best military grade tactical flashlights
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11 Best Military Grade Tactical Flashlights

If you can’t see, you can’t really perform your task. That’s true whether you’re a hunter or a police office walking the beat.

Check out these reviews of the top tactical flashlights to find the best tool for the job.

Jump to our Top 3 choices below: 

#1 – Response CR1 Flashlight

#2 – Lenser MT14

#3 – Station 3D Flashlight

What to Consider When Shopping for Tactical Flashlights

Type of activity

Types of flashlights needed will also be dependent on their primary use, such as:

Police Officer: Will you be using it on duty, in your squad car?

Active Duty Military: Will you be using it on deployment?

Hunting: Are you a hunter in need of a rugged tactical flashlight?

Everyday Carry (EDC): Are you looking for something to attach to your concealed firearm / pistol?

Whatever the case may be, use is a great determining factor.

Size

Do you need something for your belt?  Something too big and bulky can hinder your performance.

Something for your bug-out bag?  Again, spacing may be an issue, so smaller may be more appropriate.

Maybe just a spare for the kitchen in case of an emergency.  If that’s the case, then size might not matter.

Size is a great factor in determining how heavy it will be to use regularly as well.

Durability

Durability is key, so you will not find any cheaply made models here.

Good shock and water resistance, long battery life, and an expected long period of ownership should all be featured in these flashlights.

Price

Price is the age-old standard, but it should not always be the deciding factor for you.

Sometimes you can get a great feature set in a budget model, and sometimes the high-end units can leave you wanting.

#1 – Lenser MT14

led lenser mt14 flashlight
Image: BassPro.com
  • Dimensions: 5.94” long
  • Weight: 8.92 oz.
  • Lumens: 1,000 lumens
  • Battery Life: 192 Hours
  • Battery Type: Rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery
  • Beam Distance: 320 Yards
  • Water Resistance: Yes

The Lenser MT14 boasts an incredible 1k lumen beam that reaches for over 300 yards.

The casing features an integrated transport lock to prevent accidental activation of one of the three modes while in your pack or on your belt.

An exclusive temperature control system prevents the LED from overheating and reducing its lifespan.

IPX4 water resistance means this torch can light your way in the roughest of weather, and the focus lets you tighten the beam or make it as wide as you need.

You can buy the LED Lenser MT14 Flashlight directly from Bass Pro Shops, here’s a link to their site:  www.BassPro.com

#2 – Celestron Gamekeeper Thermotorch 5

celestron gamekeeper tactical flashlight
Image: DicksSportingGoods.com
  • Dimensions: Not Provided
  • Weight: 12.45 oz.
  • Lumens: 300 lumens
  • Battery Life: up to 6 hours
  • Battery Type: Rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery
  • Beam Distance: 100 yards
  • Water Resistance: Yes

A crucial factor when hunting is your human scent.

This is exacerbated when you are heating up, or when your flashlight is.

The Celestron Gamekeeper Thermotorch 5 allows you to get scent free light and heat.

Not only will the 3-mode high power CREE LED keep your camp lit with the 300-lumen output, but its built-in scent-free handwarmer will keep your scent down and your trigger finger ready.

The beam will stretch for 100 yards, while the USB output will help keep your digital devices like a phone for a GoPro charged up and ready.

It includes a rugged holster and a USB charging cable to charge the rechargeable lithium battery housed in the CNC machined IP64 waterproof case.

You can buy the Celestron Gamekeeper Thermotorch 5 directly from Dick’s Sporting Goods, here’s a link to their site:  www.DicksSportingGoods.com

#3 – Browning Alpha Elite Rechargeable Flashlight

browning alpha elite tactical flashlight
Image: DicksSportingGoods.com
  • Lumens: 500 lumens
  • Battery Life: Up To 18 hours
  • Battery Type: Rechargeable 750 mAh 14500 Li-ion battery
  • Beam Distance: Up to 150 yards
  • Water Resistance: Yes

The Browning Alpha Elite Rechargeable Flashlight is a top-notch military grade tactical flashlight that is perfect for any and all outdoor adventures.

The aluminum body is nice and sturdy, giving this flashlight an impact resistance of up to 1 meter and a waterproof rating of IPX7.

This flashlight has a beam distance of up to 150 yards and a runtime of up to 18 hours.

Something that is unique about the Browning Alpha Elite Rechargeable Flashlight is that it has 4 modes: high, low, white, or green mode.

Whether you’re hiking, camping, or you just need a light on hand in case of emergency, the Browning Alpha Elite Rechargeable Flashlight would be a smart investment.

You can buy the Browning Alpha Elite Rechargeable Flashlight directly from Dick’s Sporting Goods, here’s a link to their site:  www.DicksSportingGoods.com

#4 – Rapid L2 Flashlight

rapid l2 flashlight
Image: 511Tactical.com
  • Dimensions: 4.87” long
  • Weight: 3.68 oz.
  • Lumens: 523 Lumens
  • Battery Life: 2 hr, 2 mins on high
  • Battery Type: CR123 x2
  • Beam Distance: 103 meters
  • Water Resistance: Yes
  • Impact Resistance: Yes

Whether you’re in the market for a day to daylight or you need one for a specific application, the Rapid L2 Flashlight has several great features.

First, this powerful military-grade flashlight is rugged and sturdy with an impact resistance of 2 meters.

That means it’s been dropped from a height of 2 meters, and survived the fall completely intact.

The durable housing on the light has a waterproof rating of IPX7, meaning it is waterproof and submersible up in waters up to 1 meter deep.

In addition to being extremely tough and durable, the Rapid L2 Flashlight has excellent battery life.

On a full battery, you can expect the flashlight to run for 2 hours and 2 minutes on high, 19 hours, and 43 minutes on low, or 3 hours and 30 minutes in strobe mode.

You can buy the Rapid L2 Flashlight directly from 511 Tactical, here’s a link to their site:  www.511Tactical.com

#5 – Coleman OneSource 1000 Lumen LED Flashlight

coleman onesource tactical flashlight
Image: DicksSportingGoods.com
  • Lumens: 1000 on high, 50 on low
  • Battery Life: 2 hours on high, 100 hours on low
  • Battery Type: 4800 mAh lithium-ion battery
  • Beam Distance: 275 meters on high, 25 meters on low
  • Water Resistance: Yes

This bright little flashlight is the perfect light to keep in your car, in an emergency kit, or for a number of outdoor recreational activities.

The Coleman OneSource 1000 Lumen LED Flashlight features lifetime LED lights that never need replacing.

The battery is rechargeable and take 2 hours when quick-charging or 5 hours on a regular 1 amp charger.

Once the battery is full, you can expect to get 2 hours of use on high or 100 hours on low before needing to replenish the battery.

If you are looking for a flashlight for use when hiking or hunting, a light with a long beam distance is ideal.

The Coleman OneSource has a beam distance of 275m on high and 25m on low. In addition to performance, this flashlight would be a smart buy because of the durability.

This rugged light has an impact resistance of up to 1 meter.

You can buy the Coleman OneSource 1000 Lumen LED Flashlight directly from Dick’s Sporting Goods, here’s a link to their site:  www.DicksSportingGoods.com

#6 – 1TAC HL1200 Tactical Headlamp

1tac HL1200 tactical headlamp
Image: Lowes.com
  • Dimensions: 1.41” x 2.99”
  • Weight: 1.55 oz.
  • Lumens: 3
  • Battery Life: 100,000 hours
  • Battery Type: Lithium Ion 3.7V
  • Water Resistance: Yes

The 1TAC HL1200 Tactical Headlamp is one of the better choices when searching for hands-free lighting options.

Combining endurance and battery power, this lamp is sure to last a long time.

The LED light features 3 lumens with a battery life of up to 100,000 hours.

The best thing about this headlamp is how durable it is.

It is rated for tactical use and it is both shock resistant and waterproof.

You can buy the 1TAC HL1200 Tactical Headlamp directly from Lowe’s, here’s a link to their site:  www.Lowes.com

#7 – Energizer Tactical Light 700-Lumen LED Flashlight

energizer military tactical flashlight
Image: Lowes.com
  • Dimensions: 4.8” x 1.3”
  • Weight: 4 oz.
  • Lumens: 700 lumens
  • Battery Life: Up to 35 hours
  • Battery Type: 2x 123A batteries
  • Beam Distance: 100 Meters
  • Water Resistance: Yes

A great flashlight for emergencies, the Energizer Tactical Light 700-Lumen LED Flashlight provides four modes of operation, including one emergency strobe.

The MAXVIZ technology ensures a wide yet ultrabright beam, improving visibility at any range.

The 1-meter drop resistance keeps the lights on even if dropped or subjected to shock.

The ultra-durable aircraft aluminum body features a bezel head with serrations for emergency personal defense use.

The pocket clip keeps this tiny wonder close at hand, and the 700-lumen max brightness puts out enough light for small jobs, emergencies, camping, and even hunting.

You can buy the Energizer Tactical Light 700-Lumen LED Flashlight directly from Lowes, here’s a link to their site:  www.Lowes.com

#8 – Ledlenser F1R Rechargeable Flashlight

ledlenser F1R rechargeable tactical flashlight
Image: BassPro.com
  • Length: 4.53″
  • Weight: 4.23 oz.
  • Lumens: 1,000 lumens
  • Battery Life: 60 hours on low; 3 hours on high
  • Battery Type: Rechargeable 18650 lithium-ion battery
  • Beam Distance: 160 meters
  • Water Resistance: Yes

The Ledlenser F1R Rechargeable Flashlight is one of the top choices when it comes to military-grade tactical flashlights.

The rugged housing has a hard-anodized coating and has an IPX8 waterproof rating, meaning your light can withstand being rained on, splashed, and even dropped in shallow waters.

One of the biggest perks to using this Ledlenser flashlight is that it is rechargeable and has a really decent battery life.

On low, you can expect your flashlight to run for up to 60 hours and on high it can last up to 3 hours.

Luckily this flashlight is super bright, at 1,000 lumens, and a beam distance of 160 meters.

Overall, the Ledlenser F1R Rechargeable Flashlight would be a great choice for all of your hunting, camping, and hiking needs.

You can buy the Ledlenser F1R Rechargeable Flashlight through Bass Pro, here’s a link to their site:  www.BassPro.com

#9 – Response CR1 Flashlight

response cr1 tactical flashlight
Image: 511Tactical.com
  • Dimensions: 5.87”x1.15”
  • Weight: 6.77 oz.
  • Lumens: 549 lumens
  • Battery Life: 4 Hours, 25 Minutes
  • Battery Type: 1x Rechargeable Lithium-Ion or 2x CR123s
  • Beam Distance: 133 meters
  • Water Resistance: Yes

The Response CR1 Flashlight packs a lot of power and light into a manageable package.

The machined aluminum housing safeguards the variable strength CREE LED against drops of up to 1 meter.

The three mode switch easily changes from high, to low, to strobe.

On high, the CR1 puts out 549 lumens for 4 hours and 25 minutes, and on low, it illuminates at 45 lumens for a whopping 44 hours and 46 minutes.

It can run from either a rechargeable Li-ion battery or two CR123 alkaline batteries.

The water resistance rating of IPX-4 means that water can spray against the housing from any direction and the flashlight will not be affected, this flashlight will work in the pouring rain.

You can buy the Response CR1 Flashlight directly from 5.11 Tactical, here’s a link to their site:  www.511Tactical.com

#10 – Station 3D Flashlight

station 3d tactical flashlight
Image: 511Tactical.com
  • Dimensions: 12.25” x 1.75”
  • Weight: 35.2 oz.
  • Lumens: 1232 lumens
  • Battery Life: 5 Hours, 54 Minutes
  • Battery Type: 3x D-Cell batteries
  • Beam Distance: 179 meters
  • Water Resistance: Yes

The sleek but sturdy aircraft aluminum case of the Station 3D is always ready for duty.

1-meter impact resistance means this flashlight can take a beating and keep on serving.

On high, the Station 3D puts out 1232 lumens for 5 hours and 54 minutes and on low, you will get 89 lumens for over 144 hours.

The bezel tips and IPX4 water resistance lets you handle business even in the middle of a storm.

You can buy the Station 3D Flashlight directly from 5.11 Tactical, here’s a link to their site:  www.511Tactical.com

#11 – Maglite LED D-Cell Flashlight

maglite led flashlight
Image: BassPro.com
  • Dimensions: 12” long
  • Weight: 16 oz.
  • Lumens: 131 lumens
  • Battery Life: 79 Hours
  • Battery Type: D-Cell alkaline batteries
  • Beam Distance: 364 meters
  • Water Resistance: Yes

Maglite is one of the household names when it comes to heavy-duty flashlights.

They are the only flashlight approved by the U.S. Army to duplicate their exclusive digital Universal Camo Pattern on their goods.

They combine legendary durability and strength with longevity and flexibility.

The lumen output may not be as high as other models, but with the focusing bezel on the Maglite and the highly refined reflector, the differences are minimized.

The entire precision machined aluminum alloy case is anodized inside and out to prevent corrosion.

They have a 1-meter shock rating, and an IPX4 water resistance, so they are ready for duty.

The Balanced Optics allow the enhanced LED to be focused into a brilliant beam

You can buy the Maglite LED D-Cell Flashlight directly from Bass Pro Shops, here’s a link to their site:  www.BassPro.com

Conclusion

When it comes to finding the best military-grade tactical flashlights, consider what activities you’ll be using it for.

Be sure to pay attention to the size, weight, durability, and waterproof rating and you should have no problem finding the right light for your needs.

Whether you need something for service, duty, or leisure, you are sure to find what you need here.

References

How to Choose a Flashlight

4 Flashlight Techniques for Concealed Carry

See Also

11 Best Military Grade Binoculars

10 Best Military Tactical Sunglasses

5 Best Military Grade Laptops

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Kevin R.
Latest posts by Kevin R. (see all)
Best Tactical Flashlights

Best Tactical Flashlights

4.8 out of 5 (85 Ratings)

These military grade tactical flashlights are used by military units the world over, and are made of high quality materials. See our list of the 11 best tactical flashlights on the current market.
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