SHOT Present, the large Las Vegas commerce present for looking, tactical, and sporting gear, performed host to the newest improvements in premium flashlights and headlamps. Final week, I spent 2 days trying to find probably the most “illuminating” merchandise of 2025, and the longer term is trying vibrant for flashlight aficionados.
From an growth of the wedge mild class to extremely highly effective EDC lights (and even some enjoyable new headlamps), SHOT Present 2025’s lighting choices supplied a variety of recent capabilities. With restricted time, I centered on high manufacturers constructing lights for EDC and out of doors use. These lighting options will deliver astounding efficiency at small sizes.
I haven’t examined any of those in-depth but, however I dealt with all of them at SHOT Present and was persistently impressed with the construct high quality and lightweight output. I’ll contemplate a few of these lights for our guides to the finest flashlights and finest headlamps after testing within the close to future.
Greatest Flashlights and Headlamps From SHOT Present 2025
Acebeam Terminator M1
The Acebeam Terminator M1 ($280) is greater than a flashlight. First, this revolutionary lighting gadget packs two lighting sources, a Gentle-Emitting Diode (LED) and a Laser Excited Phosphor (white laser), right into a single instrument. However that isn’t probably the most thrilling half.
The LEP mild is like no different I’ve examined. Most LEP lights shoot out a wildly tight, long-range beam. But it surely’s not very helpful at modest ranges, capturing a single level of sunshine that illuminates a really small house even at a spread of 100 yards or extra. The Terminator M1 provides huge utility by permitting the LEP to zoom out, masking a wider space than many LEP lights or a single mild level if desired.
Because the world’s first LED/LEP zoomable mild, it’s not like the rest available on the market. And it’s not only a toy. For these seeking to mild up long-range targets at evening, it offers extra choices. And with a easy person interface, it appears straightforward to be taught.
In fact, its specs are exceptional. Its LED cranks out as much as 3,500 lumens on turbo or maintains 1,000 lumens for 1 hour and 50 minutes. The LEP places out as much as 700 lumens, reaching 1,600 m in its most centered setting. Zoomed open, it covers a broader vary at 400 lumens as much as 177 m.
With a lot innovation, GearJunkie awarded the Acebeam Terminator M1 Greatest in Present.
Fenix PD45R
On its floor, the three,300-lumen Fenix PD45R is a phenomenal flashlight with highly effective output and a long-lasting battery. However dig deeper, and it affords a singular person interface.
You may manually alter the sunshine’s settings to suit your wants exactly. The PD45R has as much as six modes. The person can specify the start-up mode by means of an simply programmable collection of button pushes. As soon as set, the sunshine will lock onto that mode so it at all times activates on the identical setting.
For individuals who need simply repeatable lighting setups, it’s a slick system that’s a bit of totally different than different fashions available on the market.
In fact, every part is for naught with out efficiency, and the PD45R packs it in spades. Remarkably, it could maintain its “Turbo” energy of three,300 lumens for a really lengthy 3 hours. Drop it all the way down to Excessive, and it rocks 600 lumens for five hours. And because of the customizable lighting modes, you’ll get precisely the sunshine you need while you flip it on.
Coast TX300R
Coast is a widely known lighting model in out of doors recreation, however it hasn’t supplied a rail-mount suitable tactical flashlight till now. For 2025, it launches the TX300R, which is 1-inch rail-mount suitable and might function with a distant change for firearm-mounted operation.
Nonetheless, extra essential than its mounting capabilities, the TX300R is a really succesful EDC and tactical flashlight. It produces 3,000 lumens on turbo mode, has a run time of 4 hours and half-hour on excessive, and is IP67 waterproof. Its clear POWERiQ battery monitor offers an on the spot readout of energy ranges.
It’s a really versatile mild that ought to seamlessly change between EDC and tactical use for many who need a single resolution for a number of situations.
Nitecore EDC29
It’s onerous to consider, however this small EDC flashlight can produce a whopping 6,500 lumens. I pushed the “On” button and instantly blurted, “Wow!”
To be clear, the EDC29 received’t maintain its 6,500-lumen “LumenShield” or 400m energy outputs for lengthy. But it surely casts an unbelievable beam for a pocketable flashlight in a quick blast. Additional, its slim design and wonderful person interfaces ought to make this a high performer for anybody searching for a robust go-to mild for nightly use.
Nitecore achieved these astounding numbers with superior LED engineering. It constructed the sunshine round a twin LED system with 18 cores structured round a central UHi 20 LED. This enables the sunshine to push extra mild in a smaller platform.
Lastly, the EDC29 carries a slick, bodily locking system that can defend the sunshine from unintentional deployment, a key ingredient for a lightweight that can possible spend a lot of its life in a pocket or holster.
Streamlight MegaStream
Streamlight’s newest flagship, the MegaStream is a really balanced EDC mild with a superb run time and strong output at an affordable value. The $148 mild cranks out 1,800 lumens on excessive and might preserve that very vibrant output for two hours straight. It’s a terrific accomplishment for a lightweight that’s simply 5.3 inches lengthy and weighs solely 5.4 ounces.
The brand new mild runs on a 3,500mAh Streamlight SL-B34 lithium-ion battery pack. It has twin USB-C charging choices and a easy push-button tail cap for simple operation.
Fenix HL18R-T V2.0
The Fenix HL18R-T V2.0 improves on a strong platform, giving customers heat, cool, and crimson mild choices and a whole lot of energy in a light-weight type.
It pushes 800 most lumens to a spread of 410 toes (125 m). The highest twin buttons permit fast and exact mode modifications, permitting you to decide on between white, heat white, and crimson mild modes. It may run for 20 hours on its low 70-lumen output.
At solely 3.63 ounces (103g), this headlamp is extraordinarily light-weight, given its capabilities. The HL18R-T V2.0 additionally has a lockout slide change to stop unintentional activation and a two-way SPORT match headband dial for a safe, comfy match. Recharge with USB-C or swap in 3x AAA batteries when wanted.
Nitecore NU20 Traditional
Gram-counters take be aware: the Nitecore NU20 Traditional brings wonderful output in a super-light headlamp. Aimed toward runners, hikers, and others who want superlight merchandise, the NU20 Traditional weighs simply 1.34 ounces (34 g), but can produce 340 lumens, sufficient for a lot of duties at camp or on the path.
It makes use of a easy bungee system to connect comfortably to the top and has two buttons on high for a easy interface. Its UHE LED is extraordinarily environment friendly, permitting the sunshine to run as much as 2 hours at 360 lumens. As an ultralight possibility, this mild received’t burn for days like different heavier lights. However for these seeking to trim weight or as a backup mild, the NU20 Traditional offers good performance in a featherlight headlamp.
Not a Gentle: Olight Ostation X
Olight makes some fantastic flashlights, however its newest innovation is in fueling them (and myriad different electronics).
The Olight Ostation X ($120) is a battery charger not like every other. Because the world’s first “3-in-1” automated battery charger, it combines charging, testing, and organizing AA (or AAA) batteries multi function gadget. It’s as straightforward as dropping the batteries within the high, leaving them, and coming again to select them up, absolutely charged, later.
The Ostation holds as much as 32 batteries. To make use of it, you drop them within the high in any route — no must align them in any specific route. The station takes it from there, letting the batteries drop by means of a waterfall-style mechanism that checks them earlier than charging. A number of hours later, batteries can be found to be used in a slot on the backside of the station.
Will probably be a tremendous instrument for individuals who undergo a whole lot of batteries, reminiscent of individuals operating a number of path cameras. My solely want is that it may mix AA and AAA batteries in a single gadget. Right here’s hoping for that performance in model two!
