Best Flashlights of 2017

Looking back on this year I can't help but notice how many awesome flashlights came out. 2017 has really been a banner year for amazing flashlights. Whether you are wanting a tactical flashlight, an everyday carry flashlight, a flashlight with a great throw on it, 2017 has really been the year to get these flashlights. We are particularly impressed by Klarus. They have really done an excellent job of creating innovative and practical flashlights this year. So today I thought we could talk about the best flashlights of 2017.

1. FlashlightZ Beacon

The first flashlight I want to talk about is the FlashlightZ Beacon. The reason the FlashlightZ Beacon is at the top of our list is because it is a tactical flashlight but it is an incredibly versatile LED flashlight that you can use for a variety of applications from any tactical use such as law enforcement or security or everyday use or any camping, hiking, or outdoor activities. This flashlight is truly great for anything. I know there are some people who like to put the flashlight in their car and use it in case they need to. Well whatever you need it for, the Beacon is an excellent flashlight for so many reasons. It's equipped with a CREE XM L2 LED and the Beacon delivers 1000 lumens and has a maximum beam throw of 800 meters. That is incredibly impressive for a flashlight that is only about five and a half inches in length. The Beacon has an adjustable head that allows you to choose between a flood light, a more focused beam ,or somewhere in between, really whatever will fit your needs. And it is because of this that the Beacon is actually able to reach out 800 meters. Most of the time in order to get that kind of throw you would need a flashlight that's quite larger and a little more difficult to carry around. So it's really great that the Beacon is so compact and yet can reach that far. You can use the Beacon as an everyday carry flashlight and, depending on what you need, pick between a beam that can illuminate a wide area or a more focused beam.

User Interface and Battery

Operating the Beacon is really easy with its single tail design. With this design you can easily pick up the flashlight and learn how it works in a matter of seconds. It has three different brightness levels to choose from and you have two flashing modes: an S.O.S. and a strobe. Because of this, the beacon is excellent for both outdoor purposes as well as tactical purposes. This flashlight is an excellent flashlight to have especially for a beginner flashlight user. The user interface is so easy to pick up and at such a high quality flashlight making it a great tool for beginners and expert flashlight users.

The Beacon runs on a single 18650 lithium ion battery and it does come with the battery but you can equip it with any 18650 battery that you may have. The Beacon is also USB rechargeable which allows you to charge your flashlight easily and at your convenience. This is another great reason why it is an excellent beginner or expert flashlight. If you are a beginner you may not have an entire stock of 18650 batteries and because the Beacon is USB rechargeable you won't need to have a stock of 18650 batteries. As for the seasoned user who does have that stock of 18650 batteries, you are welcome to use them and charge your battery using any smart battery charger or you can just plug the flashlight into any USB cable and wait while your flashlight charges. So it's convenient no matter what the situation is.

Durable Tactical Flashlight

The Beacon is constructed from a high quality aircraft grade aluminum with that nice anodized finish that gives it that really sleek and rugged look. It has a textured body that allows you to grip the flashlight without worrying about it slipping or falling from your hands. It also has great heat dissipation grooves so you know that the flashlight will dissipate the heat really nicely. You also have that tactical ring on the end of the flashlight making it easier to use with a single hand. You'll also notice it has a really great pocket clip so you can carry the flashlight around with you easily. The Beacon is shockproof and scratch resistant ensuring that your flashlight is going to last a long while. It can also withstand some accidental drops which is really great because there is nothing worse than when you drop a flashlight and it stops working. It's also water and dust resistant up to IP44 standards so you can use the Beacon out in a rainstorm if needed without worrying about it. This is especially nice because there are times during storms where you may experience a power outage and it's nice that you can go outside without having to worry about your flashlight breaking as well. So it's durable, versatile, powerful, and high quality. It's a really excellent LED flashlight.

The Beacon is our top choice because it's an excellent flashlight for anyone without breaking the bank. A lot of the time with versatile flashlights you'll find that they're a bit on the pricier end and. The Beacon is priced at a more reasonable cost. So whether you're looking for a tactical flashlight, an outdoor flashlight, a flashlight for your car, or just a general use flashlight the Beacon is definitely a tool that you can rely on.

2. Klarus XT11GT

The second flashlight on this list is the Klarus XT11GT. This is one of our most popular flashlights of 2017. It's incredibly powerful delivering 2000 lumens but it's also very compact and lightweight so you're able to easily carry it with you or toss in the bag and keep it on you. The XT11GT is packed with features and we're not going to list every feature on here but we will definitely list the highlights. So you operate the XT11GT with either the dual tail switch or the side switch. Both of these operation switches have their uses and you can choose which one you prefer. You can lock out the side switch if you prefer not to use it or if you are concerned about any accidental illumination.

The XT11GT also has three programmable settings: the Tactical Setting, the Outdoor Setting, and the Advanced Tactical Setting. With these three settings, the XT11GT is definitely one of the most versatile lights you'll find on the market today. It's excellent whether using it for tactical application or hunting, hiking, camping or just everyday use, these settings can match whatever it is you need. On top of that the XT11GT features 4 different brightness levels ranging from 10 lumens to 2000 lumens giving you quite a range to choose from. It also features an SOS and strobe mode. One of the great things about the different operation settings is that you can pick a setting you prefer and keep the flashlight in that setting or, if you'd like, you can switch between settings depending on your needs. It's fairly easy to switch between settings and once you get the hang of it you'll find yourself doing it whenever you need it. This flashlight features a momentary-on, an instant turbo, an instant strobe, and instant low. The side switch features a memorized function ability so you can turn the flashlight off in one brightness level and have it turn on again in that same brightness level using the side switch.

The XT11GT is that USB rechargeable and features a battery capacity indicator as well as a charging indicator and you'll notice that on the side switch the battery capacity indicator really comes in handy. You can get a good idea of where your battery is at and plan your usage accordingly. This is a highly recommended feature for any outdoor flashlight so that you can get the most out of your flashlight while you're outdoors.

With any Klarus flashlight you can expect the highest quality and it's no different with the XT11GT. You have the ITS temperature control that monitors the internal temperature and adjusts the output. You have impact resistance and the XT11GT is also waterproof so this flashlight is ready for anything. It is definitely a hardcore tactical flashlight.

3. Klarus G20L

The third flashlight on the list is the Klarus G20L. This is one of Klarus' most recent releases and it is an upgraded version of the G20. Now the G20L is the perfect balance between a spotlight and a floodlight. It delivers 3000 lumens and has a max beam distance of 300 meters. It has a brand new reflector design so the reflector has a really great orange peel texture but it's also incredibly deep and that is why the G20L has that great balance of flood and spot. It's definitely too big for everyday carry but is easy enough to carry using the included holster. Or you could just put it in your bag and take it with you.

You can operate the G20L using either the tail switch or the side switch. Both switches work independently so you can choose which you'd prefer. The side switch does have that built-in memory function so if you prefer using that function then the side switch is definitely the switch you want to use. It also has a lock out function so you can lock out both of the switches and prevent any accidental illumination. The G20L features four brightness levels ranging from 15 to 3000 lumens giving you a lot to work with. It also has two flashing modes a strobe and an S.O.S. Along with that you have a one-touch turbo and a one-touch low so it makes it the perfect outdoor flashlight.

It is USB rechargeable and it does have a charging indicator and battery power indicator which is always great and exactly what you would want in any outdoor flashlight. This flashlight does run on a 26650 battery. Not everyone has these batteries lying around so it's really great that the G20L is USB rechargeable. It's also an incredibly durable flashlight and will last you a very long time. It is number three on our list because it has that great balance between that spot and flood and it's really innovative.

4. Klarus ST10

Number 4 on the list is the Klarus ST10. This is a compact, rechargeable, powerful LED flashlight that is perfect for any outdoor activity or for casual use or everyday carry even. It is less than four and a half inches in length and has a great little pocket clip so it's easy to carry with you if you'd like. It delivers 1100 lumens with a max beam distance of 115 meters. The unique thing about the ST10 is that it does have an optical lens so it gives you a soft and even floodlight which is great for lighting up any area in front of you or any close up work. It's operated using that single side switch so it's very easy to learn. It does have a lockout function so that the ST10 will not accidentally illuminate in your pocket or in a bag. It does have six total outputs: four brightness levels that range from 10 lumens to 1100 lumens and two flashing modes - the strobe and the S.O.S mode. The ST10 does have one-touch low and a built-in memory function which is perfect and exactly what you would want in an outdoor flashlight.

The ST10 can run on either an 18650 battery or a pair of CR123 batteries. It does come with an 18650 battery which is always a plus. The ST10 is also USB rechargeable making charging it easy and convenient. It does have a charging indicator and a battery capacity indicator that gives you a great idea about where the charge is on your battery and when it's time to recharge the flashlight. So it's lightweight, compact, rechargeable, and truly an excellent flashlight that is incredibly easy to take with you. It is so small without being miniscule so you're still going to get some great run times. Excellent for an outdoor flashlight, the ST10 is truly great and is perfect for everyday use or outdoor use.

5. Klarus Mi1C

The last flashlight I want to talk about is an awesome everyday carry flashlight and that is the Klarus Mi1C. It delivers 600 Lumens and is barely bigger than two inches. So we are awesomely impressed with this flashlight. It has a fade on and fade off so that your eyes easily adjust to the difference in brightness and your eyes won't be overwhelmed. It's got a single side switch so it's very easy to operate. And it does have a lock out function so that you can prevent accidental illumination. With the professional grade optical lens it provides an even floodlight that is incredibly soft on the eyes. So the Mi1C is an excellent flashlight that doesn't overwhelm you.

It has four brightness levels ranging from 1 lumen to 600 lumens and has a strobe and SOS mode. It also has a built-in memory function which is so easy to take advantage of and a great feature to have in any EDC light. Another awesome aspect of the light is the magnetic tail cap. This allows you to put the light on any metal surface and illuminate the area without using your hands. So you can use both your hands to work on whatever you need to work while the Mi1C illuminates the area for you.

It runs on a 16340 battery and it is included, but you can also equip it with a CR123 battery. The brightness levels will be a little less than using a 16340 battery, but it's nice to have that option. This is probably one of the best everyday carry flashlights of 2017 so we definitely needed to include this light on the list.

So that covers all of the best flashlights of 2017. We are just amazed by what flashlight companies have come out with this year and we're excited to see what they come out next year.