The 7 Best Rechargeable Flashlights of 2024, Tested and Reviewed
Whether you're embarking on a camping trip or simply preparing for the next power outage, having a flashlight on hand is essential. Rechargeable flashlights beat out flashlights that use disposable batteries because they are more powerful and better for the environment.
To find the best rechargeable flashlights, we tested 16 models from various brands in our lab, evaluating them on usage, brightness, beam distance, and other features. We also spoke to Jeanne Devon, co-author of Survive and Thrive: How to Prepare for Any Disaster Without Ammo, Camo, or Eating Your Neighbor, for her expert insight on finding the right rechargeable flashlight for your needs and home.
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It has a waterproof rating of IPX8.
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The controls and settings aren't intuitive.
The Olight S2R Baton II flashlight is rugged, compact, and powerful, earning its spot as our best overall pick. It has a powerful 1150-lumen beam and a beam distance of 107 meters, plus a magnetic charging port at the back. We particularly love its compact size, which makes it easy to keep on hand when on the go.
It has three brightness settings, which proved to be impressively powerful—given its strength, we think the highest setting is suitable for outdoor use only. You can also switch it into turbo mode for extra brightness, moonlight mode, which gives off faint light that won't disturb others, and strobe warning mode. The main downside of this pick is that the controls aren't intuitive, so it took us a while to realize that we had to double-click or triple-click the button for it to work.
We ran the flashlight for 30 minutes straight during testing, and it remained just as bright as when we powered it on. According to the brand, this flashlight has a 60-day runtime, so it was no surprise that it passed this test with flying colors. The flashlight also has a battery indicator.
The Olight might be the most rugged flashlight we tested—it has an IPX8 waterproof rating, meaning you can safely submerge it in water. During our drop tests, it continued to work with no sign of scratches or damage. Though it is more expensive than many other options we tested, its impressive value is well worth the cost.
Dimensions: 0.91 by 0.91 by 3.94 inches | Brightness: 1150 lumens | Beam Distance: 107 meters
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![A person putting the Olight S2R Baton II USB Magnetic Rechargeable Flashlight at an angle]()
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PHOTO: Wade Review / Henry Wortock
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![People using the Olight S2R Baton II USB Magnetic Rechargeable Flashlight and measuring the length of the light on a wall]()
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PHOTO: Wade Review / Henry Wortock
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![A person holding the Olight S2R Baton II USB Magnetic Rechargeable Flashlight]()
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PHOTO: Wade Review / Henry Wortock
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![closeup of the grip and clip of the Olight S2R Baton II USB Magnetic Rechargeable Flashlight]()
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PHOTO: Wade Review / Eric Brockob
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![closeup of the grip and clip of the Olight S2R Baton II USB Magnetic Rechargeable Flashlight]()
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PHOTO: Wade Review / Eric Brockob