Flashlights have always been with us since the invention of portable batteries, and have become indispensible gadgets that almost everyone needs, regardless of who they are, what they do, or where they live. At some point, every single one of us is going to need some illumination, in some dark place (indoors or outdoors), where there are no street lights or electric bulbs, or when there is a power outage.
But with the many options available, it can be quite difficult to decide which flashlight model is most suitable for us.
The question anyone who wants to buy a flashlight must ask before deciding which model to buy is:
What do I need a flashlight for?
The answer to this question will help you determine what to go for.
For instance, if you need a flashlight for hunting, you would want one that has a very bright spot beam (narrow beams that can illuminate distant objects). You would also want the flashlight to be lightweight, waterproof (just in case it rains while you’re out hunting), and capable of lasting long in between charges.
On the other hand, if you need a flashlight for finding your way around dark places indoors, you would have to go for something less bright, with a flood beam that can illuminate a wider area.
These days, many flashlights are designed to use the 14500 lithium ion battery, which has the combined advantage of being very small (less than 5cm long), rechargeable and able to last long in between charges!
Here, we will be looking at the best flashlight models that use 14500 lithium ion batteries.
These are our top five 14500 flashlights:
WUBEN LED Flashlight (14500 Battery included)
The WUBEN LED flashlight is a handy flashlight that can be powered by a 14500 lithium ion battery, as well as an AA dry cell battery.
The most interesting thing about this product is how deceptively rugged it is!
At just about 13cm long, the WUBEN LED flashlight is not just unusually bright, but it is also designed to survive being immersed in 2 meters of water for several minutes!
Even a drop from a height of more than 1 meter cannot damage this product, as its core components are protected by a stainless steel ring and a body made of aero grade aluminium alloy.
It is clear that this is a flashlight that was built to last, even when it’s put through some very harsh treatment. Its toughness and durability is unmatched – there are very few flashlight models that can withstand the kind of rough treatment this product can take!
This rugged nature makes the WUBEN LED flashlight great for outdoor uses.
It also features a button that not only switches on and off, but can also switch to five different brightness levels, allowing you to determine how bright you want the flashlight beam. Also, at its brightest, its beam can reach a distance of 100 meters.
Another remarkable feature of the WUBEN LED flashlight is a clip that allows you to attach this lightweight product to your pocket. That way, it can hang from your clothing, while your hands are freed to attend to other things.
It also comes with a micro-USB charging cable that can connect its micro-USB port to a power source whenever you may want to recharge its 14500 battery. And there is an indicator on the flashlight that displays the battery level, so you’ll know when the battery is about to run down to a critical level, and recharge it on time before it’s completely depleted.
WUBEN E05 EDC Flashlight 900 Lumens USB Rechargeable 6 Modes Cree LED Flashlight Handsfree Waterproof Mini Torch with 14500 Battery Included
With its toughness and reliability, the WUBEN LED flashlight is exactly what you need. Here again are some of its key features:
- Portable and lightweight
- Beam distance of up to 100 meters
- Maximum brightness of up to 520 lumens
- Can be switched to 5 brightness levels
- Waterproof (up to a depth of 2 metres)
- Micro-USB charging port
- Pocket clip for hanging
3 PACK ULTRAFIRE MINI FLASHLIGHT
As the name suggests, the 3 Pack UltraFire Mini Flashlight is a very small flashlight – at less than 4 inches long, it is small enough to fit into your pocket.
But don’t let this little toughie’s small size deceive you, as it has many other wonderful features besides its portability!
One of the most remarkable things about this product is the brightness of its beam. The 3 Pack UltraFire Mini produces a beam that is very bright for its size. At 300 lumens, this tiny flashlight will light up a room in a way that you wouldn’t expect.
Another feature that’s important is the water-resistant design. This product is built to keep working even under heavy rain. But it is important to note that it has not been waterproofed enough to survive being submerged in water.
Also, the exterior has an anti-slip finish that guarantees a firm grip, making an accidental drop less likely. In addition, this flashlight was built to last, as it’s made of a durable aluminium alloy with anti-abrasive coating, a tough lens that is not easily cracked, and a tough body that can survive rough handling.
And then, there is the adjustable focus that allows you to zoom the beam in and out. That way, you can focus the beam on something you want to see more clearly, and also zoom it out whenever you want to light up a wider area.
Also, the 3 Pack UltraFire Mini is designed with a wide working voltage that makes it possible for you to switch the 14500 3.7 volt battery it normally uses for an AA dry cell battery which produces a much smaller 1.5 volts. Another advantage of this feature is that it enables the flashlight to keep working for longer.
If you intend to buy this product, one important thing to note is that this product comes in a pack of three. In other words, the quoted price is for a pack containing three mini flashlights.
3 Pack UltraFire Mini Flashlights Focus Adjustable SK68 Single Mode Tactical LED Flashlight, Ultra Bright 300 Lumens Torch
Below is a list of notable features in the 3 Pack UltraFire Mini:
- Produces relatively bright beam (300 lumens)
- Tail cap switch
- Adjustable focus for zoomable beam
- Tough aluminium alloy body with anti-abrasive coating
- Small enough to fit into pockets
- Water resistant (works in heavy rain)
ULTRATAC A1 V2 EDC FLASHLIGHT
The Ultratac A1 V2 EDC Flashlight is a product that is recognized for its versatility. At a length of less than 9cm, this flashlight is both portable (can easily fit into your pocket) and lightweight.
And despite its small size, this flashlight, at its brightest setting can produce an incredibly bright beam (600 lumens) that can illuminate objects more than 100 metres away!
Of all the 14500 flashlights powered by a single battery, this rather small flashlight is one of the brightest ever made, making it very suitable for outdoor activities that require very bright spot lights that can illuminate distant objects. Such activities include hunting after dusk and night-time security patrols.
It can also switch to a dimmer beam that’s useful indoors, in situations where you do not really need a very bright light. This makes the Ultratac A1 V2 a versatile, all-in-one flashlight that’s suitable not only for outdoor activities, but also for occasions where you may need illumination indoors (like during a power outage).
Also, the Ultratac A1 V2 can be powered by a wide variety of batteries, including the AA dry cell battery and the 14500 lithium ion battery. With this capability, if for some reason the preferred 14500 lithium ion battery is unavailable, you would have many other options to choose from.
Another important feature of this product is that you can stand it on its tail. This is useful for situations where you would want to position the flashlight to point its beam upwards.
There is also a belt clip that allows you to clip the flashlight to your clothing if you do not want to hold it in your hands, or inside your pocket. And when you do choose to hold it in your hands, the ridged surface texture makes for a good grip.
UltraTac A1 V2 EDC Flashlight, LED Pocket Flashlight, 600 Lumen 3 Light Modes, IP68 Waterproof, Powered by one AA or 14500 Battery (A1 COOL WHITE)
Here are some key features of the Ultratac A1 V2:
- Portable and Lightweight
- Can fit into pocket
- Incredibly bright beam (600 lumens)
- Belt clip
- Can stand on tail
- Very good grip
KOOTEK 5 PACK LED WATERPROOF FLASHLIGHT
The Kootek 5 Pack LED Waterproof flashlight is a small flashlight that’s got plenty of useful features, and is suitable for a variety of activities and situations. If you need something you can use both indoors, as well as outdoors (whether you are hunting, camping, or just taking a walk), this is the flashlight you should consider buying.
One feature that has helped secure this product’s reputation as one of the most versatile 14500 flashlights is its adjustable focus. This feature allows you to zoom in to focus on distant objects, and zoom out to illuminate a wider area.
It also has a corrosion-proof aluminium alloy body that allows you to use it even in humid conditions without worrying that your flashlight could get rusty. And we must note that the Kootek LED Waterproof flashlight is . . . waterproof (no surprises here). In as much as it may not withstand being immersed in water, this IPX6 certified product will keep working even under heavy rain!
Furthermore, the beam of the Kootek LED Waterproof flashlight can be switched to 3 different lighting modes. There’s the Dim mode, and the Bright mode, as well as a Strobe mode that can be useful in dangerous situations.
And then, we must also mention that this flashlight can be powered by a 14500 lithium ion battery, as well as an AA dry cell battery.
The fact that this product is not just lightweight, but also relatively bright (up to 300 lumens) makes the Kootek LED Waterproof flashlight a must have. To make things even more convenient, this product comes with a clip that allows you to go hands-free by attaching it to your clothes.
Finally, you must keep in mind that this product comes in a pack of 5 flashlights – so, even if you have a fairly large family, there should be enough to go around!
Kootek 5 Pack Super Mini Flashlights LED Waterproof Zoomable Bright Flashlight for Kids Child Outdoor Hiking Biking Camping Cycling Emergency Light (0.83 Inch Wide)
$17.99 in stock
Now, these are some of the key features of the Kootek LED Waterproof Flashlight:
- Fairly bright beam (up to 300 lumens)
- Tail cap push button switch
- Versatile
- Lightweight (8 ounces)
- Adjustable Focus
- Water Resistant (IPX6 certified)
THRUNITE MAGNETIC 550 LUMENS FLASHLIGHT
Thrunite Magnetic 550 lumens Flashlight is one of the brightest single battery, 14500 flashlights ever made! At 550 lumens, when switched to high mode, the beam from this flashlight is good enough for any scenario where bright lights are needed.
The combination of this flashlight’s lightweight and very bright beam makes it ideal for mounting on guns, both for home defence or for hunting.
Another thing that this product excels at is convenience. It not only comes with a clip that makes it easy to carry it about hands-free, it also has a magnetic tail cap that allows you to attach it to any metal surface. This feature can be very useful for auto mechanics, whenever they need to work under the hood of a vehicle, as they can easily attach the flashlight to the bonnet of the car.
The Thrunite Magnetic flashlight is also quite light and handy, with a rough textured handle that makes for a firm grip. And, at less than 9cm in length, it can easily fit into your pocket, if you choose to carry it that way.
In addition to that, there is the 5 mode switch that allows you to switch the beam to different lighting modes, suitable for every occasion.
And just like most 14500 flashlights, the Thrunite Magnetic flashlight can be powered by both 14500 batteries, as well as AA dry cell batteries.
But the most remarkable feature of this flashlight is its waterproof IPX8 certification. This level (which means the product will continue to function perfectly even after being immersed in 2 meters of water for several minutes) is rare for flashlight models of this size.
So, even if you were to go for a swim with your Thrunite Magnetic flashlight in your pocket, there would be no damage to the product.
ThruNite T10 II Magnetic Tailcap EDC Flashlight 550 lumens, CREE XP-G2, 5 Modes, for Emergency and perfect backup for Pocket, Powered by 1x14500 or AA Battery (Not included) CW
Here again are the key features of this flashlight model:
- Very Bright Beam (up to 550 lumens)
- Impact Resistance (up to 1.5 meters)
- Waterproof (IPX8 certified)
- Lightweight (40 grams)
- Can fit inside pockets (9cm length)
- Comes with a clip
So, those are our top five 14500 flashlight models.
But before we end this, here is our buying guide, for tips on what to look out for before you buy any of these flashlight models.
How To Buy The Best 14500 Flashlight- 2020
If you desire to buy a flashlight, there are some factors you need to consider before deciding which model to buy.
These factors include:
The brightness of the beam – This is a measure of the intensity of the light beam produced by the flashlight, and it is measured in lumens. Most 14500 flashlights fall between200 to 600 lumens (at their brightest mode), and the most suitable for you would depend on the kind of activity you use it for.
The type of beam – Flashlight beams are categorized as either a spot beam (beams that focus on a small area, and can illuminate distant objects), or a flood beam (beams that illuminate a wider area).
Also, there are adjustable beams. These can be adjusted to go from illuminating a wider area (flood) to focusing on a small area (spot).
How long it takes before the flashlight dims out – Here, you consider how long the battery lasts during typical usage. Flashlight models that run their batteries down very quickly may not be suitable for certain uses.
The size and weight of the flashlight – In most cases, smaller flashlight models are preferable because of their portability. However, there is a trade-off involved, as the smaller it is, the more likely it is to have less features and capacity.
Whether the flashlight is waterproof or not – Water resistance is a considerable advantage for flashlights, as those models that are water-resistant tend to be more durable.
The widely recognized certifications for water-resistant products range from IPX4 to IPX8. IPX4 certified products are only water resistant enough to survive a light drizzle or a brief splash of water, while IPX5 and IPX6 can survive heavier showers of water for a longer period.
On the other hand, the highest certifications, IPX7 and IPX8, confirm that the product has been designed to survive being submerged in water for about 30 minutes.
Finally, before you decide which 14500 flashlight you should buy, one more thing you need to consider what is included in the pack, and what’s not included. That way, you can decide if everything that comes with the package is worth the quoted price.
Remember, in some cases, you are getting a single flashlight, while some come in packs of three, and some in packs of five. Also, some of these come with a 14500 lithium ion battery, while some don’t. And there are so many other extras to watch out for (clips, lanyards, o-rings, mini-usb cables etc).
Also, consider that some of these 14500 flashlights have a charging module, while some don’t. If you buy one without this feature, you will have to recharge the 14500 lithium ion battery externally. In other words, you will need a separate device for charging your flashlight batteries.
So, before you make a decision, do put all these into consideration.