EDC Flashlights

A good everyday carry flashlight is small enough to forget in a pocket, charges the same way as your phone, and has a low mode for close work as well as a high mode for real distance. For most people that means a compact light with built-in USB-C charging. People who want the smallest possible light should look at a keychain light instead.

Our flashlight guides compare lights on maker specs: rated lumens, runtime, battery type, charging port, size and weight. Those are the manufacturer's numbers. We do not run our own beam or runtime tests, and we say so where the difference matters, for example lights that charge from a magnetic cable instead of a USB-C port.

Start with the compact EDC flashlight guide for picks by budget. Then go narrower: USB-C rechargeables, keychain lights under two inches, or travel lights with a moonlight mode. If you are choosing between brands, the Olight vs Nitecore and Sofirn vs Wurkkos comparisons set the main models side by side.