EDC flashlights are one of those essential pieces of gear that aren’t as cool to upgrade compared to knives. But in reality? They can come in more handy than the EDC knives we carry around on a day to day basis. Think rainy hikes before sunrise, camping in the wilderness, and sudden fogs. Chances are, if you spend time outdoors and count how many times you use your flashlight versus your knife, you’ll find that the flashlight pulls ahead.
That’s why we’ve put together a list of the best EDC flashlights you can get online under $100. Forget those cheap mini flashlight packs that come with batteries. Those will not last you hours in the middle of nowhere, let alone give you the visibility you need. These ones, though? Expect the best.
TOP CHOICES
Best Overall
Streamlight 66320 MacroStream USB 500-Lumen Rechargeable Compact Flashlight
- Three lighting modes ranging from 50 to 500 lumens.
- Pocket clip keeps it on you hands free.
- Capable of operating for hundreds of hours.
- Water and impact resistant.
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1Streamlight 66608 250-Lumen Pocket Flashlight
The Streamlight 66608 250-Lumen Pocket Flashlight isn’t the kind of flashlight you’d want to take to the great outdoors with you. With 250-lumens brightness, the flashlight is ideal for indoor and relatively closed environments. Other than that, it’s got everything you could want from an EDC flashlight such as a rechargeable battery, a pocket clip, a lanyard for easy carrying, and a respectable battery life of 3.5 hours.
PROS
- Comes with a pocket clip and lanyard.
- USB rechargeable internal battery.
- 3 light modes up to 250 lumens and 68 meters.
- All-metal design.
CONS
- Relatively short battery life.
- Not bright enough for outdoor activities.
2Nitecore E4K 4400 Lumen EDC Flashlight
The Nitecore E4K 4400 Lumen EDC Flashlight is the priciest one on this list but for 4,400 lumens in the palm of your hand, it’s far from being a bad deal.
This ultra brilliant flashlight is made with PDOT which stands for “Precision Digital Optics Technology”. Basically, it’s a hyper-efficient way of making a flashlight so you get more brightness out of the battery for much longer.
If you’re going to the middle of nowhere with any of the flashlights on this list, this is easily your best option.
PROS
- Charges via USB-C.
- Lightweight and compact.
- Up to 4,400 lumens brightness.
- Comes with a pocket clip, holster, and lanyard.
CONS
- Pricier than other options on the list.
3STREAMLIGHT 88062 ProTac Flashlight
The STREAMLIGHT 88062 ProTac Flashlight is a tactical EDC flashlight designed with Type II military spec aluminum housing. Or, in layman’s terms, just super durable.
The flashlight has a brightness of 500-lumens and can be used with a battery. However, the rechargeable is sold separately from the flashlight which means you trade that feature for stronger housing versus other flashlight sets on this list.
PROS
- Military spec aluminum housing.
- 500 lumens brightness.
- Comes with a pocket clip.
- Rechargeable kit ready.
CONS
- Does not come with a rechargeable kit.
4ENERGIZER LED Flashlights TAC-300 Pro
If you’re not looking for an EDC flashlight with specific specs, the ENERGIZER LED Flashlights TAC-300 Pro might do the job just fine. These flashlights aren’t going to get Best EDC flashlight awards anytime soon, but they do go up to 300 lumens, are water resistant, have a belt clip on them, and come in a 2-pack.
All in all, it’s an affordable flashlight kit that will be more than enough for getting under the hood of your car or checking your fuse box during an outage.
PROS
- 300 lumens brightness.
- Come sin a 2-pack set.
- Features a belt clip for easy carrying.
- Water resistant for rainy weather conditions.
CONS
- All plastic body, not the most durable option.
5Streamlight 66320 MacroStream USB 500-Lumen Rechargeable Compact Flashlight
Best Overall
The Streamlight 66320 MacroStream USB 500-Lumen Rechargeable Compact Flashlight is a rechargeable EDC flashlight that you can plug into just about any device, whether it’s your laptop or a power bank. The flashlight comes with three different lighting modes you can switch between. Each mode also changes the distance the beam can travel to with the longest being 90 meters.
Since it’s water resistant and shock resistant, it’s a great budget EDC flashlight for the outdoorsmen and women out there who like to start their trails before sunrise.
PROS
- Three lighting modes ranging from 50 to 500 lumens.
- Pocket clip keeps it on you hands free.
- Capable of operating for hundreds of hours.
- Water and impact resistant.
CONS
- Slow charging compared to more expensive counterparts.
- Dims as it loses energy, no option to maintain high brightness modes.
