Tactical Flashlight Heaven: Light Up the Holidays with These Top Picks

Everyone needs a flashlight at some point, right? What better time to pick one up as a gift than Christmas time? We all carry phones these days that have flashlights built in, but it’s also nice to have a dedicated light to keep in your car, home, pocket, backpack, etc. If you don’t want the hassle of buying batteries, some of the lights on this list are re-chartable. Most of the lights on this list are brighter than a cell phone light and, in some cases, more compact.

Being in law enforcement, I use flashlights a lot. From large duty-size lights that mount in patrol cars to micro-sized lights that fit in your pocket, I’ve used them all. But if you want a quality light that will hold up to daily abuse, I’ve listed some of my favorites below.

Streamlight Wedge XT

One of Streamlight’s newest products, the Wedge XT is a smaller version of the original Wedge light that was released a few years ago. It’s on the top of my list because it’s such a great light for the price. Compact and easy to carry, the Wedge XT easily fits in your front pocket, purse, backpack, or fanny pack. The Wedge XT is rechargeable and has two brightness settings: 500 and 50 lumens. Run time is 2-11 hours, depending on the brightness setting. It uses a pushbutton tail switch, which is easier for a short flashlight. To cycle through the brightness settings, press the power switch twice in a row, and the light will go from bright to dim. It comes with a power cord and belt clip. This light would make a perfect gift for anyone.

Streamlight Wedge

The original Wedge light was introduced by Streamlight a few years ago and has been a daily carry of mine ever since. I swap it out with the Wedge XT periodically, but it remains one of my favorites. It is also rechargeable and has two brightness settings, but it works a little differently than the Wedge XT. Instead of a push button in the back of the light, the Wedge light uses a toggle switch. When you push the toggle switch forward, the light turns on with the lower brightness setting (300 lumens).

When you push on the toggle switch, it momentarily changes to 1,000 lumens until you let go. It then goes back to 300 lumens. This light is the same shape as the Wedge XT but longer. Both the Wedge and Wedge XT have a unique shape to them, which is closer to the design and shape of a pocketknife than a flashlight. This makes them easy to carry in a pocket. If you want the brightest light in a compact easy-to-carry size, the Streamlight Wedge is the way to go.

Streamlight Protac 90X

This is a cool little light that’s great for attaching to a vest, belt, harness, or anything else when you need a hands-free light. As the name that Streamlight gave this light suggests, the Protac 90X light faces 90 degrees from the body of the light. A metal clip on the side of the side makes it perfect for clipping to a vest or belt while turned on. Many call this a military-style light because of its shape. At 4.3 inches tall, it’s extremely compact, making it a great multi-use light.

Even though it’s on the smaller side, it still projects 1,000 lumens of light for a total run-time of 1.75 hours. Another thing I like about the ProTac 90X is the battery. Streamlight makes a rechargeable battery for many of the lights in the ProTac series. Simply charge it and you’re ready to go again. But, what’s unique about this battery is the size. If you are in a bind and don’t have time to charge it, you can use two CR123A batteries instead. If you want an extra rechargeable battery, Streamlight sells the SL-B26 batteries separately. This is a cool gift for hiking, camping, and the tactical guru.

Streamlight Microstream USB

If you’re on the hunt for a really small flashlight that is still rechargeable, the Streamlight Microstream USB is the perfect light. This one is even smaller than the Wedge XT and is perfect for anyone. It’s only 3.87 inches tall and just a little bigger than the diameter of an ink pen. At 250 lumens, it may not be the brightest light out there, but it gets the job done. It has a second brightness setting of 50 lumens, which is perfect when you need some light up close and don’t want to blind yourself.

The run time is 1.5 hours on high (250 lumens), and 3.5 hours on low (50 lumens). It comes with a standard micro-USB charging cable, which is relatively common these days. You can charge the battery without removing it from the light. The Microstream is available in Coyote, Blue, Red, and Black. It retails for around $50 making it a great little light that is reliable and easy to carry anywhere.

Streamlight ProTac Strion DS HL

If you want a smaller light, the Streamlight Strion DS HL is perfect for your home or your vehicle. It’s not a pocket light, but it’s still on the smaller side. This handheld dual-switch flashlight is recommended for law enforcement, but it’s also perfect for anyone wanting a rugged light for regular use. It has a power button on the side and another one on the back of the light. Unlike the micro-sized lights I mentioned above, the Strion comes with a chagrining holder that screws to the wall or in your vehicle.

Multiple cord adaptors are available, including a wall adapter, USB chagrining cord, a 12V DC direct wire option, and more. This light was designed to be placed in a home or vehicle for constant use. When you place your light in the wall/car mount holder, it automatically begins charging the light. This ensures that the light is always charged and ready to go. Several different flashlight holsters are also available for it.

NEBO Inspector RC

The NEBO Inspector RC comes with a rechargeable battery, and it can be recharged without removing the battery from the light. It will also run on two AAA batteries if you don’t have time to charge it.

At $40, this little light falls in the budget-friendly category and is compact enough to carry in a pocket. It’s also great for keeping in a purse, backpack, desk drawer, or other areas for quick access. It has three power modes, including high (360 lumens), low (12 lumens), and strobe (360 lumens). If you’re using AA batteries instead of rechargeable ones, all three brightness settings decrease to help with battery life.

NEBO Slyde King 2K

The NEBO Slyde King 2K is just a cool light and is perfect for home or keeping in your vehicle. This is what I would call a medium-sized light, but it has some cool features. First, it has 2,000 lumens, making it nice and bright. Second, it has a magnet on the back for easy storage. If that’s not enough, there’s a second, smaller light inside of the larger light!

When it’s extended, the sconed light reminds me of a handheld shop light. You can face the light directly downward for hands-free light in a makeshift work area. For low-light conditions, press the power button one time, and the light turns red. A second press and it flashes, making it perfect for vehicle emergencies. Slide it open, stick it on the back or side of the car, and you have a flashing red light to warn oncoming traffic of a hazard.

Ready to light up the holidays?

I have used all these lights at some point or another, and they have all held up nicely. I keep the Slyde King in my gun safe for quick access to light since it turns on when you slide it open. I carry one of the Wedge lights as a daily carry, and the others I keep in backpacks or other places around the house. If you want even smaller options, Streamlight makes a variety of flashlights in every size, from key-chain lights to large duty lights for cops. A good flashlight is the perfect gift for just about anyone. Make it a stocking stuffer, or wrap it up and place it under the tree.