Everybody’s got a flashlight in a drawer somewhere. Usually dead, usually the wrong one for whatever just went dark. Then the power drops, or you’re setting up camp after sunset, or you’re under the truck at dusk hunting for a socket you dropped. That’s when you find out real quick whether you grabbed the right kind of light. Flashlight or lantern isn’t a trick question. They do different jobs, and picking wrong is the difference between seeing your work and waving a bright spot around in the dark.
The choice between a flashlight and a lantern depends on your circumstances. If you want to focus on a specific area, are constantly on the go, and don’t have room for bulky gear, get a flashlight. If you want to light up a large area and have space to store, pack, and use the light source, go for a lantern.
Here’s what each one is good at, where each one falls apart, and the three lights we’d hand you depending on the job.
What Is the Difference Between Flashlights and Lanterns?
Flashlights shine in one direction (the traditional ones, at least). They are designed to cast a focused beam of light over a long distance. They utilize cone-shaped reflectors or specially designed lenses to focus all of the light emitted from the light source (bulb or LED) and project it in one direction. This creates a long beam of light, also called a hotspot of light.
Traditional flashlights are usually handheld devices. However, many flashlight accessory mounts have been developed to allow users to mount their traditional flashlights to their head, helmet, chest, arms, hands, etc.. They also come in clip-on formats that can be attached to packs, walls, and various structures. Magnetic ones can be attached to any metallic surface. Flashlights were invented after the electric bulb and have evolved to really powerful and essential tools.
Lanterns cast light in all directions. Unlike a traditional flashlight that focuses 100% of the light emitted by the bulb or LED in one direction, lanterns are designed to allow the light emitted from the bulb or LED to immerse the entire surrounding area in light. Conventional types have handles on top for easy grasping. A candle in a glass enclosure is still considered a lantern today, as it was centuries ago. Lanterns existed way before the electric bulb was conceptualized.
Lanterns’ power sources were formerly fuel-based, but now, like flashlights, are also powered by batteries, electricity, or even solar energy. Modern lanterns, like their flashlight equivalents, are now designed to emit light from an incandescent or LED source.
So, the primary difference between a lantern and a traditional flashlight is how the light is emitted from the bulb or LED. The power or intensity of that light is the determining factor in how bright the light truly is. In the past, luminous intensity was measured in candelas (candlepower). Now, it is measured in lumens. A flashlight and lantern can have the same lumen intensity, yet the visual output of the light will be much different. A 300-lumen lantern compared to a 300-lumen flashlight will be very different. However, how the light is used and the benefits of both are also much different.
What Is a Good Lumen for Mobile Light Sources?
A lumen is the unit of measurement for light output. The higher the number of lumens, the brighter the light. The lumen number is also shown for multiple light settings. It’s a great comparison tool when choosing a lighting device, but should not be the only determinant of its capacity. Intensity, distance, and beam type also influence a device’s effectiveness in various applications. If you’re sizing a light for a specific job, we break down how many lumens you need for a work light.
Also, be wary of cheap lights claiming high lumen levels. Many cheap lights and copy lights from unknown branded Chinese sources falsify their lumen-claims making people think they are getting a good light when in reality they are being tricked. Remember, in the lighting industry, you typically get what you pay for. Stick to known flashlight brands that are trustworthy and honor their warranties.
Fifteen years ago, the acceptable output for a tactical flashlight used in law enforcement was probably a Maglite with a typical incandescent bulb emitting about 100 lumens. Those lights were amazing and paved the way to the modern tactical flashlight. Today’s tactical handheld flashlights are capable of outputs ranging from 100 to 1,500 lumens, thanks to LED light technology.
Some flashlights can produce even more lumens, but they get large in size due to battery demands, have short run times, and require large aluminum heat sinks to keep them cool. Many people think that LEDs don’t generate heat, but when dealing with this much power and lumens, they actually can generate a lot of heat. Keeping them cool is essential for proper brightness and longevity. LEDs that overheat will get damaged, so it is important to ensure the high powered flashlights you buy are designed to handle the heat generated by these amazing high output LEDs.
Flashlights in the thousand-lumen range operating at maximum power get hot fast and drain batteries quickly. That’s why it’s important to check if your desired handheld is properly designed to handle the heat. Most are made from aluminum, which is not only durable, but also great at dissipating heat. Also, be sure to find a light with several brightness modes or adjustable illumination levels. Use full power when needed, but otherwise use the lower lumen levels to prolong battery life.
Benefits of Flashlights
Precision Control
Handheld flashlights are still the go-to for most people. Handheld flashlights are fantastic for instances when you want the strongest portable beam available, when accurate light manipulation is vital, when you need to do a task quickly, and when signaling is necessary. Flashlights have been used in this manner for their entire history, but over time, these demands gave rise to innovations in flashlight design, such as hands-free options, light output options including strobe and SOS, and even the spot beam and flood options.
Portability
When you want to inspect something right away or read something up close, get a portable flashlight. These small inspection lights are often called E.D.C. lights, which stand for Every Day Carry. Some people keep these in their pockets every day so they are always prepared.
However, if carrying a flashlight in your pocket every day is not realistic for you, it’s a good idea to always have a micro-unit (such as a penlight or EDC flashlight) in your bag, in your car, and readily available at home for emergencies. Some people simply rely on their cell phones these days, which is a great feature, but nothing beats the performance of a quality micro flashlight at the ready.
Benefits of Lanterns
They are indispensable during a prolonged power outage. A lantern can illuminate an entire room or outdoor area, allowing you to read, cook, and do basic activities not possible with a flashlight’s directional beam. They are useful for lighting a wide area, such as tents or campsites. While flashlights direct all of the light in one direction, they leave the majority of the area or room dark. Lanterns will light a space similar to a typical light bulb would. This will allow users to go about their normal tasks without having to hold and aim a flashlight.
The best lanterns are durable, produce bright, powerful light, have longer run times, and endure tough conditions.
A lantern is essential in emergency circumstances where regular lighting is unavailable, such as first aid administration or power outage situations. Lanterns have a longer run time compared to most flashlights, which consume batteries quicker. When you are in an emergency situation or power outage, you never know how long you will need effective lighting, so a lantern with longer runtimes is crucial.
A lantern makes a cabin, tent, or campsite homier. Its light is softer and spreads out over larger areas compared to blinding flashlight beams that wash out the spots they illuminate while leaving surroundings dark.
A regular flashlight can be propped on a table but lanterns are more stable. They are also designed to reflect light back down onto a table, so you can effectively light your table surface. LED lanterns typically don’t produce heat and are not hot to the touch, so they are safe to be used around children and pets and in cramped spaces. Only the most powerful LED lanterns will produce heat, but a properly designed lantern will dissipate the heat properly and prevent the user from touching any heat sinks directly.
Questions to Ask When Choosing A Portable Lighting Device
- What will you do with it?
- Where and how will you use it?
- How bright and expansive do you want the light to be?
- Do you need an individual flashlight or lantern, or a combination of both?
- Are size and weight important?
- Do you want more power or portability?
- How long will you need it to produce light?
- Are you more inclined to use alkaline batteries, rechargeable lithium batteries, or fuel as a power source?
- If rechargeable, can you still swap batteries, or also use alkalines if you can’t recharge?
- How does the light switch on/off? Could it be switched on by accident while inside your bag? If you plan to use it in cold conditions, how easily could you switch it on/off wearing gloves?
- Is it sturdy or light enough for your needs?
- Does it feel comfortable in your hand?
- Do you need a separate tool to open compartments or change batteries?
What to Look For In a Lighting Device
To find out which device best suits your needs, focus on reliability, quality, flexibility, and unique features. Also, consider your budget and how and where you’ll most often use it. For at home, you most likely will use it to look for something specific in which a flashlight’s mobility and beam direction are a good fit.
For camping, the lanterns multidirectional light, hanging design, and lower softer light make it the best match, however, they don’t do a good job of casting light a long distance. If you want to see what is making noise far off in the trees, you may want to consider a flashlight.
Check for warranties too. Many less than reputable, or non branded companies available on Amazon offer long warranties but don’t honor them. There is no real customer service and you have to send your faulty light back to China to have it repaired or replaced. Good luck. We recommend sticking with known brands that offer quality customer service local to the country you live in.
Note these features to narrow down your choice further:
Light Output
Are you needing a focused beam of light, or do you want to fill an area of light? In outdoor situations, a light does not have anything to reflect against, and the area you are trying to light is often larger, so you may opt for more powerful lights with higher lumen counts. However, the tradeoff is battery size or runtime. If you need high lumens for a long time, you will need a larger light source. A product with a higher illumination output should also have adjustable brightness levels. Use the lower levels when possible to preserve battery life and extend run times.
Quality of Illumination
Some devices give you the option to choose the kind of Illumination, such as warm/soft/day/natural light. The Kelvin scale rating helps with this choice. A rating of 5,000K is neutral and similar to sunlight. This “color” of light is great to work by, but can be harsh when you want to relax. Anything higher than 5000K means bluish “cool” light; anything lower is a yellow “warmer” light.
Beam Distance
This is the distance light will shine before its intensity decreases to the level of full moon illumination, considered safe for outdoor travel. This will vary depending on the brightness setting, and how focused your light beam is. The more focused a light beam is from a cone-shaped reflector, or lens, the further the light beam distance. A very focused light will travel a long distance, however, it is also not very useable inside a room, or doing tasks that are close to you because the “hot spot” of that beam will be very small and intense at short distances. The reflections will be very harsh on your eyes, and it will not light up much area at short distances. On the other hand, a lantern with 360° lighting will be nice to use indoors or to light up close contact areas, but will not have a very far beam distance. Match the beam distance of your device to your activity and the area you’re going to cover.
Run Time
This is the number of hours it takes for the light output to drop to 10% of the rated output on new batteries, rounded to the nearest 25 minutes. Each light setting has its own run time. Run time is affected by the power output of the light as well as the size of the battery. Batteries are measured in Milliamp hours, mAh. A battery with higher mAh will last longer.
Impact Resistance
This is the capacity of a device to remain functional after accidental impact or drops.
Water Resistance
water resistance is rated using the IPX system. An IPX of 0 has no protection from water, while the highest rating of IPX8 means it can be submerged to deep levels and for long periods of time with no water leakage or damage. Most users only really need to worry about their light being weather resistant, and not waterproof. However, if you use your light around water you may consider higher IPX ratings. For example, if you fish, boat, or work on swimming pools, you will want a light with higher IPX ratings.
Flexibility
Options for both hanging the device from a hook and having it stand on a flat surface are desirable. Some lanterns have removable shades. Other devices include lens filters and diffusers.
Adjustable Settings
The device should allow you to change intensity levels. Some models allow you to turn on a strobe, view long distances, and vary the light color from red to white while transitioning from complete darkness. Flashlights on headlamps allow portable, hands-free operation. Some headlamps also have a red LED light for night vision.
Weight and Size
This depends on your intended activity and venue. A larger, heavier unit will have a longer run time because of greater battery capacity and therefore could also have the capability to support higher lumens for a longer period of time.
Portable models are more suitable for backpacking. This is where the flashlight shines. If you’re insistent on a lantern, choose a light, collapsible one, or a mini lantern. Some models weigh only 3 oz but output 100+ lumens.
Durability
Does it travel well and endure rough handling? Will its components remain intact after prolonged use? Can it stand up to cold and hot temperatures? Check the material. Aluminum is very robust and most quality tactical style flashlights are made of aluminum. Lanterns are typically made of plastic. Find quality manufacturers who design to drop test standards. A lantern with thick plastic walls will simply feel more quality.
There are a ton of cheaply made, thin plastic lanterns on the market. Do your homework before buying, especially online or on Amazon. Consult forums, store techs if available, and read trustworthy reviews to verify the robustness of your chosen model. Typically stick with known lighting brands that value their customers and design products to properly suit their needs. The cheapest option is rarely the best option when it comes to durability and performance.
Multiple Modes
One setting is enough for general use. Most people just use “high”, but a multi-mode light source is helpful when traveling or working in challenging environments. Remember, though, that the brighter the output, the shorter the run time. Some devices have special modes like a strobe or SOS option, or even different colors. Others have programmable settings or mode sequencing built into the flashlight or integrated into an app.
Controls
On/off switches have come a long way. Thumb-operated sliders and push buttons are still standard, but remote operation is now possible with infrared, Bluetooth, WiFi, and IoT technology. Some models have rotating bezels. A safety lock preventing accidental switch-on is also beneficial.
Some devices have a silent Insta-beam function for quick activation without cycling through all modes, which is handy in law enforcement.
Scenarios to help determine your choice
Put a flashlight and a lantern head to head in these situations and it gets a lot easier to see which one you actually want.
You can only pack one light
Winner: both, in one body.
Most people are in this spot. You’re not carrying two lights on a camping trip, and you shouldn’t have to guess right before you leave.
The FLi-MORPHE 28" Telescoping Lantern & Flashlight collapses into a handheld flashlight and extends 28.5 inches into a lantern. The magnetic head pops off and hooks wherever you need it. One light, both jobs, nothing to decide at the truck.
You need to reach out and see something specific
Winner: flashlight.
Say you’re walking a trail or finding out what knocked the trash can over. You want a spot beam that throws, not a glow around your feet.
The FLi-PRO 1200 Lumen Flashlight & Lantern gives you a 400-lumen spotlight when you need to reach, then opens up to 900 lumens of 360-degree flood when you want everything around you lit instead. Red mode keeps your night vision intact. Rechargeable, so it’s charged when you need it.
The whole work area needs light, not one spot
Winner: lantern, the bigger the better.
Changing a tire on the shoulder. Setting up camp. Working under a canopy after dark. Holding a flashlight in your teeth isn’t a lighting plan.
The FLi-PRO 8' Telescoping Light goes up eight feet and lights the whole area from above, the way a work light should. The flashlight comes off the top when you need to go look at something, and a magnet in its tail sticks it to anything steel. The wireless remote works from 20 feet, so you’re not climbing back up to change modes.
Your hands need to stay on something else
Winner: neither. Wear it.
When both hands are busy, whether you’re paddling, running a jack, or threading a hose clamp behind an engine, a handheld light is the wrong tool no matter how bright it is. A headlamp like the FLEXIT Headlamp 3.0 is the honest answer. If you’re shopping for one, here’s what to look for in a rechargeable headlamp. If you’re on the water after dark, we get into that in Safety Tips for Kayaking and Canoeing at Night.
Conclusion
That dead flashlight in the drawer usually lets you down for one of two reasons: the batteries are shot, or it was never the right light for the job. A flashlight is a spot tool. It reaches out and shows you one thing. A lantern is an area tool that lights up everything around you.
Grab the wrong one and you feel it fast. You’re either trying to light a whole campsite off a hotspot the size of a dinner plate, or aiming a lantern’s soft glow at something forty feet away. When both hands are busy, the best light is the one on your head. Owning one of each isn’t overkill if you can swing it.
If you’re only buying one, buy the one that does both. The FLi-MORPHE is a flashlight in your hand and a lantern on the table. Its magnetic head pops off to hang or stick wherever the job is. Keep that one in the drawer, and it’s the right light no matter what just went dark.
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