EDC stands for “Every Day Carry” and in this case, having the best EDC penlight means that you have a penlight that’s portable, lightweight, and easy to bring around with you daily. The other qualities of a good penlight also include long battery life, being easy to use, and having an ergonomic design.
Penlights are also very handy during times of emergencies. They provide a portable source of light. They can be used to check for injuries (especially brain injuries, if you know how to check the pupils), and depending on the model of your penlight, you can even use them to signal for help. If you are looking for the best EDC penlight out there, here is a list of the top seven penlights you can find on Amazon.
Comparison Chart
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | DETAILS | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|
| COAST G20 Inspection Beam Penlight | Strong, tough, and rugged, the Coast G20 Penlight is an EDC penlight that’s built to last. Yes, you can use it for daily activities, but it is specifically designed to be a tool used in emergencies. It is waterproof, shockproof, and dustproof, and ready to go whenever you are. | ||
| Olight I3T EOS Dual-Output Slim EDC Flashlight | The Olight I3T EOS EDC Flashlight is a powerful yet lightweight flashlight that uses a single AAA battery for power. It is equipped with a TIR optic lens that produces a soft and balanced light that will illuminate your surroundings without being blinding. | ||
| RISEMART Super Small Mini Flashlight | The RISEMART Super Small Mini Flashlight proves that small packages can house powerful things! This penlight is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, but it will still provide an impressive 100 lumens to illuminate everything around you. | ||
| LUMINTOP TOOL EDC Flashlight | The XPL-HD is the top of the Lumintop flashlight line. With a powerful 650 lumens output and an impressive 60-hour runtime, this flashlight will be a reliable tool that you can use daily as well as during emergencies. | ||
| Nebo Inspector RC Work Light | Sleek, simple, and sturdy, the Nebo Inspector RC Work Light is a workhorse when it comes to penlights. This penlight comes bundled with a USB wall adapter so that you can charge it anywhere with ease. | ||
| ThruNite Ti3 V2 Keychain Flashlight | The Ti series from ThruNite is designed to be portable, economical, and reliable. They come with a powerful Cree XP-G2 R5 LED light, which has a total lifespan of 20 years. Coupled with the company’s lifetime warranty, this could be the last EDC penlight you will ever need! | ||
| Streamlight 88039 ProTac Flashlight | Streamlight is known for making durable and reliable EDC flashlights, and their 88039 ProTac is the top of the line! Compact but powerful, the Streamlight 88039 is a handy tool that can withstand being dropped, being exposed to extreme weather, and being dropped in water and still come out shining. |
A Detailed Review on the 7 Best EDC Penlights
COAST G20 Inspection Beam Penlight
Strong, tough, and rugged, the Coast G20 Penlight is an EDC penlight that’s built to last. Yes, you can use it for daily activities, but it is specifically designed to be a tool used in emergencies. It is waterproof, shockproof, and dustproof, and ready to go whenever you are.
Product Highlights
The body of the G20 is made from military-grade aluminum, and it is rated IPX-4 for water resistance. It has an adjustable clip on the body of the flashlight to allow you to place it on your shirt lapel, pants waist, or in your pocket. The beam can reach up to 9 feet without losing focus or brightness.
The Good
The Coast company stands behind their products, and as such, they offer a lifetime warranty on the G20 against defective materials and poor quality. They also offer a 60-day money-back guarantee from the day of purchase if you are not satisfied with the penlight.
The Bad
The G20 only has one setting: high. This means that you will not be able to adjust the beam of the penlight as needed. It uses a single AAA alkaline battery for power, which will run for 2 hours and 30 minutes if used continuously.
PROs
- Tough and durable body
- IPX-4 water-resistant rating
- It is shockproof
- Adjustable clip
- Lifetime warranty against product defects
- 60-day money-back guarantee
CONs
- Only has one setting (high)
- Uses disposable batteries for power
- Short light runtime
Olight I3T EOS Dual-Output Slim EDC Flashlight
The Olight I3T EOS EDC Flashlight is a powerful yet lightweight flashlight that uses a single AAA battery for power. It is equipped with a TIR optic lens that produces a soft and balanced light that will illuminate your surroundings without being blinding.
Product Highlights
The I3T EOS is lightweight and easy to carry around, especially due to the unique helix design on the body that allows for a more stable grip. Even if you have wet hands, the helix design on the body allows you to have a firm and stable grasp on the body of the penlight. The switch of the I3T EOS is located on the tail end so that you can easily turn this penlight on and off with one hand without changing its orientation.
The Good
One of the most innovative features of the I3T EOS is the dual-direction clip. The clip allows you to place it on your shirt or pocket, just like any conventional penlight. However, the reverse orientation of this clip, allows you to also clip it on a hat or strap. What’s more, the company offers a 5-year warranty for this product.
The Bad
This product is made in China, and some reviews say that it is not as bright as advertised (180 lumens). It is also not rated as shockproof or dustproof.
PROs
- Unique grip design
- Lightweight and portable
- Water-resistant
- Dual-direction clip
- 5-year warranty
CONs
- Not shockproof
- Not dustproof
- Not as bright as advertised
RISEMART Super Small Mini Flashlight
The RISEMART Super Small Mini Flashlight proves that small packages can house powerful things! This penlight is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, but it will still provide an impressive 100 lumens to illuminate everything around you.
Product Highlights
One of the best EDC penlights, the RISESMART mini flashlight is made from aircraft-grade aluminum, which makes the flashlight sturdy and durable. It is lightweight and discreet, allowing you to store this flashlight easily in your bag, pocket, or even your purse! The one-touch button on the side allows you to turn it off or on easily.
The Good
For such a small flashlight, the RISESMART does not disappoint in terms of performance. Aside from the bright lumens rating, it is also IPX5-6 waterproof and tested against a variety of extreme weather conditions. It is also rated shockproof to a height of 1 meter.
The Bad
Some users have reported that the quality of this item is not reliable. Some units are already defective upon delivery or those that stop working days after they were delivered. Unfortunately, there is no mention of a warranty from the company.
PROs
- Small and very discreet
- Lightweight and portable
- Can be clipped on your shirt or cap
- Waterproof and shockproof
- Affordable
- Relatively bright for its size
CONs
- Quality is not good
- Some units stop working quickly
LUMINTOP TOOL AA 2.0 EDC Flashlight
The XPL-HD is the top of the Lumintop flashlight line. With a powerful 650 lumens output and an impressive 60-hour runtime, this flashlight will be a reliable tool that you can use daily as well as during emergencies.
Product Highlights
The XPL-HD is one tough penlight! The body is made from military-grade aluminum, and it is both shockproof and waterproof. However, despite its metal body, the XPL-HD is lightweight and extremely portable. It has five lighting modes as well as mode memory. The company offers a 30-day money-back guarantee as well as a 5-year service and parts warranty.
The Good
Two sources can power the XPL-HD. It can be powered by either a disposable AA battery or a rechargeable 14500 battery. You won’t need to use any kind of adapter when switching between the two types of batteries, as the battery cradle of this unit will automatically shift to accommodate both types of batteries.
The Bad
The design of the XPL-HD makes it difficult to input the mode. To turn the unit on or off, you need to twist the bottom cap of the flashlight. This would require two hands. Also, some users have reported that it does not reach the advertised brightness.
PROs
- Durable and strong body
- Waterproof and shockproof
- Five lighting modes with memory mode
- Can be powered by either disposable or rechargeable battery
CONs
- Poor design makes it difficult to input the mode
- Does not reach the advertised brightness
Nebo Inspector RC Work Light
Sleek, simple, and sturdy, the Nebo Inspector RC Work Light is a workhorse when it comes to penlights. This penlight comes bundled with a USB wall adapter so that you can charge it anywhere with ease.
Product Highlights
The Nebo Inspector RC has three lighting modes: high (360 lumens), low (120 lumens), and strobe. Simply push the soft-touch button to cycle through the modes and choose the one you need. It has a detachable steel clip so that you can choose between putting it in your pocket or clipped on your shirt. This unit is impact-resistant, and IPX6-7 rated waterproof.
The Good
You can use either disposable batteries or the built-in rechargeable battery to power the Nebo Inspector RC. If you have access to power, you can recharge your penlight as needed. In times of emergencies or power outages, you can use a single AAA battery to power up this penlight.
The Bad
If the built-in lithium battery wears out or needs to be replaced, it can be difficult to find the 10650 sizes unless you’re going to specialty stores. The design of the soft-touch button to cycle through the power modes is also annoying.
PROs
- Durable and strong
- Three lighting modes
- Comes with USB wall adapter
- Waterproof and shockproof
- Can be powered by either disposable or rechargeable batteries
CONs
- Replacement for rechargeable battery can be difficult to find
- Button design is poor
ThruNite Ti3 V2 Keychain Flashlight
The Ti series from ThruNite is designed to be portable, economical, and reliable. They come with a powerful Cree XP-G2 R5 LED light, which has a total lifespan of 20 years. Coupled with the company’s lifetime warranty, this could be the last EDC penlight you will ever need!
Product Highlights
The body of the Ti3 V2 is made with aircraft-grade aluminum for guaranteed strength and durability. This powerful flashlight has a 120 lumens output on high and strobe modes, 12 lumens on low, and 0.04 lumens on firefly mode. A single AAA battery powers it.
The Good
The design of the Ti3 V2 allows you several ways to carry this penlight. You can use the snap hook to clip it on your shirt or pants pocket. You can use the 2-way reverse clip to place it in your cap or strap for hands-free operation. Finally, you can attach a keychain or loop to the tail end of this flashlight and hang it on your bag for easy access as needed.
The Bad
Some users have reported that the penlight stops working properly after a few months of heavy use. Furthermore, they have also said that the “firefly mode” doesn’t do anything and is a redundant feature at best.
PROs
- Strong and durable body
- Very bright high mode
- Several ways of carrying available
CONs
- Powered by disposable battery only
- Suddenly stops working
- Firefly mode not useful
Streamlight 88039 ProTac Flashlight
Streamlight is known for making durable and reliable EDC flashlights, and their 88039 ProTac is the top of the line! Compact but powerful, the Streamlight 88039 is a handy tool that can withstand being dropped, being exposed to extreme weather, and being dropped in water and still come out shining.
Product Highlights
The 88039 is the length and size of a marker, making it lightweight and easy to carry around. The body is made from military-grade aluminum, and it has three different lighting modes. Two AAA alkaline batteries power it, and it has a removable pocket clip.
The Good
The 88039 is made for professionals. With its long battery life, bright high mode, and extreme beam distance, this penlight will give you light whenever and wherever you need it. What’s more, the anti-roll head will prevent the flashlight from rolling away when you set it down. These make it one of the best EDC penlights in the market.
The Bad
Since Streamlight is so popular, many counterfeits are being sold online. If you purchase a counterfeit, the company will not honor your purchase and replace your product.
PROs
- Extremely durable and strong
- Waterproof, shockproof, and dustproof
- Anti-roll head prevents the flashlight from rolling away when put down
CONs
- Many counterfeits sold online
- Difficult to tell counterfeits from legitimate units
Conclusion
Now you know why it is important to find the best EDC penlight. Not only is an EDC penlight handy in everyday situations, but it can also be an essential tool during times of emergencies. If you want something reliable and tested, the Streamlight 88039 ProTac is the top choice. Just make sure that you are buying from a reliable seller. However, if you want something smaller and more discreet, the RISEMART Super Small Mini Flashlight can easily fit in your pocket, bag, or even your wallet! Get more tips on penlights.