Last updated October 2023
How many times have you been in a situation where you need a flashlight?
Maybe it was that camping trip. Or perhaps your car broke down in the countryside at night. Or suddenly the power goes out.
Whatever the reason, you need to think about buying one of the best solar powered flashlights that are available so that you can get yourself out of trouble. Having a dependable light source at hand can literally be a lifesaver.
Table could not be displayed.When you purchase one of the best solar powered flashlights you will be making an investment that will serve you for many years. Of course you will save money too as there is no requirement for you to buy batteries.
Also, most of solar powered flashlights use LED’s rather than traditional bulbs which will burn out after a while. Unless you carry spare bulbs this can be a disastrous situation for you. You can’t buy flashlight bulbs in the middle of the countryside, can you?
Not having to rely on batteries is a major benefit. Carrying spare batteries around is not very convenient and batteries always give up just when you need them the most don’t they? You will be protecting the environment as well as there are no battery disposal problems to worry about.
Best Solar Powered Flashlights 2023
In this review we provide you with the lowdown on the best five solar powered flashlights. This was no easy undertaking as there are a lot of different solar flashlights available. We looked at the overall performance, durability and cost to make the decision on the top 5 best solar powered flashlights.
There are reviews for each of the solar flashlights that made our top 5 list. Here you will find the details that you need to know to decide which one is right for you. We looked at all of the customer reviews and summarized these into pros and cons for you.
1. Secur Dynamo 8 Lumen Solar Waterproof LED Rechargeable Flashlight Review
This is a very special solar powered flashlight as it has a hand cranked dynamo for the supply of power as well as a solar panel. The Secur Dynamo 8 Lumen is a high powered flashlight that provides a bright light so that you can do what is necessary. 
This solar powered flashlight has a built in solar rechargeable battery that is charged by the solar panel when it is exposed to direct sunlight. In our tests the recharging of the battery was at its optimum when the solar panel was directly in the sun but it would also charge at a slower rate in cloudy conditions.
The illumination is through state of the art LED’s. You can choose between turning on one LED, three LED’s and having all three LED’s flashing. The light is bright considering it is only 8 lumens and with all three LED’s working the beam extends quite a distance.
The Secur Dynamo 8 Lumen does not have any cables for recharging. You either use the solar panel or the hand crank dynamo. Of course you do not need to purchase any batteries for this flashlight.
This solar powered flashlight is totally waterproof according to the manufacturer. In our tests it was certainly able to withstand heavy rain and high winds. We did not fully immerse the flashlight in water but the manufacturer says that it can handle this as well.
If you have to confront storms or even a flood then the Secur Dynamo 8 Lumen should keep on going so that you can concentrate on doing what is necessary to find shelter. It is ideal for backpacking, hunting, camping and boating.
When the Secur Dynamo 8 Lumen was fully charged we were able to get just over 4 hours of light from the unit using all three LED’s. We didn’t try this with only one LED but expect to get at least double the time from a full charge. When we cranked the dynamo for a couple of minutes we got over an hour’s worth of light.
This flashlight is lightweight and weighs around 6.4 ounces. The measurements of the flashlight are 6 inches by 2.5 inches by 1.8 inches. It is very well made and in our opinion very durable. We dropped the Secur Dynamo 8 Lumen a couple of times and it was fine.
The Secur Dynamo 8 Lumen is a very durable and high-quality flashlight. It gets top spot in our best solar powered flashlights because of its quality and the fact that it has that very handy hand cranked dynamo for backup.
Secur Dynamo 8 Lumen Pros
These are summaries of real reviews from customers:
“The light lasts for a long time” – this was a comment made by a lot of the customers. The general feeling was that after a short time in the sun charging the battery that the light source would continue for several hours.
“The dynamo crank is fantastic” – people really liked the fact that the Secur Dynamo 8 Lumen had a backup dynamo crank. They were also impressed by how powerful this was and how quickly they could generate more light from using it for around a minute.
“A very powerful beam” – a number of purchasers were impressed with the brightness of this flashlight and the length of the beam that it provides.
“A very well built and sturdy flashlight” – quite a few of the customers remarked about the build quality and the sturdiness of this product. The consensus was that this flashlight was going to be very durable.
Secur Dynamo 8 Lumen Cons
These are summaries of real reviews from customers:
“Not fully waterproof” – one or two customers reported that if the Secur Dynamo 8 Lumen was fully submerged under water for a while that it did leak a little and therefore it was not a fully waterproof flashlight.
“It broke after a short time” – a couple of purchasers said that their solar powered flashlight just stopped working after a short time. This was not the majority viewpoint.
2. PowerGreen Solar Rechargeable LED Torchlight with USB Review
The PowerGreen Solar Rechargeable LED Torchlight with USB has a 5-volt solar panel which can charge the built-in 2000 mAH rechargeable battery. As you would expect, this works well when the solar panel is directly in the sun but hardly at all if it is cloudy. 
If you do not have any sunlight then you can use an AC adapter to charge the battery. There is a USB cable supplied which will connect with the right adapter or you can plug it into a computer or a car USB charger.
This is a very bright flashlight which is one of the main reasons that it ended up in our best solar powered flashlight top 5. It produces 600 lumens and the LED’s can produce 6 watts of power. The beam range is around 200 meters which is also impressive.
We tested the PowerGreen Solar Rechargeable LED Torchlight with USB after fully charging it using solar power and AC charging. We were able to get around 6 hours of good illumination from the flashlight. It takes around 6 hours of direct sunlight to charge the battery or just over an hour with the USB cable.
This is a well made flashlight with an ergonomic design. Made from an aluminum alloy this flashlight is very durable. Holding the light was comfortable and the textured grip of the handle was a good feeling.
The PowerGreen Solar Rechargeable LED Torchlight with USB is a pretty large solar powered flashlight that is 10 inches long by 2.16 inches and 2.16 inches. It weighs around 12 ounces. You can switch from a steady light to a flashing light if the need arises. It also has an SOS mode.
If you are looking for a bright, reasonably priced solar powered flashlight then the PowerGreen Solar Rechargeable LED Torchlight with USB is a good choice for you. It is a durable unit which you can use for many different applications.
PowerGreen Solar Flashlight Pros
These are summaries of real reviews from customers:
“The light is really bright” – there were a lot of customers who were very happy with the brightness of their PowerGreen Solar Rechargeable LED Torchlight with USB. It was a comment that occurred over and over again in the reviews.
“This flashlight is so strong” – the durability of this solar powered flashlight received comments several times as well. People felt that the flashlight looked and felt really strong and sturdy.
“Keeps its charge for quite a while” – a number of purchasers were impressed by how long this solar powered flashlight would keep going after the battery was fully charged. The charging time was a plus as well.
PowerGreen Solar Flashlight Cons
These are summaries of real reviews from customers:
“This is not a well made product” a small number of users were disappointed with the build quality of the PowerGreen Solar Rechargeable LED Torchlight with USB and felt that it looked cheap and would not last. This was not the majority view.
“The discharge time is poor” – a few customers stated that they only got 3-4 hours of illumination from a fully charged battery. In our tests we got longer than this.
“It just doesn’t charge” – one or two customers had problems with the solar panel charging the battery even in direct sunlight. These could have been faulty units which are returnable.
3. Goal Zero Torch 250 Flashlight with Integrated Solar Panel Review
This is the solar powered flashlight that has just about everything. Not only is there a solar panel to charge up the rechargeable battery but you can also use the USB cable connected and a hand crank for charging. 
The Goal Zero Torch 250 Flashlight with Integrated Solar Panel is a very bright flashlight that produces 250 lumens. You can use it as a standard flashlight, a red emergency light or even as a flood light. There are bright and half-bright modes which save on battery power.
The manufacturers claim that you can use the flashlight for a full 48 hours if you use the low power option with a fully charged battery. We were not able to achieve that in our tests but the flashlight did last several hours on a full charge. The lithium-Ion rechargeable battery has an impressive 4,400 mAH output.
Because the battery is more powerful in the Goal Zero Torch 250 Flashlight with Integrated Solar Panel it takes longer to fully charge it than with other solar powered flashlights. In direct sunlight, it will take at least 8 hours and sometimes more using the solar panel.
With the USB charging, we found that it would take around 7-8 hours to fully charged a flat battery. When we used the hand crank device for 60 seconds this only provided about 2 minutes of lighting.
There is a USB output with the Goal Zero Torch 250 Flashlight with Integrated Solar Panel which is handy for charging your smart phone or other devices. This is a well-made flashlight that has a rugged feel to it. It should be durable enough to last a long time.
The Goal Zero Torch 250 Flashlight with Integrated Solar Panel is powerful and has three charging options. The battery is strong and powerful and will keep the flashlight illuminated for long periods. If you don’t mind the price tag this is a good choice.
Goal Zero Torch 250 Flashlight Pros
These are summaries of real reviews from customers:
“This is a very versatile flashlight” – a lot of customers stated how happy they were that the Goal Zero Torch 250 Flashlight with Integrated Solar Panel could do so much for them. They liked the 3 charging options and the USB outlet for charging cell phones.
“A very bright light” – customers, in general, were really happy about the brightness of the light that this unit produced. People said that this flashlight would light up whole areas easily such as tents.
“Very solid and well made flashlight” – overall customers were happy with the build quality of this flashlight and felt that it was a very solid product. Most people felt that it would last for several years.
Goal Zero Torch 250 Flashlight Cons
These are summaries of real reviews from customers:
“It is an expensive flashlight” – there were a couple of customers who were unhappy with the price of the Goal Zero Torch 250 Flashlight with Integrated Solar Panel given what it offered. One said that it was really only a flashlight and that this was too much to pay.
“Takes so long to charge the battery” – one or two customers were dissatisfied with the amount of time that it took to charge this flashlight no matter what method they chose. This was not the general point of view.
“Hand crank not much use” – a customer remarked that the hand crank option was not satisfactory. They were only able to achieve a few minutes of lighting from several minutes of cranking.
4. Hybridlight Journey Solar Flashlight Review
This is a hybrid solar powered flashlight where you can charge up the rechargeable battery outdoors by using direct sunlight or you can charge it indoors by using the energy of incandescent lighting or by using the supplied USB cable connected to a computer or a wall outlet. 
There is also an output again using a USB cable where you can charge other devices such as smart phones from the flashlight. This is a useful function if you are camping or don’t have any power source to charge your phone.
The Hybridlight Journey Solar / Rechargeable 160 Lumen LED Waterproof Flashlight is made from sturdy materials for added durability. The flashlight is waterproof and the manufacturers claim that it will float in water so that you won’t use it.
This flashlight will hold its charge for a very long time if it is not used. The manufacturer claims that the charge will last for years. Obviously, we couldn’t test this but after a couple of days of not using the flashlight, it was certainly operational.
The LED’s are very bright with the Hybridlight Journey Solar / Rechargeable 160 Lumen LED Waterproof Flashlight and it has a low and high beam function. On the low beam, we got over 20 hours of light on a fully charged battery and about 6-7 hours on high beam. It produces 160 lumens of light power.
This is a lightweight solar powered flashlight and it only weighs 4.5 ounces. It is just 6 inches long by 1.8 inches by 1.8 inches. The Hybridlight Journey Solar / Rechargeable 160 Lumen LED Waterproof Flashlight is a reasonably priced flashlight that has a number of useful functions and is a good choice.
Hybridlight Journey Solar Flashlight Pros
These are summaries of real reviews from customers:
“Fast sunlight solar charging” – there were quite a number of customers that commented on this flashlight’s ability to charge fast when using the solar panel in direct sunlight. They were more impressed than with other solar powered flashlights.
“A very bright solar flashlight” – purchasers were impressed with the brightness of the Hybridlight Journey Solar / Rechargeable 160 Lumen LED Waterproof Flashlight. Several people said that they could see quite a distance away when using a high beam.
“Cell phone charging is good” – the USB output from this solar powered flashlight was appreciated by many. One person said that it only took an hour to charge their smart phone from the flashlight.
Hybridlight Journey Solar Flashlight Cons
These are summaries of real reviews from customers:
“This flashlight isn’t waterproof” – one customer actually dunked his Hybridlight Journey Solar / Rechargeable 160 Lumen LED Waterproof Flashlight into a bucket of water and then found that it leaked a little around the seals.
“Solar recharging does not work” – two customers reported that they could not recharge this solar powered flashlight using the solar panel. This was not the view of the majority of the customers.
5. Hybridlight Hybrid Solar Powered Flashlight with Emergency Battery Backup Review
This is the budget entry to the top 5 best solar powered flashlights. You actually get 2 flashlights in a pack for a very good price. Each flashlight has a bright LED set up that can produce a watt of power.
The manufacturers claim that these flashlights will produce 11 years of continuous burn time if powered on all of the time. If powered on some of the time (e.g. at night) then they will provide 22 hours of burn time. 
Solar charging of the rechargeable battery is the only option here and it does work pretty well if directly in the sun. It is not particularly fast at charging though. Once the battery has fully charged then it will stay that way for quite a long time if not switched on.
The manufacturers claim that the Hybridlight Hybrid Solar Powered Flashlight with Emergency Battery Backup is fully waterproof and that it will float in water and can withstand water pressure up to 80 feet. We were unable to test this properly but did use the flashlight in rainy weather and there were no problems.
These are quite large flashlights which are 14 inches long by 7 inches by 2 inches. They weigh around 12 ounces each. If you are looking for a cheap solar flashlight that will provide the minimum then the Hybridlight Hybrid Solar Powered Flashlight with Emergency Battery Backup is a good option.
Hybridlight Solar Powered Flashlight Pros
These are summaries of real reviews from customers:
“These flashlights perform really well” – in general people were pleased with these solar powered flashlights and felt that they performed well. Customers said that the flashlights were useful for a lot of different situations.
“Light is surprisingly bright” – some of the purchasers made the remark that the brightness of the Hybridlight Hybrid Solar Powered Flashlight with Emergency Battery Backup was surprisingly good for a flashlight in this price range.
“Very good value for money” – there were a lot of comments about how these flashlights were very good value for money. Customers were pleased with what they got for the small amount that they paid.
Hybridlight Solar Powered Flashlight Cons
These are summaries of real reviews from customers:
“These flashlights are not well made” – a few customers complained about the build quality of the Hybridlight Hybrid Solar Powered Flashlight with Emergency Battery Backup and some said that theirs fell to pieces pretty quickly.
“Doesn’t provide much light” – other people were unhappy with the amount of light they got from this flashlight after charging up the battery for several hours. People with this viewpoint were in the minority.
Final Verdict
Any of these 5 best solar powered flashlights will do a good job for you. They vary on price, quality and features and you need to decide what you can afford and what features that you require from your flashlight.
For quality, performance and convenience the Secur Dynamo 8 Lumen is hard to beat. The dynamo crank is a great feature that will pretty quickly charge the battery and give you hours of light. If brightness and features are important then go for the Goal Zero Torch 250 Flashlight with Integrated Solar Panel.
If you are on a budget then the Hybridlight Hybrid Solar Powered Flashlight with Emergency Battery Backup is certainly worthy of consideration. You get two in a pack and they will perform pretty well. Choose from our best solar powered flashlights list with total confidence.
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