Why You Need an 18650 Flashlight

When you’re flashlight shopping you have so much to choose from. Do you want a tactical flashlight or an EDC flashlight? Do you want more than 1000 lumens or less? Do you want a rechargeable flashlight? Do you want tail stand capability? The questions can go on and on. Suddenly, making a decision about a flashlight isn’t so easy. The good news is that we can help! It’s important to be informed about any product you purchase so that you know what you’re getting into and you know you’ll be satisfied with it. so today we want to focus on 18650 flashlights and why they're so awesome.

What is an 18650 Battery?

For those who may not know, 18650 flashlights refers to LED flashlights that use 18650 lithium-ion batteries. These are extremely powerful batteries that are able to be recharged. They are bigger and more expensive than CR123A lithium batteries or AA alkaline batteries. However, if you want a more powerful flashlight, you'll need that 18650 battery or any lithium ion battery.

As I mentioned, lithium ion batteries are able to be recharged including an 18650 battery. You are able to purchase a battery charger to charge your 18650 batteries. Some 18650 batteries actually come with a micro USB port so that you can charge the battery using a micro USB cable directly. While it may be tempting to purchase alkaline batteries or CR123A batteries, because they're disposable, you'll run through them a lot faster than you would an 18650 battery. For that reason, you may end up spending a lot more money replacing batteries. Depending on your flashlight usage, 18650 batteries end up being more economical than other non-rechargeable batteries.

Ultra Bright Flashlights

18650 flashlights produce a lot of power and a lot of light that other flashlights that take other batteries simply cannot keep up with. With an 18650 flashlight, you can find a maximum output between 1000 lumens and 3200 lumens, for example. So if a powerful tactical flashlight is something you really want then definitely look at a flashlight that uses an 18650 battery.

Long Lasting LED Flashlights

18650 flashlights are also going to have longer run times then CR123A flashlights or AA flashlights. So not only are you going to be getting more power using an 18650 battery, you're also going to get more power for a lot longer. This is why we highly recommend 18650 flashlights if you plan on using your flashlight for very long periods of time. Particularly if you are going on a camping trip or doing some outdoor activity where you'll be using your flashlight quite a lot.

Rechargeable Flashlights

Another perk of an 18650 flashlight is that you can get a rechargeable flashlight. With a rechargeable flashlight you won't need to worry about buying a separate battery charger. Because 18650 batteries are able to be recharged, many flashlights will have their own charging function or a USB charging function so you can decide which you would prefer to use. Below we'll talk about a couple different rechargeable flashlights so you can get a good idea of the different charging functions.

The Best 18650 Flashlights

We want to highlight three specific 18650 flashlights that go above and beyond in terms of power, durability, convenience, and practicality. These LED flashlights primarily use 18650 batteries, but you are able to equip other batteries in them making it more convenient for you if you prefer not to use an 18650 battery. The good news is that all three of these flashlights come with an included 18650 battery. So let's take a look at them.

Klarus XT11X

I want to start with the most recent flashlight that we got from Klarus. This compact handheld tactical flashlight is beyond impressive with its 3200 lumen maximum power. It's impressive to see such a high lumen count in such a compact flashlight. With the XT11X you will get a broader beam that's more diffused so you'll be illuminating a wider area. However, the XT11X can reach out as far as 283 meters.

With this tactical flashlight you have multiple outputs including two flashing emergency modes and you have two programmable settings. On the lowest brightness level, the XT11X can run for up to 82 hours. That's quite a long time. The XT11X is also USB rechargeable with a micro USB port located on the side. You can also refer to the charging/battery capacity indicator to know the status of the battery. Speaking of batteries, you can equip the XT11X with a single 18650 battery, two CR123A batteries, or two Klarus 16340 batteries. Check out the Klarus XT11X tacitcal flashlight.

Klarus XT12GT

The Klarus XT12GT is a mini throw beast. It delivers an impressive 1600 lumens and delivers a more impressive being throw of 603 meters. So the beam pattern is going to be a significantly focused hotspot. This makes the XT12GT excellent for hunting and other activities that require you to see incredibly far into the distance.

The XT12GT also features multiple outputs with two flashing modes as well as two programmable settings that you can switch between. In the lowest brightness level, the XT12GT can last up to 200 hours. The XT12GT is a rechargeable flashlight and features a magnetic charging function. Using the included magnetic USB cable, you can charge the XT12GT easily and securely. This tactical flashlight is also compatible with a single 18650 battery or two CR123A batteries. Check out the Klarus XT12GT.

Klarus XT11GT

The last flashlight I want to talk about is also one of the most popular and best tactical flashlights. The Klarus XT11GT is the most compact of the three on this list and, yet delivers an impressive 2000 lumens. It features a maximum distance of 316 meters so you get quite a bit of throw to it. However, it's bright enough that you can see everything around you.

The XT11GT does also feature multiple outputs including two flashing modes and it features three programmable settings. Using the lowest mode, this tactical flashlight can last up to 170 hours. It's also a USB rechargeable flashlight making it very convenient to charge the battery. The XT11GT is also compatible with a single 18650 battery or two CR123A batteries. Check out the Klarus XT11GT today.

Conclusion

So if you've never used an 18650 flashlight I highly recommend you start today. These flashlights are powerful, have longer run times, and are often rechargeable. So take a look at these three flashlights and let us know what you think. Do you have a favorite 18650 flashlight that’s not on this list? Let us know!