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We bought all the most popular EDC flashlights to test, torture, and photograph their beam patterns. Find out our favorites and what we now carry everyday.
PPT Editor. Marine vet, hunter, and long-range shooter. Articles in 10+ major publications
If you don't carry a flashlight every day, you should! But which is the best EDC flashlight for you?
Picking your EDC flashlight deserves just as much thought as you’d put into picking your next knife or multitool. A bad one will leave you in the dark at the worst possible time, and a good one will have your back no matter what.
Luckily, we have recommendations for budget-friendly EDC flashlights, premium options, and everything in between.
Read on to catch them all!
| Maximum Lumens | Maximum Candela | Battery | Maximum Battery Run Time | Weight | Length | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surefire Stiletto Pro II | 1,500 | 35,000 | Rechargeable (USB-C) | 23.5 hrs | 5 oz | 4.87" | $233 |
| Coast Slayer | 1,150 | N/A | Rechargeable (USB-C) | 11 hrs | 3.2 oz | 5.5" | $79 |
Manufacturing a flashlight is easy. Making it strong enough to handle everything life throws at you day after day is more of a challenge.
For this list, I focused on brands I know and trust. I’m sure there are other great EDC flashlights out there, but these are the ones I’d be comfortable throwing in my pocket, go-bag, or car. I’ve put my hands on every product on this list and one of them is riding shotgun next to my car keys as I write this.
Pros
Specs
The Surefire Stiletto (either the base model or the Pro version) has been on the top of so many flashlight guides that I figured its reign was near its end. And then Surefire dropped this second-generation Siletto Pro II on us.
The previous Stiletto Pro is nearly perfect. It’s reliable, powerful, slim, made in the U.S., and has great battery life. The only complaints I’ve heard stem from its slow-charging micro-USB port.
Surefire replaced that with a USB-C port that significantly reduces charging times.
Surefire also added a second LED. The result is 1,500 lumens on the highest setting (up from 1,000) and a massive jump to 35,000 candela (compared to 5,100). That means this new version is brighter and vastly further reaching than the first-generation Stiletto Pro.
The Stiletto Pro II still uses an aluminum housing with an IPX7 waterproof rating. As before, you’ll get a button to cycle through power settings and an on/off tail switch. Both are programmable.
You can set the main button to cycle through power modes low to high or high to low and set the tailswitch to the high setting or a strobe. The new light retains the battery-level indicator LED and reversible pocket clip.
Yeah, it's expensive. But it's also the best EDC flashlight money can buy.
Pros
Specs
The Coast Slayer is a slim pocket light that packs lots of power. Its unconventional shape grabbed my attention at SHOT Show and its features are worth a look.
This base model is the first one that’s available to the public. It offers a 1,150-lumen turbo mode, a 540-lumen spotlight, and three levels of floodlight. There’s a programmable power switch, a charge-level indicator, and a removable pocket clip on the IPX7 waterproof aluminum body. The USB-C charging port can top off the battery in two hours.
Like other manufacturers, Coast is embracing the shift toward flat flashlights for EDC duty. The Slayer is no thicker than my iPhone in its Otterbox case, and it fits great in a front or rear pocket. If you have an EDC bag, it will fit perfectly in a standard elastic loop as long as the 5.5-inch length isn’t an issue.
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If you want a compact EDC flashlight to keep in your pocket, this is it. The new Streamlight Wedge XT keeps its predecessor’s thin profile but cuts length by over an inch.
This compact EDC light has high and low modes (500 and 50 lumens, respectively). It still charges from a USB-C port like the previous Wedge but ditches the side-mounted toggle power switch in favor of a button on the end.
This isn’t a powerful flashlight, and its features are bare-bones, so it’s not a great option for people who want a tactical flashlight light they can carry daily. Where it excels is being easy to use and comfortable to carry.
The best light is the one you have on you when you need it, so in that regard, the Streamlight Wedge XT makes a compelling case for itself.
Pros
Specs
The popular Fenix PD36R Pro got a bunch of nice updates in 2024. It’s too big to keep in your front pocket but perfect for the nightstand or an off-body carry bag.
Inside the IP68 waterproof aluminum body is a rechargeable battery that uses a USB-C port and can be swapped out for a fresh one when time is a factor. The PD36R Pro has five power settings ranging from 30 to 2800 lumens and a 2,500-lumen strobe function. The maximum candela rating of 36,000 gives the PD36R Pro a range of 380 meters. On the lowest setting, the battery will last 42 hours.
Unlike the PD36R, this Pro model has two switches on the tailcap (one for power modes and one for the strobe) and none on the side. You can replace the tailcap with a remote pressure switch to use this as a weapon light.
One thing that makes the PD36R Pro stand out is its battery. It’s rechargeable with a USB-C port, but you can also remove it and hot-swap a fresh one to eliminate downtime. This is the best of both worlds.
The the PD36R Pro isn't going to knock the Stiletto Pro II off the podium, but it's a lot closer than the price difference suggests.
Pros
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The Streamlight ProTac 1L-1AA has been out for several years, but it’s a great budget option for anyone who wants a solid EDC flashlight that doesn’t cost a bunch of money.
It’s short on features but you get the essentials: high and low settings, plus a strobe function. The biggest advantage is its ability to run off a single CR123, AA lithium, or AA alkaline battery. You’ll get maximum power from a CR123 battery and maximum battery life from an AA lithium battery.
Everything is controlled with a single button on the tailpiece, and the light is barely larger than a tube of ChapStick, so it sits nicely in a front pocket. The two-way pocket clip can be used to mount the ProTac 1L-1AA on a hat brim without removing and reversing it.
Streamlight lists an MSRP of $80 for the ProTac 1L-1AA, but this model has been around long enough that retail prices are about half of that.
What do you think of the ProTac? Rate it below!
Readers’ Ratings
4.99/5 (3746 Votes)Your Rating
Everyone has their own criteria for what makes the best EDC flashlight, but there are some universal considerations to keep in mind. Keep an eye out for on EDC flashlights are power modes, color modes, a strobe function, and a magnetic base.
Flashlight power output is measured in lumens and candela in the same way that we talk about engines in terms of horsepower and torque. Think of lumens as measuring how intense the light is, and candela as measuring how far it reaches.
Don’t judge a flashlight by its power output. Sometimes, having a bright searchlight is necessary, but I’ve run into just as many situations where I need less power to avoid getting blinded by my own light.
Many EDC flashlights have multiple settings, so you can get everything from a soft glow to a powerful spotlight from one piece of gear.
Should your EDC flashlight use a rechargeable battery or a disposable one? That’s a hotly debated question.
Rechargeable batteries are convenient because you can top them off every night, just like you charge your phone. A portable power bank or small solar charger can keep them up and running without lugging around extra batteries.
The downside is that when you do need to recharge, it takes a while. There are times when being able to swap out a dead battery for a fresh one in seconds makes a huge difference. Rechargeable batteries also have a limited lifespan, so eventually, you’ll have to replace yours when it fails to charge.
Most of the time, rechargeable flashlights are fine. If you’re looking for a weapon light or work in any kind of profession where lives are on the line, stick to batteries you can replace on the go.
This article comes to you from Pew Pew Tactical editor Scott Murdock. Scott is a Marine Corps veteran who competed and qualified as a rifle and pistol expert while in service. In addition to shooting, Scott has written for a variety of publications, testing, researching, and evaluating guns and gear. He brings that knowledge and skillset to this article, editing and fact-checking for accuracy.
Editor-in-Chief Jacki Billings runs our experienced team of reviewers. She is a National Rifle Association Basic Pistol Instructor as well as a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, ACES: Society for Editing, and the Professional Outdoor Media Association. Jacki has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and has worked as a media professional for close to 20 years, specializing in gun media for almost 10 years. With 2,000+ articles to her name, she uses her professional journalism and editing experience to set testing protocols and editorial standards for Pew Pew Tactical.
If you have money to spend and demand the best, there’s no reason to stray from the latest generation of Surefire’s perennial favorite, the Stiletto.
Not everyone has hundreds of dollars to drop on a flashlight, though, and some people don’t want to put a $350 device in their pocket every time they leave the house and risk losing it. That’s ok because our other picks from Coast, Streamlight, and Fenix are solid alternatives that won’t break the bank (or your heart if you misplace them).
Which EDC flashlight is in your pocket? Let us know in the comments. Want to dive into some budget-friendly tactical lights? Check out our guide to the Best Tactical Flashlights Under $100!
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| Streamlight Wedge XT | 500 | 1,900 | Rechargeable (USB-C) | 11 hrs | 2.6 oz | 4.25" | $84 |
| Fenix PD36R Pro | 2,800 | N/A | Rechargeable (USB-C) | 42 hrs | 6 oz | 5.74" | $119 |
| Streamlight ProTac 1L-1AA | 350 | 6,400 | CR123A, AA | 14 hrs | 2.8 oz | 4.25" | $48 |
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