Best LED Flashlight Torch

Best LED Flashlight Torch for Preppers

A LED torch is an essential prepping item for all occasions.

You need one at home, in the car, in your EDC and BOB.

Without doubt the improvements in technology and manufacturing have given rise to much better equipment.

For a survival situation it is very important to choose the Best LED Flashlight Torch that suits your survival needs as a prepper.

At the bottom of this page is my one off guide to choosing the right equipment for your prepping requirements.

Essential considerations for Choosing The Best LED Flashlight Torch

Torches are a very popular items owned by millions throughout the world. The police and law enforcement, all military personnel and right down to young children enjoy using a torch. But for a prepper the requirements differ from just something to give a bit of extra light.

These are my easy steps for choosing a good prepping flashlight:

1. What do You Need It For?

Hunting, Extreme Survival, Search and Rescue or longer distance visibility requires a torch with a lot of brightness – in the region of at least 1,000 lumens and also be extra durable, robust and possibly waterproof as well..

For basic camping needs and more recreational activities like hiking or fishing and general chores found around the home you still want a fairly powerful beam of above 300 lumens and up to 1,000 lumens. Quite robust and something that’s designed to take a few hard knocks.

Day to day usage or for the odd household use and for shorter distance vision, a smaller torch with less no fancy features would be fine. (100-300 lumens brightness)

2. How Much Brightness is enough Brightness?

Torches can be real cool gadgets, handy and fun to use. But for a real connoisseur, more brightness is best – but it really depends on what you intend to use it for:.

10 – 20 Lumens: for general close up tasks such as checking inside a cupboard or finding the keyhole in the front door, with under 20 lumens you will get a maximum beam distance of up to 100 metres

20 – 150 lumens: better distance on the beam – up to 120 metres, more suited for around the house jobs or out walking the dog of a darker evening.

160 -200 lumens: much better beam distance of around 250 metres, these are considered for most general purposes. typically – trekking, camping, jobs around the home and personal security

200 – 500 lumens: specific uses and tailor-made for tactical survival, hunting and trekking, hill climbing, hiking and climbing with a beam distance up to 200 metres.

600 – 1,000 lumens: now we are in ‘preppers’ mode… beam distances can be anything up to 300 metres, so ideal for most survival tasks, camping, hiking, hunting, fishing or security uses

1,000 plus lumens: just too bright for the home or even built up areas. 1000 lumens is serious outdoor torch power. ideal for survival, search and rescue, hunting, fishing and all outdoor survival tasks.

3. What about the Weight, Material and Waterproofing

Most good LED Flashlights are now manufactured using Aircraft Grade Aluminium making them stronger and lighter than ever. You can also get stainless steel and hard plastic bodies on quite a few brands as well

The advantage of the aluminium allows for the threading to be extremely fine which in turn make the threaded seal pretty much waterproof. If machined to the IPX-8 International Standards they are capable of working even when submerged to a depth of 2 metres.

4. Body Size

This is quite an important factor when it comes to choosing the right torch – the last thing you want to be doing is carry a big heavy torch around with you.

Traditionally to get a good bright beam you needed a lot of battery power and that meant big old batteries in a big old heavy torch.

This is the Maglite S4d015 4d Cell Flashlight – it’s more of your traditional ‘police’ styled torches, very big, heavy and clumpy. In fact, this one measures some 14″ long!

This type of torch is OK and is normally seen being used by security guards. I can only think it doubles as a weapon, hence better for security..?? But still a big torch considering the performance is not all that special.

Not any more though – The improvement in battery development and their energy efficient technology has given rise to the physical size LED Flashlights become extremely compact.

This, however, is the 2200 LM CREE XM-L T6 and it punches out over 2000 lumens of light with a LED bulb run time of over 100,000 hours..!

And it gets better – it uses the rechargeable Li-On batteries and comes with chargers, and has brightness functions + zoom function + SOS + strobe, all complete in its own belt pouch.

All packed into a torch that only 6″ long. Probably the best part is the price – under £20 inc VAT & delivery

5. Type Of Batteries

Using the normal alkaline batteries in your torch will give a good performance and life. However they don’t have the runtime or shelf-life of lithium batteries. If you just want a very simple pocket torch, then normal ‘throw away’ batteries are fine.

However, without doubt, I would suggest buying a torch that can run on the Li-On rechargeable batteries. Both the run time and performance far outway any ordinary battery. In fact the difference is staggering.

The initial cost is not a great deal more than standard batteries which makes them very cost effective over the long run.

The ThruNite® 3400mAh 18650 is a great battery to buy that ticks all the boxes.

It is a ‘protected’ battery, which means it has safety cutouts which prevent any damage if inserted the wrong way round.

6. Beam Features And Modes

Various flashlights offer different modes and features to choose from as:

A choice of Low-mid-high-turbo brightness levels
Thin, precise Pencil-Line beam – ideal for pinpointing a target or object
Extra Wide beam – to cover a larger wider area
Signalling and SOS Strobe mode for emergencies. *see self defence review and uses*
Flashing Light mode – ideal for survival situations, signalling, morse code and emergencies

7. Brand Name

Never buy cheap..! Always go for a recognised brand manufacturer and you will get:

A higher performing torch
Larger and cleaner brightness
Emergency and signalling beam variations
Extended lifespan with some brands this can be up to 50,000 hours
Extended guarantees and warranties up to 3 years
Peace of mind

Choosing the Best LED Flashlight Torch:

to help in your choice use the arrows to reorder each item to you specific needs;

Description with links to more information
Price
Lumens
Body material
Beam Features
Batteries
Overall star rating

Comparison table 1 – SMALLER, VALUE FOR MONEY LED TORCHES

Description click link to view more information	Price £££	lUMENS	Mode Functions	Beam Features	Weight grams	Fixing	Score
Lighting EVER CREE LED Torches, Super Bright, Adjustable Focus	10	140	High	Area Spot Flood	95	Lanyard	5 star see over 500 reviews on Amazon here
LED Lenser K3 Key-Ring Torch (Black) - Gift Box	9	14	High	Spot Flood	34	Keyring	3 star
LED Lenser P3BM Professional Key Ring Torch (Black)	12	13	High	Spot Flood	35	Pouch Lanyard Pocket Clip	4 star
Ultrafire 800 Lumens Zoomable	10	800	High Mid Low Strobe SOS	Zoom Only	180	Lanyard	3 star
Duronic RFL903D Rechargeable 1200 Metres Flashlight / Torch - 5000mAh battery - Adjustable Beam	30	180	High Low	Zoom Only	998	None	3 star
Nebo Redline Tactical LED Torch Strobe S.O.S 220 Lumen 5581 with Batteries	17	220	High Mid Low Strobe SOS	Spot	190	Pouch (Extra cost)	4 star

Comparison table 2 – TACTICAL, HIGH END, PREPPING LED TORCHES

Description click link to view more information	Price £££	lUMENS	Mode Functions	Beam Features	Weight grams	Fixing	Score
LED Lenser 8407 P7 Torch Gift Box - Black	30 See over 500 customer reviews here	200	High	Area Spot Flood	196	Lanyard Pouch	5 star

LED Lenser P7.2 Pro Torch (Black) - 320 Lumen - Model 9407 Boxed Edition	40	320	High	Area	130	none	5 star

Led Lenser F1 Force Series	53	400	High Low	Strobe	69	Lanyard Cleaning Kit	5 star

Maglite MAG-TAC LED Crowned Bezel Blisterpack Flashlight - Black	40	320	High	Strobe	136	bely Clip	4 star

Best LED Flashlight Torch