The 10 Best Magnetic Flashlights Reviewed

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Flashlights seem to be the one object that always tends to go missing. You can never find one when you need it in the middle of the night, during a power-cut or for taking on your next camping trip.

A magnetic flashlight can be attached to any suitable steel or iron surface, and be on hand when you want it — no more searching through drawers in the dark.

The magnet can act as a third limb, too; attach the flashlight to a surface for light, keeping both your hands free.

With so many options and different brands to choose from, we have taken a look at the best magnetic flashlights on the market and reviewed them all in one place.

Here are our top picks of the Best Magnetic Flashlights:

Questions to Consider Before Purchase

You need to consider all these questions when choosing the best magnetic flashlight for your needs.

  • How durable is the product?
  • The warranty. How long is it?
  • Are the size and weight suitable?
  • What are its recommended uses? Does that fit what you are looking to use the flashlight for?
  • What type of batteries does it use?
  • What is the battery life? Does it need to be replaced or recharged frequently?

Read our Ultimate Guide to Flashlights to learn what to look for when finding the best flashlight for your needs

Product Reviews

We understand that the number of magnetic flashlights on the market can be overwhelming to look through. That’s why we came up with a list of our top six picks.

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This flashlight is very light at only 3.65 ounces. It’s 5.15 inches in length and 1-inch in diameter,  with a head that’s adjustable to 90 degrees.

The flexibility of angling the flashlight to 90 degrees allows you to pop this model into your pocket, keeping both hands free. You can also use the supplied clip to attach it to a hat or epaulet.

Attaching the magnetic bottom of the torch to a suitable surface is another way of keeping the light focused while keeping both hands free.

The flashlight has five standard modes available, including a maximum output of 1000 lumens on the turbo mode and a 603-foot peak beam distance.

On a single charge, turbo-mode will last one hour, or the flashlight has an ultralow mode of 1-lumen, which will allow you to use it as a nightlight or reading torch for 700 hours.

With an impact resistance to 3-foot and an IPX-8 rating that means its submersible up to 6 feet, this is a flashlight that‘s ideal in a range of situations.

The ’s power comes from one 18650 battery, 2 x CR123A, or 2 X RCR123A, none of which come as standard.

The purchase includes a pouch, pocket clip, lanyard and a spare O-ring

Pros:

  • Five modes available.
  • Reading torch works for 700 hours.
  • Accessories included.
  • Impact resistant.

Cons:

  • Non-standard batteries.

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This powerful magnetic flashlight is a compact 4,252 inches long by 1-inch wide. It weighs only 3,77 ounces with the battery and clip in situ. Being waterproof down to six feet and impact resistant to a distance of 4.5 feet, is specially designed for adventurous individuals.

It fits in the palm perfectly, and there is a range of different brightness features. It will fit in your pocket without you realizing it is there.

This magnetic flashlight includes the required lithium-ion battery. The delivers a superb top output of 2000 lumens and gives a 400-foot beam for up to one hour in the highest of its five modes.

On its lowest setting of 5 lumens, it will last an amazing five days. It also has a 2000 lumen strobe for emergencies.

Many users of this flashlight say that they loved the clip on the side, which made it easy to fasten it onto a dog lead securely.

The flashlight has a five-year warranty, and should anything go wrong, the customer support is prompt and informative.

Pros:

  • Lightweight.
  • Waterproof up to six feet.
  • Durable and impact resistant.
  • Includes side clip.

Cons:

  • Some buyers complain the lumens are too low.

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With an incredible nine modes, including SOS, strobe, a green and two red modes, this flashlight stands out. It also has an intelligent battery reminder that, by a flashing indicator system, will tell you how much power you have left in the battery.

The light head can turn to a 90 degrees angle to the main body, so it’s ideal for carrying in the top pocket of a hunting jacket or such-like, keeping the hands free.

With the high-tenacity magnetic base, it will also stand firm on any magnetic surface.

This magnetic flashlight weighs 10.4 ounces. Its dimensions are 6.3 inches by 1.02-inch, and it has a maximum  of 300 lumens output. It is water and weather resistant.

This product comes with a lithium battery, a USB charging cable, a spare O-ring and a user manual.

The downside to this flashlight is that it can take several hours to recharge fully.

Pros:

  • Battery reminder.
  • Different color modes.
  • 90-degree-angle head.

Cons:

  • Long charging time.

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The is an extremely light and compact flashlight, but also incredibly powerful. At only 2.48 inches long, you are not going to find a much smaller flashlight on the market.

The clip is ideal to be fastened onto a dog lead for walks in the dark or even clipped onto the dog’s collar. The magnetic base makes securing the flashlight to any magnetic surface simple.

This product comes ready to be used, including battery, and a five years warranty for peace of mind.

This magnetic flashlight has a textured body for a solid grip, and considering its small size, the single IMR16340 rechargeable battery in the S1R II has a super output of 1,000 lumens. This gives a maximum range of over 400 feet.

Olight have thought about the usability of this product, and have created a three-level battery indicator so that the user can see how much battery is remaining in the product.

Green indicates there is over 60% charge, less than 60% the indicator will be orange, and less than 10% there will be a red light.

If used for a long time, this product does seem to get very hot in the hand. Be wary about using it for a sustained period.

Pros:

  • Battery indicator.
  • Five-year warranty.
  • High lumen output.
  • Battery included.

Cons:

  • Heats up in the hand.

Streamlight 14032 Sidewinder

This Streamlight Military tactical flashlight is the most expensive flashlight that we have on our list, and it looks like it could have come straight out of Star Wars with its unique rectangular shape. The other anomaly is “it ain’t magnetic!”.

It is, however, classed as a “hands-free” device, Streamlight specifically designed it to attach to military attire, so that’s why it makes our list.

This is the real deal when it comes to durability. The case is super tough nylon, and the lens is an unbreakable polycarbonate, which has a scratch-resistant coating.

At 2.34 x 4.65 inches, and weighing 5.02 ounces, the torch is hardly a noticeable distraction when mounted.

The rotary selector knob prevents the accidental changing of modes and allows you to select any of the four light sources, green, blue, red or white. 

With an IPX7 rating, it is waterproof to 3 feet for up to 30 minutes. It is also impact tested to a height of 9 feet.

Not the brightest of lights, the 55 lumens at its highest setting, is an ideal brightness for tactical maneuvers, and with a 5.5-hour battery life, it will last the whole evening. 

If full brightness is not needed, there are three lower settings. You can get over 100 hours of light on the bottom, 5 percent, output setting. Two standard AA batteries will power this flashlight. 

The head of this flashlight has an impressive 185 degrees range of articulation. It also boasts a sturdy metal, screw-fixed, clip for attaching it to a military-style helmet, webbing or belt. The Khaki-like green color of the product will blend with the background when the light is not in use.

Pros:

  • Standard batteries.
  • Long battery life.
  • Clip.

Cons:

  • Not much light output.

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Fenix is a respected name in flashlight manufacturing circles. The 5-year warranty that comes with this product shows they have confidence in it.

At a mere 2.36 inches long, its barrel and head are less than an inch in diameter. The flashlight’s weight is a modest 1.17 ounces without its battery. This unobtrusive device is easy to carry at all times.

It’s a little powerhouse too, with five settings and a maximum output on “Turbo” mode, of 750 lumens. Turbo will drain the rechargeable Lithium-ion battery quickly, though, lasting only 45 minutes. 

The high mode is more than adequate for most uses and gives a decent 150 lumens for over two and a half hours. The lowest setting, at five lumens, lasts around the 70 hours mark. The emergency strobe mode flashes at 750 lumens.

An IPX rating of IP68 means that this Fenix is dust, sand and dirt resistant and submersible up to 9 feet for up to 30 minutes. It is also resistant to impact from a drop of 3.28 feet.

The clip and magnetic base make it easy to anchor this flashlight to a hat, dog collar or magnetic surface. The product also comes with a wealth of accessories, including a lanyard, keyring charging cable and spare O-ring.

Pros:

  • Long-lasting low setting.
  • Clip for easy attachment.
  • Lots of accessories.
  • Resistant to the elements.

Cons:

  • Turbo mode is short-lasting.

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The is the latest product in Olight’s popular S2R Baton series and it’s more compact and powerful than its predecessors. A maximum output of 1150 lumens means serious output. Plus the upgraded TIR lens allows generates a well-balanced beam.

Power in the SR II is generated via a 3200 mAh lithium battery that can be magnetically charged. A battery indicator on the side switch helps you easily monitor the device’s power levels.

The charging capabilities of the flashlight have also received an upgrade this time around with the help of an MCC II USB charging cable. Sturdy and durable, the flashlight’s exterior is made of a hardy AL6061-T6 aluminum alloy.

Pros:

  • CW LED bulb creates a powerful output of 1150 lumens
  • Multi-functional side switch allows easy access to five brightness levels
  • Has a special strobe mode
  • A strong magnet allows for hands-free access to the flashlight

Cons:

  • Fairly large to be used as a pocket light

Streamlight 88830 PolyTac 90

The Streamlight 88830 PolyTac 90 is a right angle magnetic flashlight with a C4 LED bulb for an incredibly bright beam. This waterproof device has been tested for one-meter depth resistance and includes an integrated carabiner style D-ring for a wide range of attachment options.

Designed for easy accessibility, you can activate the strobe and low modes using fast double and triple clicks respectively. In order to increase the mounting options, a versatile clip that can be rotated, removed, or reversed as needed is included.

This compact flashlight is powered by two 3-volt CR123A lithium batteries that boast an incredible shelf life of 10 years. The device’s design has received an IPX7 rating.

Pros:

  • C4 LED technology helps create an extremely bright and well-balanced beam
  • A 90-degree beam head provides greater range in the viewing angle
  • The clip is fully rotatable, removable, and reversible

Cons:

  • There have been some complaints by customers regarding the overall quality of the design

Streamlight 88087 ProTac 90

The Streamlight 88087 ProTac 90 is a right angle EDC light that offers superior features and an impressive build. A lightweight device, it weighs just 2.8 ounces and has compact dimensions:  3.78 x 1.05 x 0.86 inches.

A unique feature is that it can be run using either a single AA lithium battery or a single AA alkaline battery. The C4 LED technology used to power the device can produce 5,400 candelas at peak intensity, generating a 300-lumens beam that can reach 147 meters away.

Low mode generates a 700-candela beam of 40 lumens for visibility of up to 53 meters. This allows for a wide range of viewing angles based on the user’s needs.

Each of the power source options means varied battery life. With the CR123A lithium power source, the torch can be run for 1 hour 45 minutes in high mode and 14 hours in low mode.

The AA alkaline battery lasts for 2 hours 45 minutes in high mode and 8 hours in low mode while the AA lithium battery runs for 5 hours and 30 minutes in high and 15 in low.

This highly durable device is built using an anodized machined aircraft aluminum case, allowing it to withstand high temperatures and tackle impacts of up to two meters.

Pros:

  • This device can be powered using a single AA lithium battery or a single AA alkaline battery.
  • Extremely durable exterior built using aircraft aluminum case.
  • Two-meter impact resistance.
  • Waterproof for up to one meter and 30 minutes.

Cons:

  • There have been some complaints regarding the quality of the switches.

Fenix WT20R

Fenix WT20R Magnetic Flashlight is reliable and sturdy with two distinct modes: spotlight and floodlight. When operating in the high end of the spotlight mode, the device uses the 400 lumens bulb to generate a 117-meter beam that can be sustained for 3.5 hours.

The medium mode uses 150 lumens to create a 72-meter beam that can be used for 10 hours while the low mode uses only 50 lumens to generate a 42-meter beam that lasts up to 21 hours.

When operating in the high floodlight mode, the 400-lumen bulb generates a small but focused 56-meter beam that can run for 3.5 hours. Medium mode creates a 150-lumen, 35-meter beam for up to 10 hours while the low mode powers a 50-lumen, 20-meter beam offering 21 hours.

This device is packed with numerous novel features such as a wide, adjustable light head that allows a viewing angle of 105 degrees, a magnetic tail for hands-free access, and reverse polarity protection to preserve the device from improper battery insertion.

Pros:

  • This rechargeable flashlight runs on 2 Cree LEDs that allow for a lifespan of 50,000 hours
  • The light head has a wide adjustable angle of 105 degrees
  • The device has a maximum output of 400 lumens

Cons:

  • A rechargeable battery can be difficult to procure 

Final Thoughts

It can be arduous to find a durable, efficient, and sturdy flashlight that is going to be a good investment for all of your endeavors and stay put when you want it to. 

Magnetic (and “hands-free) flashlights allow operation without needing to carry or hold them.

For most users, the is the ideal go-to torch. Its magnetic base, mode options, battery life, adjustable head, and sturdy build make it suitable for most situations.