Brightest LED Flashlight Reviews
The title of brightest LED flashlight is a moving target as LED technology advances and new products regularly come along to take the crown. However, below I have made a stab at compiling a current list of brightest LED flashlights at the risk of it going out of date momentarily. Still, at the very least it is a list of some very bright LED flashlights. Also you will note that contenders for brightest LED flashlight use both multiple bulbs and newer super bright LEDs. Obviously you will prefer the latter if you want compactness, but if you don’t care, then the more LEDs, the better until the unit becomes unwieldy.
Technically, the Terralux TLE 300M EX isn’t a flashlight. It is a $79.99 street price replacement “bulb” for 4 to 6 cell Maglites that converts them into a whopping 500-700 lumen LED flashlight. Of course, the TLE-300 actually uses three of the latest 200 lumen Cree XRE super bright LEDs to make this possible. To put this in perspective, the light output of the TLE-300 is greater than a conventional 50 Watt MR-16 halogen light bulb.
The MFlare Super Bright 500 Flashlight Baton is a complete flashlight that uses 3 Luxeon Rebel 90 LEDs for 500 lumens output. The MFlare uses 4 x 1.5V D Size alkaline or rechargeable batteries and is of a typical size (12.2 x 2.1 x 2.1 inches) for such flashlights. Other features include a revolutionary patented 1X to 4X focus control to adjust the beam throw and a 2 mode (high/low) output selector dial. You also get a shoulder strap for the street price of around $89.99.
The Fenix TK40 High Performance Flashlight uses a CREE MC-E four-core LED (lifespan 50,000 hours) to provide a max 630 lumen output which is the basis for Fenix’s claim that the TK40 is the world’s brightest LED flashlight. The TK40 uses eight 1.5V AA batteries (Alkaline or Ni-MH, 4 AA batteries in an emergency) and has multiple modes: 4 types of primary output: Turbo Mode: 630 lumens (2hrs)-> Low: 13 lumens (130hrs) -> Mid: 93 lumens (20hrs) -> High: 277 lumens (6.8hrs) and 4 types of strobe mode: Strobe->Slow Flash->SOS->Fast Flash.
Other features that you get for the $132.95 street price are a high efficiency reflector with focus for far throw and a wide lighting range; constant brightness with efficient digitally regulated output circuitry and reverse polarity battery protection; low power indication with over discharge protection; durable Type III hard-anodized anti-abrasive finish on the T-6 grade aircraft aluminum (8.2 x 2.4 x 2.4 inches) body; push-button tailcap switch; waterproof to IPX-8 Standard; tough ultra-clear glass lens with anti-reflective coating. The TK40 is also capable of standing up securely on a flat surface to serve as a candle. The included accessories are a shoulder strap, lanyard, rubber switch boot and two spare o-rings.
Guide Gear has replaced its old 200 LED flashlight with a new 238 LED Flashlight which is the current leader in combining as many LEDs as possible into one flashlight. It packs 238 LEDs into a 11″ long unit powered by 3 D batteries and it does not look particularly awkward. The list price is $60 but the current Amazon price is only $39.97 which seems quite reasonable. Other features: scratch-proof lens; comfort-grip rubber handle.