The best torch to hand is essential in all kinds of situations, from camping trips and impromptu nocturnal hikes to evening dog walks and unexpected power cuts. But it's easy to get suckered into buying a good-looking option that turns out to deliver a sub-standard glow and burns through batteries faster than you can afford to replace them. To help you avoid these traps, we've compiled this guide to the best torches available.
What constitutes the 'best torch' depends on what you most expect to be doing with it. Do you need a basic pocket torch to keep around so you can find the fuse box if the power fails? Or do you need something more robust and waterproof to take with you on camping adventures? Modern torches offer various beam options and lighting modes – how many of those do you really need? And do you want a battery-powered torch or one you can plug in to recharge?
Before we start, you should also check that it's the torch you want. If you're looking for something to illuminate a large area, you'd be better off picking up one of the best camping lanterns (these will create wide arcs of light), and if you need to go hands-free, try our guide to the best head torches. Otherwise, head down for a selection of the best torches to sling into your hiking backpack, kitchen drawer, car or campervan glove compartment to ensure you're never left in the dark.
The best torch to buy right now
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Olight is a serious name in the world of flashlights, and the best torch right now is the Olight S2R Baton II. This compact flashlight is a great all-rounder, offering five different levels of brightness – the maximum being 1,050 lumens, which is plenty bright enough for illuminating your path outside at night and for shining a light on specific areas. It comes with a rechargeable lithium battery, and a traffic-light indicator so you'll never be caught running out of juice unexpectedly. This design is rugged enough for pretty much anything you'd throw at it on an outdoor adventure. It's waterproof (rated to IPX8), and Olight promises you can drop it from up to 1.5m without breaking it. Finally, there's a dual pocket clip that you can use to attach it to whatever you want to, for easy-access storage or when you want to go hands-free.
We know what you're thinking – if you're going to spend this much on a torch, you'll want serious bang for your buck. Luckily, that's exactly what you get with the Maglite ML150LRX, which throws out a whopping 1,082 lumens, a compact design, and a beam range of 458 metres – plus a highly sought after five-star rating from the US National Tactical Officer's Association. If you have a bigger budget, this could well be the best flashlight for you.
The matte black finish makes this one of the more stylish torches on the market, and it's also incredibly easy to charge – you'll need just 30 minutes to boost it to 80 per cent power. We're also fans of the brilliant charging cradle (which can be used with the included the 12 V car adaptor), which hugs the torch tightly even when upside down, so you can continue to power up whether you're bouncing around in the back of a safari jeep or hunkering down in a remote mountain refuge. The icing on the cake is a 10-year warranty and an ultra-rugged exterior made from high-strength aircraft aluminium. One slight downside here is the water resistance rating – this is IPX4, which means it'll be resistant to water splashes from any direction, but won't withstand a sustained spray.
The RovyVon E3 Angel Eyes might not look like much – it's absolutely tiny and weighs next to nothing – but if you don't need a full-size torch spitting out a ton of lumens, it could well be the best torch for you. It's small enough to clip onto a keyring, and its dual LEDs can go up to 700 lumens, making it ideal for casual use or as a super-lightweight travel companion. As well as dual LEDs it also has dual power sources; there's a built-in LiPo battery, as well as a slot for an AAA battery, and while neither will last very long in full power mode, you can squeeze a good few days' use out of them on lower brightness levels.
It's easy to switch between lighting modes, and you can set it to memorise the light mode you're on, so it'll default to that next time you switch on. It's also impressively waterproof and solidly built; in short this is a versatile and affordable torch for anyone who doesn't want to lug a heavyweight model around.
Get all the facts in our RovyVon E3 Angel Eyes torch review.
Pitched as a robust and powerful outdoor torch for backpackers and adventurers, the Ledlenser MT14 is a compact, premium offering that provides better illumination than its 1,000 lumens might suggest. The secret's in Ledlenser's own optics technology, which optimises the light delivered, from flood to spot, to give you a clean, uniform light that's brighter than you might get from other torches with a higher lumen rating. Ledlenser's Smart Light Technology ensures you can easily get exactly the beam you require in any situation, and with four light functions, a maximum range of 320m and a long running time, it's definitely one to consider if you're heading out into the wilds for a few nights.
The Nebo Big Larry 2 is built with workshops in mind, but we think this versatile wand-style flashlight will come in handy in a whole range of situations. As well as a clip that means it can be used like a pen torch, it includes a magnetic spot that enables you to attach it to metal surfaces to illuminate the area hands-free. The not-actually-that-big anodized aircraft-grade aluminium body is water- and impact-resistant so should withstand a fair amount of wear and tear. Unlike most flashlights, Big Larry's main light is on its side, and there are four light modes to choose from: Top Light (200 lumens), Work Light (500 lumens), Red Light (40 lumens) and Red Hazard Flasher.
Head to our full Nebo Big Larry 2 review for more info.
It's not often you see a torch with a thoroughly original design, but that's what you get with the Acebeam Rider RX. It features a mechanism that enables you to snap the tail switch in and out of the titanium chassis, making it near-impossible to turn it on by mistake when it's stowed and also enabling you to stand it on its end when you need to. It's not the brightest torch of the lot, with a maximum of 650 lumens available, but it's perfect for casual use.
Power comes via an AA battery; it also comes with a Li-ion rechargeable AA, but it'll also take most other AAs, so you can pop in a replacement when you run out of charge. The Acebeam Rider RX is pretty waterproof and rugged, too, and its tail switch mechanism also doubles as a belt clip. In all a versatile and tough little torch, but not necessarily one you'd want to rely upon for extreme outdoor adventures.
Head to our full Acebeam Rider RX torch review for more info.
Next up in our best flashlight ranking is a particularly compact option. When you first hold this mini flashlight in your hand, you’ll have a hard time believing it can throw out as much light as it does. Well, we’ve used the S1R II Baton when camping and walking at night and can testify as to how bright it is – 1,000 lumens at full whack. The light beam is precise too, stretching out to a maximum distance of 145 meters, which is ample when you’re traipsing to the toilet block at night or coming down from the trail after dark. It’s very lightweight too, and is easy to grip, thanks to a texturised ‘milled’ body, even if you’ve built up an admirable sweat adventuring.
Olight’s rechargeable mini light is the perfect pocket torch for when you need to keep pack weight down yet still require a powerful light source for a variety of scenarios. It comes with a removable stainless steel clip, so you could attach it to belt, jacket or the outside of your backpack for fast retrieval.
The best budget torch around is the Duronic Hurricane LED torch. It offers an impressive range of features for such a low price tag: short of inflating your air bed or helping put up your tent, this torch can does pretty much everything. To start with, it's not only a handheld torch but a powerful lantern, thanks to transparent sides and a sturdy handle that allows it to be dangled from hooks, branches or tent poles. There's no chance of the lights going out, either – charge it quickly via its USB port or simply crank the handle for emergency lighting. One minute of cranking will give you 15 minutes of light – more than enough time for that dash to the toilet or a quick wildlife-spotting foray into the woods. You can also use the torch to charge your iPhone, and the beacon setting, which produces an incredibly bright, red flashing light, offers peace of mind if you're concerned about a camping-related calamity.
At those times when only the widest, brightest source of light will do, draft in this affordable yet heavy duty portable floodlight torch. It generates up to 7,000 lumens, which pretty much turns darkness into daylight at the flick of a switch. So if you’re searching for something outdoors at night, this is the torch to help you find it.
The Alflash Rechargeable LED Floodlight Torch has a beam range of up to 800 meters, so not much will escape its bright glare. And it’s splash-proof, so you’ll be able to use it in the rain. Because it’s made of an aluminium alloy, it’s also shock-proof and able to withstand being thrown in the back of a truck or van. You won’t always need to use its super-bright flashlight mode, of course, which is why there are four other lighting modes to explore too. Keep it juiced via the including USB rechargeable power bank, which can also power up your phone in an emergency. Torch shoulder strap included.
If you’re after a small but affordable torch that packs a punch, the Lifesystems Intensity 370 LED hand torch could light up your life. It’s armed with a 370 lumens LED bulb, but it’s what it does with it that’s impressive. The beam can be narrowed and widened for different uses, and when concentrated, it becomes very bright – able to light up subjects from well over 100ft away. There are also five handy brightness modes, including a flashing SOS mode for safety. The slim build is very pocketable and easy to hold (although we would ideally like some more grip on the handle), and it's water-resistant too. This torch is battery-powered and non-rechargeable, which might be a pro or a con, depending on what you need it for.
Head to our Life Systems Intensity 370 Hand Torch review for more info.
How to choose the best torch for you
The best torch for you will depend on your demands, but there’s plenty of choice for those that want to upgrade from their smartphone’s weak and weedy flashlight. For example, a keyring flashlight is ideal for stashing in a bag so that you always have a half-decent source of emergency light to hand. For those willing to travel with a little more bulk, compact torches are small enough for stashing in camping kit bags and hiking backpacks. What’s more, they can pump out a lot of brightness.
For those who work outdoors and need to create an intense beam of light quickly to locate someone or something, look for a portable floodlight or a tactical torch, both of which will have a super-high lumens count for maximum brightness. The latter will be easy to attach to your clothing or bag too.
The rechargeable flashlights in our best torches list cost more than battery-operated models, but this higher cost will pay handsomely in the long run. Not only will they prevent you from constantly having to shell out for new batteries, but you will contribute less to landfill.
Torches come in a variety of sizes, from chunky handheld floodlights to dinky keyring lights. Beam strength ranges from 10 to 7,000+ lumens, depending on the type of torch you buy, though anything over 150 lumens offers a decent level of brightness.
For outdoor adventures where you need to clearly see where you’re stepping in the dark, especially on trails and in remote rural areas, pack a torch that has 800+ lumens and, ideally a range of modes, including SOS or Strobe. Security guards and other outdoors workers would do well with tactical torches dishing out 1,500+ lumens, quickly lighting up even the darkest areas.
