When most people think of handheld flashlights, they don’t think of flat Flaslights. They probably envision a cylindrical device. This isn’t surprising, given the round shape of traditional batteries and reflectors designed to direct and focus the beams of light. For decades, we’ve carried cylindrical flashlights, whether stashed in pockets or on our belts.
Is that a flashlight in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?
But when you give more thought to your daily carry flashlight, wouldn’t a flat rather than a rounded shape make more sense? Slimmer in your pocket and less bulky on your belt, a flat flashlight is more space-
efficient, discreet, and comfortable to carry.
SureFire kicked off the flat flashlight category in 2018 with their Stiletto pocket flashlight, at just under 4.5 inches long and weighing less than 3 ounces. By incorporating an integrated, rechargeable lithium polymer battery rather than using standard replaceable batteries, SureFire was able to achieve a unique, flat housing. Meanwhile, advances in LED technology and reflector design allowed the Stiletto to output 650 lumens of light, despite its small size.
Fast-forward to today, and numerous companies now offer flat flashlights, with varying mixes of features, size, light output, and price points. Naturally, the larger the flashlight, the more output, battery life, and features you can expect.
LED emitters and reflectors keep getting better, and SureFire and Nitecore have new offerings with dual emitters generating staggering amounts of light to reach out into the darkness and punch through barriers. Coast has options for a secondary night-vision-friendly red beam or a laser.
Feature sets run the gamut from simple to programmable, with one-, two-, and three-button interfaces, multi-stage buttons, rocker switches, and even small OLED displays to display status and settings. Several flashlights can also be physically customized, with optional lanyards, configurable pocket clips, and button guards.
All the lights shown here charge via USB-C. Integrated rechargeable batteries come with the territory for this style of flashlight; if you’re still reading this article, we figure you’re OK with that. Of course, we still recommend you have other flashlights in your stable that take standard batteries.
This is an impressive batch of flat flashlights that we enjoyed testing, and they’re fantastic for daily carry. You’ll find one to love too.
5.11 Tactical Deploy PL-USB
Output: 30 / 300 lumens (740 candela)
Dimensions: 0.6 by 1 by 4.2 inches
Weight: 1.9 ounces
Battery capacity: 1,050 mAh
Runtime: 1.5 to 9.5 hours
MSRP: $60
URL: 5.11 Tactical
This diminutive flat flashlight from 5.11 Tactical nearly disappears when you stash it. “PL” stands for “pocket light,” and it’s intended to fill that gap below more powerful tactical lights. It’s tiny, light, affordable, and bright — but nowhere near as blinding as the bigger lights. With two output levels, the Deploy PL-USB puts out 300 lumens, 740 candela with 50 meters of throw on high, and 30 lumens, 100 candela on low. Switchology with this light is simple with a single, rubber-covered tail switch that’s protected from inadvertent activation by a fence surrounding it. A half-press activates momentary-on, while a full press clicks into constant-on mode. Following with another press switches from high to low and back again.
The housing is comprised of anodized aluminum, and the lens is polycarbonate. The small pocket clip is removable if you wish to go without. The USB-C charging port is on the side, with a rubber cover and a bicolor charging indicator underneath. The light is rated IPX4 for water resistance and to 1 meter for impacts.
Available in black and ranger green.
Pros:
- So small and light, you’ll have no excuse to ever be without a flashlight
- Intuitive and dead-nuts-simple operation with a nice tail switch
- Switch guard prevents negligent light discharges
- Light defaults to high mode, our preference for a tactical light
Cons:
- For a utility flashlight, you might wish it to default to low mode.
- Low tension on pocket clip; easy to slip in and out of your pockets, but can lose grip on thinner fabrics
- Not super bright, but that’s to be expected for its size
5.11 Tactical Deploy TL-USB
Output: 80 / 500 / 1,000 lumens (2,540 candela)
Dimensions: 0.6 by 1.3 by 4.9 inches
Weight: 3.5 ounces
Battery capacity: 1,650 mAh
Runtime: 1 to 7 hours
MSRP: $80
URL: 5.11 Tactical
This flat flashlight is the top of 5.11 Tactical’s family of Deploy flashlights, with “TL” representing “tactical light.” Just under 5 inches long, it befits its name by outputting 1,000 lumens and 2,540 candela on high, with 100 meters of throw. Successive button presses cycle through medium and low modes, ratcheting down to 500 and 80 lumens, respectively. The rubber-covered tail switch defaults to high mode.
On the side of the light is a flush-mounted rubber button that displays the fuel gauge, with four LED segments showing the battery’s state of charge. The USB-C port has a rubber cover and charges the internal lithium-polymer battery.
The anodized aluminum housing is ribbed for a secure grip, with two sets of channels to accept the removable pocket clip — allowing for two height settings, one for deeper carry and the other with the tail standing proud of your pocket. Additionally, raised switch guards mitigate negligent light discharge; you can remove either or both, if you wish. 5.11 rates the light to 1 meter for impacts and IPX4 for water resistance.
Pros:
- Solid light output
- Tension on pocket clip is just right, clipping in smoothly but also hanging on to fabric
- Switch guard to mitigate inadvertent activation
- Customizability of pocket clip and switch guards to fit your preference
Cons:
- Tail switch is a bit fiddly to activate from certain angles
COAST Products Slayer Red
Output: 10 / 110 / 530 / 1,000 lumens
Dimensions: 0.8 by 1.1 by 5.4 inches
Weight: 3.5 ounces
Runtime: 2 to 55 hours
MSRP: $85
URL: Coast
The new Slayer Red flat flashlight from Coast Products is for fans of thumb switches. Looking at the business end, you’ll notice two emitters. The primary one is a white spot beam with a turbo mode that pushes 1,000 lumens out to 110 meters. Activate it by holding down the rubberized forward power button for one second; it’ll stay in this mode for 40 seconds then revert back to the previous setting. In regular use, you can cycle through high, low, and “moon glow” modes, corresponding to 530, 110, and 10 lumens. In the latter, the Slayer can last for 55 hours. The light always defaults to high with the first press, and there’s no momentary activation mode.
The other emitter is a red flood to preserve your night vision. Press the rear button to cycle from high to low mode, then off again. There’s a nub on the forward button, so you can tell them apart by feel. Instead of the red LED, other variants of the Slayer have a laser pointer or another white emitter, contributing to 1,150 lumens of total output.
Made of aluminum, the Slayer has serrations and contours for a comfortable grip, as well as two magnets so you can attach it to something for hands-free illumination. Bicolor LEDs shine through the power buttons to display battery status. The USB-C port for charging is under a rubber cover on its tail end, where we would have liked a switch for tactical use. The Slayer is rated IP57 for dust and water resistance (up to 1 meter of immersion).
Pros:
- Good tension on the pocket; smoothly slips into place while remaining secure
- Red beam is very useful in certain circumstances
- Magnets are convenient to slap the Slayer on metal surfaces
Cons:
- No momentary activation
- Not as well suited for tactical applications
- Bit larger than other lights given its light output
Nitecore EDC27 UHi
Output: 15 / 65 / 200 / 1,100 / 3,100 lumens (23,500 candela)
Dimensions: 0.9 by 1.2 by 5.3 inches
Weight: 4.2 ounces
Battery capacity: 1,700 mAh
Runtime: 1.5 to 55 hours
MSRP: $90
URL: Nitecore
Nitecore’s new EDC27 UHi is an updated version of their popular ED27 flat flashlight, with more powerful UHi LEDs. In turbo mode, its dual emitters blast 3,100 lumens and 23,500 candela out to 305 meters. Four other modes span from 15 to 1,100 lumens, with the ultra-low mode lasting for 55 hours. Nitecore packed this light full of features, but you’ll need the manual to figure them out.
A small OLED display shows brightness level, battery level, runtime, lockout mode, and a countdown for turbo mode, which gets toasty and cuts off after about 9 seconds in our testing.
There are dual two-stage buttons on the tail end, one inset and one proud, so you can tell them apart. The inset one is the mode button — half-press and hold to immediately activate turbo mode. After it times out, it drops down to high mode. A full press activates strobe mode. Both are momentary. The tall button is the power button; half-press and hold to immediately turn on ultra-low mode. Consecutively half-clicking the button cycles through the four output modes, displaying the selection on the screen, so that you can preset the mode before turning it on. A full press turns on the light.
You can engage two lock-out modes — one deactivates the tall power button, the easiest to inadvertently hit, while leaving the inset button intact. The other nullifies both buttons. The process is fiddly until you get used to it.
The housing is a PVD-coated stainless steel shell with carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer frame. It’s IP54 rated and impact resistant to 1 meter. Comes with a lanyard.
Pros:
- Impressive light output in a great form factor
- Most of the body is only half an inch thick, so the light feels very thin in your pocket
- Features are great once you crest the learning curve
- Good amount of tension on pocket clip
- Good value
Cons:
- User interface can be confusing at first
- Tall power button can be hit accidentally
- Fussy lock-out sequence
Nitecore EDC29
Output: 15 / 100 / 400 / 1,200 / 3,000 / 6,500 lumens (40,230 candela)
Dimensions: 0.9 by 1.4 by 5.3 inches
Weight: 5.5 ounces
Battery capacity: 2,500 mAh
Runtime: 2 to 61 hours
MSRP: $110
URL: Nitecore
Nitecore built a tremendous beast of a flat flashlight with their new EDC29. Its dual LEDs have 18 cores and can output both spot and flood beams. The “search” spotlight mode puts out 3,000 lumens and 40,230 candela out to 400 meters, while the floodlight mode blasts a blinding 6,500 lumens and 35,360 candela to 370 meters. The four regular modes range from 15 to 1,200 lumens. With a hefty 2,500 mAh battery, the ultra-low mode can run for 61 hours.
Like its little brother, the EDC29 bristles with features, with a physical lock-out switch to avoid fiddly button presses. The two tail switches function similarly, with the inset customizable button activating the search spotlight mode at half-press and either floodlight or strobe mode at full-press, depending on how you configure it. The tall power button works the same as the EDC27, cycling through modes with half presses and entering constant-on mode with a full press.
The OLED display also shows brightness and battery levels, runtime, lockout mode, and a countdown for spotlight/floodlight mode, cutting off after about 8 seconds in our testing.
The housing is a PVD-coated stainless steel shell with carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer frame, rated IP54 for dust/water resistance and to 1 meter for impacts. Comes with a lanyard.
Pros:
- Absolutely scorching light output
- Unique ability to switch between spot and flood for differing needs and situations
- Rich set of features
- Physical lock-out switch
- Excellent value
Cons:
- Pocket clip is excessively tight
- User interface can be confusing at first
- Tall power button can be hit accidentally
Streamlight Wedge XT
Output: 50 / 500 lumens
Dimensions: 0.6 by 1 by 4.25 inches
Weight: 2.6 ounces
Battery capacity: 950 mAh
Runtime: 2 to 11 hours
MSRP: $155
URL: Streamlight
Streamlight’s Wedge XT flat flashlight feels “just right” as a very compact, general-purpose EDC utility light that can also fill the tactical role if needed. It’s very small, so it maxes out in high mode at 500 lumens and 1,900 candela out to 87 meters. The tail switch cycles between high and 50-lumen low mode, which lasts for 11 hours.
The switch behaves like other Streamlight products, where a quick tap activates constant-on while a longer press is momentary. Clicking it five times locks out the switch to prevent unintended activation. Meanwhile, clicking it 10 times allows you to choose between high mode or low mode first.
The Wedge XT comes with a convenient, small lanyard that attaches to the pocket clip, which positions the light very deep in your pocket. The housing is anodized aluminum in your choice of black or coyote, with a polycarbonate lens. The USB-C charging port is exposed, but the light is still rated IPX7 for water resistance to one meter. There’s a bicolor LED to indicate charging status.
Pros:
- Great small, general-purpose EDC flashlight
- Simple, configurable operation with nice tail switch
- We liked the lanyard design so much, we wanted to use it on other lights too
- Pocket clip has good amount of tension
Cons:
- Not as bright as the others, but it’s a very small light
Streamlight Wedge Slim
Output: 300 / 1,000 lumens (3,000 candela)
Dimensions: 0.6 by 1 by 5.5 inches
Weight: 3.1 ounces
Battery capacity: 1,500 mAh
Runtime: 3 hours (35 second bursts in high mode)
MSRP: $168
URL: Streamlight
If you prefer thumb switches on your flat flashlight, the Streamlight Wedge is for you. It has a unique, tactile rotating switch that’s easy to find and operate by touch. Rotate it forward and it clicks into constant-on in the lower 300-lumen mode. Keep pushing further forward, and it’s spring-loaded for momentary high mode. In this mode, the Wedge outputs 1,000 lumens and 3,000 candela out to 110 meters. That’s it; there’s no other settings or modes to worry about. Note that the high mode is limited to 35-second bursts.
The case is anodized aluminum and available in black, coyote, blue, red, or purple; the latter three colors are $5 extra. The clip is positioned for deep pocket carry and can be installed on either side of the light (though always head-down). There’s a bicolor charging indicator, and the USB-C charging port is located at the tail end of the light. It’s exposed, but the light is IPX7-rated for water immersion to one meter.
Pros:
- True to its name, it’s very slim
- Great for those who like thumb switches
- Simple, intuitive operation
- Good tension on the pocket clip
Cons:
- Lacks a low mode
- A bit long
- We prefer tail switches for tactical use.
SureFire Stiletto Pro II
Output: 25 / 500 / 1,500 lumens (35,000 candela)
Dimensions: 0.9 by 1.7 by 4.9 inches
Weight: 4.9 ounces
Battery capacity: 1,600 mAh
Runtime: 1 to 23.5 hours
MSRP: $379
URL: Surefire
For mission-critical hard use, we’d reach for the SureFire Stiletto Pro II flat flashlight — and not surprisingly, our wallets will suffer accordingly. The dual optic design throws 1,500 lumens and 35,000 candela out to 375 meters, with a hybrid beam pattern that also provides a good amount of spill light. For tactical use, the rubber tail switch immediately actuates high mode in either momentary- or constant-on fashion, depending on your preference. Triple-tapping the tail switch activates a rapid strobe. Raised switch guards mitigate negligent light discharges.
On the side of the flashlight are two flat rubber buttons, inset below the surface to avoid accidental activation. The primary switch cycles between high, medium, and low output modes, down to 25 lumens for 23.5 hours. The other button programs the light to customize its behavior. You can use it to set the order of the primary switch sequence to go from low to high instead, as well as swap between momentary and constant for the tail switch. There’s also an emergency mode that blinks at three to four times per second in medium output to use the light for signaling. Additionally, a tricolored LED fuel gauge provides four levels of battery status.
The Stiletto Pro II’s tapered housing is anodized aluminum, rated IPX7 for immersion in 1 meter of water for 30 minutes. The pocket clip is melonited spring steel and can be configured for head up or down carry.
Pros:
- Excellent quality light delivered downrange, even compared to others with higher specs
- No time limit on high mode, though it’ll eventually automatically ratchet down output if the light overheats
- Great ergonomics for tactical or utility use
- Built like a tank, as you’d expect from SureFire
Cons:
- Pocket clip a bit on the tight side
- Business end gets a bit chunky in size
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Editor’s Note: This article has been modified from its original version for the web.
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