Torch Collection

Gear & EDC

Flashlights & Headlamps

The Right Light for Every Spot

6

Lights in Collection

700

Max Lumens

$2.60

Lowest Per-Unit Cost

3

Power Types

Once you start thinking about where you actually need a light, the list grows fast. The glove box. The work bag. The crossbody. The garage shelf. The answer isn't finding one perfect torch — it's accepting that different situations call for different tools, and that some situations call for a light that doesn't depend on a working outlet.

For most part I've not needed anything particularly brighter than 300 or 400 lumens and found that sufficient for everyday needs, including occasional camping and outdoors.

I've since pivoted to focus on headlamps as well, picking up the Fenix HM50R v2.0 — and it's been immediately clear how much I was leaving on the table with a 100-lumen headlamp. I ended up using headlamps more than flashlights when camping since they're more convenient, but when I needed to throw a beam further down, the flashlights were more useful, like checking down a steep ravine.

 

Table of Contents

① Inventory

② Rechargeable Lights

③ Battery-Powered Lights

④ Headlamps

⑤ Full Collection

Section I

Inventory

• →   Fenix HM50R v2.0 Headlamp — 700L — Rechargeable (USB-C)
• →   Anker Bolder LC40 — 400L — Rechargeable (Micro USB)
• → Kunhe Mini — 300L — Rechargeable (USB-C)
• → Duracell — 250L — AAA alkaline
• → Energizer Vision 700 — 700L — CR123 lithium
• → Energizer Headlamp — 100L — AAA alkaline
• 
  

Section II

Rechargeable

The rechargeables handle everything routine. One is a stash light. The other is a tool.

Kunhe Mini — $13 for a 5-pack

At $2.60 per light, the Kunhe Mini answers the question before you even ask it. Three hundred lumens, pocket-sized, USB-C rechargeable, 1.5 oz. Light enough to forget it's there until you need it.

It lives in the glove box, the work bag, the crossbody. That's the whole strategy. When you need a flashlight, you need it now — not after remembering where you left the one good one you own. Stashing them everywhere removes that problem at $2.60 a pop.

The honest trade-off: it's a convenience item, not a serious tool. Three hours of runtime on high, IPX4 splash resistance. Fine for 90% of real-world use. Not what you reach for when conditions get serious.

Anker Bolder LC40 — $30

A different animal entirely. Heavier, more substantial, and noticeably better built. Four hundred lumens, 3,350mAh battery, IP65 rated, up to 20 hours on medium. When I need a strong directed beam in-hand outdoors, the Anker earns it.

The downside: Micro USB instead of USB-C. In 2024 that's a legitimate knock, and worth noting if you've standardized your cables. It won't fit casually in a pocket, so it has a dedicated spot rather than a stash location. That's fine — it's a tool, not a spare.

I still reach for a headlamp more often outside since hands-free almost always wins. But the LC40 is what I grab when a real beam matters.

Section III

Battery-Powered

I rarely use my battery-powered flashlights anymore. They are more a backup in the event I cannot recharge my main lights and need to rely on AAA or CR123 batteries. I also trust these are more stable for long term storage.

Duracell AAA — 250 lumens

Simple, run of the mill AAA LED torch. I got it at Costco years ago. It doesn't last very long, but has been useful to have around the house as I always have a large supply of AAA batteries — also from Costco.

Energizer Vision 700 — 700 lumens — CR123

Before rechargeable, this was my favorite torch. It's now my backup as well. It still rivals the Anker LC40 in many ways.

Section IV

Headlamps

Hands-free almost always wins outdoors. I ended up reaching for a headlamp far more than a flashlight on camping trips — the convenience is hard to overstate. The trade-off is throw distance: when I needed to check down a steep ravine or light up a distant target, the flashlights still earned their place.

Energizer Headlamp — 100 lumens — AAA

It served its purpose, but in hindsight 100 lumens is genuinely dim. Fine for moving around a campsite, but anything beyond arm's reach starts to feel underpowered. I didn't fully appreciate how underpowered until I had something better to compare it against.

Fenix HM50R v2.0

I specifically wanted the Fenix heading into a Yosemite trip, and I'm glad I didn't wait. The difference between 100 and 700 lumens is not subtle — it's the difference between a night light and an actual tool. Rechargeable via USB-C, compact enough to forget it's on your head, and genuinely capable in the dark.

Once you've used a high-lumen headlamp in the field, it's very hard to go back. The Energizer is now firmly a backup — the Fenix is the default.

Section V

Full Collection

Light	Type	Lumens	Power	Price
Kunhe Mini ×5 pack	Rechargeable	300	USB-C Li-Po	$13 ($2.60 ea)
Anker Bolder LC40	Rechargeable	400	Micro USB Li-ion	$30
Fenix HM50R v2.0	Headlamp — Rechargeable	700	USB-C Li-ion	—
Duracell AAA	Battery	250	AAA alkaline	—
Energizer Vision 700 CR123	Battery	700	CR123 lithium	—
Energizer Headlamp	Headlamp — Battery	100	AAA alkaline	—

6 lights across 3 power types — from $2.60 stash lights to a 700-lumen headlamp built for Yosemite. The right light for wherever you actually need one.