[Top 8] Best Hunting Flashlight – 2020 Update

It’s not definite.

Every hunter has a different view of the necessary equipment needed to go for a hunt. Though they all agree on carrying a firearm….I mean what’re you going into the woods for? Play with deers?

You might track an animal till dusk. You might be hunting a nocturnal animal. It’d be crazy to hunt a nighttime animal during the day though. As you can see, a flashlight is important in these cases.

It goes without saying that a hunting flashlight is a necessary tool during a hunt. Apart from helping us see our game, it also serves other functions. Like to read a map, to dress the game, to follow trails, etc.

It’s not all about the brightness when it comes to flashlights. There are several other factors that make a flashlight good enough to take on a hunting trip. And in this review, I’d talk about the absolute best of hunting flashlights.

What to consider

As I said earlier, it’s not just about the brightness.

To get a good hunting flashlight, there are certain key factors you need to agree with. The specs don’t matter if it does not do anything for you. You have to consider your practical uses of a flashlight.

Beam distance and lumen

Back in the days, I do point my flashlight at the night sky to see the light beams on it. Funny now. I never achieved my goal though.

Beam distance is the farthest distance the light coming from your flashlight can go while still illuminating the area. It is usually measured in yards or meters.

The brightness of a flashlight is measured in lumens. Which is the number of light beams coming off the flashlight at once. It can vary from 20 to 3000 lumens or even higher.

Beam type

This just means whether your flashlight covers a wide or narrow range. It is the function of the lens on the flashlight. There are three major types;

• Flood or fixed type: This has a permanent wide beam and is suitable for walking or camping.
• Adjustable beam type: This has the capability of switching from wide to narrow beam type to suit the situation. It is versatile in usage.
• Focused or spot type: This has a single condensed beam as a spotlight. It is perfect for swift activities like pathfinding.

Weapon Mountable

I’m guessing you’re using a firearm here not a crossbow or spear. As a hunter, it will be more convenient if your flashlight can be mounted on your firearm. This will make you move as a unit. And it is very convenient.

Battery type

This is a major thing to consider before getting a flashlight. There are three different kinds of batteries;

• Rechargeable: It’s becoming more common due to its long term advantages. It usually involves a lithium-ion battery that can be charged via a USB port using your computer, solar panel, or power outlets. It is expensive at purchase but you’ll get your money’s worth along the line. Because you don’t have to keep changing batteries.
• Renewable: This is a flashlight with a built-in battery that is connected to a turbine from solar or wind energy. All you have to do is crank the turbine to charge it.
• Disposable: This includes the commoner AA and AAA batteries. Once they run out of juice you get rid of them and buy a new one. The CR123A is also a disposable battery but it packs more voltage than others. Though it is expensive and rare to find.

Durability

Throughout the seasons of the year, different animals are hunted. On a hunt, you don’t get to decide what mother nature throws at you. So the best thing to do is pick equipment that can withstand harsh conditions.

You want a flashlight that is water resistant. This comes at different levels like;

• IPX4: This means it can withstand raindrops and water splashes and still work fine.
• IPX7: It can still work fine after staying 30 minutes in water.
• IPX8: It can stay up to 4 hours in water and still function well.

You also want a flashlight that is impact resistant. Not one that malfunctions at every little drop. This means one with a strong structure.

Using a flashlight continuously for a long period of time can cause it to heat up. This might damage some of its internal parts. Well, I certainly won’t like holding a stove in the name of a flashlight. You want a flashlight built with a material that easily dissipates accumulated heat.

And of course, it should be dust resistant. Those tiny particles know how to ruin a gadget.

Runtime

It is the time it will take for the brightness of your flashlight to reduce by 90%. For instance, if your flashlight started out at 1000 lumen. After 2 hours of usage, it’s now at 10 lumens. Your runtime here is 2 hours. It’s very important to get a flashlight with a long runtime if you intend to hunt all night.

Size and Weight

It’s a no brainer that many people would go for lighter flashlights. Weight matters. If you carry a heavy flashlight for a hunt or any other purpose, it makes your movement sluggish. But on the other hand, heavy flashlights are so probably because they have a bigger battery. So in this review, I’ll give you a sweet ground between the two.

The aim is to get a relatively light flashlight with a superb battery life.

Lockout Switch

Picture this…..You are with a flashlight and you forgot to pack extra batteries. Before you remember to check, it’s already evening and you’re far from home. It’s time to set up for a hunt. You open your bag only to find that your flashlight has been switched on the whole time.

Well, unless you have supernatural vision that hunt is definitely off.

So how to prevent such situations…. Lockout Switch. Makes sure your flashlight stays off.

During a hunt, it also prevents your flashlight from turning on when you don’t need it to. Hence scaring the game away.

Modes

Modes? On a flashlight?

Yeah…even flashlights are getting advanced. Nobody wants to be left behind.

Some flashlights have a single lighting mode while others have more. They include low, medium, high. Some others even have additional modes like strobe and SOS for emergency situations.

But keep in mind that the higher the lumen you use, the lower your runtime.

Multi Colour options

It’s not only the white light that is useful in the woods. A variety of other colors is helpful as well. For instance, the green light is less likely to scare a game away. It also eliminates insect activities. Blue light is ideal for tracking as it makes blood easier to see.

This now depends on the hunter to use each for specific situations.

8 Best hunting flashlight

1. TC1200 Pro Flashlight – Our Top Pick

Blindingly bright.

That is the best way to describe the tc1200 flashlight, with its impressive 1200 lumen flashlight powered by the most advanced Cree Led Technology on the market.

This is our top choice best hunting flashlight. It’s lightweight and waterproof.

Features five modes, 100k lamp life hours and aircraft-grade aluminium!

• It is exceptionally portable and lightweight as it has been constructed from military-grade aviation aluminium. This makes it durable, as well.
• It is compact and thus, doesn’t occupy a lot of space. it can easily fit in your backpack or handbag
•  Boasts of an output of 1200 lumens which makes it one of the brightest flashlights on the market
• It features multiple modes of visibility, including low, medium, SOS, strobe, and high.
• It is powered by 3AAA lithium batteries.
• This flashlight comes with a handy carrier kit that is compact enough to fit almost anywhere.

Tc1200 Flashlight Specification

Dimensions: 5.09 IN x 1.90

Weight: 5.6 Oz

Power Source: 3(AAA)

Material: Aluminium

Luminous flux: 1200 Lumens

It is rated IP665 and thus waterproof.

2. Streamlight 88054 proTac