10 Best Hiking Flashlight 2025 in the United States

The OLIGHT Arkfeld Pro is a versatile flashlight ideal for hiking and outdoor activities. With a maximum brightness of 1300 lumens, it provides powerful illumination, making it suitable for dark trails and emergency situations. Its three-in-one functionality, combining white light, UV light, and a green beam, adds versatility for various uses, such as inspecting trail markers or identifying wildlife. The UV light, with a high power output of 900mW at a 365nm wavelength, is particularly useful for more professional applications like checking for leaks or cleaning purposes.

The intuitive circular selector for switching modes makes operation simple and seamless, which is helpful in outdoor settings where quick adjustments are necessary. The five-level battery indicator ensures you can easily monitor the battery life, which is essential for prolonged outdoor use. Weighing 5.9 ounces and measuring 4.72 inches in length, the Arkfeld Pro is compact and lightweight, making it easy to carry in your pocket or backpack. Its aluminum construction ensures durability while the IPX7 water resistance rating means it can withstand immersion in water up to 1 meter deep for 30 minutes, making it reliable in wet conditions.

However, the flashlight requires a single Lithium Polymer battery, which is included, but may not last as long as multiple battery configurations, potentially necessitating more frequent recharges. Additionally, while the green beam output is less than 5mW and classified as 3R, it may not be as powerful as other laser pointers some users might expect. The OLIGHT Arkfeld Pro's combination of high brightness, multi-functional capabilities, and durable design make it an excellent choice for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts looking for a reliable and versatile flashlight.

The Streamlight 66608 MicroStream is a compact and lightweight flashlight weighing just over 2 ounces, making it easy to carry on any hiking trip without adding bulk. With a maximum brightness of 250 lumens and a beam distance of 68 meters, it provides a decent amount of light for close to medium-range trail navigation or campsite tasks. It offers two brightness levels—high and low—with runtimes of 1.5 hours and 3.5 hours respectively, suitable for short to moderate hikes but potentially requiring recharging on longer trips.

The flashlight uses a USB rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which is convenient since you can top it up from many power sources. Its metal and polycarbonate build, along with an IPX4 water resistance rating, means it can handle typical outdoor conditions like rain but isn’t fully waterproof for submersion. Useful features include a multifunction push-button switch with a charge indicator, a protective metal sleeve over the charging port, and accessories like a pocket clip and lanyard for secure carrying.

While it lacks advanced modes such as strobe or SOS signals, its straightforward design makes it easy to use. This flashlight is a solid choice for hikers needing a reliable, ultra-compact light for everyday outdoor use, especially if portability and USB recharge convenience are priorities over extended runtime or extreme weather durability.

The Streamlight 88817 Wedge is a slim, lightweight flashlight ideal for hikers who want a reliable everyday carry light. It offers two brightness modes: a steady 300 lumens good for general use with a beam reaching about 69 meters, and a short burst THRO mode pushing up to 1,000 lumens with a beam distance of 110 meters for quick, intense illumination. This makes it versatile for different hiking situations, from trail walking to spotting distant objects. Its battery lasts around 3 hours on the steady mode, which should cover most typical hikes, and it recharges via convenient USB-C in about 3 hours, so you can quickly top it up.

The flashlight is built tough with anodized aluminum and meets IPX7 waterproof standards, meaning it can handle rain and accidental drops into shallow water, plus it’s impact-resistant up to 1 meter, adding to its durability on rough trails. With a weight of just 3.2 ounces and a slim design, it fits comfortably in your hand or pocket without feeling bulky. The rotatable switch with a battery indicator is easy to use and helps you keep track of power. Included accessories like a pocket clip and wrist lanyard add handy carrying options.

The battery life is solid for moderate hikes, though the brightest mode only lasts for about 35 seconds, so it’s best used sparingly for bursts of extra light rather than continuous use. This flashlight successfully balances portability, brightness, and ruggedness, making it a great choice for hikers who want a dependable, easy-to-carry light with good features and solid build quality.