outdoors. One option has a lot of rubber on the outside to reduce the damage of hard impacts. Another option is made of metal and is incredibly durable.
Many product descriptions will let you know at what height it can be dropped from and still perform well and light up your dark nights. Anywhere from 4ft -10ft is pretty typical.
Another durability test is to know the product’s IP rating. The IP stands for Ingress Protection and will inform you how well its protected from solids and liquids. There are usually two numbers that follow the abbreviation (IP65). The first number will represent how protected it is from solids and the second will tell you how water resistant it is.
But it’s not uncommon for a manufacturer to only provide one number (IP6) or have an X in place of the first number (IPX6). This happens because you don’t need to get the product tested for both. This testing is not required and some products simply wont go through the testing process to have this information for you but it’s helpful to know to be prepared for any situation.
Best Overall: GearLight LED Tactical Flashlight S1000
As one of the best camping flashlights on the market you’re not only getting a high quality light source in the outdoors but you’re getting two of them. GearLight is a well known brand in the world of tough and durable flashlights and this S1000 model is perfect for having a reliable option that will light up the darkest of nights. There’s five different light settings and you can adjust the light beam to be narrow or wide depending on the use case. You can fit it into your pocket to take with you wherever you go but it also has a wrist band and a small carrying pouch.
The GearLights are also pretty indestructible. You could run it over with a car and it would still shine up to 1000 feet away. You could also temporarily submerge it under water without inflicting any damage. There aren’t any batteries included but it requires 3 AAA batteries or a single rechargeable battery. Because there are two you could leave one in the car or at home so you can be prepared for any situation. If you’re looking for one of the most high-quality camping flashlights that is recommended by campers everywhere then your search is over.
Best Design: Hoxida USB Rechargeable Flashlight
The Hoxida USB Rechargeable Flashlight has some of the best versatility of any other camping flashlight in the market. The powerful 1000 lumens gives you a beam of up to 600ft away and it can last up to 10 hours if kept on low mode. You also get a high and SOS mode you can turn the camping light to and one of the more unique parts of the Hoxida is the side light that is built-in. If you’ve ever held a flashlight in your mouth while trying to point it in the direction you want because you need both hands then you probably understand how convenient it will be to have a side light and magnetic end.
It comes with two 18650 rechargeable batteries that take about three hours to fully charge using the included USB cord. There’s also a side clip that will easily attach to your pocket or backpack straps for easy portability. The Hoxida has made a camping flashlight that outperforms most of the other options on this list. You can even narrow or widen the beam if you need more coverage or you’re trying to focus on something specific. It has a higher price point but that’s because you’ll be able to use the Hoxida in almost any outdoor situation.
Best Budget: Dorcy 55 Lumen Floating Waterproof LED Flashlight
The Dorcy LED Flashlight is built for being durable and handling the rough outdoors. The shock-absorbing rubber help the camping flashlight from taking strong impacts that would otherwise break other options. And the built-in tail cap serves as a convenient way for you to attach your Dorcy to a backpack or belt loop. There’s four LED bulbs that produce 55 lumens of light output and you’ll be able to use it up to 8 hours and 45 minutes with the included AA batteries.
This camping light source can actually float on water if you happen to accidentally drop it but its not equipped to handle a full submersion. The Dorcy gets some extra points for its unique colored design which ensures that you won’t lose it on your trip but it’s real value is how durable it is. You’ll be able to light up your site for several seasons using this camping flashlight.
GearLight High-Powered LED Flashlight S2000
If you’re looking for something big and bold to use in the outdoors then the GearLight LED Flashlight S2000 is exactly what you need. Built to blast up to 1200 lumens of light output there isn’t a brighter camping flashlight on this list. You can focus your beam up to 1000ft away and the zoomable end lets you change how wide or narrow you want your beam to get. It’s has about 7.5in of height so it’s larger than the other compact sizes but it can withstand a drop from about 10 feet in the air.
Theres a small hole at the end you can run some string through to attach it to your backpack or belt but it’s not as easily portable. You do get five different light settings that include high, medium, low, SOS, and strobe. There might not be as many extra features that come with your GearLight as other camping flashlights but if you need something big and powerful to provide as much light as you will ever need than there is no better option.
LETMY LED Tactical Flashlight S1000
The LETMY LED Tactical Flashlight might not be the biggest or most powerful but it’s inexpensive and you actually get two for the price of one. It has an upgraded LED chip installed to make it brighter than the previous models and provides up to 50,000 working life hours. The LETMY camping flashlights are small enough to fit inside your pocket and have a wrist band attached so you don’t have to worry about losing it while you move around your site.
There’s five adjustable light settings for any situation including high, medium, low, SOS, and strobe. It is IPX6 water resistant and the fact that you have two means you can stick one in your glove compartment and the other can stay with you. It also allows you to narrow or widen your beam depending on the situation you’re in and what you will be using it for. You might find similar styles of flashlights but none will be as vetted and approved by fellow campers as the LETMY.
HAUSBELL Flashlights
The HAUSBELL flashlight is practically indestructible and for getting as much as you do for the price point it’s a great value buy. You can get up to 4 camping flashlights for less than some of the other options on this list. The HAUSBELL has three different settings you can choose from including bright, dim, and flash. There’s a side clip that can attach easily to your pocket or backpack so you can bring it with you wherever you go.
The beam reaches up to 650 feet but what is really impressive is how durable it is. With the solid metal design it is five times more durable than other light sources for camping and it’s water resistant. There’s a glow in the dark ring light that is supposed to be helpful when looking for your HAUSBELL in the dark but others have mentioned this doesn’t work as well as they wished it did. But if you are looking to get the most bang for your buck then the 4 camping flashlights that are included will keep you illuminated in any situation.
Wsiiroon LED Flashlight
The Wsiiroon is a great all around camping flashlight that you can rely on to perform well in any outdoor situation. Its a 2 pack for a good price and comes with five different light settings including high, medium, low, strobe, and SOS. It takes three AA batteries that aren’t included but you can also use a 18650 rechargeable battery as well.
It’s small enough to fit in your pocket but it also comes with a side clip if you want to attach it to a belt loop or your backpack. You can bring it practically anywhere you go in your outdoor adventure. The Wsiiroon isn’t going to wow you with any of its features, because you can find these elsewhere, but you’re getting two for a great price and you can rely on these in any nighttime situation.
Anker Rechargeable Bolder LC90 LED Flashlight
There are a couple of unique features of the ANKER Rechargeable Bolder LED Flashlight that make this a reliable choice at night in the outdoors. For starters, it comes with a rechargeable battery that you can use up to 6 hours on medium light setting and you can use the micro USB to get it fully charged again. It also has a respectable 900 lumen and can reach up to 1000ft away if you use the zoomable end to focus the beam to become more narrow.
It has an IPX5 water resistant rating and you can choose from 5 different light settings depending on your situation. The wrist band at the end of the camping flashlight is very useful to keep a hold of your ANKER without it getting lost in the outdoors. The only real issue with this model is the price point. For some reason it’s one of the most expensive options on this list and there isn’t a whole lot to show for it except for the rechargeable battery that comes with you purchase. Overall, you can get a ton of use from it and count on it to perform well when guiding you along at night in the wilderness but the lack of features for the price point takes it down a notch or two.
NICRON N7 600 Lumens Tactical Flashlight
With one of the most unique designs on the list the Nicron N7 stands out and is a great alternative to the more standard camping flashlights you’ll find here. The tip actually rotates a full 90 degrees so your flashlight will have an L shape and you can direct the light beam where you need it. It also has a magnetic tail cap that will stick to any magnetic surface so you can use the light for a number of reasons and in a number of different scenarios.
What the Nicron makes up for in design it loses in quality. It has a fairly low 600 lumens if using a rechargeable battery and can only reach 413ft away. You also don’t want to inflict any major damage because it is only durable from a 4 foot drop compared to a 10 foot drop that other camping flashlights have. The truth is that the Nicron is going to be an extremely convenient and portable option you’ll be able to use not only in the outdoors but also while your working on the house. But it’s not going to last as long as some of the other options on this list.
LETION Led Flashlight Rechargeable
What makes the Letion LED Flashlight special is the included rechargeable batteries and USB cable. There isn’t another light that requires batteries but actually gives you rechargeable ones you can use over and over again. Depending on which of the five light settings that comes with the Leiton you should be able to use it anywhere from 6-16 hours.There’s a small USB cable to help you recharge your batteries when you need but I would recommend upgrading your charger because the one that comes with your flashlight is not high quality.
The leighton also gives off up to 1500 lumens making it the absolute brightest option you’re going to find. That light will reach up to 500 meters away and you can adjust the beam to be more narrow or wide depending on your needs. It only has IP4 waterproofing so you can get some water splashes on it but you definitely do not want to submerge this fully under water. The water will leak into your battery casing and ruin your light source permanently. The Leiton is more expensive than some other options but it’s built well, includes rechargeable batteries, and there’s two that come with your purchase.
PeetPen USB Rechargeable LED Flashlight
PeetPen rechargeable LED flashlight is different from just about every other camping flashlight on the list. For starters, it stands longer than any other at 8in height and it also has a built in battery. No more fussing around with buying new ones or removing your rechargeable battery. All you have to do is hook up the included USB cord and wait till the LED indicator lets you know its fully charged. It also boasts an impressive 1200 lumens and can last up to 9 hours of run time.
Although there’s only a couple of light settings (high/low) that you can choose from. And there’s no easy way to attach this to a backpack or shoulder strap. But it does have an IPX6 waterproof rating so you should be safe if heavy rains are in the forecast. If you’re looking for a camping flashlight that takes away the battery problem and will be bright enough for any scenario the PeetPen should be top of the list.
Summary
My choice for best camping flashlight is the GearLight LED Tactical Flashlight S1000 for its durability and high quality materials. You see a lot of these types of flashlights in the market but you can’t completely submerge the others underwater or run them over with a truck. The Gearlight lets you do all of the above and still provides a great warranty just in case you’re unsatisfied.
