In times of emergencies, having the best tactical penlight is essential. Aside from having a strong and steady source of light that can withstand force, extreme temperature, and weather, a tactical penlight is also compact and portable. What’s more, you can expect extra features from a tactical penlight that you won’t find in a regular flashlight.
Tactical penlights are generally used by the military, law enforcement, or emergency personnel, but during times of crisis, ordinary civilians can benefit greatly from their features and benefits. Tactical penlights have more powerful lights, hardened casings, and compact sizes. They are also more ergonomic compared to regular flashlights and can even be used for self-defense. Some models even emit patterned lights that will allow you to shine an S.O.S. pattern so that emergency services can find you easily.
In this article, you will find the seven best tactical penlights that you can find in handy during an emergency.
Comparison Chart
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | DETAILS | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEBO Rechargeable Pen Light Flashlight | NEBO Rechargeable Pen Light Flashlight is a powerful and rechargeable tactical penlight that is ready to go whenever you need it! Made from aircraft-grade aluminum alloy, it emits 360 lumens that can reach up to 200m in beam distance. The NEBO Rechargeable Pen Light Flashlight is a great companion for emergencies because it gives you a reliable and strong light that will illuminate your surroundings and give you great visibility. | ||
| Nitecore MT06MD | Easy to use, lightweight, and extremely portable, the Nitecore MT06MD is designed for professional use by emergency responders and medical professionals. With a durable aluminum body designed to withstand shocks and a variety of different light settings, you can be sure that the MT06MD will give you the performance you need during emergencies. | ||
| Streamlight 88060 | Streamlight is one of the oldest companies that make the best tactical penlights, and their 88060 Pro is one of the top choices for emergency service professionals. This penlight produces a powerful 2200 lumens that will illuminate your surroundings clearly at night and comes with a polymer body that is easy to grip. | ||
| Pocketman 4 Pcs1000LM XPE-R3 LED Penlight Flashlight Tactical Torch | This item is a compact pen-shaped torch that you may carry in your pocket. It measures only 13.3cm. The lighting effect features a simple 1-switch control and can produce up to 1000 lumens of light. | ||
| Streamlight 88065 | Tough, rugged, and powerful – the 88065 Pro Tac penlight by Streamlight is THE power source to have during emergencies. With a convenient tail cap switch, you can easily use this penlight with one hand, allowing you maximum mobility and versatility with your other hand. | ||
| JJFly Penlight | Never worry about running out of light with the JJFly Penlight. This amazing penlight is so small and compact that it fits in the palm of your hand, but it can give out 300 lumens – impressive for a penlight so small! | ||
| Enjoydeal XP-E | Whether you use it for emergencies or for self-defense, the XP-E from Enjoydeal is one of the most versatile penlights for its size. It can reach an impressive 1000 lumens with a 164-beam distance and has a life of 7 hours. |
A Detailed Review on the 7 Best Tactical Penlights
NEBO Rechargeable Pen Light Flashlight
NEBO Rechargeable Pen Light Flashlight is a powerful and rechargeable tactical penlight that is ready to go whenever you need it! Made from aircraft-grade aluminum alloy, it emits 360 lumens that can reach up to 200m in beam distance. The NEBO Rechargeable Pen Light Flashlight is a great companion for emergencies because it gives you a reliable and strong light that will illuminate your surroundings and give you great visibility.
Product Highlights
Can NEBO Rechargeable Pen Light Flashlight be considered the best tactical penlight? It is designed to be both rechargeable and can be used with disposable batteries. It comes with a single 1860 battery that can hold a charge for up to 143 hours on Eco mode. If you do not have access to power, you can also use 2 CR132A batteries to power the L50. The L.E.D. has a 50000-hour lifespan, and the penlight can be charged with a Micro USB cable. It is also IP69-rated water-resistant and shock-resistant.
The Good
The NEBO Rechargeable Pen Light Flashlight has 5 different light settings: high, medium, low, eco, and S.O.S. for emergencies. It also has a battery charging indicator and a low power warning so that you know when it needs to be recharged. It has a return period of 30-days, 5-year warranty, and 24-hour customer service support.
The Bad
The charging cycle is a bit long at 4 hours. The power switch and the charging port are both located on the tail end, making it somewhat difficult to use in the dark.
PROs
- Durable and strong body
- Waterproof and shock-resistant
- Rechargeable and removable battery
- Can be used with disposable batteries
- 5-year warranty
CONs
- Long charging cycle
- Poor design
Nitecore MT06MD
Easy to use, lightweight, and extremely portable, the Nitecore MT06MD is designed for professional use by emergency responders and medical professionals. With a durable aluminum body designed to withstand shocks and a variety of different light settings, you can be sure that the MT06MD will give you the performance you need during emergencies.
Product Highlights
The Nitecore MT06MD has several features that make it a superb choice during emergencies. It has an easy clip design so that you can secure it against your shirt for quick access. The default lumen output is safe for the eyes, but it can also be powered up to provide a brighter light source when needed. It also comes with a Lumen Tactical 45 keychain so that you can clip it easily with your keys. It is waterproof up to 2 meters.
The Good
One of the best features of the MT06MD is the “pupil setting.” This setting allows you to safely shine the light into someone’s eyes to check for pupil responsiveness without the danger of blinding them.
The Bad
Compared to other penlights on this list, the highest lumen setting on the Nitecore MT06MD is not as bright. It will not give you great illumination or visibility at night. The battery life is also quite short at 35 hours.
PROs
- Lightweight and portable
- Keychain and steel clip for easy attachment
- Low lumen setting safe for eyes
- IPX8 waterproof rating
- Shock resistant
CONs
- Weaker light settings compared to other penlights
- Short battery life
Streamlight 88060
Streamlight is one of the oldest companies that make the best tactical penlights, and their 88060 Pro is one of the top choices for emergency service professionals. This penlight produces a powerful 2200 lumens that will illuminate your surroundings clearly at night and comes with a polymer body that is easy to grip.
Product Highlights
The body of the 88060 is made from aircraft-grade aluminum with an anodized finish to increase strength and durability. It is IPX7 rated, which means that it is waterproof to 1 meter. The body also provides thermal insulation, which protects the batteries during extreme temperatures.
The Good
You can use different power sources for the 88060. The penlight comes with four 3-volt CR123A lithium batteries. You can also use it with two rechargeable Streamlight batteries. The self-adjust battery cradle ensures that you can easily switch between different batteries without compromising the performance of light output.
The Bad
The battery life of the included battery packs is short, with a maximum life of only 48 hours. What’s more, there is no low battery warning, which can be a problem during emergencies when you need a reliable light source. If you want the rechargeable batteries, you need to purchase them separately.
PROs
- 2200 lumens
- Comfortable to carry
- Can be recharged with a micro USB charger
- Durable and strong body
- Shockproof and waterproof
CONs
- Short battery life
- No low battery indicator
- A bit pricey
Pocketman 4 Pcs1000LM XPE-R3 LED Penlight Flashlight Tactical Torch
This item is a compact pen-shaped torch that you may carry in your pocket. It measures only 13.3cm. The lighting effect features a simple 1-switch control and can produce up to 1000 lumens of light.
Product Highlights
This versatile pocket penlight also features a clip, great for on-the-go use. It is resistant to skidding, abrasion, and water penetration.
The Good
The flashlight works just well for regular use. For what the penlights are, just appropriate in size and shape. These minor light sources are pretty brilliant. It has a higher lumen output, and it is compact and lightweight, suitable for being carried in a shirt pocket or slacks.
The Bad
It is at best of low grade. Upon opening the package of four, the batteries instantly began to disintegrate. To put the lens cap back on, you will smash the LED light. The batteries don’t fit very well, which causes them to jiggle around inside.
PROs
- Composed of metal construction
- Easy to use
- Lightweight and durable
- With a single switch function
CONs
- Improvement of zoom capability
- Batteries with a short life span
- Quality control needs improvement
Streamlight 88065
Tough, rugged, and powerful – the 88065 Pro Tac penlight by Streamlight is THE power source to have during emergencies. With a convenient tail cap switch, you can easily use this penlight with one hand, allowing you maximum mobility and versatility with your other hand.
Product Highlights
The 88065 Pro Tac produces a powerful 1000 lumens, giving you enough light even during extreme times. It offers four different light settings: high, medium, low, and strobe. The body is made from aircraft-grade aluminum for maximum strength and durability, and it is shockproof, dust-resistant, and waterproof.
The Good
As with other Streamlight penlights, the 88065 can be powered by either a single rechargeable 18650 USB battery or two CR123A lithium batteries. The package comes with two pieces of 3-volt CR123A lithium batteries that have a shelf life of 10-years. With the patented battery cradle, you can easily switch between the different types of batteries to ensure that you can always power your 88065 Pro Tac.
The Bad
The body of the 88065 Pro Tac is somewhat bulky and heavy. The charging time is 4-5 hours, and if you use it continuously in the high setting, it only has a run time of 1.5 hours.
PROs
- Durable and strong
- Waterproof, shockproof, and dust-resistant
- Four different light settings
- Easy access to switch
CONs
- Short battery life
- Long charging cycle
- Rechargeable batteries sold separately
JJFly Penlight
Never worry about running out of light with the JJFly Penlight. This amazing penlight is so small and compact that it fits in the palm of your hand, but it can give out 300 lumens – impressive for a penlight so small!
Product Highlights
What makes JJFly Penlight to be also considered the best tactical penlight? The JJFly Penlight is made from aluminum alloy, giving it a durable and strong body that can withstand being dropped, scratches, and dust. It has effective heat dissipation and a scratch-resistant lens. It is affordable ($22.99 for ten pieces), and comes with a worry-free aftersales warranty from the JJFly team.
The Good
The size of this penlight makes it a must-have in your bug out bag or emergency kit! It will not take up much space, and it has a handy clip that allows you to place it on your shirt to keep your hands free.
The Bad
The JJFly penlight is powered by a single A.A. battery, which means that it has a short lifespan. If used continuously on a high setting, it will only give around 1 hour of light per battery. This battery is not waterproof.
PROs
- Lightweight and portable
- Affordable price
- Durable aluminum body
- Shockproof and scratch resistant lens
CONs
- Uses single A battery
- Not rechargeable
- Not waterproof
Enjoydeal XP-E
Whether you use it for emergencies or for self-defense, the XP-E from Enjoydeal is one of the most versatile penlights for its size. It can reach an impressive 1000 lumens with a 164-beam distance and has a life of 7 hours.
Product Highlights
The body of the XP-E is made from high-grade aluminum, making it shockproof and scratchproof. It is also waterproof up to 2 meters. The battery has excellent heat dissipation and has been tested under a variety of weather conditions.
The Good
The XP-E has a flat tail end so you can use it as a candle easily. The body is slim and lightweight and features a steel clip so that you can attach it to your shirt to keep your hands free during an emergency.
The Bad
The XP-E is not rechargeable. It is powered by two A.A.A. batteries (which are not included with your purchases). You will need to have a supply of A.A.A. batteries on hand to ensure continuous power.
PROs
- Slim, lightweight, and portable
- Durable Aluminum body
- Waterproof and Shockproof
- Long run time (7 hours max)
- 24/7 customer support
CONs
- Not rechargeable
Conclusion
Light is one of the most important things for you to have during an emergency. Not only do you need it for visibility and safety, but you can also use it to check for injuries and signal for help. Having the best tactical penlight at your disposal helps ensure your safety and survival during times of crisis. If you have a family, a pack of Enjoydeal penlight ensures that each member of your family has their own penlight. For solo users, the 88065 Pro Tac from Streamlight is one of the most reliable and powerful sources of light available. Whichever penlight you choose, you can be sure that you will have a strong, steady, and reliable light source to illuminate your surroundings and give you the best chance of survival. Know more about penlights.