The Best 1000 Lumen Flashlights

Flashlights come in many different shapes and sizes, and now with the development of LED’s, a large range of brightness, measured in lumens. The use of LEDs has allowed very bright flashlights to run on battery power for longer, and here we take a look at the best 1000 lumen flashlights. 

A great flashlight will offer good battery life, a range of useful features, and high build quality at a reasonable price. The Streamlight 88065 is a very good contender, but the price goes against it, so our choice for the best 1000 lumen flashlight goes to the Nitecore P12. In the lowest light mode, the battery will last around 540 hours, it’s waterproof, and it’s built from quality materials that should last for many years to come.

Our Selection of The 10 Best 1000 Lumen Flashlights:

Below we list and review the 10 best 1000 lumen flashlights currently on the market.

1. NITECORE P12 1000 Lumens Precise Tactical Flashlight

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One of the great features of the Nitecore P12 in its lowest light mode, the battery can last for an incredible 520 hours. The setting only provides 1 lumen, but it’s enough to read by and perfect if you are going to be out in the wilds for several days. In high mode, you get the full 1000 lumen, but the battery will only last for just over an hour. Drop down to medium mode with 240 lumens and you have six hours of battery life.

Made from aircraft-grade aluminum, with quality knurling for grip, and an anodized finish, the P12 is a quality product that should give many years of use. A neat feature is the mode memory, which remembers the mode setting when you switch the flashlight off.

2. Streamlight 88065 Pro Tac HL-X 1,000 Lumen

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The Streamlight ProTac HL-X is one of the high-end flashlights in this test and from a company well known for its quality products. They supply the flashlight with two CR123A lithium batteries as standard but have a range of options for rechargeable batteries if preferred. They also supply a nylon belt holster. 

The body is made of light aluminum alloy and machined with an anti-slip pattern for a good grip. A glass lens is sealed into the head, and the Streamlight has an IPX7 waterproof rating, which means it can be a meter underwater for 30 minutes without leaking.

The multiple modes are selectable on the tail push-button, and the mode selection is programmable. This is an expensive but long-term purchase that should last for many years.

3. Beike 2 Pack LED Tactical Flashlight

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The compact Beike tactical flashlight is just five inches long but is packed with useful features. Constructed in strong and lightweight aluminum alloy, with an IPX4 waterproof rating, the Beike is ideal for outdoor use. 

There are five built-in light modes, high, medium, and low, plus strobe and SOS. The adjustable beam can be focused like a spotlight, giving a range of up to 800 feet or give a wide beam to illuminate a room.

The battery pack can either be three AAA batteries or a rechargeable 18650 lithium-ion battery that can be purchased separately. Normally selling for less than $15 this is great value, and you even get two flashlights in the pack.

4. Amuoc LED Tactical Flashlight S1000

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At just under four inches long, the Amuoc is a very compact 1000 lumen flashlight that is perfect for almost any situation. It’s lightweight, IPX6 waterproof rating, and aluminum alloy construction make it ideal for camping and outdoor use. While the bright and adjustable beam can light objects up to 1000 feet in the distance. Just pull and push the LED cover to adjust the focus.

You can use either standard AAA batteries or a rechargeable 18650 lithium-ion battery pack, although batteries are not included in the price. The Amuoc features five light modes. The high mode gives the brightest light but shortest battery life, while low mode will increase battery life by four times. 

The powerful, yet small and lightweight S1000 is the ideal pocket flashlight.

5. LE Rechargeable LED Flashlight

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The LE S1000 flashlight comes with some great features at a low price point of around $20. Along with a 1000 lumen beam, there are five modes to choose from. High, medium, and low set the power output, allowing you to reduce the light and extend the battery life.

Flash mode simply flashes the light at regular intervals, while SOS mode signals for help using morse code style flashes. In high mode, the flashlight should stay on for around 2.5 hours, increasing to around five hours in low mode. Flash mode lasts for around 12 hours.

Beam spread is adjusted by twisting the bulb casing and can it project a beam to around 800 feet when fully focused.

6. Fenix Flashlights FX-PD35TAC Flashlight

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Fenix is a relatively new brand in the flashlight business, but since its debut in 2005 has established itself as a quality product, and the PD does not disappoint. 

Designed from the start as an outdoor adventure flashlight, the PD35 is made of aircraft-grade aluminum, with an anodized finish, a glass lens with anti-reflective coating, and an IPX8 waterproof rating.

Six light modes are on offer, with a regulated power supply. If the flashlight can no longer support the mode it’s in it automatically drops to the next mode down. Five modes are built-in plus a strobe setting. 

In outdoor mode, the tail switch is only used to switch the flashlight on or off, and the side switch selects the mode for easier operation.

7. PeakPlus Rechargeable Tactical Flashlight LFX1000

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At the lower end of the price range is the PeakPlus LFX1000, but don’t let the cost fool you, as it has plenty of features. Included in the price are a rechargeable battery, charger, and a storage case. 

The LFX1000 offers five light modes; high, medium, low strobe, and SOS, all selected using the tail-end button. Fully focussed, the beam can extend to around 600 feet while sliding the adjuster out provides a floodlight beam.

While not waterproof, the PeakPlus is weather and water-resistant, so should withstand most outdoor use if not too extreme. Overall, this is a great flashlight for the price, that should give years of use.

8. CoaTaco Rechargeable LED Flashlight T6 with Cob Sidelight

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If you are looking for a simple, bargain LED flashlight, then the CoaTaco could be just right. For under $20, you will get two flashlights, two rechargeable batteries, two USB cables, and two flashlight cases. Features have been reduced to allow the low price, so you only get three light modes; high, COB work light, and SOS. But as an emergency light in your car or home, it would be ideal.

The CoaTaco is water-resistant to IPX4 standard, so fine for outdoor use, and is made from strong aluminum for durability. A very useful feature is the COB LED mounted on the side of the lamp which is perfect for lighting a work area such as your garage or inside a tent.

9. EverBrite LED Rechargeable Spotlight Flashlight

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For something a little different, the EverBrite is designed for multiple uses, such as an emergency flashlight in your car or home. The EverBrite has a rechargeable battery built-in, and you can charge it through either a USB or 9V car cigarette lighter socket. Both types of charging cables are included. An LED indicator light shows when the flashlight is fully charged.  

The flashlight body is constructed in strong ABS plastic to resist damage from impacts and has been drop-tested from one meter. 

For longer periods of use, there is a stand to support the lamp, and a trigger lock to keep the flashlight on. The maximum working time is around two hours. 

10. SecurityIng Waterproof 1000 Lumens Diving Flashlight

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The SecurityIng LED flashlight is built for divers and is waterproof to a depth of 150 meters. The outer casing is made from aircraft-grade aluminum and anodized for protection. This is quite a larger flashlight, with a length of over eight inches, and weighing in at 10 ounces. 

The beam is not adjustable, so it cannot be focussed, and the brightness is fixed, with no power-saving modes. Under normal use, the batteries should last around two to three hours.

This is a great flashlight for divers, but with the lack of features, it’s expensive for everyday use.

What to Look for When Buying a 1000 Lumen Flashlight

Brightness – Lumens

In the past, we usually talked about brightness in terms of Watts, such as the 60W bulb, for example. But that was actually a measurement of the energy the bulb used, rather than how bright the bulb was.

Lumens is a measurement of brightness and is not related to the power the bulb uses. One lumen is the amount of light a single candle produces. Although lumens is not a new measurement, it is new when talking about normal bulb brightness. This change has come about because of new technologies such as LED (Light Emitting Diode).

It’s not possible to compare the wattage of a traditional incandescent bulb to the wattage of an LED to judge how bright it is. This is because an LED bulb can produce much more light (lumens) per watt of energy than a traditional bulb.

So how do we know how bright a bulb will be if it shows the measurement in lumens? Well, luckily, it is fairly easy to compare lumens to watts. As with watts, the higher the lumens value, the brighter the bulb.

The figures below give you a comparison guide to watts against lumens. Remember, the figure for watts shown below relates to traditional incandescent bulbs:

• 40W = 450 lumens
• 60W = 800 lumens
• 75W = 1100 lumens
• 100W = 1600 lumens

Portability

The very essence of flashlights is portability. You use them to go camping or take with you when hiking, or maybe use them where mains power is not available. So your flashlight generally needs to be small and light to be most useful, so it easily slips into your pocket. Flashlights with clips aid portability by clipping onto your belt for easy access.
Our review has focussed on small flashlights, but we included a larger style which is perfect for keeping in the trunk of your car for emergencies. 

Weight

This goes hand in hand with portability. A heavy flashlight will quickly become useless if it’s too heavy. Being able to put it in your pocket or clip it to your belt depends on low weight.

Durability

Materials and design will affect how durable your new flashlight is. This is particularly important if you use your flashlight on camping trips, where it will get stuffed into rucksacks and knocked about.

Reinforced plastics are very durable and light, but can crack if you drop your flashlight. Aluminum is equally light but will dent or bend instead of cracking when dropped, but maybe more expensive. Depending on how you intend to use your flashlight will determine which is better for you.

Battery Life and Type of Battery

How long the battery lasts is an important factor. It is determined by the type of battery included and the power drain from the flashlight. All the flashlights listed use low power LED lamps, which increases battery life substantially.

The other consideration with batteries is if you can recharge it. For camping and hiking, it’s not convenient to carry lots of spare batteries. In this case, a charger or USB cable for recharging the battery would be more suitable. Very few of us travel without a cell phone these days, so a flashlight that can be charged with your cell phone cable will be very convenient.

Features

Depending on your intended use of the flashlight, you’ll want to look out for certain features, such as:

• Long battery life if you intend to go wilderness camping.
• Recharging via USB for convenience.
• Plastic or metal body for impact resistance. Metal bodies are stronger but heavier.
• Focussed beam or wide-angle beam. Adjustable beams are common, but check the range.
• Light modes. Being able to reduce the intensity of the flashlight will help increase battery life between charges. Manufacturers often also include SOS and flash modes.
• Waterproof. A flashlight for outdoor use will benefit from a good waterproof rating.
• Lighting distance. 1000 lumen flashlights should illuminate to over 600 feet or more.
• COB (Chip On Board) work light. COB technology is an upgrade to standard LEDs and offers energy efficiency savings.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

LED technology has improved immensely, allowing manufacturers to produce high-intensity flashlights that offer good battery life. Add to this lightweight and quality materials such as aircraft standard aluminum, and you have a winning combination.

Prices range from as little as $10 right up to several hundred, but even at the lower end, there are great flashlights to be found. They are perfect as emergency lighting during power outs or to keep in the trunk of your car just in case.