Are you looking for the best EDC flashlight (or “everyday carry flashlight”) to carry with you for emergencies?
The best EDC flashlights are lightweight enough to fit in your shirt pocket or even on your keychain but don’t be fooled by their tiny size…
It may not seem like much at first, but you will thank yourself for having one the next time you go camping or when your car breaks down.
Table of Contents
The Best EDC Flashlight – Things To Consider
Size
EDC flashlights can range anywhere from under 2 inches to 6 inches long. Size definitely matters when it comes to finding the best EDC flashlight, and it mostly depends on how you plan to use it.
Are you looking for a mini edc flashlight small enough to be used as a keychain flashlight? Or do you want something still in the compact size range, but with a pocket clip so you can put it in your pocket like a pen? Maybe you want a larger EDC light you can keep in your glove compartment or clip to your everday carry bag, with enough light output to double as a tactical flashlight?
Battery Life and Size
Battery life depends on the type of light bulb and the type and size of the battery. But just about anything you can find anymore is an LED flashlight, and the difference in power usage in not very great. So you’ll mainly want to look at the size and type of the battery when you are comparing EDC flashlights and considering battery life.
A keychain flashlight will come with watch-like batteries. Bigger flashlights may range from one up to three AAA batteries, or may may have CR2 or AA batteries. Some of the best EDC flashlights have a rechargeable lithium ion battery.
Choose a type you know is of high quality and has an acceptable battery life for your uses.
Power of Light
Judging the quality of light boils down to three things: beam distance, candela, and lumens.
Beam distance is the range of light your flashlight will give in front of you.
Candela is the measure of brightness your flashlight will have when focused in one direction. Lumen, on the other hand, is the total light coming from the flashlight in any direction.
For survival purposes, candela tends to be more important.
Keep lumens in mind if you want your EDC flashlight to fend off attackers, though. At least 60 lumens will confuse an attacker but if you can find a flashlight with up to 120, you can temporarily blind someone (you should also check out our article on choosing the best tactical flashlight).
Resistance
Your EDC flashlight will likely be exposed to the elements over time, which means it needs to have strong water and shock resistance.
ANSI FL1 standards measure shock resistance as a distance in meters a flashlight can be dropped and still function.
Water resistance ranges from as weak as not being able to handle a splash to lasting underwater for up to 30 minutes. The IPX rating on your flashlight will tell you everything you need to know about water control.
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