Picking The Best Rechargeable Flashlight Under $50

When searching for the best rechargeable flashlight under $50 there are a lot of different rechargeable flashlights to choose from.  This guide is designed to help you understand what features make up the best rechargeable flashlight and what you want to look for when choosing which one to buy.

Brightness

The brightness of a flashlight is going to be the number one criteria for most people choosing the best rechargeable flashlight.   The brightness of flashlights will be stated in lumens. The higher amount of lumens the flashlight is able to output the brighter the flashlight will be in use.  Some flashlights can output up to 4,000 lumens.

Some flashlights have multiple modes that can be used to dim the flashlight if you don’t need to have it on the highest setting.  Some flashlights also have a way to turn the lens of the flashlight to either concentrate the area of the light into a tighter cone or make the area of the light output larger depending on your needs at that time.

Size

Depending on how you are going to use your flashlight you would want to choose one that is a proper size to fit your needs.  If you are going to be using your flashlight at a campsite a lot you would probably want to get a smaller flashlight so that you could carry it in your pocket or on you easily so that it is readily available when you need it.

If you are just going to be using your rechargeable flashlight in your garage or around the house then the size of the flashlight would not matter as much.  The larger the flashlight the more lumens it is typically able to produce so keep that in mind if you are looking for a high lumen rechargeable flashlight.

Durability

You probably want to have your rechargeable flashlight last you as long as possible so it’s important to choose one that is going to be durable and can take a beating and still hold up.  The housing of the flashlight will make a big difference in how well it will be able to stand the test of time.

If the housing or case of the flashlight is made of plastic it will make it more likely to be scratched if you drop it.  A metal housing would hold up better over time than a plastic housing.

Some flashlight manufacturers will coat the flashlight in a nonslip rubber coating either over the whole flashlight or in certain areas. I would recommend getting something like this as the rubber exterior would hold up well against scratches or abrasions.  

Battery Capacity

One of the main criteria in choosing a rechargeable flashlight is going to be how long you can use the flashlight without it needing to be recharged.  If your flashlight only lasts a couple of hours between needing to be recharged you are going to have to constantly keep recharging it which could prove to be a hassle.

I would recommend getting a rechargeable flashlight that has at least three to four hours of use without needing to be recharged.  The longer you can go without needing to recharge your flashlight the better. You may not have ready access to electricity to charge it at your campsite so that is another factor to keep in mind.

Portability

The portability of your rechargeable flashlight will have a lot to do with the size of the flashlight you go with but some flashlights have extra features to make them more portable.  

Some flashlights will come with clips so that you can clip them onto your belt buckle or pant belt loop. Other rechargeable flashlights will come with a loop so that you can wrap the loop around your wrist to help you from dropping it.  You can also use the loop to attach the flashlight to your body or somewhere in easy reach around your campsite.

Recharge Methods

Depending on which flashlight you end up going with they will have different methods to be recharged.  The most common will be via USB which you could plug into a wall outlet or a computer to charge.

Some rechargeable flashlights will come with a solar panel on them that you can use to recharge the flashlight during the day time. These types of flashlights make it convenient to recharge your flashlight if you are not going to be close to a power source to be able to recharge the flashlight via USB.   

Hybridlight Journey – Solar/Rechargeable 160 Lumen LED Waterproof Flashlight
I have this Hybridlight Journey solar rechargeable flashlight and it works pretty well.  It’s not the brightest flashlight out there with 160 lumens but it does have a bright LED that helps save energy.  The Hybridlight Journey can operate for up to 25 hours on low beam and up to 7 hours on high beam.

This flashlight has a solar cell on the side of it that you can use to charge the flashlight during the daytime.  It also allows you to charge it via a USB connector if you want to do that before you head out for your camping trip.

This solar rechargeable flashlight also is waterproof up to 3 meters and it floats so you wouldn’t have to worry about getting it wet or dropping it in a pond or lake.

Hybrid light state that can be stored without sunlight for seven years and it would still retain 90% of its original charge.  I got it because I thought it was a really cool concept to be able to charge your flashlight with just the sunlight on a sunny day and because I wanted more solar rechargeable camping gear.

It also was comparable in price to other flashlights that I was looking at, it just had fewer lumens than other ones but I was fine with that.

Rechargeable Flashlight Features

Energy Storage

Because rechargeable flashlights will typically have a battery pack built into them they will be able to store electrical energy in the battery pack for later use by the flashlight.  Some rechargeable flashlights will allow you to use this energy to charge your other devices from the battery pack in the flashlight if you’d like to do that.

I have a rechargeable solar panel flashlight that you could use to capture sunlight store it into the battery pack and then use that energy to charge your cellphone or other devices.

Lighting Modes

A lot of rechargeable flashlights will have different lighting modes so that you can select the right type of lighting needed for whatever situation you are in.  If you are laying in your tent late at night you may not want to use the brightest setting of your flashlight. If you need your battery to last longer if you use the flashlight in the lower lighting mode it will be able to conserve it’s charge for a longer period of time allowing you to use the flashlight longer.  

Battery Backup

Some rechargeable flashlights will also have the feature of allowing you to use normal batteries to power the flashlight if it runs out of a charge. This would come in hand if you run out of a charge and don’t have access to recharge your flashlight.  You could insert some double A or triple A batteries into the flashlight to be able to use it again then and there without needing to recharge the internal battery pack.

Accessories

Certain rechargeable flashlights will come with different accessories like a charger or replaceable rechargeable battery so that you could have a set of two or more rechargeable batteries to swap out when one dies.  Depending on your needs I would look to get one that has all the accessories you are looking for out of the gate instead of having to buy them later on down the line.

My Recommendations

Anker Tactical Rechargeable Flashlight
The Anker tactical rechargeable flashlight produces 900 lumens on its high setting, Anker says that its light can reach the length of two football fields or 660 ft.  It features a zoom feature allowing you to narrow or widen the beam of light depending on your needs at the time. The Anker rechargeable flashlight has a rechargeable battery that can last up to 6 hours on high beam.  It can also be fully recharged in 6 hours.

This rechargeable flashlight also is water resistant and has a durable aluminum body.  It also features an anti-slip finish exterior to help you keep a steady grip on it even when wet.  It’s even been tested to work in freezing temperatures.

When looking at prices of flashlights this seems to be a good bang for your buck as it’s going to be a cheaper option but will offer high lumens at a cheap price.  Anker is also a good brand of flashlights and other products.

Streamlight 88052 ProTac 850 Lumen Professional Tactical  Rechargeable Flashlight
Streamlight is one of the more popular flashlight brands because of their high build quality and different flashlight options.  This Streamlight rechargeable flashlight has 850 lumens of the lighting of power and a run time of 7 and a half hours from a full charge.

It is rechargeable via an included USB cord and a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. It has three different lighting modes low/medium/high and can also strobe.

This Streamlight rechargeable flashlight is made from a full anodized aluminum body and is water resistant.  The lens is made from tempered glass to make it more durable. Overall this is one of the most popular and highest selling rechargeable flashlights on Amazon.  It is a bit pricier than the other ones on this list but will have very good build quality.

STANLEY FATMAX Rechargeable Spotlight
This Stanley Fatmax rechargeable flashlight is actually more of a spotlight.  It offers 920 lumens of lighting power and has a runtime of up to 7 hours on low.  If you are looking for more of a spotlight for your campsite rather than a pocket flashlight I would recommend getting this Stanley Fatmax.

It uses a lithium-ion battery that can hold its charge for up to 12 months without needing to be recharged. It’s designed with a pistol grip to allow you to hold onto it and aim it better.  It’s not designed to get wet or be submerged in water though so keep that in mind if you are going to be encountering rain.

PeakPlus Super Bright LED Tactical Rechargeable Flashlight

The PeakPlus tactical rechargeable flashlight is going to be the cheapest rechargeable flashlight on this list.  There are a few different companies that make basically this same flashlight on Amazon so I wouldn’t expect the build quality to be superb.

It offers 5 different lighting modes high, medium, low, strobe, and SOS. It’s not going to be the brightest flashlight in this list either but if you are just looking for a small cheap rechargeable flashlight that you can fit in your pocket look no further.  It does come with some accessories such as a case that you may not get with other flashlights.

In Conclusion

There are a ton of different rechargeable flashlights out there on the market today.  Hopefully, this guide was able to help you make a more informed buying decision when choosing the best rechargeable flashlight under $50.  

It really comes down to your own individual needs and what you think a flashlight should be; whether it be the brightest, the most durable, or the longest lasting.