10 Best Hunting Flashlights for 2023: Reviews and Full Buyer’s Guide

Browsing the stores for flashlights that meet your hunting needs is often an appalling experience, especially when you have to make decisions from the enormous options available in offline and on online stores.

Well, there should be a smarter way around. You would agree, right?

After careful research, I have curated some of the best hunting flashlights that are present in the store for 2023. 

I have also carefully explained some of the litmus tests that you might need to perform before ordering your next flashlight.

Now, let us dig in!

10 Best Hunting Flashlights for 2023

1. Streamlight 69424 TLR-7A

Streamlight products are the cream of the crop of flashlight devices. With their ready-to-fit body design and powerful long-range lumens, they are highly recommended as the best flashlights for hunting at night. 

TLR-7A is a quality gun light well suited for adaptable ergonomic switches that match your shooting styles. The body is made of anodized aluminum.  It is a form of a coating that makes the device durable and less prone to corrosion. 

There are three available modes of operation. A quick press on the button gives a stable light while holding on to the switch produces light flashes. The strobe mode is activated by tapping on the switch twice.

Pros

Cons

2. LE CREE LED Flashlight

With its almost weightless design, the CREE LED flashlight can easily fit in your backpack, hand, or pocket. 

It is packed with a lot of dynamic features that will often come  handy in the wild. 

The zoomable feature, as an example, gives a clearer view of the targeted prey when the super bright LED lights are shone on the prey. 

Pros

Cons

3. PHIXTON Tactical LED Flashlight 

The PHIXTON is a top-rated flashlight device that utilizes modern technologies, as well as accessories.  The full box comes with a superb 18650-lumen capacity, a 5000mAH capacity battery, and a USB cable for that purpose.

Its bulbs are super bright and are well recommended as the best LED flashlights for hunting. An extra benefit is that the flashlight can operate with one rechargeable Li-ION battery and three size AAA batteries.

I have to mention that it has five different modes. The strobe and SOS are built for emergencies in the wild.

Pros

Cons

4. Energizer LED Tactical Flashlight

Energizer is an affordable,  lightweight and pocket-friendly flashlight.

Lightweight and sturdy clips are available, for attaching to the belt, jacket, or pocket. It features white LED lights that produce up to 140 lumens of bright light with a long beam throw of over 210 feet.

This product has a fair reviews from buyers. You might want to try out the Energizer to get the feel of this yourself.

Pros

Cons

5. EVEREADY LED Tactical Flashlight

While the EVEREADY flashlight may have some high-end features, it is affordable and budget-friendly.

It comes with a super bright high 270 lumen LED that can illuminate up to 500 feet away in its highest mode.

The zoomable option allows you to manually switch between wide and throw beam focus to view near and far objects, respectively.  

Another perk is its rugged metal body design. It can withstand maximum impacts and water resistance. You might want to pick this light up for a night hunting trip!

Pros

Cons

6. 2 Set of Garberiel LED XHP50 Flashlight

I personally love this flashlight. It is relatively affordable, with a lot of high-end flashlight functions. 

Garberiel XHP50 features a 3000-lumen super bright LED that is powered by two rechargeable 2000mAH Li-ION batteries.

You have the flexibility to choose among  five different light modes, including a slow flash for SOS. What’s fascinating is its 4 LED indicator light display that perfectly shows the battery status.

The LED also indicates when charging is complete. This particular feature helps to prevent overcharging that might damage the battery or reduce the battery’s lifetime power output.

Pros

Cons

7. Duracell Variable Focus LED Flashlight 

This is a good, modern rechargeable flashlight with a bright LED of over 2500 lumen. It is super bright, sturdily built and impacts resistance. A great perk is its battery life.  Duracell flashlight is powered by 9-AA Duracell Batteries that can illuminate for as long as 3 hours in energy saving mode, and 22 hours in low mode. The aircraft grade aluminum body also has a water resistance rating of IPX4.

Pros

Cons

8. Streamlight 88066 Pro Tac

Streamlight 88066 is a high-end modern flashlight that will give you a good deal for your dollars.

It has a hunting professional design, featuring a rail clamp that can be easily mounted on a range of rifles, carbines, and submachine guns.

The 1000 lumen weapon is the best flashlight for deer hunting because the brightness of the light does not cast enough shadows that spook targeted prey. However, the beam pattern is a good balance between throw and wide for long and wide visions, respectively.

Pros

Cons

9. J5 Tactical V1-PRO Flashlight 

J5 Tactical V1-PRO Flashlight features a military-grade body design that is good for hunting and other rugged terrain activities. The body is very aesthetic and attractive. Well, the aesthetic design is topped with enough modern flashlight technology. 

Despite its compact tactical design, it is budget-friendly and affordable. 

Pros

Cons

10. Streamlight 69266 Tactical Light 

This is a super bright and durable Streamlight product with up to 800 lumen blast of light at its high-power mode. It is designed to be mounted directly on handguns with Glock-style rails. The body is very compact and lightweight. 

It is well built, easy to use and install. The programmable strobe can be switched on and off based on your need.

This product is highly recommended for hunting, hiking, and other outdoor activities

Pros

Cons

How to choose the best LED flashlight without a glitch: Full beginners guide

If you, like me, prefer to save every nickel possible, then buying quality gadgets is not an option.  The next time you want to decide on which flashlight to buy, these are some of the details you should carefully observe.

Lumen 

We all buy  flashlights because we need a source of bright light in the dark. However, a light can be brighter than another.  A good example is a lantern light and a streetlight. 

So, how can we quantify the brightness of our flashlights? How do we make sure we purchase the one that suits our hunting needs?

The answer is the lumen output.

A Lumen is the equal amount of light emitted from a source in one second. This implies that the higher the lumen, the brighter the illuminating effect of the light.

Depending on its intended function, flashlight lumen output can be as low as 100 lumens or as high as 1200 lumens.  Many experts agree that light output of 350 lumens and above should be bright enough to illuminate in a  thick, dark bush.

 Even though a higher lumen output will always be preferable, one has to consider the risk of fast battery drain associated with such flashlights.

Except the device is rechargeable with a close power source for recharging, it is advisable to choose a lumen output that preserves the battery life.

You do not want to be stranded in the wild with a dead flashlight.

Type of Materials

Hunting is an exercise that requires a lot of muggle-juggle. You would occasionally have to move your flashlight in different directions across rough terrains. This is why you would not want to compromise on this factor.

A good flashlight should be able to withstand water and other harsh conditions.

Old flashlights were built with vulcanized rubber materials to prevent damage when it falls. These materials are well versatile against both water and mechanical accidents.

 But there is a catch. 

The density of these materials may add up with the overall weight of the whole device.

Flashlights are now made with either Aluminum or Plastic. Plastic materials like polystyrene allow for flexibility in molding, compared to aluminum or other metals. Flashlights with metal casings are more durable than plastics but relatively heavier. 

Blood Tracker

After aiming and shooting at your prey, let us say a deer, you may have a hard time tracking the wounded animal after it has taken off if it doesn’t leave enough blood trail to trace. 

In some cases, you would follow a particular trail only for it to end after a few hundred feet.

For this reason and some other factors, you might need to consider a flashlight with a blood tracking light. 

The tracking lights are basically LED flashlights in the blue to cyan color spectrum. They work by creating a color difference between the dried blood and the leaves or branches around. Since blood absorbs ultraviolet light, they appear black on illumination.

Although, this same effect can  be seen when you attach an LED filter to your flashlight, a flashlight  with inbuilt blood tracking functionality helps to save the cost of filters.

Battery Type

There are always questions about the type of battery that should be bought for flashlights. 

While most flashlights have their specific size of the battery that fits their compartment, there are other factors such as the voltage of the battery and its chemical component that determine the durability of batteries.

Broadly, batteries can be rechargeable or not; and when it comes to size, they can be AA, AAA, C, or D.

You have to know the particular size that fits the battery compartment of your flashlight. It is always written boldly on the body of the device or packaging.

That is not all; another factor you would want to consider is the voltage. Your battery voltage is its potential to drive electricity between the positive and negative terminals of the battery.

Why is this important?

The motion of electrons is what causes electricity. Just like moving down a steep hill, high voltage implies an easy movement of electrons. Hence, more electricity.

Based on its voltage, a flashlight generally falls into three categories:

• 1.5V battery (sizes are AAA, AA, C, D);

• 3V battery. Examples include the CR2032 and CR123A;

• 9V battery and 6V lantern battery.

• Lithium-ion battery: This is the new generation of battery, stronger with more power output. They are often designated with five digits. Examples are the 10440, 26650, 21700 model.

Another important classification is the chemical component.

Common flashlight batteries are made up of one of the following chemicals

• Alkaline: These are the most common types. They are non-rechargeable and degrade with time. One has to be careful when using this type of battery since they tend to leak their chemicals and  destroy whatever device they are in.

Depending on the peculiarity of the flashlight, an alkaline battery can be size AAA, AA, C, or D. You should note that the size does not increase the power output capacity of a battery.

Alkaline-type batteries are cheap and can easily be replaced when it is discharged. However, they are  not the best  for a hunting trip.

• Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH): These types are rechargeable. They can be used multiple times without degrading. They are very economical and generally give a higher run-time than the average alkaline counterpart.

Although standard Nickel Metal Hydride batteries tend to discharge faster, there is an option of a Low self-discharge NIMH (LSD NiMH) type that lasts longer without discharging.

• Lithium battery: They are long-lasting but often cost extra dollars. They store more charge than NiMH and discharge slowly. Also, they do not leak like the alkalines. You can leave them in your flashlight for a longer time. They are  resistant to heat. This feature is recommendable for outdoor activities like hunting trips. 

Lithium batteries might be very expensive, but the cost will be amortized over many reuses.

• Lithium-ion battery: If you want a cell with higher energy storage, all you need is a Li-ion battery. This battery type is the new type of battery found in smartphones, laptops, and many other modern gadgets.

They are rechargeable and can supply up to 4.2V when fully charged. Flashlights Li-ion batteries are generally cylindrical. 

They are described by a five-digit identifier, like “21700”. 

• The first two digits are the diameter of the cylinder in millimeters (mm). 

• The last three digits give the length of the cylinder in tenths of a millimeter. Therefore, an “21700” cell is nominally 21mm by 70mm.

While some lithium-ion flashlights have built-in charging, some require that you buy a good charger.

Type of Bulb

Bulb types add to the brightness ability of most flashlights. The most commonly available ones include

• Incandescent:  These are the old-fashioned type of flashlight bulbs. They are  characterized by glass over a filament and dissipate a lot of heat. The bulbs are prone to breakage. Since the bulb generates both light and heat, a lot of energy is lost during its operations. It is not the best type of bulb for long hours of activities. However, it is cheap and accessible everywhere.

• LED – Light Emitting Diode (LED): They are the most common types found in most flashlights. They have  a relative advantage of shining bright without generating a lot of heat. They are without filament and have a longer lifespan. LED bulbs are common nowadays and are moderately affordable on the market.

• Gas Filament bulb: The filament bulbs are filled with pressurized inert gases like Xenon, Krypton, and Halogen that burn brighter without generating a ton of heat like the incandescent types. They have a higher lifespan, produce less heat but  are short-lived when compared to LEDs.

• High-Intensity Discharge (HID) bulb: HID bulbs are very efficient in converting electric current into light energy. They work by sending an electrical discharge between two electrodes and through a ball of ionized gas. They are often huge and expensive, but produce a very bright light.

Beam Pattern

The pattern of the beam light can either be a throw or a flood.

• A throw beam pattern tends to illuminate over a longer beam distance. It “throws” the light forward. A good litmus test is that the light will reach far away and has a more focused narrow beam.
• A flood pattern is the opposite of a beam. It illuminates over a wider area rather than a longer distance. This type shines around you and allows you to see everything close up.

How do you recognize a throw or flood flashlight?

There are no certain rules to follow but there are certain features that can give you a hint. Some brands may indicate it in their product description on the box. Many throw flashlights also have a longer body and head design due to their deep and smooth reflector. A deep reflector helps to “throw” the light far, while the smoothness helps to form a narrow beam.

For a flood beam pattern, the head is often shorter, and the reflector is textured to disperse the light beam.

Most versatile flashlights are always the best of both worlds when they combine a narrow beam with a flood. These flashlights often produce a longer beam while still illuminating your immediate area. They are highly recommended for dark hunting trips.

Available Light Modes

Some flashlight models allow different brightness mode settings like low, medium, high, and boost. Although you may rarely use more than one mode, the other modes might come in handy when you need to conserve battery life or throw an extra beam towards a running deer. 

Other flashlights may have special modes like SOS or strobe features. Software and programmable modes downloaded to the flashlight via USB cable are also available.

Size and Weight

 This depends on personal preference. Also, you have to consider the ease of movement with the flashlights while hunting. Bulky types are not necessarily brighter but will most likely have an extended run time due to large battery capacity.

FAQS

Can I use hunting flashlights for tracking a trail?

With a flashlight of high lumen output and with a throw beam pattern, blood trails within 40 feet can easily be tracked. It is best to use a colored bulb type that gives a sharp contrast with the background.

Is a green led flashlight better than a blue flashlight?

The argument on which of the bulb color types is more effective is out on the jury. A blue light will cause blood to have a black color against the forest background, while other surroundings appear as a shade of gray, hence blocking night vision. Green light enhances night vision and helps to intensify contrast but not so perfect for blood tracking. When in doubt, it is better to buy external filters that can be easily attached for its particular purpose.

Why should I use a flashlight for hunting?

Apart from the illumination that flashlight provides during hunting trips, it has evolved into a more versatile device for other usefulness. Most modern flashlights come with other features, such as the SOS probe, blood tracking filters, customizable modes that can make your hunting exercise hitch-free.

Can hunting flashlight spook prey?

It is not the light of a flashlight but its shadows that spook your target. White light may cast a significant shadow that can scare your prey. However, with the advent of adjustable filters like the red and blue type, you can  rest assured your target will not be spooked.

Are headlights better than flashlights?

Flashlights have more dynamic uses than headlights. With a flashlight, you can spot prey better without being constrained by head movement. That is not all; it can also be attached to the belt of the hip when trying to climb a hill or do something else with the hand.

Summary

The incredible importance of flashlights for surviving the wild can never be pushed under the ground or tossed in the bin. 

Flashlights are dynamic devices of illumination. Its innovative purpose like trail marking and SOS when used effectively makes hunting trips fun and worthwhile. Buying a high-quality flashlight will surely be worth the investment.