Light Up the Night: The Best Handheld Spotlights of 2022

Being able to light up the darkness in the dead of night has been something man has quested for since first learning to harness fire. Once we discovered how to make light, we have seen that there is so much more we can get done—from lengthening the day by being able to do more with the aid of some light, to feeling a little more secure by seeing what is going bump in the night.

Going with the right handheld spotlight makes all the difference, so you want one that is bright, will last you well into the night, and is easy to use. You also want it to be something you do not have to worry about—something you charge, throw in the vehicle, and is ready when you need it.

Best Handheld Spotlights Comparisons 

There are a lot of options out there for good spotlights, so I have come up with a list that should, like a good spotlight, cover a broad spectrum of uses. I have looked for the most cost-effective, durable, and reliable options. There is nothing here that I would not use, some are just better than others.

It’s a good idea to first establish what your needs are before purchasing a spotlight—save yourself some trouble by considering your possible uses when you are going over this list so you can get the right light for the right job.

5 Best Handheld Spotlights - Reviews

This guy was made for search and rescue—it is waterproof, dust-proof, weather-proof, and even explosion-proof. No you did not read that wrong, this light is EXPLOSION PROOF. Holding a good charge for many hours on end, the Romer LED works when you need it most. Casting its light out at close to 800m, you will quickly see why this light is so useful.

The light has two light modes; High and Low. In the High setting, the beam is projected out to 800m and the battery can be used for up to 8 hours before it dies, which is pretty impressive. However, at the Low setting, the light only goes to 400m, but the battery life goes for a staggering 24 hours on a single charge. So keep it on the Low setting and it will last you a LONG time and save those high-beam moments for emergencies.

Another great feature is the battery unit has a USB output that will allow you to charge mobile devices, GPS, and phones in an emergency. The handle is very comfortable and good for extended use, plus it comes with an adjustable shoulder strap to help carry the light around for hours. Now that said, it is lightweight weighing in at just over a pound.

Shock-proof as well, and built to last, the Romer is a great spotlight for camping, fishing, hunting/spotting (depending on laws), search and rescue, and for general emergencies. The on/off button seems like it might be a little weak, but we are going to have to wait and see what happens with that over time—so far so good. 

The Romer was made for search and rescue, and the Titan X10 from Rugged Camp was made for camping.

This spotlight was designed to easily charge in the home or on the road in your car’s power outlets. It can also be charged from a USB charging device, and can even act as a charger for mobile devices and phones in a pinch. Great as a handheld unit, lightweight and durable, this light can also be set up on an integrated stand for hands-free use.

Offering 1000 lumens of spotlight power, this sucker will light up the dark and will kick that light out a lot further than most handheld spotlights with this many options. The work-light is bright enough to make setting up camp in the dark less of a chore, and can also be used to help change a flat tire—you can get about 8 hours of battery life out of the work-light. It has an emergency light that flashes and on one charge will blink for 15-30 hours, which is a great feature in the event of a breakdown on the roadside or any other emergency where you need to signal your location.

Great for car camping with a built-in hanger so you can have a good light inside your tent, and is easily charged in the car during the day when not in use. The one downside to all that power is that you only get about 2-3 hours of battery life.

If you are just looking for a reliable, all-around, handheld spotlight, then the Wasing 815 is perfect—shooting that light out at 1000 lumens gives you a very powerful light source right at your fingertips.

This one is a great spotlight to have at home as an emergency light, or you can charge it and throw it in the car for your next road trip/camping trip. One of the great features of this lightweight and powerful light is that the charger and charging cord are fully integrated—no more needing to worry about getting a spare charger. Mind you, this spotlight has a traditional plug like the ones you can find in your home, so will need an adapter to charge this in your car.

The light has 3 different settings, High, Medium, and Strobe Light. At High, the battery will last about 2-3 hours, but on Medium the light will last a whopping 12 hours on a single charge.

Now, for its price this is a great light, but it is truly bare bones and not made to withstand a lot of abuse. This would not be something I would use on any sort of hard camping trips, and since it uses a 120V-AC charger only, it will require an inverter to charge on 12V-DC. So while the light is not really built for travel or fishing off your boat, it can still be used for that niche, just be aware that you are going to want something more durable for extended use. Still, this one is a very good light for the price and it functions as advertised, so there is little to complain about. Not my first choice, but certainly not my last. 

Also Read: Submarine Illumination: Finding the Best Dive Lights

Streamlight has been one of my go-to companies for all things involving tactical and outdoor lighting. They have been around making flashlights and other nighttime lighting tools like spotlights for both the Military and Police for decades, so it’s no wonder why the WayPoint Spotlight makes the list.

With one of the best battery lives out there for a light at close to 82 hours on the lowest setting, you will have more time in the light and less time in the dark or tethered to a charger. The bulb itself is virtually indestructible and has over 50,0000 hours of life in it, yet another great feature from the good people at Streamlight.

Now, you are going to need to get rechargeable batteries and this spotlight does use 4 C Cell batteries, which makes it a bit heavy. So if you need a spotlight for boating and finding markers on the water where you are holding your arms out for a long time, it can become a chore. However, as a general spotlight for around the home, farm, hunting, and fishing, it is a great choice. 

Stanley has been a trusted name for years in home improvement and construction, and their Fatmax SL10LEDS Spotlight lives right up to their reputation.

A good, solid, and bright light that will throw light out up to a mile away, this one is great for boating, being able to illuminate moorings and docks at night with ease, as well as an emergency light in a pinch.

The unit comes with both 120V and 12V charging abilities and will hold a charge for up to a year (12 months), which is pretty astounding. Not only that, but you get a good 8 hours of battery life at full power to boot. So not only does this spotlight have double the power as the previously mentioned lights, it also has a good battery and multiple ways to charge the light. This model is somewhat heavier at just over 2 pounds, but it is by no means a “heavy” light. It is, however, a powerful one, kicking out at 2,200 lumens.

This light also comes complete with a red filter for the light, which is great for cutting down on white light reflecting off water or snow, plus the red filter is better on our eyes and will help us retain some of our natural night vision. However, this spotlight is NOT waterproof so you don’t want to get it wet—in fact, you should keep it out of heavy rain as well.

It would be nice if the light had a trigger lock, because you are required to hold the trigger down in order to use the light the entire time, and there is no way to lock it down. You could McGyver some sort of rig, but if this is important to you, you need to be aware—easily a downside, but not a deal-breaker.

Final Verdict

Given all of the options out there for handheld spotlights, it is important that you hone in on the right ones for you. And with the endless uses one can get out of a good spotlight, it is always nice to have a jack-of-all-trades that can get you across the board.

Maybe you need a good light for fishing at night, or perhaps you are part of a volunteer search and rescue team. Or maybe you just like to see what is going on around you at night while you are camping. Either way, you need yourself a good lightweight, portable, and easy-to-operate spotlight.

You also need to make sure that the light has a good battery life, is durable for your needs, and consider if you need something that can hold up to the weather and conditions of torment that you’re going to put it through. I often see people complain about using the wrong tools for the wrong job, so when you buy, make sure you are getting what you need and not just what is the least expensive—it will save you a lot of time and money.

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