Top Five Best Tactical Flashlights of 2018

This year has been an excellent year for tactical flashlights. Brands have really gone above and beyond to bring flashlight lovers the best and brightest tactical flashlights. So this list compiles our top five best tactical flashlights for the year of 2018. Take a look and see if one catches your eye!

Klarus XT11X 3200 Lumen Tactical Flashlight

This particular tactical flashlight was (and still is) mind-blowing when it was first announced and was even more astounded when we received the first shipment and tried it out for ourselves. That 3200 lumens is incredible and is so blinding that we recommend avoiding using it in turbo mode while in smaller spaces. It features a triple switch design with two tail switches and a side switch that function independently giving you many options on how you’d like to use the XT11X. The dual tail switches allow you to access a momentary-on, One-Touch Turbo, and a One-Touch Strobe or a One-Touch Low depending on which setting you have the flashlight in.

Speaking of settings, you can pick between two settings for the XT11X: the Tactical Setting and Outdoor Setting. In the Tactical Setting you have a One-Touch Strobe and in the Outdoor Setting you have a One-Touch Low. You can easily switch between settings whenever you want.

The XT11X tactical flashlight is an 18650 flashlight that’s compatible with more batteries like two CR123A batteries and two Klarus 16340 batteries. It’s also a USB rechargeable flashlight with a charging/battery capacity indicator. All in all, the Klarus XT11X is without a doubt one of the best tactical flashlights of 2018. Check out the Klarus XT11X.

Klarus XT1A 1000 Lumen Everyday Carry Flashlight

If you’re looking for a pocket flashlight that’s tactical and extremely powerful then you should definitely think about the Klarus XT1A. This little tool is less than 4.5 inches in length but can dish out up to 1000 lumens of blinding light! Klarus really wowed us with this mini tactical flashlight. It’s operated using dual tail switches so it’s simple to use with a single hand. You have access to a momentary-on, a One-Touch Turbo, a One-Touch Strobe or a One-Touch Low depending on the setting the flashlight is in. Just like the XT11X, the XT1A features the Tactical Setting with the One-Touch Turbo and the Outdoor Setting with the One-Touch Low.

The XT1A comes with an included 14500 battery, but you can equip it with an AA battery if you’d like. However, you won’t see 1000 lumens with the AA battery. The included 14500 battery is USB rechargeable so you can easily remove the battery to charge it using any standard micro USB charge cable. The XT1A also features a battery capacity indicator so that when you first turn on the flashlight you’ll have an idea of what the battery’s charge is at. It truly is an impressive little pocket tactical flashlight. Learn more about the Klarus XT1A.

Klarus G10 1800 Lumen LED Flashlight

While it has less of a tactical body design, the G10 is still one of the best LED flashlights you’ll find because it’s so versatile and can be used in an emergency. The G10 is a compact flashlight that can easily be stored in your pocket using that handy pocket clip or carried in its holster. It’s a small flashlight, but delivers 1800 lumens of power that lights up the area around you easily. With the orange peel textured short reflector, you’ll have a wonderful diffused beam to see everything in front of you.

The G10 has an excellent user interface with a tail switch and side switch that operate independently. The tail switch gives you a One-Touch Low whereas the side switch gives you a built-in memory function and both switches give you a One-Touch Turbo. So you have a lot of options just in how you want to operate the G10 and Klarus has given you everything you need at your fingertips.

The G10 is an 18650 flashlight and comes with an 18650 battery. However, it’s also compatible with two CR123A batteries and two 16340 batteries. The G10 is also a USB rechargeable flashlight so you can easily plug a micro USB cable into the G10 flashlight and charge it up without issues. You can refer to the charging/battery capacity indicator as well to check the status of the battery. Check out the awesome Klarus G10 LED flashlight.

Klarus XT11GT 2000 Lumen Tactical Flashlight

The Klarus XT11GT is still one of the best tactical flashlights on the market today and is still immensely popular because of its compact size, powerful output, and versatile design. It can easily be carried by clipping it onto your pocket or using its holster and can deliver up to 2000 lumens! It’s no wonder so many flashlight lovers flock to this tactical light.

It features a triple switch design that includes a dual tactical tail switch and a side switch that function independently so you can choose how you’d like to operate your flashlight. While the tail switches allow you to access the momentary-on and One-Touch Turbo, the side switch allows you to access a One-Touch Low and features a built-in memory function. The XT11GT also features three programmable settings to choose from: the Tactical Setting, the Outdoor Setting, and the Advanced Tactical Setting. Between these three settings, the XT11GT tactical flashlight has you covered for any situation.

The Klarus XT11GT runs on an 18650 battery, but you can equip two CR123A batteries if you’d like. It’s also a USB rechargeable flashlight making it extremely convenient to charge the battery. On the side switch is a charging/battery capacity indicator that you can refer to and see the status of the battery. This is a phenomenal tactical flashlight and you should definitely check out the Klarus XT11GT.

FlashlightZ Beacon 1000 Lumen Tactical Flashlight

The last tactical flashlight on this list is the FlashlightZ Beacon. This is an economical tactical flashlight and would make a great gift or addition to any home. It delivers up to 1000 lumens and features an adjustable beam so you can choose between a floodlight and a spotlight. The Beacon features a beam throw of 800 meters which is incredibly impressive!

It’s operated using a single tail switch and requires little to no learning curve which makes it perfect for beginners who are looking for their first tactical flashlight. You can cycle through the five different outputs which includes a strobe mode and an SOS mode in case of an emergency. The Beacon runs on an 18650 battery or two CR123A batteries. It’s also USB rechargeable so you don’t need to worry about purchasing a seperate battery charger. Finally, it comes with quite a few goodies so that you have everything you need when you first purchase this tactical flashlight. Check out the FlashlightZ Beacon.

Concluding Remarks

That concludes our list of the best tactical flashlight for 2018. We narrowed it down to five, but I’m sure there are more tactical flashlights that would’ve made it to this list if we expanded. 2018 was a great year for tactical flashlights and soon it’ll be time to start looking forward to more flashlights in 2019!