The Best Flashlights of SHOT Show 2026

SHOT Show is wild, and likelihood is, if there’s a product you’re searching for, you’ll discover it in Vegas. Heck, I noticed a belt-fed grenade launcher mounted on a drone. Two, really. But whereas all that’s enjoyable, I had a job to do. I put the distractions apart and searched out merchandise which might be a bit extra sensible, like flashlights.

Everyone wants a flashlight, whether or not you’re a hunter, a shooter, or a tenting fanatic. The listing goes on and on. The level is, flashlights are helpful, and SHOT Show is oddly the place most of the prime names within the flashlight recreation launch the newest and biggest.

Over a few days in Vegas, I ran all around the multi-building showroom flooring searching for the most effective new beams. After what was most likely an ungodly variety of steps, listed below are the highest flashlights of SHOT Show 2026.

It’s additionally price noting that I haven’t examined any of those lights extensively. These are simply my ideas from briefly taking part in with them on the showroom flooring.

Large Flashlights at SHOT Show 2026

Coast Longshot L50R

Of all the flashlights I noticed at SHOT present, I’m most excited in regards to the Coast Longshot L50R. It’s a highlight able to throwing 5,000 lumens as much as 1 km away. That could sound overkill, however fortuitously, it additionally has a floodlight, which is handier for on a regular basis out of doors use.

Prop it up on the connected kickstand, or cling it from the hook, and you’ve got a reasonably candy camp mild that’s additionally able to spotlighting at over a half a mile away. Or, you’ll be able to have each lights turned on on the similar time. That in itself makes it fairly killer.

But there’s a kicker: it floats. Yep, that’s proper, it’s not solely IPX67-rated, however it’s going to additionally keep on the floor if it leads to the drink.

That makes it the right flashlight for a variety of customers. Whitewater rafters, fishermen, and duck hunters all want one on board their boats. The mild hasn’t formally hit the market but, and there’s a smaller model with a 2,500-lumen output. Both will retail for below $100. Seems like a screaming deal to me.

Acebeam X30

The Acebeam X30 caught my consideration with its spectacular 20,000-lumen max output, reaching as much as 600 m, whereas remaining comparatively small. No, it actually gained’t slot in your pocket, however because of the included pocket clip, it’s going to sit comfortably in your belt or a backpack strap.

Due to its handheld measurement, it gained’t maintain the 20,000-lumen beam for lengthy. In turbo mode, it holds the extraordinarily highly effective beam for about 20 seconds, after which drops to three,000 lumens. It can function in that mode for two hours. At extra affordable mild ranges of 500 lumens and 200 lumens, the flashlight will keep powered on for 11 hours and 23 hours, respectively.

The consumer interface is straightforward, with each a tail change and a aspect change for switching between the three mild modes: fixed mild, crimson mild, and strobe mode. It’s rechargeable by way of a USB-C charging port and comes with two 21700 tabless batteries.

Don’t get me unsuitable, I really like small EDC lights. But for prolonged use like multi-night camps, they simply don’t reduce it. I just like the X30 as a result of it guarantees to be an ideal match for many who want a bit extra energy and battery life, however nonetheless need a moderately sized mild. It’s the comfortable medium between EDC and a highlight.

The X30 will probably be accessible to ship in February and retails for $209.

EDC Flashlights at SHOT Show 2026

Nitecore EDC09

One of the best flashlights I noticed at SHOT present 2026 was the Nitecore EDC09. There are some things that make it so helpful, most notably the pivoting head, which rotates 102 levels, making certain you’ll be able to level the sunshine precisely the place you need. The rear of the flashlight additionally has a magnet in it, which, along side the rotating head, makes it one of many higher hands-free flashlights I’ve seen.

The head is stiff sufficient to remain locked in place however rotates easily with a small quantity of stress from the consumer. Nitecore claims the pinnacle has been examined to 10,000 rotations with no points, so you’ll be able to belief it gained’t fail prematurely.

As far as illumination goes, it’s no slouch. The 4.25-inch, 4.02-ounce mild has a max output of 1,600 lumens with a throw of 153 m. In turbo mode, it has a battery life of two hours and quarter-hour; though, after a brief burst, the sunshine will start to dim from the utmost lumen output.

At a extra affordable mild stage of 200 lumens, the battery will final for nearly 3 hours. At its lowest setting of fifty lumens, it’s going to keep powered for 13 hours. The mild has three temperature modes, which might be cycled by way of by urgent the “M” button on the aspect.

The mild features a four-light LED battery life show, an IPX6 score, and is drop-resistant as much as 2 m. This specific mild was launched in December and is available now for $70.

While on the sales space, I additionally checked out the marginally much less new EDC17, which has related specs however lacks a rotating head and ditches completely different temperature modes in favor of an LED mild, UV mild, and a laser pointer for $95.

Acebeam K1

Or, if the Nitecore EDC09 or EDC17 are a bit too high-dollar for you, take a look at the Acebeam K1. It’s one other small (4.33 inches, 2.7 ounces) three-light supply flashlight I noticed on the present. All variations of the K1 have a 1,000-lumen LED mild, laser, and UV mild, and retail for $55. You can get variations with a crimson or inexperienced laser, or drop one other 35 bucks to get one with a blue laser, if that’s your factor.

The consumer interface couldn’t be simpler. You flip the sunshine on and off and cycle by way of the brightness ranges by urgent the tail button. To change between mild features, flip the ring on the sunshine’s head. There are little diagrams of the modes and an arrow pointing to which mode you’re on.

When absolutely charged and set to excessive, the sunshine emits 1,000 lumens for 1 minute, drops to 600 lumens (half-hour), after which drops to 110 lumens (half-hour). On medium mode, it emits 200 lumens for two hours and 40 minutes. On low, the sunshine lasts 60 hours.

I’ve been packing this mild round since SHOT Show, and it’s carried out properly to this point. The compact measurement and a number of lights make it a reasonably candy little flashlight for the cash.

Fenix LD30 Renegade

In phrases of run time, the Fenix LD30 Renegade was one of many extra spectacular EDC flashlights I noticed at SHOT present 2026. No, it doesn’t have lasers, UV lights, a tilting head, or magnets. But, this 4.16-ounce, 4.58-inch flashlight will final a powerful 10 hours when emitting 200 lumens. And, it may well shoot as much as 1,800 lumens for brief intervals in burst mode.

There are 5 lighting modes, every with a distinct run time, and all are fairly good given the compact measurement. In eco mode, it lasts for over 250 hours. It’s simple to cycle by way of modes by urgent the aspect change after turning the sunshine on with the tail change. A light-weight on the aspect change signifies the battery’s cost stage.

All that’s nice, however the most effective a part of this new mild is that it may well tailstand. The Fenix PD36R ACE, which presently holds the GearJunkie “Best Overall Award” within the Best Flashlights of 2026 purchaser’s information, can’t tailstand. It’s nice to see a model take consumer suggestions and combine it into new merchandise.

The LD30 Renegade is impact-rated to 1 m, has an IP68 score, and retails for $80.

Tiny Flashlights at SHOT Show 2026

Streamlight Wedge SL

The Streamlight Wedge SL is a novel design, modeled after a normal carpenter pencil. It’s a contact over an oz., slides properly into your pocket, and stays put with the included pocket clip. The Wedge simply disappears when stowed.

There are a number of lighting modes, with the very best being THRO mode, which emits 500 lumens at a distance of 80 m. On excessive, the Wedge SL emits 100 lumens at 35 m for 1.75 hours. It can emit 50 lumens for 3.5 hours.

With a easy design, the consumer interface is a bit trickier to elucidate on paper, nevertheless it’s all managed with a programmable tail change. With somewhat follow, I had it dialed on the showroom flooring.

The flashlight is USB-C rechargeable and has 4 LED indicator lights on the aspect. No, it doesn’t have specs that can wow you, nevertheless it’s one of the crucial snug carrying lights I noticed at SHOT Show 2026, and it retails for $70 in most locations.

Nitecore TIP3

The Nitecore TIP3 is an lovely little man. It’s the very same measurement as the important thing fob for my truck. But after I turned it on, I used to be hit with a blindingly vibrant mild and thought, “Whoa! That’s not what I was expecting!”

It can emit 720 lumens as much as 92 m. That’s a complete soccer subject! Quite spectacular seeing the way it’s simply the smallest mild I noticed at SHOT Show. For practical functions, although, it may well emit 220 lumens for nearly an hour and 45 minutes.

There are solely two buttons, which makes biking by way of the 5 brightness modes a breeze. And on prime of the completely different brightness ranges, the TIP3 has three completely different colour modes. That’s a bunch of options packed right into a tiny mild.

The flashlight has a battery stage show and comes with each a pocket clip and a key ring. For $40, decide one up and throw it in your key ring. There’s no excuse to not have a flashlight on you always.