Darkness is just a part of everyday life. Whether it’s the dark of the night, the various shadows of day or areas where light never seems to reach no matter what time of day it is, darkness is always there to obscure our vision. While stationary lights help, they can’t reach everywhere. In addition, they’re commonly somewhat useless when trying to illuminate really small items or areas. That is why more and more people are using everyday carry or EDC flashlights. You may have a flashlight or two around the house for power outages, but these usually aren’t suitable for everyday use, and it can be incredibly difficult to carry them around with you. That is why you specifically need to seek out the best EDC flashlight for your needs.

HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST EDC FLASHLIGHT

LUMENS

When looking for the best EDC flashlight, the lumen level will be a very important aspect to consider. The lumen level of a flashlight is essentially the mark of how bright the light is. Some flashlights have the very beneficial option of choosing the brightness setting, but it’s more common to only have one brightness level. The lumen level that you should be aiming for really depends on what you intend to use the EDC flashlight for the most. If it’s just a flashlight for small matters such as finding items in your car at night, illuminating a keyhole for your door, reading a map or even just for walking around in dark places, 10 to 35 lumens is a good amount. If you intend on also using your EDC flashlight for outdoor hobbies such as camping or hiking, 35 to 100 lumens is a good amount.

LIGHT BULB

When looking for the best EDC flashlight for your needs, you have the choice of either using incandescent light bulbs or LED bulbs. Each has their own pros and cons, but the general consensus is that LED wins out over incandescent for flashlights. This is especially true when trying to find the best EDC flashlight. When looking for an EDC flashlight, you’ll want one that is strong, bright, energy efficient and has a long battery life. LED delivers all of these benefits and more while incandescent bulbs falter in all of those areas. The only downside is that it’s harder to replace LED bulbs than incandescent, but since they’re so strong, impact-resistant and have a very long lifespan it’s not much of a concern.

BATTERY

The best EDC flashlight usually uses batteries that are lightweight and convenient. For everyday use, rechargeable batteries are a great option as they allow you to avoid the regular need to purchase new batteries for your EDC flashlight. However, you’ll need to remember to charge the batteries on a regular basis or else you’ll be left without a flashlight. Some suitable EDC flashlights have crank chargers, which are wonderful options for people who have trouble remembering to charge their EDC flashlight.

SIZE

If you want the best EDC flashlight, it’s usually best to go as small as possible while still retaining a good beam of light. Pocket flashlights are usually the best choice, but keychain sized is most useful for very minor everyday use such as finding keyholes at night or finding something in a bag. You definitely don’t want something bulky or heavy. The best EDC flashlight is one that you can forget that you even have on you.

DURABILITY

Durability is one of the most important factors when looking for the best EDC flashlight. Everyday use puts your EDC flashlight through a lot of wear and tear, and a cheap or flimsy flashlight can quickly fail through the abuse. A metal body is usually a good choice for durability purposes. It’s also reflective and easy to spot, which makes it easy to find if it’s accidentally dropped.
An aluminum or titanium body also allows your EDC flashlight to be even more lightweight. If the aluminum or titanium body makes it harder to keep a good grip on it, you can get rubber grips for them or wrap them in a material that is easier to get a grip on.

WHETHER TO WEATHERPROOF

If you find a EDC flashlight that meets all of your needs and is weatherproof, that’s great. However, a lot of people wonder if they should pass over a good EDC flashlight because they want weatherproofing. Everyday use means possibly using it outdoors where it can be susceptible to rain, snow, high winds and harsh temperatures. It’s a wonderful benefit to have weatherproofing, but it’s not a deal breaking feature. Most flashlights will stand up to a decent degree of moisture and cold if you’re worried about rain showers and the cold of winter. If you only intend to use the flashlight for everyday purposes, one without weatherproofing will be perfectly fine.

ATTACHMENT OPTIONS

EDC flashlights tend to come with various attachments options such as keychain clips, belt clips, lanyards, wrist straps and carabiner clips. While these attachments can seem alluring, there’s no purpose in getting these unless you intend on carrying the flashlight that way. Remember, the best EDC flashlight is a simple flashlight. If you can’t find a need for it, it’s best to leave it off.

SWITCH

The switch of your EDC flashlight may seem like a miscellaneous thing to consider, but it’s actually fairly important. If the switch is too sensitive or seems easy to accidentally activate in the clutter of a backpack or purse, this could cause you to leave your flashlight on for extend periods of time without realizing it. The batteries can quickly be drained because of this, so it’s best to seek out a fairly stiff switch that requires a little bit of effort to activate.

CONCLUSION

Simplicity and durability are the keys to finding the best EDC flashlight. As long as it’s easy to carry, easy to use, easy to maintain and can stand up to the regular wear and tear of everyday use, you’ll be sure to find the best EDC flashlight for your needs.