# What is the Brightest Flashlight Bulb? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 12, 2010, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-brightest-flashlight-bulb/539146 "2010-05-12T04:38:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-brightest-flashlight-bulb/539146/1 "2010-05-12T04:38:51Z")
Flashlights are getting so darn confusing. Xenon, halogen, Krypton, LED I even found Xenon LED combo flashlights. A alphabet soup for light. all I want, is to see into the deepest, darkest corner of my basement. I want the brightest possible light. What’s considered the brightest bulb? Do batteries matter? Do D cell flashlights give more light than the AA mag lights? how about a rechargeable like this? it has a halogen. > **[Metabo 602511000 ULA 9.6-Volt to 18-Volt Cordless Halogen Flashlight for BSZ...](https://www.amazon.com/Metabo-602511000-9-6-Volt-Flashlight-Batteries/dp/B000JG9WXQ)** > > Amazon.com The Metabo 9.6-to-18-Volt Cordless Halogen Flashlight for BSZ Type Batteries provides 9.8 hours of use on a charge. It has a 4.4-watt halogen bulb and a focusable light beam to illuminate the precise area you are working in.... ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-brightest-flashlight-bulb/539146/2 "2010-05-12T05:17:38Z")
You’ll have to compare light output in lumens or some other metric. LED’s are going to be the most efficient which is something to consider when using a flashlight. To give you some idea of brightness, I [carry a Stanley 3 in 1](http://www.stanleytools.com/default.asp?CATEGORY=FLASHLIGHTS&TYPE=PRODUCT&PARTNUMBER=95-155&SDesc=Stanley%26%23174%3B+3-in-1+Tripod+LED+Flashlight) flashlight in my car. It consists of 3 separate 20 lumen flashlights that combine to form one 60 lumen flashlight. This is a serious amount of light for average use. It comes with a tripod mount and when all 3 are together they turn on/off as a single unit. You’re looking at $30. Moving up the scale you can get into [500 to 600 lumen flashlights in the $60 to $80 range](http://www.topledflashlights.com/). If you need to cook eggs with your flashlight then the [Torch](http://www.wickedlasers.com/lasers/The_Torch-74-41.html) will work at 4100 lumens. It costs $300. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-brightest-flashlight-bulb/539146/3 "2010-05-12T05:19:58Z")
Probably the brightest bulb is HID - but they are very expensive. You can get a 1600 Lumen LED flashlight [here](http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220587664342&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT), which should be bright enough for anyone. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-brightest-flashlight-bulb/539146/4 "2010-05-12T05:58:01Z")
It’s not that simple. Bulb type alone does not determine brightness, and there are many different ways to measure brightness. Start here: [Flashlight Reviews - Lux Measurements](http://www.flashlightreviews.com/features/lux.htm). For example, an LED might put out more light per watt than an incandescent bulb, but the incandescent might put out more overall light at a cost of energy efficiency. And even among the same bulb type, one flashlight might put out more overall light, but another might give you a brighter center that reaches further and then gradually tapers out towards the edges. At the extremes, compare a laser to a candle. Etc. And to say one “brightest possible bulb” is kind of misleading because many flashlights (especially LED ones) are composed of several individual bulbs – up to 10 or more in some cases. No easy answer, unfortunately. You can always get brighter lights by simply using more bulbs and more batteries, from keychain lights to full-size police flashlights to bike lights with their own external battery pack to headlamps with battery packs you wear in backpacks, etc… ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-brightest-flashlight-bulb/539146/5 "2010-05-12T07:56:57Z")
wow, this has really changed. I recall a few years ago that the mag halogen was a huge step above the old fashion flashlights. Now there’s a half dozen options. thanks for the links. I’ll get busy reading. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-brightest-flashlight-bulb/539146/6 "2010-05-12T12:43:41Z")
The brightest one I ever heard of used a high-intensity discharge (HID) bulb, similar to those blue-white headlights in cars, as **beowulff** mentioned. There are three mentioned at the [LED Museum](http://www.ledmuseum.org/). ---
**Author:** ![ducati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@ducati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ducati)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-brightest-flashlight-bulb/539146/7 "2010-05-12T16:39:45Z")
If it’s confusion, er, information you seek, head over to the [Candlepower Forums](http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/portal/index.php). These (we) guys live this stuff. My suggestion? You never want the cheapest lawyer, doctor, condom, or flashlight. My life and others depend on my lights working and bright. I have over two dozen [Surefire](http://www.surefire.com/)lights and they’ve never let me down. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-brightest-flashlight-bulb/539146/8 "2010-05-12T16:53:13Z")
Unless you’ve got the world’s largest, darkest basement, a 3 watt Maglite LED should be just fine for your purposes. You can get ridiculously bright “tactical” flashlights, but those are overkill for your purposes – those are designed to temporarily blind evildoers (and also let you whack them upside the head with machine-tooled aluminum as well). Seriously, if you need more light than a maglite (or equivalent) will throw, it’s time to call an electrician. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2010, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-brightest-flashlight-bulb/539146/9 "2010-05-13T00:35:02Z")
I must of worded this thread badly. I wasn’t looking for exact lumen comparisons. I just wanted some general ranking. It’s assumed the old fashioned flashlights are the weakest. I remember when halagon made them obsolete. If I’m in the store pricing flashlights under $20. I have no idea if Xenon, halogen, Krypton are equivalent or not. Seems like it’s easier to just reach in the bin and grab whatever I touch first. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2010, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-brightest-flashlight-bulb/539146/10 "2010-05-13T05:42:01Z")
It doesn’t work that way. That’s just marketing. Bulb type (or gas used in the bulb) gives you no clear indication of brightness. If you want the brightest light, you **need** to measure the light output, not the method of light generation. Some LED flashlights will be brighter than some incandescents – **and vice versa**. For a “bright enough” flashlight, just go with a high-quality LED one. Expect to spend $40-$50 for a usable one that would let you see into the basement just fine; the batteries should last a good few hours. The benefit of LEDs isn’t necessarily brightness (though they are comparable to other technologies if you’re willing to pay more); they typically last a lot longer and they’re a lot more power-efficient, meaning you won’t have to swap out batteries as much. Car analogy time: It’s a bit like asking “Which car is the fastest?”, but instead of measuring their actual speed, you’re only told whether they’re diesel, electric, or gasoline-powered. That won’t give you the answer you need. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2010, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-brightest-flashlight-bulb/539146/11 "2010-05-14T03:06:34Z")
thanks. I see what you mean. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2010, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-brightest-flashlight-bulb/539146/12 "2010-05-14T03:56:42Z")
[This flashlight is pretty bright](http://www.ledcreations.net/). ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2010, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-brightest-flashlight-bulb/539146/13 "2010-05-14T11:22:30Z")
Brightest is probably a carbon-arc, but you might have to carry a portable generator on you back or something Brian ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-brightest-flashlight-bulb/539146/15 "2013-05-15T17:24:32Z")
zombie or no **aceplace57** are you still in the dark?