Top 10 Best Tactical Flashlights Under $50 Reviews & Buying Guide

There are dozens of tactical flashlights available on the market. They are all different in one way or the other. In this guide, I will share with you the best tactical flashlights under $50. My list includes ten of the best quality and most powerful tactical flashlights on the market. It also includes some of the brightest flashlights and flashlights with the longest-lasting batteries.

While I will be the first to admit that this guide is diverse with tactical torches included for different reasons, all the tactical flashlights in it have one thing in common – they are all cheap. They all go for approximately $50 or less. So if you are looking for a great but inexpensive tactical flashlight, then please read on, for I have got several for you to consider in this guide.

Top 10 Best Tactical Flashlights Under $50 Reviews & Buying Guide

1. J5 Tactical V1-Pro Flashlight

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If you are looking for a cheap flashlight that’s durable and features multiple light functions then this is your go-to product. The J5 Tactical V1 is perfect for use outdoors as it has a strong metal body and its small size makes it easy to carry around.

The all-metal body of this flashlight feels really nice to hold. All the components are tightly connected together and this keeps out dirt and dust as well as water in case of a splash. What’s more, the metallic body is strong enough to endure a number of falls without any damage.

Unlike most other flashlights, this one has two different battery options. You could either use a single AA battery to power your device or go for a rechargeable battery. What’s great is that a single AA battery is capable of powering the flashlight for a couple of weeks.

Another great thing about the V1-Pro is that it has three different lighting options; strobe, low, and high. Changing from one lighting function to another is easy and fast and this makes the flashlight quite convenient to use. And the flashlight’s 300 lumens light is quite bright. It can be seen from about 600 feet away.

One thing, however, that I disliked about the V1-Pro is that its body gets warm when used for a couple of minutes.

Pros

• The V1-Pro is a compact, durable, and easy-to-use flashlight
• It is quite bright (300 Lumens)
• It can be used to light a distance of up to 600 feet
• It is resistant to dust and water
• It has two battery options; rechargeable battery or one AA battery
• It is a nice, affordable option

Cons

• The flashlight’s aluminum body warms up during use

Apart from the one downside, the J5 Tactical V1-Pro is a tough, well-priced flashlight that’s great for daily as well as occasional use. Its durable body can survive several drops on your garage floor, and you can even use it out when raining as it is water-resistant.

2. Fenix E12 Flashlight Pocket-Sized bright flashlight 130 Lumens

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The small size of this flashlight has made a favorite among many. First, those people whose work involves moving around at night will love it because it easily fits in the pocket, and it can even be used as a keychain. Second, it is perfect for kids as well. It can your little one’s first tiny LED flashlight.

The Fenix E12 runs on a single AA alkaline battery, which is quite easy to find. And given that this is an AA run flashlight, you don’t have to worry yourself about carrying a charger with you everywhere you go with your flashlight.

This is an LED flashlight and it comes with a CREE bulb. For those who don’t know, CREE is actually one of the top LED bulb manufacturers in America, and they never compromise on quality. The featured bulb has a lifespan of an incredible 50,000 hours; almost impossible to exhaust. It is quite bright and shock-resistant.

What’s more, Fenix E-12 has three different lighting intensities that can be used; the high mode, medium mode, and low mode. You get to choose the intensity you want based on your lighting needs.

One downside of this flashlight, however, is that it does not have a strobe or SOS mode.

Pros

• It is made using durable aluminum
• It is waterproof
• It works well with any AA battery
• It has considerably long run times
• It is a nice and inexpensive flashlight

Cons

• It does not have a strobe or SOS mode

Fenix has done it again! If you are in search of a tiny and affordable LED flashlight, then look no further. It is tiny with incredible features such as impact resistance, waterproof, and long runtimes. It could be a nice gift to your kids who would finally want to have their own tiny flashlights.

3. GearLight LED Tactical Flashlight S1000

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Are you in search of a cheap tactical flashlight that you could carry with you anywhere you go? If that is the case then you would probably want to check out this Gearlight S1000 LED flashlight.

Powered by 3 AAA batteries (not included in the package), this Gearlight flashlight is quite low on battery consumption. Its low battery power consumption design makes sure that the batteries last for several hours before running out. Who wouldn’t like this feature?

In addition, this flashlight is shock, weather, and water-resistant. It also has a special anti-roll design. A lot of times, the round shape of most tactical flashlights stops users from placing them on flat surfaces. Gearlight, however, designed this flashlight in a manner that it cannot roll away. This is definitely a bonus feature, which makes it stand out from other tactical flashlights.

With five lighting modes to choose from (low, medium, high, strobe, and emergency), you will definitely find this flashlight quite useful.

According to Gearlight, this flashlight can light objects that are up to a thousand feet away and that the featured light is ten folds brighter than the standard incandescent light.

On the downside, however, this flashlight’s light does not illuminate as brightly as that of other tactical flashlights.

Pros

• It is specially designed for low battery consumption
• It has multiple lighting functions
• The featured tail switch makes it very easy to operate the flashlight using one hand only

Cons

• The product’s light does not shine as brightly as that of other tactical flashlights
• The flashlight’s lens scratches easily

This S1000 LED Tactical Flashlight from Gearlight is an excellent choice for anyone who can benefit from having a flashlight. It is not only lightweight but also affordable and durable. Its low battery consumption feature makes it a favorite among many individuals.

4. Anker Rechargeable Bolder LC90 LED Flashlight

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Anker is among the top reputable brands that manufacture high-quality flashlights to its clients. If you wish to purchase a double cell and high-bright tactical flashlight then you can check out the Anker Rechargeable Bolder LC90 LED Flashlight. With 900 Lumens and a zoomable feature, this flashlight is perfect for hiking or camping.

One of the things I like most about this Anker flashlight is the 900-lumen Cree LED flashlight that emits an incredibly powerful beam. What’s more, you can easily shift from one brightness feature to the other thanks to the five adaptable settings such as SOS, strobe, low, medium, and high.

To offer a continuous long-term supply of power, this Anker flashlight features an exceptional rechargeable 6700mAh battery. Thanks to this battery, if you run your flashlight on the medium-beam mode it can last for up to 13 hours.

Another great feature is that the flashlight can be used even in heavy rains as it is water-resistant. This means that you can work in the rain without any worries about destroying your flashlight. In addition, the strong aluminum makes it lightweight but still strong enough to withstand rough handling.

The only demerit of this Anker flashlight is that USB charging needs disassembly.

Pros

• It is one of the best led flashlights under $50
• It is quite easy to use
• It has powerful lighting
• It features a high-quality LED bulb
• It is water-proof thus allowing use in the rain

Cons

• Its USB charging needs disassembly

This Anker flashlight is a good product for its price. The solid construction and powerful lighting it offers are all great features. It is definitely a great pick for anyone who enjoys outdoor activities like camping.

5. ThruNite Archer 2A V3 Neutral White 500 Lumens AA LED Flashlight

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If you enjoy camping, then you definitely know the value of a good flashlight, especially during those darkest nights. To get brightness along with long term use, you should consider getting this ThruNite Archer 2A V3 neutral white 500 lumens AA LES Flashlight.

Equipped with a top-quality battery and superior LED bulbs, this flashlight is perfect for those dark nights. With the AA battery used here, you get to enjoy up to 500 Lumens of brightness.

Also included in this flashlight is a CREE LED bulb that provides white light. In addition, for long-term usage, it has a cost-effective power source that is readily accessible. And thanks to its long-term usage, this product is suitable for several uses including emergency, security, medical, camping, and even law enforcement purposes.

Made from sturdy, high-quality aluminum, you can rest assured of years of service from this flashlight without any external damage. And for its price, this truly a bonus feature.

There is one incredible feature that makes this flashlight stand out from other similar products. For your own comfortable use and preference, you can change this flashlight’s lighting from neutral white to cool white and vice versa.

What I, however, did not quite like about this flashlight is that its highest light settings drain batteries very fast. It leaves you without power sooner than you anticipated.

Pros

• It has a solid construction, which makes it strong and durable
• It is both water and impact resistant
• It features a high-quality LED bulb
• It is an incredible everyday carry tactical flashlight

Cons

• Its highest light setting drains batteries very fast
• There is a considerable drop in light quality from the high to medium settings

All in all, I particularly like that this flashlight is water and impact resistant. It is a great option for camping lovers mainly because of its long-term usage. It is a worthy purchase.

6. Streamlight 88850 PolyTac LED Flashlight

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This is one of the most compact tactical flashlights available on the market today. It is also quite light (approximately 4 ounces) and this makes it quite easy to carry around. These are just a few of the awesome features of this flashlight.

Another great feature is its C4 LED bulb that throws quite bright light; up to 275 lumens. Even though this might not seem much, such lighting is enough to light up any dark space.

The Streamlight 8850 PolyTac LED Flashlight combines incredible performance with ease of use. Operating this flashlight is quite simple and basically, anyone can use it. Its tail cap features a nice “clicky” on and off push button. Simply push this button to switch on your flashlight and push it again to switch it off.

With three different operating modes to pick from (high, low, and strobe), this product is quite versatile and it comes in handy for a couple of scenarios. Apart from camping, you can use it for other emergency purposes around your home as well.

That is not all! This Streamlight flashlight is water and impact resistant. This allows you to use out in the rain without any concerns about damage. It is also capable of withstanding a couple of falls.

The only thing that disappoints me is its battery life. It has only 3 hours of battery life, which is considerably little compared to most tactical flashlights.

Pros

• It is well-made, durable and strong
• Its operation is quite simple
• It provides very bright light
• It is water and impact resistant
• It is reasonably priced
• It has a nice grip

Cons

• The battery life is really short (3 hours)

Despite the limited battery life, this flashlight is remarkable, especially for its price. It is sturdy, durable, and offers bright light. What more could one want from their flashlight!

7. Sofirn 1000 Lumens Rechargeable LED Flashlight

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This Sofirn tactical flashlight has the Amazon’s Choice label. This should tell you that it certainly one of the best tactical flashlights under $50 because the label indicates it is very highly-rated and that it is sold at a great price. In other words, it is a very popular product with Amazon customers.

From my research, I believe there are three key reasons why people love this flashlight – it is very bright, it is very durable, and it is very reliable.

The name of the torch is Sofirn 1000 Lumens. This alone should tell you how bright it is. The flashlight has got a super bright output of 1000 lumens. You can use it to see whatever you want to see in the dark. Probably there is no other flashlight under $30 that is as bright as this. You can use it to see as far out as 207 meters.

What I love the most about this flashlight is its rugged design. The design is what makes it durable. It is what will make this flashlight serve you for a long time. It is also what makes this tactical flashlight water-resistant.

I also love this light’s smart LED indicator button. You can set this button to blink in the dark. This will make it easy for you to find it when you want to use it. You can also set it to blink to indicate the battery status. This is brilliant because it will alert you to charge it and get it ready for the next use before it completely goes dead.

The only thing I do not like about this flashlight is that it is somewhat difficult to use at first.

Pros

• This is one of the best EDC flashlights under $30
• It is made of a tough and durable aluminum material
• It is rechargeable with a long-lasting battery
• It has an innovative smart indicator

Cons

• It is difficult to use at first

While this flashlight is admittedly difficult to use initially, after several uses, it becomes very easy to use.

8. EcoGear FX TK 12 Complete LED Tactical Flashlight

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In my humble opinion, this is the best tactical flashlight under $50 in the world. I have come to this conclusion because it has some of the best features anyone could expect from a tactical flashlight.

For example, it is ultra-bright. It is more than twenty times brighter than ordinary flashlights. This means you can use it to illuminate a large area brightly. You can also use it to illuminate as far out as 1000ft away.

It also features a rugged and water-resistant design. It can, therefore, withstand some abuse and sometime in the rain. Its ultra-brightness and its ruggedness make it perfect for multiple outdoor uses including security, travel, camping, hunting, and dog walking.

I like the fact that this flashlight comes with various light modes for different situations. The light modes include SOS, Strobe, Low, Medium, and High. Each light mode is perfect for a different scenario. For instance, if you are doing a security patrol, the High mode is perfect for illuminating far and wide so as to detect anything out of the ordinary.

This top flashlight has many more features. If you have used any decent Olight flashlight then you probably know what to expect from this one. Because despite this torch tactical flashlight being under $100, it has got similar features to those you would expect from a high-end tactical flashlight like the Olight M2R that goes for around $150.

The only flaw this EcoGear flashlight has is the fact that it does not remember the last setting.

Pros

• It is an ultra-bright flashlight
• Its light beam can be focused or widened
• It comes with five preset light modes
• It has a rugged design
• It can be used for multiple purposes

Cons

• It does not remember the last use

While this inexpensive flashlight does not recall the last use, it is brilliant in all senses of the word. I would recommend it to anyone.

9. COAST PX1 315 Lumen Pure Beam Focusing LED Flashlight

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This flashlight may not be the brightest flashlight in this list of top ten flashlights but it is fantastic. And it is not just me who says so. Over on Amazon it is so positively rated that it has an Amazon Choice label. It is truly an amazing tactical device.

The best thing about this flashlight is that it is ruggedized. By this I mean it is designed to be tough and to handle tough conditions or a bit of abuse. For example, its body is made of aluminum to handle falls while its overall design is waterproofed to protect it against water damage. So it is a flashlight that you can rely on despite tough outdoor conditions or a bit of rough handling.

The flashlight has two light outputs – a lower output of 25 lumens and a higher output of 315 lumens. I call the lower output the survival output. You can use it for 41 hours, which is perfect especially if you are in a situation where you cannot get new batteries.

This flashlight has a lifetime warranty against workmanship and materials defects. This shows you how confident the manufacturer is about its quality and, therefore, how reliable you can expect this flashlight to be.

The only thing you may not like about this rechargeable is the fact that it is battery-powered. This means it is not as convenient as rechargeable flashlights and it is also not environmentally friendly.

Pros

• It is made tough for reliability and durability
• It has a low light output that can last very long
• It has a lifetime warranty to protect you against defects

Cons

• It is a battery-powered flashlight

Despite this flashlight being battery-powered, it can supply light for a long time making it perfect for outdoor use.

10. TerraLUX TLF-3002AA-BK flashlight

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Last but not least in this guide is this brilliant TerraLUX flashlight. It is a flashlight that is very highly rated on Amazon and has got many positive reviews on the same platform.

Among the features, people who have bought are most impressed about is its aluminum design. This design protects it and makes it reliable. So if you want a reliable flashlight under $50, you better get this one.

The more than 3 hours run time on its high 300 Lumen output is also something users like about it in the reviews.

This high-quality flashlight under $50 also includes a wrist strap for security. In my opinion, this is a very convenient feature especially in the outdoors. It makes it difficult for you to lose the flashlight when out there in the dark.

Lastly, this flashlight is cheap to operate. You only need to purchase two AA batteries to get it going. You do not need three as is the case with similar flashlights. And the batteries are included in the package. So no need to start shopping for batteries the moment you receive this flashlight.

The one issue I have with this flashlight is the fact that it is battery-powered. This is not environmentally friendly.

Pros

• It is one of the best budget EDC flashlights
• It is a reliable flashlight
• It is convenient to use
• It is cheap to operate

Cons

• It is a battery flashlight

This is a battery flashlight so it is not quite environmentally friendly. However, it is my opinion that its pros outweigh its cons.

Conclusion

As you can see from the guide, there are dozens of incredible tactical flashlights on the market. Moreover, while this guide only includes flashlights or torches that are cheap, some of them are pretty decent. And they are criminally underpriced in my opinion.

From the guide above which is based on extensive research and experience, the best tactical flashlight under $50, in my opinion, is the EcoGear FX TK120. It is one of the brightest torches on this list, it is water-resistant, and it is zoomable. Moreover, it is perhaps the best rechargeable flashlight under $30 on the market. Literally, everything about it is brilliant. The only flashlight that comes close to it in this guide is the Sofirn 1000.

So there you have it. You now know the best affordable flashlights on the market. Get the one you want now while stocks last.