Best Flashlights and Lanterns for Power Outages

Use flashlights, not candles

NFPA’s candle safety tip sheet says to have flashlights and battery-powered lighting ready to use during a power outage, and never to use candles. The American Red Cross gives the same advice: use flashlights, not candles. Ready.gov and the Red Cross both list a flashlight and extra batteries in a basic emergency kit.

A sensible outage setup is one area light per shared room, a flashlight or headlamp per person, and spare batteries for anything that takes disposable cells.

Quick picks

Specifications are from each maker’s product page or info sheet, checked October 5, 2026.

The picks

Goal Zero Lighthouse Core: best rechargeable lantern

The Goal Zero Lighthouse Core, SKU 32009 (Search Amazon for Goal Zero Lighthouse Core ), is a warm-white LED lantern rated at 430 lumens. You can light one side or both. Goal Zero lists 350+ hours with one side lit on low, 8 hours with one side on high, 200+ hours with both sides on low and 4 hours with both on high. Its 4400 mAh lithium-ion battery recharges from USB in about 5 hours, or from a Goal Zero Nomad 10 solar panel in about 5 to 10 hours.

The USB output (5V, up to 1A) can recharge a phone or other small USB device. Goal Zero says to keep it plugged in or charge it every 3 to 6 months, so it is ready when the power goes out. It weighs 0.8 lb.

Energizer WeatheReady 360 lantern: best on disposable batteries

The Energizer WeatheReady 360 LED Emergency Lantern (Search Amazon for Energizer WeatheReady 360 lantern ) runs on either three D or three AA batteries. That is the reason to own one: you can keep fresh cells on the shelf instead of keeping a battery charged. Energizer rates it at 500 lumens for up to 30 hours on high, or up to 90 hours in its energy-saving mode on three Energizer D batteries.

It has a soft night-light mode, a glow-in-the-dark switch you can find in the dark, an IPX4 water-resistance rating and a USB port for charging devices. Search for the 500-lumen, 360-degree version that matches these specs, since Energizer sells several WeatheReady lanterns.

Streamlight ProTac 2AA-X: best flashlight

The Streamlight ProTac 2AA-X (item 88033) comes with two AA alkaline batteries and a nylon holster. On AA cells, Streamlight rates it at 270 lumens for 2.5 hours on high or 18 lumens for 48 hours on low. It also accepts Streamlight’s USB-C rechargeable battery pack, sold separately as item 88136, which raises output to 550 lumens.

It is about 6 inches long and weighs 3.5 oz with a battery. Streamlight lists an IPX7 rating (waterproof to 1 meter for 30 minutes), 2-meter impact testing and a limited lifetime warranty. Because it takes AA cells, the same size the Midland ER310 and WR120B radios use for backup, one battery stockpile covers several devices.

Black Diamond Spot 400: best hands-free light

A headlamp keeps both hands free for cooking, reading or caring for someone. The Black Diamond Spot 400 (Search Amazon for Black Diamond Spot 400 ) runs on three AAA batteries (included) or a BD 1500 rechargeable battery. Black Diamond rates it at 400 lumens on high, 200 on medium and 6 on low, with 2.5, 5 and 200 hours of burn time on AAA batteries.

It has a red night-vision mode, strobe, dimming, a lock mode and a battery meter. Black Diamond rates it IPX8, tested to operate at least 1.1 meters underwater for 30 minutes. It weighs 86 g with AAA batteries.

LuminAID PackLite Max: best solar backup

The LuminAID PackLite Max 2-in-1 (Search Amazon for LuminAID PackLite Max ) is an inflatable lantern with a built-in solar panel and a 2000 mAh battery. LuminAID lists up to 50 hours of runtime and says the battery can give a cell phone one charge through its USB-A port. LuminAID says it is waterproof and floats, and lists its weight at 12.5 oz.

LuminAID says not to use or store it above 113°F, or leave it in a hot vehicle or in direct sunlight indoors. Its maker page doesn’t give one consistent brightness figure, and LuminAID now sells the Quick-Inflate (QI) version, so check the version and brightness on the listing you buy.

How to choose outage lights

• Pick your power plan. Rechargeable lights (Goal Zero, LuminAID) need regular charging. Disposable-battery lights (Energizer, Streamlight, Black Diamond on AAA) need a battery stockpile and date checks.
• Look at low-mode run time. In a long outage, the low setting matters more than peak lumens. Compare the makers’ low-mode hours in the table.
• Cover rooms and people. Use an area light for shared rooms and a flashlight or headlamp for each person.
• Match battery sizes. Choosing AA and AAA lights means one set of spares can serve radios and other gear. See the emergency radio comparison for radios with AA backup.
• Store lights where you can find them in the dark. Keep one by the bed and one near the kitchen.

Which outage lights to buy

For most homes, buy a Goal Zero Lighthouse Core for the main room, a Streamlight ProTac 2AA-X per adult and a stock of AA batteries. Add the Energizer WeatheReady 360 if you want a lantern that never needs charging, a Black Diamond Spot 400 for hands-free work, and a LuminAID PackLite Max for the go-bag. The battery vs rechargeable lantern comparison covers that choice in more depth, and the 72-hour emergency kit guide lists the rest of the kit.

Sources checked

• NFPA: Candle Safety tip sheet
• American Red Cross: Power Outage Safety
• American Red Cross: Survival Kit Supplies
• Ready.gov: Build a Kit
• Goal Zero: Lighthouse Core Lantern and USB Power Hub
• Energizer: WeatheReady Emergency Lantern
• Streamlight: ProTac 2AA-X info sheet
• Black Diamond: Spot 400 Headlamp
• LuminAID: PackLite Max 2-in-1 Power Lantern