11 Best Penlights (Review) in 2020

The Streamlight 88033 is a tactical / penlight combination that is built to last. It is perfect for military and law enforcement officials and has been designed with a push button tail switch to easily alter modes whenever you need. Furthermore, these modes are programmable to give you exactly what you need, whenever you need it.

With all of its features, there is no excuse not to carry this light every day, and it can help you in a multitude of situations that you don’t even realize. Its casing is robust and durable and can survive being dropped and submerged, even for days at a time.

This rechargeable LED flashlight has been selected as our Premium Choice when considering the best pen lights. The beam is strong and ultra-focused to allow for unparalleled use when inspecting sensitive electronics, patients, or simply searching in the back of the closet.

The charge port is hidden to protect it from the elements and the outer casing is easy to grip as well as being hugely robust to withstand damage such as drops or being driven over. No matter what you might need it for, the Coast Focusing penlight is certainly the best pen flashlight that you can find, for all occasions.

Our final product is Infray’s mini LED flashlight that boasts a strong beam despite its compact size. For those working in maintenance, medical or similar sectors this light is a great addition to your everyday tools that will make life a little bit easier.

The light has the ability to be focused on different situations and comes with a decent run time using easy-to-find AAA batteries. The aluminum body can take quite the beating, which is ideal for those who find themselves in tough environments day after day.

Topping out at a maximum of 500 Lumens, this is the brightest penlight on our list, and perhaps the brightest penlight you will ever find in your life (for now). ThruNite Archer 2A is a high-end flashlight at an entry-level price, so even newbies can reap its benefits. It offers multiple modes that are easy to switch between depending on your needs, and is small enough to carry easily in pockets without taking up too much space.

On lower settings, the battery life runs at an impressive 28 days, while higher settings will help to illuminate deep, dark areas of the world like it was the middle of the day. It also uses AA batteries, so you can be sure to easily find replacements when the battery does eventually run out. Love this product? Check out our review of the top EDC flashlights for our top picks. 

Don’t let the perhaps-too-Mr.-Spock name put you off, the Brite pen light is still an effective little device that is both slim and stylish as well as providing EPLI output that is perfect for all kinds of outdoor adventures. 

For its size, it offers impressive brightness, even though the whole light is only ever so slightly larger than a marker pen. The outer casing is durable and can be used every day for years without worrying about external damage. While the high runtime is merely 30 minutes, there are few occasions where you will need to use it for this long, so this shouldn’t be too much of an issue.

The 5.11 Tactical TMT penlight is the most compact on our list today but don’t let that fool you. While it may be lacking in stature (which is a good thing if you want a penlight for your shirt pocket) it still outputs a reasonable 90 lumens with a 40 meter light cone.

It’s not only water-resistant, but the durable outer casing has been drop test approved to 3 meters. It conveniently runs on readily available AAA batteries and two batteries are included with your purchase so you can use your new penlight as soon as it arrives. It should last you for up to 4 hours and all in all, is a steady companion light which you’ll appreciate for a host of recreational actives as well as work-based projects.

A massive improvement on the previous model, the Pelican 1920 LED pen flashlight brings an increased Lumen count (from 67 up to 120) despite only requiring one battery, while still providing a decent beam that can prove massively useful in any kind of situation.

The flashlight is slightly bulky, but you will get used to this pretty quickly and is still compact enough to fit comfortably in your shirt pocket so it can be easily accessed when inspecting hard to see areas such as attic spaces, under cars, or behind TVs. For different situations, there are two kinds of output mode, so you won’t waste battery life if you do not need to.

The Streamlight 66133 is our top choice for the best penlight and brings a high quality feel that would be perfectly suitable for both professional and every day environments. It comes at a great price, but there is nothing cheap about it, still providing excellent brightness that can survive years worth of use.

Its durability is a massively attractive feature, but it also comes with convenience to be utilized quickly and efficiently as well as having a long run time to be invaluable when camping or during power-outages. It is also a rechargeable flashlight, so can be relied on even when there is not a battery in sight.

Provided at an excellent and reasonable price, the 5.11 Tactical Pocket Penlight will be a great companion through years of work and recreational activities such as hunting and camping. The light can reach as far as forty meters and illuminates the area in a cone to ensure that you can see as much of what’s in front of you as possible.

It is small enough to be stored in the front pocket of a shirt and can be secured with a clip to prevent it falling out and disappearing. The outer casing is strong and scratch-resistant which is able to survive drops of up to 3 meters. With this pen light, you will get a reliable light source that can withstand all sorts of knocks and drops. Be sure to check our tactical flashlights review for more great options like this.

Our choice for the best value penlight is the Streamlight 66118 Stylus Pro that is sold with a high quality finish as well as a tear resistant holster to keep it safe in extreme environments. The push  button switch is easy to operate and won’t get stuck, while the light is compact enough to be carried in shirt or jacket pockets without weighing you down.

This compactness makes it ideal to carry around with you every day and use quickly and efficiently to replace using your phone camera. It has an excellent battery life, and has a durable outer casing to keep it operational come rain or snow.

Yeah, it looks more like a lightsaber handle than a flashlight, but doesn’t that make it cooler? The Fenix LD22 comes with a lifetime warranty, for your peace of mind, while also delivering in the functionality department, too.

It works perfectly as a camping light or one to use when working on the car, but can also function ideally as something to have around the house. Also provided is an excellent runtime with decent output that won’t blind you, but will also not have you straining your eyes, either.

Sturdy and well-built, Nite Ize brings both efficiency and style to the table with its Inova XP LED penlight. It has a powerful beam that offers a wide-spread and focused hotspot which means you’ll never be without light again.

Additionally, its twist-switch technology makes it easy to operate, even if it takes some getting used to. The construction is tough enough to handle all kinds of abuse and still delivers excellent results after years of use while still looking stylish. Our handy guide to the self defence flashlights features more great products like this so check it out.