Best Torches of 2026

Quick picks: the best torches compared

Best overall: Olight Marauder Mini

The Marauder Mini is the most capable torch we’ve tested: up to 7,000 lumens, a 600 m spot, a wide flood, red, green and blue light and a rotary dial to choose between them, with magnetic charging and a holster. At 470 g it’s a torch for the car, not the pocket, and at $320 it’s the most expensive here.

Best 2-in-1: Olight Perun 3 Mini

The Perun 3 Mini is a right-angle torch that clips into a headband, so it works as a head torch and as a pocket torch. It has neutral white light up to 920 lumens, a red light, a magnetic tail and magnetic charging, at 82 g with the headband. $95. For more head torches, see our head torches guide.

Best keychain torch: Olight i1R 2 Pro

The i1R 2 Pro is the keychain torch we’d pick: twist the head halfway for a 5 lumen Low that lasts about 12 hours, all the way for 180 lumens. It charges over USB-C and it’s waterproof to IPX8, at 21 g. High only lasts about 23 minutes and the battery is sealed in. $40.

Best rotating head: Wuben G5

The Wuben G5 is a 54 g pocket light with up to 400 lumens and a head that rotates, so you can point it where you need it, plus a magnet, a clip and seven colours of light. The brightest setting steps down quickly, the button sequences take learning and the battery can’t be replaced. $50.

Best AAA keychain torch: Olight i3E EOS

The i3E EOS is as simple as a torch gets: one AAA battery, a twist to turn it on and 90 lumens, in a 19 g, IPX8 body. There’s only one brightness and a battery lasts about 45 minutes, but spare batteries are cheap and everywhere. $19.

Best tactical torch: Olight Warrior 3S

The Warrior 3S is a 2,300 lumen, 139 mm torch with a side switch, a tactical tail switch, a proximity sensor and a removable 21700 battery, with magnetic charging. 177 g, $180.

Best pocket torch: Olight Baton 4 Premium Edition

The Baton 4 Premium Edition is a 63 mm, 1,300 lumen pocket torch with a side switch and five modes down to a sub-lumen Moonlight, plus a 5,000 mAh case that charges it up to five times and works as a power bank. The torch weighs 52 g, 198 g in its case. $150.

Best flood light: Olight Seeker 4 Pro

The Seeker 4 Pro is a 4,600 lumen, 133 mm torch with stepless dimming and a holster that charges and locks it. It’s at its best as a flood light around camp. 207 g, $200.

Fastest on: Olight iMini 2

The iMini 2 turns on as you pull it off its cap on your keys, and charges from a USB plug on its end with no cable. It’s only 50 lumens with one brightness, the plug is USB-A and it’s splash-proof rather than waterproof. 23 g with the carabiner, $30.

Longest throw: Olight Javelot Pro 2

The Javelot Pro 2 throws its 2,500 lumens up to 1,050 m, with a side and tail switch, magnetic charging and a kit with a remote switch, mount, filters and a hard case. At 424 g it’s at its best for spotting things a long way off. $290.

Best lantern and torch: Hebuck Mini LED Camping Light

The Hebuck Mini LED Camping Light is a lantern and a torch in one: a clear tube that lights up a tent or the camp table, a torch in the end, two red modes and a hook to hang it under the awning, with a battery indicator. It’s plastic and only IPX4. 95 g, $34.

Best clip-on light: Olight Oclip Pro

The Oclip Pro is a 54 g clip-on light with a 500 lumen flood, a 120 m spot and a red light, picked with a simple dial. High and turbo step down after about a minute and the battery can’t be replaced. $60.

Best budget torch: Blukar Torch

The Blukar Torch puts out a claimed 2,000 lumens with an adjustable zoom and reaches over 150 m, in a 95 g aluminium body with USB charging. It charges by Micro-USB, the zoom feels stiff and the cable is short. $23.

Best with a hook: Smiling Shark G1 Camping Torch

The Smiling Shark G1 is a compact USB-C torch with a spotlight, a side floodlight, a sensor mode and a hook to hang it under the awning or from a branch, 84 g. The build is plastic, there’s no battery indicator and it only has white light. $44 for a 2-pack.

How to choose a torch

Start with where the torch will live and what you’ll use it for. A keychain light is always with you; a pocket torch handles camp jobs; a big spotlight is for the car and the track. Then look at how it charges: USB-C and magnetic cables are the easiest, AAA batteries are easy to replace anywhere, and a low mode makes a charge last far longer than the headline lumens suggest.

• Keychain

  20 g

  Always on your keys, for the walk to the car or the toilet block. Small batteries, short run times on high.

  Best for

  Everyday carry, backup
  Like

  i1R 2 Pro, i3E EOS
• Pocket torch

  50–200 g

  Bright enough for camp and small enough for a pocket or belt. The everyday torch for most people.

  Best for

  Camp jobs, around the car
  Like

  Baton 4, Warrior 3S
• Spotlight

  400 g+

  Thousands of lumens and hundreds of metres of throw, for spotting across a paddock or down a track. Heavy and pricey.

  Best for

  4WD tracks, spotting
  Like

  Marauder Mini, Javelot Pro 2

For a light on your head while you cook or set up, see our head torches guide, and for lighting up the whole campsite, our camping lights guide.