Best Pocket flashlights
Slide it in your pocket… and forget about it
We reviewed 568 flashlights!
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Small bright pocket flashlight
Nitecore T4K
rechargeable pocket flashlight
| Specification: | Highlights: |
|---|---|
| Max output | 4,000 lumens |
| LED type | 4*CREE XPL2 |
| Battery configuration | Built-in |
In-person, the Nitecore T4K looks a little unusual with the two buttons and the OLED display. But when you press that button. you will be dazzled by 4,000 lumens! We reviewed the Nitecore T4K extensively. It reached 3736 lumens at turn on!
If you are searching for something lightweight and don’t mind a somewhat chunky-sized light (it’s not really thin), this is a great one to keep in mind. It’s a very small light that can be attached to your keychain, or put in your pockets. The OLED display reports precisely how many minutes of battery life remains. The peak brightness is only maintained while the mode button is pressed. So 4,000 lumens is only for short bursts. The next highest mode is 200 lumens.
Buy the Nitecore T4K at one of the following stores:
Best pocket flashlight with 18350 battery
Small and popular rechargeable flashlight
Thrunite T1s
mini pocket flashlight with magnet
| Specification: | Highlights: |
|---|---|
| Max output | 1212 lumens |
| LED type | Luminus SST40 |
| Battery configuration | 1*18350 |
| Onboard charging | Yes, with USB-C |
There’s no real knurling on the T1S, but rather, the battery tube has three groups of channels cut into it. Between those and the heatsink on the head, I didn’t have any trouble with losing my grip on the light. The tail of the light is nearly perfectly flat, making it super stable for tail standing. The tail is also home to a fairly strong magnet which is pretty handy for positioning it on nearby ferrous surfaces. And in case you drop it in water, no problem because it’s also waterproof.
From our Thrunite T1S review:
This light is pretty much everything you need to look for in an EDC flashlight: very compact, good UI, USB-C charging, and it looks pretty sharp too. I think ThruNite has packed a lot of value into this small package and I was pleasantly surprised by the price.
Best flashlight with 18650 (pocketable)
Extremely popular EDC flashlight in the flashlight community
Emisar D4v2
| Specification: | Highlights: |
|---|---|
| Max output | 4300 lumens |
| LED type | Many types |
| Battery configuration | 1*18650 / 18350 |
One of the most popular EDC flashlights. Uses an 18650 cell, but optionally supports the 18350 and 18500 as well.
Emisar flashlights are built for flashaholics. You won’t find them in any brick-and-mortar stores. With Emisar lights you’ll get the latest and greatest technology currently available in the flashlight world. The D4v2 is the second version of this immensely popular EDC flashlight.
The D4v2 uses the extremely popular (amongst flashaholics) Andúril UI, which features many interesting modes. To name a few: battery voltage meter, smooth ramping, momentary on, temperature check, candle mode, party strobe, and even a lightning storm mode. With such an array of capabilities, this light is probably not for the average user.
Don’t forget to check out our in-depth review of the Emisar D4v2.
Great pocketable 21700 flashlight
Only for larger pockets!
Zebralight SC700d
| Specification: | Highlights: |
|---|---|
| Max output | 3,000 lumens |
| LED type | CREE XHP70.2 |
| Battery configuration | 1*21700 |
Zebralight is a premium flashlight brand that is amongst the best of its kind! We reviewed the Zebralight SC700d and found that its an exceptional performer. The SC700d is Zebralight’s first 21700 battery-type flashlight, and sports an extremely powerful XHP70.2 LED that can reach 3000 lumens. We tested the runtime with a 40T 21700 battery and it was very, very good.
The pocket clip can be removed without damaging the anodization.
Tacticle pocket flashlight
Olight Warrior Mini 2
| Specification: | Highlights: |
|---|---|
| Max output | 1750 lumens |
| LED type | Luminus SST40 |
| Battery configuration | 1*18650 (proprietary) |
| Charging | Onboard proprietary charging |
| Extra | Built-in proximity sensor |
The Olight Warrior Mini 2 is a short tactical 18650 flashlight with a powerful Luminus SST40 LED to reach 1750 lumens.
During testing, we noticed that the runtime of the Warrior Mini 2 is very impressive. It runs for 19 hours at 120 lumens in Medium mode, while Turbo and High mode last more than 4 hours each. Its highest output of 1750 lumens is available for the first few minutes before it drops down to almost 500 lumens, and continues at this output for over 3.5 hours. That is amazing.
If you want to read all the juicy details about this pocketable tactical flashlight, we have a very in-depth review for you. Please find out more about the Olight Warrior Mini 2 here.
Buy the Warrior Mini 2 at one of the following places:
Extremely bright, pocket flashlight
Well, it’s not really a pocket flashlight, but it does fit in larger jackets!
Acebeam X80-GT2
| Specification: | Highlights: |
|---|---|
| Max output | 34,000 lumens |
| LED type | CREE XHP50.3 |
| Battery configuration | 4*18650 (included) |
Alright, I just add this for people who have really large pockets. Because the Acebeam X80-GT2 might be extremely bright, it’s only sized like a soda can.
We’ve tested it and compared it against other high lumen flashlights, and no, it doesn’t reach 34,000 lumens. But hey, 31,000 lumens at turn on isn’t bad! That’s the same output as 200 Maglites together.
You get a high-power flashlight with 7 modes, ranging from 150 lumens to 31,000 lumens (as we tested), including a handle and 4 high power 18650 batteries. Although the X80-GT2 fits your pockets, you won’t be able to hold it for longer than a couple of minutes in the highest modes without burning your fingers. The included handle isn’t just a nice accessory, it becomes a necessity in the highest modes.
Use our exclusive discount coupon at Acebeam, to get 11% off: 1lumen323
FAQ: How to choose the best Pocket Flashlights
Q: What is the brightest pocket flashlight on the market?
A: The brightest pocket flashlight depends on the size of your pockets. If you have really large pockets, the Acebeam X80-GT2 is the brightest pocketable flashlight, but it’s not really small. It’s size of a soda can.
Q: Does 1Lumen do many pocket flashlight reviews?
Yes, we have done many reviews of different sized pocket lights. Go to the menu and choose the specific battery type you like to use. Or do a search in the search bar for: EDC.
Q: Which pocket flashlight shines the farthest?
For the farthest reaching pocket flashlight we have to move from LED to LEP. LEP flashlights are the farthest reaching. Currently, the shortest flashlight with the most reach is the Lumintop Thor 1. If you just want an LED flashlight instead, look at the Acebeam E10 or Manker MC13.
Q: If you could just pick 1 popular one: what is a good pocket flashlight?
If you just look at the flashlight community, the Lumintop FWAA is a very popular pocket flashlight. But it has a sophisticated user interface, and it runs on 14500 lithium-ion batteries. So you need to get a separate battery and a charger if you don’t have one yet.
Other things to consider when looking for your next pocket flashlight:
- Size: The first thing to consider is the size of the flashlight. You want something compact enough to fit in your pocket or on your keychain, but large enough to fit a big capacity battery.
- Brightness: You should also look at the brightness of the flashlight. The lumens listed will give you an idea of how bright it will be. For general use, a flashlight with 100-300 lumens should be enough, but if you think you need more, 1000-2000 lumens is probably enough.
- Battery Life: Always look at the batteries the flashlights are shipped with. The larger the capacity, the longer batterylife you get.
- Durability: Look for something that’s sturdy, waterproof, and pretty shock-resistant. You don’t want your flashlight to break down when it’s most needed.
- Additional Features: If you’re into this, some features can be very handy. But these are not for everyone. Here’s a few: beacon mode, battery level indicator, etc. If you have specific needs, you may want to double check our reviews to see if they fit your needs.
- Brand: I recommend choosing a reputable brand. Brands like Acebeam, Fenix, Olight, and Nitecore have a long history of producing high-quality flashlights that are both durable and reliable.