Most of us may carry a smartphone that comes with a built-in flashlight, but besides being expensive and easy to lose, these devices usually can't match the capability or durability of the genuine article. The utility of a good flashlight is not an easy thing to exaggerate.

A purpose-built flashlight can be more rugged than an expensive cell phone, throw brighter light for longer distances, and have unique features designed for specific use cases.  A flashlight makes a great addition to the kit whether you need a portable solution to carry with your car keys, an emergency option for when the lights go out, a gift for the nature lover in your life, or powerful something to illuminate your wildest adventures.

Today, let's examine what makes a great flashlight, unpack some technological terms surrounding the portable lighting industry, and explore some of the best offerings available on Amazon, based on customer reviews.

Not all flashlights are created equal, and it's important to consider what you're desired use is when shopping around. Explorers might prefer a hands-free headlamp, while late-night dog walkers might prefer hand-held illumination.

Whether you want something to light up the sky or just a room, it's important understand how bright a flashlight gets by checking how many lumens it produces. This is the unit of measurement for determining light emitted per second. A typical small candle produces 12 to 15 lumens, while a stage spotlight may produce between 2,000 and 5,000. If brightness is your top priority, check out our list of five of the brightest flashlights. And note that high lumen measurement doesn't necessarily mean a flashlight will cast light over a long distance — for that you've got to pay attention to the candela rating (which refers to brightness in a given direction).