A flashlight is the first thing you reach for when the power goes off. In an emergency that could involve a sudden blackout, like a hurricane, flood or storm, you want to be able to put your hand on a flashlight that is reliable, durable and easy to keep charged.
The best emergency flashlights are ones you can rely on to provide a vital source of light when you need it most. They need to have several power sources so you don’t have to worry about running out batteries and will often use solar or a hand crank as well as batteries. Some models combine a flashlight with an emergency radio that can pick up NOAA weather alerts and a power bank for charging phones. Here are the emergency flashlights you want to find in your survival kit when the worst happens.
FosPower Emergency Solar Hand Crank Portable Radio LED Flashlight
Flashlight, radio and power bank in one
The clearly labeled interior of this kit makes it easy to access the 100 essential items inside quickly in an emergency, from a triangular bandage to a resuscitation mask. All the contents are enclosed in a water-resistant bag made from ripstop nylon. It weighs one pound and has MOLLE compatible straps so you can attach it to your backpack.
GearLight LED Tactical Flashlight S1000 [2 PACK]
Twin pack of rugged, dazzlingly bright torches
Bright, long-lasting and virtually indestructible, this ticks all the criteria you could want for an emergency flashlight. Powered by three AA batteries, it has five modes comprising SOS, strobe and three brightness settings. GearLight has designed it to survive 10-foot drops, being submerged underwater temporarily or run over by a truck. The pack includes two flashlights with cases so you have a backup.
RunningSnail Emergency Weather Radio with LED Flashlight
First aid and survival kit in one
With an NOAA weather radio and powerbank accompanying a LED flashlight this is a good choice for any emergency kit. Particularly as it can be charged by USB, solar power or a hand crank. The 1000 mAh power bank will also be good for restoring dead phones to life.
ENERGIZER Compact Rechargeable Emergency LED Flashlight
Turns on when the power goes off
This emergency flashlight can stay plugged into a wall outlet in case of emergencies. Any interruption to the power supply and it will automatically turn on. The rechargeable battery will last three and a half hours and the beam will reach up to 30 meters. You can use it as a regular flashlight by simply taking it out of the wall socket and the prongs are fully retractable.
Bottom line
You can trust Advnture Our expert reviewers spend days testing and comparing gear so you know how it will perform out in the real world. Find out more about how we test and compare products.
An emergency flashlight needs to perform well in an emergency. That means it’s durable, bright and easy to power when you can’t rely on the electrical supply. For these reasons, we would recommend the FosPower Emergency Solar Hand Crank Radio Flashlight. Combining a light with a weather radio makes a lot of sense and this model has powerbank to keep your phone working too. As well as the bright flashlight beam, there’s a reading light that could be useful in any blackout.
If you just want a flashlight to use in an emergency though, the GearLight LED Tactical Flashlight S1000 is a good choice. It’s nearly indestructible, dazzlingly bright, although different modes can make it dimmer if you need it, and won’t let you down – as long as you have batteries to power it.
