How to Choose the Best Flashlight for You, the Observer Tools Buyer's Guide

Today, a flashlight is essential for many households, whether it’s for evening walks, preparing for the worst, home repairs, hiking, camping or maybe even for your profession.  While deciding which flashlight to buy can be difficult, it’s important to get the right one for you.  When looking for a flashlight, you may have asked yourself questions like: How can I tell between a good and bad quality flashlight?  How can I tell if it’s safe?  How bright is it?  We’ve put together this Observer Tools Buyer’s Guide for flashlights, so you get the best bang for your buck. 

Watch out for Hidden Information

The first thing you should know is that there are actually no testing or safety requirements specific to flashlights, only voluntary ones.  So, you can imagine it makes it very difficult to compare two flashlights if companies can choose what they say about brightness, durability, water resistance, etc.  That’s right, brightness, the most important feature for a flashlight, is quite often not accurate and difficult to compare.  Here’s a good overview of lumens and brightness if you’re curious about lumens. Also, be careful chasing after maximum brightness just for the sake of it.  As you increase the flashlight’s brightness, you are decreasing the runtime.  You want the right brightness for the job.

Buy from a Specialist or a Marketplace You Trust

So how can you tell if a flashlight’s features are legitimate or not?  It’s difficult, but not impossible.  First, look for a company specializing in tools and flashlights.  Look at their warranty.  Look at what quality controls they use.  Ask them questions.  The great thing about finding a specialist is that you know they bring all of their passion and expertise to the table.  You can also look to a major retailer like Home Depot, Lowe’s or Amazon because they have some basic safety requirements.  For example, these marketplaces require that any product with a lithium ion battery, like a rechargeable flashlight, must be accompanied by what’s called a “Material Safety Data Sheet” (MSDS) for the battery.  Now this is just the bare minimum and a specialist would have a lot more testing and safety reports than this, but it's better than nothing.

Flashlight Buyer’s Guide: Know What You Are Looking For

When purchasing a flashlight, it all depends on what you’ll be using it for.  Don’t feel like you have to get the brightest, most feature-heavy flashlight if you’ll just be using it occasionally (and for some people, their phone flashlight is enough).  Also, don’t try to grab just any cheap flashlight if you are expecting to use it often and for it to consistently perform well.  This Observer Tools Flashlight Buyer’s Guide can help with your decision,

THE WALKER: Evening or early morning walkers

• Brightness: 300 Lumens; 250ft Beam Distance
• Battery: Rechargeable batteries; 1+ hours runtime (High Mode)
• Features: Lightweight, Tough Design, Water Resistant
• Price Range: $20-$30

THE PLANNER: Prepared for anything (blackouts, flat tires, storms)

• Brightness: 500 Lumens; 250ft Beam Distance
• Battery: Rechargeable batteries; 2+ hours runtime (High Mode)
• Features: Power Bank, Dual Power, Versatile Mounting
• Price Range: $30-$40

THE DIY-GURU: Does many of the repairs around the house; hobbyist

• Brightness: 1000 Lumens; 100ft Beam Distance
• Battery: Rechargeable batteries; 3+ hours runtime (High Mode)
• Features: Zoom, Versatile Mounting, Tough, Waterproof
• Price Range: $30-$50

THE EXPLORER: Campers, hikers, adventurers

• Brightness: 600 Lumens; 500ft Beam Distance
• Battery: Rechargeable batteries; 4+ hours runtime (High Mode)
• Features: Zoom, Power Bank, Dual Power, Tough, Waterproof
• Price Range: $40-$60

THE PRO: Military, police, construction workers, plumbers

• Brightness: 1000 Lumens; 800ft Beam Distance
• Battery: Rechargeable batteries; 4+ hours runtime (High Mode)
• Features: Zoom, Versatile Mounting, Tough, Waterproof
• Price Range: $60-$100

Whatever your needs, if you’re looking for a flashlight with a right balance of brightness, features and price, check out the FL1000 from Observer Tools.

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