Here at Streamlight, we are always asked which flashlight someone should buy. There isn’t always a straightforward answer, because it really depends on how you'll be using your light. This is one of the reasons why we have such a wide variety of lights to choose from — so that you can pick the flashlight (or lantern) that best fits your needs.

Multi-Purpose Lighting = Tradition

When you need a flashlight that can meet a variety of needs, take a look at the all-around flashlights in our Tradition Series. Designed for the broadest range of lighting applications at the best value, flashlights like the Stinger® LED, TLR-1®, and Strion® LED are meant for day-to-day use such as maintaining vehicles, general contracting work, or a duty light for law enforcement.

Wide, Bright Lighting = HL

Need a flashlight that's going to shine light in all the dark corners of a room? Our high lumen (HL) flashlights are designed for you. These flashlights, such as the ProTac HL®, Stinger LED HL®, or the weapon-mounted TLR-1 HL®, deliver maximum illumination with a wide flood beam, ideal for clearing a dark scene, searching an alley, or even just lighting up a campsite.

Long Distance Lighting = HPL

The high candela of the high performance, high lumen (HPL) flashlights like the Stinger® HPL and TLR-1 HPL® provides users with long-range lighting. You would want to choose these flashlights if you need more light on your target at a distance, such as seeing down a path, inspecting utility lines from the ground, or during search and rescue missions.

Take a look at our different lights for yourself, and if you’re still confused about the different beam types, give our beam demo a try! If you still need help deciding, our customer service team is happy to make recommendations!