XREXS Rechargeable Hands-Free Solar Flashlight

Solar flashlights are an all-around excellent tool to have on hand, especially if you live in areas that may experience hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes or other emergencies. Charged simply by being left out in the sun or near another source of light, these ingenious devices can be literal lifesavers when a natural disaster hits or the power goes out.

There are a number of considerations when buying a solar flashlight, and, luckily, many of them are standardized by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). At the most basic level, you’ll want to look at light output, battery life, and size and weight, but you might also wish to consider beam distance, impact resistance, and weatherproofness.

Other considerations include bulb type and beam modes, as well as whether the output is regulated. A regulated output means the beam stays at peak or near-peak brightness throughout until it drops off significantly when the battery is low, rather than gradually going dimmer as the battery drains.

Solar flashlights also come in a variety of materials, sizes and shapes and relatedly, weights. Lightweight flashlights can be handy when carried for a long time, but heavier flashlights can double as impact tools (such as for breaking windows in an emergency) or even as weapons.

Finally, since solar flashlights are often geared towards outdoors or emergency applications, many add additional functionality such as blades, compasses, radios, hooks for hanging or other survival tools. Many even double as phone chargers. Look for the flashlight that best suits your anticipated needs.

• Make sure to check the efficiency of the solar panels on the flashlight. It will state how many hours it takes to get a full charge, and then how many hours of light time that yields.
• Look for sturdy materials, such as highly rated plastics and rubbers or metal. One of the standardized measures of a flashlight is its impact rating, which measures the distance it can be dropped from and still function. Use this to compare flashlights based on materials.
• Go waterproof when you can. While it’s not strictly necessary to get a flashlight that’s submersion-rated, the IPX system of splash-resistance ratings will help you tell which flashlights can operate in the rain or when flooding occurs.
• Consider the ease of operation of the on/off switch. Can you operate the flashlight in the dark or with gloves on?